What Flavors Of Vodka Are There

What Is Vanilla Vodka

Vanilla vodka is, not surprisingly, vodka that has been infused with the rich, luxurious flavor and aroma of vanilla.;

Every brand makes their flavored vodkas slightly differently, though there is one non-negotiable requirement according to liquor laws. Flavored vodka, including vanilla vodka, must be a minimum of 30% alcohol by volume . Traditional vodka must be at least 40% ABV.

Because plain vodka is made using a variety of different grains, depending on the manufacturer, so is vanilla vodka.

The base may be potato, corn, grains, or even fruit. Not all brands publicly share how their vodka is made, though if you have any food allergies or sensitivities you can usually contact the company for more information.

The flavoring is equally vague in most cases. Phrases like essence of vanilla and natural flavorings are common and hard to define.

What is undeniable, however, is the sweet scent and delicate flavor of vanilla that mellows out the burn of straight vodka.

Best For Highballs: Broken Shed

Broken Shed

Region: New Zealand | ABV: 40% | Tasting notes: Citrus, Grass, Honeysuckle

As Abou-Ganim points out, theres been a return in the highball, a three-ingredient cocktail of spirit, bubbly water, and crucially, ice. Tall, cool, and refreshing, the highball is the drink of summer for home bartenders, and the New Zealand-based Broken Shed vodka works beautifully in the glass. Distilled from whey and pristine aquifer and mountain water, this spirit has a floral honeyed character and a creamy, luscious body. Yet, theres nothing overly sweet or cloying in there.;

It has a beautiful natural taste that is light and crisp with a smooth warmth to finish it off, says Fred Flynn of Wilmington, N.C.’s Manna. Flavorful yet bright, it makes you want to go back for another sip.

Grey Goose Essences Strawberry & Lemongrass

The scent of strawberry hard candy that escapes from this expression recalls the sweet vodkas of yore. However, the similarities only partially continue on the palate, which is fruity but dry. An aromatic wave of citrus and floral notes pays tribute to lemongrass. Enjoy this in a highball with fresh fruit. Average price: $28.

Recommended Reading: What Is The Smoothest Tequila To Drink

List Of 39 Different Flavors Of Pinnacle Vodka

Well, to give you the exact list of the myriad flavors that this brand has handpicked from the uncountable flavors that exist in this world, which is a better source than their website itself? Pinnacle Vodka categorizes the flavored section into four categoriesTreat, Fruit, Dessert, and Whipped flavors.

Easy Flavored Vodka Drinks With Recipes

Flavored vodkas have been growing in popularity with most brands introducing an array of new flavors. From vegetal flavors like cucumber or jalapeno to fruit flavors such as raspberry or grapefruit to sweet flavors like vanilla, caramel, and chocolate, flavored vodkas can add variety to your cocktail repertoire.

Read Also: Is Jim Beam Good Whiskey

This Vodka From Bakon Is Going To Be A Hard Pass

Now for all you Bloody Mary fans out there, this might not sound too terrible, but the second-worst vodka on our list that you should probably avoid at all costs is the bacon-flavored spirit from Bakon Vodka. Yes, bacon-flavored vodka. We love a good piece of bacon, don’t get us wrong, but in vodka form? Absolutely not.;

As noted by the Bakon Vodka website, the spirit is ideally used in drinks like a Bloody Mary or a Caesar but if you can just use your classic vodka for those specific drinks, why get a special flavored vodka that you can’t use for all your cocktails? It’s not like you’re going to want to sip on bacon-flavored vodka, let alone use it in a classic mixed drink like a Cosmopolitan .;

If you think that we’re being dramatic, we can guarantee you that we aren’t. LA Weekly put Bakon Vodka on their list of the five worst vodkas out there, so we’re pretty confident that you should save your money and skip out on this bottle.

Ketel One Is Top Two Material

You might not be surprised to see Ketel One among the very best vodkas. Ketel One Vodka is a classic big brand that does not disappoint. First and foremost, there’s a beautiful look to the bottle itself that just screams sophistication. Secondly, it has a wonderful flavor combination. As noted on the Ketel One website, the spirit itself has a “crisp, lively tingle” that sits in the mouth as it’s consumed. Ketel One is also described as having a “silky” texture that allows for easy consuming that’ll make you go back to the brand time and time again.;

Ketel One is great for sipping, as well as mixing, in part due to its hints of honey and citrus. Nothing sounds better than a Ketel One vodka soda with a lime slice. And customers really are fans of the top vodka brand, too, so if you really want to get a vodka that’s going to deliver, this is the one.;”The perfect vodka staple to have in your house. A very versatile alcohol which is also nice and smooth,” one reviewer on Influenster wrote.;

At $35 for a 750ml, this vodka hits the sweet spot.

You May Like: What Are Some Good Rum Drinks

Best Overall: Van Gogh Flavored Vodka

• Wide distribution and readily available

• Natural flavor infusion

• As a premium brand, it is not inexpensive

From espresso to Dutch chocolate and pomegranate to peach, Van Goghs vodka portfolio can cover nearly all of your flavored vodka needs. The premium Dutch vodka maker uses a blend of European wheat to produce the smooth-tasting, semi-sweet base thats used in all of its vodkas. The flavors are naturally infused into the vodka, and theyre all bottled at 35 percent alcohol by volume .

There are many tasty highlights to Van Goghs flavored vodka lineup. Youll find colorful options like the deep purple of açai-blueberry and a crimson pomegranate, which is among the best of its flavor. Its espresso vodkas add a caffeinated kick to cocktails, while the chocolate and caramel vodkas are ideal for dessert drinks. Van Gogh also covers most fruits, from peach to melon and apple to pineapple, along with a few citrus options and a delicious vanilla. No matter the flavor, when you see this label, you can be assured that the vodka is top-shelf, full of flavor, and smooth as can be.

Can I Use This Recipe To Make A Flavored Vodka Martini

Yes! This is one of my favorite ways to serve this drink. The infused vodka on its own is delightfully refreshing and sweet. You can shake it vigorously over ice and serve it in a . Garnish with a strawberry. It is also gorgeous with apink sugar rim. You can also add some simple syrup or my rich and delicious Demerara Syrup if you would like it a little sweeter depending on your taste preference.

Read Also: How Much Rum To Coke

Flavored Vodkas Worthy Of Your Attention

We like to think of vodka as a blank canvas. Sure, the best of the bunch are great on their own or as a classy vodka Martini, but many benefit from the infusion of additional flavors. Granted, its a massive category riddled with some options that should probably stay in the past, shoved deep into the farthest reaches of your old dorm room fridge. But there are treasures, too, top-shelf vodkas that ascend from drinkable to utterly enjoyable courtesy of some complementary part or parts. As you search for something perfect to mix with a little soda or enjoy neat on a lazy afternoon, look to these nine flavored vodkas.

Best Potato Vodka: Woody Creek Distillers

Region: Colorado | ABV: 40% | Tasting notes: Potato, Earth, Pepper

While potato vodkas only used to come from Russia, the U.S. now produces outstanding versions of its own. Abou-Ganims top choice is this bottle from Colorado-based Woody Creek Distillers.

Its distilled only once from Rio Grande spuds grown on the distillers own farm at alpine altitudes. The process leaves in a lot of the character of the potatoes, says Abou-Ganim. Its earthy, funky, and vegetal with a rich character.” He says its the vodka to reach for if you like your martinis big, bold, and garnished with a blue cheesestuffed olive.;

Don’t Miss: How To Make Your Own Tequila Brand

Flavored Rice Wine Rum Tequila Vodka And Whiskey

Flavored rums and vodkas frequently have an alcohol content that is 510% ABV less than the corresponding unflavored spirit.

• Flavored rice winesflavors include star anise-coffee, banana-cinnamon, coconut-pineapple, galangal–tamarind, ginger-red chili, green tea-orange, lemon-lemongrass and mango-green chili.
• Flavored rums in the West Indies originally consisted only of spiced rums such as Captain Morgan whereas in the Indian Ocean only of vanilla and fruits. Available flavors include cinnamon, lemon, lime, orange, vanilla, and raspberry, and extend to such exotic flavors as mango, coconut, pineapple, banana, passion fruit, and watermelon.
• Flavored tequilasflavors include lime, orange, mango, coconut, watermelon, strawberry, pomegranate, chili pepper, cinnamon, jalapeño, cocoa and coffee.
• Flavored vodkasflavors include lemon, lime, lemon-lime, orange, tangerine, grapefruit, raspberry, strawberry, blueberry, teaberry, vanilla, black currant, chili pepper, cherry, apple, green apple, cinnamon, coffee, chocolate, cranberry, peach, pear, passion fruit, pomegranate, plum, mango, white grape, banana, pineapple, coconut, mint, melon, rose, herbs, bacon, honey, cinnamon, kiwifruit, whipped cream, tea, root beer, caramel, marshmallow, and many more.

Substitutions In Classic Cocktails

Try substituting vegetal, herbal, or fruit flavored vodkas in the following classic cocktails.

• These vodkas work well with the tang of lime and the bite of ginger in a Moscow mule.
• They can add zest to the intense lime flavor of a kamikaze.
• They blend well with the tart cranberry flavor in a sea breeze.
• Add these types of flavored vodkas to Jell-O shots for added interest.
• Spice up a or a daiquiri by replacing the tequila or rum with a flavored vodka.
• Use them as your vodka in a trash can punch, such as jungle juice.

Also Check: How To Make Moonshine Whiskey

Put Skittles In Bottles

Now put your separated Skittles into 5 bottles, one flavor per bottle. You can use old water bottles, mason jars, thoroughly cleaned condiment jars, old vodka bottles any container with a secure lid plastic or glass.

Mason jars work very well because theyre easy to wash out. And whatever bottle you use is going to get a lot of sticky gunk in the bottom that will need to be cleaned.

Star Blu Vodka Vanilla

Check Current Price on TotalWine

The scoop of vanilla ice cream featured on the label of this brands vanilla vodka is a good indication of the classically sweet vanilla flavor. This is one of the more intense vanilla flavors on our list, and it is also one of the sweetest.

Key Features:

• American grain vodka base, distilled 5 times for crisp, pure flavor

Signature Cocktail: Vanilla Berry Spritzer

Measure 1 ounce of Star Blu Vodka Vanilla into a cocktail glass filled with ice. Top with 2 ounces of club soda and 3 ounces of cranberry juice. Garnish with fresh blueberries.

Also Check: How Do You Drink Vodka

Drinks With Vanilla Vodka

If youre not sure what to mix with vanilla vodka, you cant go wrong with a standard vanilla vodka and soda.

The earthy sweetness is as delicious with a lemon or lime clear soda as it is with cream soda, root beer, or the cola brand of your choice.

If youre feeling more creative, however, there are several recipes and cocktails to make with vanilla vodka.

A few of our favorite cocktails that are perfect with vanilla vodka include:

• Orange creamsicle
• Coffee cocktails
• Vanilla mint mojitos

Just as in baked goods, vanilla pairs well with coffee, chocolate, and any creamy flavors. It also brings a lovely sweetness to citrus flavors and rounds out heavy spices like cinnamon or bright herbs like mint.

Its truly one of the most versatile flavors you can experiment with so dont hold yourself back.

This Vodka From Cupcake Is Absolutely A No

While we love the idea of combining dessert with drinks , trying to achieve dessert bliss in vodka form is just going to work. With that being said, you should probably just avoid Cupcake vodka. As noted by Time, the vodka in question is a “six-times distilled alcoholic treat created by vino specialists Cupcake Vineyards” and boasts a variety of flavors “Frosting,” “Chiffon,” “Devil’s Food,” and “Original” .;

The tagline of the vodka is “Live Deliciously,” but we can’t help but feel that this vodka sounds like the worst quality of cotton candy shoved into a vodka bottle. Or does it have a taste at all? According to one reviewer on Vodka Buzz, the spirit in question “tastes like water,” which doesn’t sound particularly pleasing, either. So as much as we all love the Cupcake brand labels and think that the idea of a cupcake-flavored drink is appealing, we’re going to recommend that you skip this one. Go buy yourself actual dessert instead; you’ll be better off for it.

Recommended Reading: What To Mix With Grapefruit Vodka

A List Of The Different Types Of Vodka

Vodka originally the number one drink of Eastern Europe has become a favorite of drinkers all over the world because of its high alcohol content, smoothness, and easy ability to make mix drinks with. Vodkas fame has grown so big that there seems to be hundreds of different brands producing their own version. All boasting their own unique recipes, tastes, alcohol content, or flavor yet at their heart all of these different brands are similar. There may be a huge number of vodka brands but there are actually only a few different types:

How About The Famous Bison Grass

Bison grass is a type of vodka that is very popular in Eastern Europe, but currently unavailable in USA in its original form . The spirit is also known as zubrowka.

This species of the beverage is spiced with a plant called bison grass, which gives the vodka a spicier, more herbal taste, somewhat closer to that of mint.

The plant improves the taste of normal vodka significantly, making it almost pleasant to drink on the rocks.

Zubrowka originally comes from Poland, but it is also being produced under many different names in other countries, including the United States where it is referred to as Bison Grass Vodka.

Recommended Reading: What To Mix With Jim Beam Honey Whiskey

And The Other Varieties

There are probably dozens of varieties of vodka out there. Smirnoff alone sells over twenty flavored vodkas, most of these tasting like fruit.

People can get almost every taste they can desire in the same package without having to buy tons of different juices or rums to mix with plain vodka as they would have had to do before the turn of the century.

As with strawberry vodka, this makes the taste of the drink more pleasant, but with around 70 proof, dont expect that it will taste as good as say, a chilled coconut rum or peach wine. The alcoholic taste is still strong enough that you may want to at least mix the drink with a soft drink if you intend to drink it for pleasure.

Peanut Butter And Jelly

A childhood favorite has crashed the alcohol scene in a big way with the PB&J inspired flavor from;Van Gogh vodka. Mixed with some form of cream and served with a slice of white bread, this flavor could be a hit for those searching for a little bit of nostalgia. Otherwise, it may just be one of the strangest vodka flavors you have ever seen!

Read Also: How Do You Make Gin

Category On The Rise: Flavored Vodka

Consumers trade sweet, confection-flavored vodkas for natural flavors and less sugar

In decades past, vodka came in one standard variety, and the spirits main selling point was its subtle, almost neutral character. That all changed about 10 years ago, when a wave of flavored vodkas hit the market in just about every tooth-achingly sweet variety you can imagine.;;

There was a peak from 2011 to 2013 that we call the confection stage, when we saw flavors like whipped cream, cookie, pumpkin spice, and cake, says Brandy Rand, COO of the Americas at IWSR Drinks Market Analysis. While these products were wildly popular at the time, she says, flavor fatigue eventually set in and consumers preferences shifted. Vodkas sales volume tapered off as a result, and consumers moved on to other spirits.;;

It wasnt until 2018 that the category saw an uptick, coinciding with the launch of brands such as Ketel One Botanical, which appealed to consumers desire for natural flavors and more herbal, fruity profiles. In 2020, the flavored vodka segment grew six percent by volume, according to IWSR, and accounted for around 15 percent share of the total vodka category.

Rand confirms that better-for-you, lower-alcohol flavored vodkas are gaining popularity. In 2020, the categorys volume sales grew 12 percent, compared to six percent growth for the flavored vodka category as a whole.

Chopin Potato Vodka Isn’t As Bad As It Sounds

It’s safe to say that the potato is one of the most versatile vegetables out there. From French fries to vodka, the simple potato has proved itself time and time again. But still, it does sound a little weird to have the label “potato vodka” on your spirit of choice, but that’s how the Chopin Potato Vodka is marketed. Named after the famous composer, the Chopin Potato Vodka is hitting just below the middle of the pack, and it’s a fairly decent option.;

According to GearMoose, Chopin Potato Vodka is one of the better “under $30” vodkas out there, as it is four times distilled and “has a creamy finish,” and it’s great when making a dirty martini . So what do the reviews say for the brand? “Smells like vodka, tastes like vodka. Very neutral,” a reviewer wrote on Flaviar. “A little of lemon and pepper with an oily texture. Overall, not bad. Different. Creamier than what I’m used to. Give it a try.” Another echoed that sentiment, saying that it was “surprisingly inoffensive for vodka.” So maybe give it a whirl you might like it.

Also Check: Where To Buy Chattanooga Whiskey