Best For Sipping: Absolut Elyx
Region: Sweden | ABV: 42.3% | Tasting notes: Malt, Citrus, Grass
I love sipping vodka straight from the freezer, says Tony Abou-Ganim, star bartender and author of “Vodka Distilled.” Its a beautiful, velvety liquid when it gets to that temperature, then it reveals itself as it warms up. The go-to in his deep-freeze is this premium Swedish bottle. Made with single-estate winter wheat, it has a sharp brightness, he says, that elevates all those malty, grainy flavors in standard Absolut.
Good to Know: The true test of a sipping spirit? Make sure it pairs deliciously with food. Great sipping vodkas, Abou-Ganim says, cuts through caviar like a knife it goes with pickled herring, stinky cheese, charcuterie, foie gras, gravlaxanything cured.”
Best Russian: Beluga Noble
Region: Russia | ABV: 40% | Tasting notes: Flowers, Cream, Alpine herbs
This vodka is the greatest combination of old traditions and contemporary chic, says Borisov. He notes the superiority of both the water source and the filtration processtwo key contributors to the vodkas bouquet and flavor profile. Beluga uses pure artesian well water from Siberia, and it triple filters its vodka through birch charcoal, a silver filter, and quartz sand. Then, the spirit is left to rest for a month to relax its aroma. After all that,” Borisov says, “the final product is clean like a tear, a common expression used to describe the highest quality vodka in Russia.”
Borisov also recommends keeping this bottle in the fridge and drinking it cold and neat, complemented in true Russian fashion with a small piece of rye bread and a pickled cornichon.
What Are The Top 5 Vodkas
With the help of our experts, below youll find a curated list of the best vodkas to get right now.Best Overall: Hangar 1. Best for Sipping: Absolut Elyx. Best Flavored: Ketel One Cucumber & Mint. Best for Bloody Marys: Hanson of Sonoma Habanero. Best Polish: Belvedere Smogory Forest. Best for Moscow Mules: Titos.More itemsApr 19, 2021
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But The Best Thing About Absolut
Its a sustainable brand from beginning to end. All of the components of Absolut are widely found in southern Sweden and the bottles are made from 40 percent recycled glass.
The leftover wheat residue is given to local farmers and the carbon dioxide released during production is bottled and sold to beverage companies. So, if youre looking for a vodka that tastes good and does good at the same time, Absolut is top of the list.
More recently, the brand has been transforming old storage containers with more creative projects in mind. A creative hub thats already been used to host hackathons back in 2015, Absoluts Creative Space is home to plenty of new ideas of how to reuse the brands vodka bottles.
Next on the list? Sustainable, innovative ideas that might be necessary in the future. Like everything else theyve already done, Absolut is determined to stay one step ahead when it comes to creatively shaping the future of sustainable alcohol.
What Is Finlands Most Popular Food
- A munkki and a glass of sima served as dessert on April 30, the day before Vappu.
- Sautéed reindeer with mashed potatoes, lingonberry jam and pickles.
- Karelian stew has been voted as the national food of Finland.
- Lohikeitto is a creamy salmon soup and a common dish in Finland and other Nordic countries.
- Pizza Berlusconi.
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Chopin Family Reserve Potato Vodka
You can tell a lot about someone by the vodka they drink. True vodka fans aspire to the spirits pure expression and appreciate its versatility in both classic and contemporary drinks. True vodka fans also know that Chopin Potato Vodka is the most sought-after variety in America. The small-batch distillation and subsequent aging in oak barrels over two years makes Chopin Family Reserve the crisp, clean vodka you want to reach for when the occasion demands a true libation of distinction.
Chopin Potato Vodka is naturally gluten-free and made from potatoes, not grain. The nose is fresh and earthy with a creamy mouthfeel. The crisp, clean notes and subtle earthy finish will leave you wanting another.
Which Whiskey Is Smooth Sweet
Its home to half of Scotlands distilleries and brands such as The Glenlivet, Aberlour, Strathisla, Chivas, Glenburgie and Ballantines. Cask type is another option. An American barrel will enhance those fruity floral notes and give a sweet, vanilla creaminess on the palate. These whiskeys are perfect before dinner.
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The Best Vodkas To Shake Stir And Sip
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There are many misconceptions about vodka. Some consider the spirit tasteless, while others believe it has the flavor of rubbing alcoholbut that’s not always true. Made with anything from potatoes to grains to leftover whey, vodka can be light and bright or hearty and earthy. Better yet, it can be smooth with no kickback from that too-fiery alcohol sting.
We took a look at taste, flavorings, and different distillation processes to bring you the best in show, ranging from old-school Russian sips to American vodkas made from interesting ingredients.
Here are the best vodkas.
Region: Netherlands | ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: Honey, lemon zest, cream
Ketel One is the drink of choice for the celebrity crowd and for good reason: the Dutch brands signature vodka is free of sugar and artificial flavors and made with 100 percent GMO-free grains.
I have been drinking Ketel One Vodka since I was legal to drink, says Fanny Chu, head bartender at Donnas in Brooklyn, New York. Its been my go-to vodka for agesthe combination of modern and traditional distilling techniques that make for an incredible product.
Two Birds English Vodka
Two Birds might have started with gin but its move into vodka is a bonus for lovers of a purer spirit. A departure from the usual wheat-based mashes, this artisan vodka is made from barley and sugar beet in small batches for a naturally sweeter taste.
The cereal and root crop blend also makes for a smooth mouthfeel with a delicate finish that works especially well with juices or in cocktails that need a sugary twist.
Once marketed as ‘white whisky’ in a bid to entice Americans who were more familiar with the brown stuff, No. 21 is a cocktail cabinet staple and for good reason. It’s an essential for everything from Bloody Marys to Harvey Wallbangers thanks to its versatility and clean taste. Triple distilled using traditional charcoal, the grain vodka is then filtered ten times to take out any impurities and give it an instantly recognisable smoothness that has won Smirnoff fans the world over.
Buying the best vodka: what to look out for
The type of vodka you want to buy will depend on if you are looking to mix the vodka before you drink it, or have it straight and sip it. How vodka is drunk differs from country to country. In Russia, downing vodka is the most popular way to drink the spirit , in Poland its more of a sipping drink. And in the west, vodka is usually enjoyed with a mixture or two.
What types of vodka are there?
The reason that vodka production is so varied is because theres no industry standard, so the raw materials used will differ between manufacturers.
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Billionaire Vodka $725 Million
Owned by renowned designer Leon Verres, Billionaire Vodka is the most expensive vodka brand in the world. As well as being produced with an original Russian recipe, the spirit is filtered with diamonds. It comes decorated with almost two thousand diamonds set in gold and, despite the price tag, is sold out worldwide.
The Best Cocktails To Make With Absolut Vodka
The skys the limit when it comes to creating cocktails with Absolut Vodka. Use the brands Original Vodka as a base for cocktails with strong flavors, or let your inner mixologist shine by playing around with any number of Absoluts flavored bottles. As a rule of thumb, let the mixers do the talking and only use one flavor of vodka at a time.
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Why Is Jack Daniels No 7
According to Daniels biographer, the origin of the Old No. 7 brand name was the number assigned to Daniels distillery for government registration. He was forced to change the registration number when the federal government redrew the district, and he became Number 16 in district 5 instead of No. 7 in district 4.
A Year Of Good Spirits
Rewind back to 1864 P.A Smirnov was tinkering away at his vodka distillery in Moscow, Russia.
P.A Smirnov began his life as a serf in Tsarist Russia, illiterate and without any formal training. In true rags-to-riches style, he died with a $130 million fortune and one of the best entrepreneurial legacies in history. Hed even secured an exclusive contract to supply vodka to the Tzar of Russia in 1886.
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How To Drink Absolut Vodka
A casual and carefree spirit, its easy to enjoy vodka in plenty of different ways. The wide range of flavors available from Absolut means youll want to sample at least a few of them without any accompaniments.
But, when youre looking for a drink with a difference, Absoluts variety gives plenty of room for experimentation. Unlike other spirits, theres no one particular glassware needed just make sure your Absolut is served chilled.
How To Drink Grey Goose
Vodka might not be the first spirit you think of when it comes to sipping spirits neat but it would be a shame to add too many accompaniments when drinking Grey Goose. Vodka aficionados will tell you this is the only way to drink vodka anyway, so you might as well do it properly with a premium brand for best results.
Vodka is best served chilled, so put the bottle in the freezer for a couple of hours before serving. Small tumblers are customary for clear vodkas, so make sure your glass is equally as chilled before pouring in a small measure. Alternatively, you can use a shot glass but we still recommend sipping rather than throwing it back.
Swirl the Grey Goose in your glass and bring the glass up to your nose. Breathe in the aromas before taking a small sip and letting the vodka rest on your tongue. You should be able to taste delicate hints of pepper and more florals, but the overall effect should be smooth and relatively neutral.
The final thing to pay attention to is the aftertaste. A premium quality vodka like Grey Goose wont burn your throat it should feel smooth and warming rather than anything too aggressive.
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Best Vodkas To Drink Straight
Nothing invokes images of 90s-era MTV Spring Break parties like vodka. Its cheap and potent, and thats why it has its reputation as a party drink. However, this reputation is exactly what makes people dismiss the notion that vodka can be a suitable sipping spirit.
In fact, its actually a great spirit to enjoy straight out of a glass bottle. But rather than picking up the cheapest vodka from the store, how about stepping up your game and enjoying something better? Check out our picks for the best vodka to drink straight.
What Is Top Shelf Vodka
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White Whiskey And Polaroids
Innovative marketing seems to be a recurring theme when it comes to Smirnoff.
When US alcohol mogul John Martin acquired the brand in 1950 two amazing feats of marketing took place:
Firstly, Smirnoff was described by a Southern salesman working for the firm, as a white whiskey with no smell, and no taste. This appealed to the whiskey drinkers of the Southern states, and therein lay a whole new customer base.
Around the same time, John Martin had another lightbulb idea. He would conduct sales visits armed with a Polaroid camera and a bottle of Smirnoff vodka. Hed take two photos of the barman holding a bottle of Smirnoff, leave one at the bar and take the other to his next visit.
Of course, the next potential stockist would see photos of Smirnoff in the preceding bars and want a piece of the action himself.
It was in this cunning way, that John Martin brought Smirnoff to the American public by storm.
Best For Colorful Cocktails: Uv Blue Raspberry Vodka
UV Vodka is one of the most popular and least expensive brands of vodka available. Distilled in Minneapolis by Phillips Distilling Company, the key to the brands success is its innovative and extremely colorful flavor line. The clear vodka, which is distilled from Midwest grains, is just as good as any of the others, but the stunning hues are what really make UV special.
The vibrant array of vodkas span the rainbow. UV Blue is the most famous, providing a brilliantly simple way to make blue cocktails with the sweet taste of raspberry. UV Apple is a bright green option thats nearly as popularideal for sweet appletinis. From a purple grape-flavored vodka and fire-red cherry vodka to bright orange and pretty pink lemonade, they add an amusing splash of color to simple mixed drinks.
Region: Minnesota | ABV: 30% | Tasting Notes: Sweet, raspberry
When you really want to get some bang for your buck, buying vodka by the handle is a cost-efficient way to go. The majority of vodkas are bottled at 750 milliliters, but this one measures in at 1.75 liters. Considering its competitors, its hard to reconcile Towers low price tag with the fact that its a small-batch spirit. The Texas corn vodka is distilled six times, and many drinkers compare it to the states more famous premium brand. If you enjoy Titos, this ones worth a shot, and at this volume, youll have plenty of shots available to form a solid opinion of your own.
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How To Prevent It
- Moderately drinking certain types like vodka, gin, rum, beer, and Blanco tequila would not cause hangovers. These alcohol drinks do not undergo heavy distillations and have fewer congeners.
- Getting plenty of sleep the night before drinking can help avoid symptoms of worse hangovers.
- Food intake is important to help the stomach in slowing down alcohol absorption.
- Drinking plenty of water can avoid symptoms of dehydration because the body will have enough fluid to function properly.
- Minimizing the consumed alcohol of the body helps the liver properly break down the components of the spirit.
Best Flavored: Hangar 1 Buddha’s Hand Citron Vodka
Region: California | ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: Citrus, jasmine, apricot
Hangar 1 is the brainchild of St. George Spirits Lance Winters, who set out to create the first-ever flavored vodka line. He ended up making Hangar 1, a brand now known for its unusually flavored vodkas . Now a Proximo Spirits brand, each batch is made with a combination of pot-distilled Viognier grapes and column-distilled wheat in a repurposed aircraft hangar in San Francisco.
One of the best flavors of the bunch is Buddhas Hand, a quirky cousin of the lemon. While many flavored vodkas on the market are packed with sugary flavors, the purified lemon extracts from the fragrant citron combined with jasmine, basil, and apricots that will make you rethink flavored vodkas forever.
An amazingly simple vodka infusion would be to cut up some pineapple and let it soak for a few days. It will impart a very nice fruit tone that can be enjoyed neat, or mixed into a fun cocktail, recommends Dylan Alpaugh, general manager of Sophia’s Lounge.
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Beluga Noble Russian Vodka 40% 70cl
Best: Overall
Its a cliché for a reason when it comes to vodka, theres just no beating the Russians. And when sipping this, youll understand why. Clean, gorgeously creamy and with a long-lasting finish, Beluga is an ultra-smooth, classic vodka that still maintains its body and character.
Its made with malt spirit and Siberian well water, then triple filtered and left to rest for 30 days, a technique that dampens any harshness and enriches flavour. Translation? No matter how you employ it martini, Moscow mule or by the mugful its dangerously drinkable, with nay an alcoholic burn, just a gentle, elegant warmth.
Such finesse normally comes at a premium price point. But at safely under £35, Beluga is affordable and thats what makes it our star. Its sophisticated enough to pull out for 007-style martini hour, but wallet-conscious enough to pour liberally at a party, too.
Fancy taking a tipple to your next picnic? Try our best canned cocktails, from seltzers to classic G& Ts
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