If you could only keep one spirit in the house at all times, it would have to be vodka.
This versatile spirit works just as well in a standalone vodka soda as it does mixed into cocktails or, if you’re branching out a little more, even into pasta (hello Penne alla vodka).
While many of us disregard vodka in favour of gin, whisky or tequila, it’s fair to say there’s no other spirit that can do what vodka can.
The best vodkas around will shout of their simplicity. And, if you’ve got a palate for the stuff, you’ll probably appreciate the finer bottles for their clean, crisp finishes and subtle notes of flavour. A premium vodka is designed to be sipped rather than mixed, preferably poured at a chilled temperature and served up with nothing more than a couple of ice cubes.
Dig a little deeper into the world of vodka and you’ll see a whole new realm of possibilities. Sure, there are the flavoured vodkas (and we’ve listed a few of our top choices for 2023 below), but you’ll also find the more unusual bottles that are filtered and blended with any number of different ingredients.
When choosing a new vodka, there are a few key things to look out for, from the number of times it’s been filtered (which can improve or change a vodka’s texture), the water it’s mixed with and any other ingredients added to its filtration or distillation process.
From the top-shelf vodkas that you’ll reserve for special occasions through to those you’ll enjoy mixing into your favourite vodka-based cocktails, we’ve rounded up all of the best vodkas of 2023.
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Suntory Haku vodka
Haku Vodka’s beautiful, simplistic bottle emphasises everything the Japanese do best. This clean, understated vodka is one for the true aficionados who love nothing more than a vodka soda with a dash of aromatics to finish it off. Perfect for anyone who prefers to let the spirit do the talking, this is a vodka you won’t want to dilute with any kind of strong mixers. It’s twice distilled from hakumai (Japanese white rice) and is filtered through bamboo charcoal.
Buy now £30.27, Master of Malt
Belvedere Organic, Ultra-Premium Vodka
Belvedere Pure Vodka uses one specific type of Polish rye to create its premium serve. A clean, crisp vodka that’s filtered enough times to avoid any kind of hangover (writer’s experience only: not - yet - scientifically proven), Belvedere Pure Vodka is just as untainted as its name suggests.
Smooth, sharp and gorgeous with tonic water, this 40 per cent ABV vodka deserves to be enjoyed on special occasions when you’re looking for a drop of something fancy.
Buy now £34.25, Amazon
Grey Goose Le Citron
Flavoured vodkas can be a little hit and miss but Grey Goose, with its understated approach and notes of subtlety, proves that it can be a very delicious thing indeed. Enter: Grey Goose Le Citron. This versatile vodka may be one you reach for mostly in the summer months but adds a dash of sparkle throughout the year with its beautiful aromas of ripe, fresh Menton lemons. It’s made using a balance of citrus flowers and lemon trees from the Provence Alpes Cotes d’Azur region and is fresh, light and all-round wonderful.
Buy now £39.75, Amazon
Ciroc Vodka
Ciroc Vodka is one of the smoothest vodkas around and sits comfortably in the ‘premium’ category with a whole list of celebrity fans to match. Made from ‘snap frost’ grapes that are cold fermented before being distilled in a combination of steel and copper stills, it’s a little more refined than your average vodka and comes with a crisp, refreshing taste to match. Its grape foundation makes Ciroc a little fruitier than many others, which means it lends itself to subtle, fruity cocktails.
Buy now £29.99, Amazon
Black Cow Vodka
Proudly made in Dorset, Black Cow’s original formula is something Willy Wonka might have dreamed up had he ventured into tasty treats for an 18+ audience.
This stuff is a wonder. It looks like water yet is labelled as vodka, but tastes like full-bodied milk. It’s enough to make you want to try it with cornflakes.
Buy now £27.50, Amazon
Absolut Vodka
Absolut is a bar-staple vodka because it really does tick all the boxes.
It’s not especially expensive on a per-litre basis. It’s a neutral vodka (with subtle hints of sweetness and black pepper), which means it works in a full range of long drinks.
It’s made using Swedish winter wheat, which is grown on one single estate in Southern Sweden and is sustainably sourced. Absolut may come in a full range of flavours but it’s hard to beat the OG.
Buy now £29.50, Amazon
Absolut Hunni Flavoured Vodka 70cl
All the silky smooth flavour we've come to expect from Absolut, now lifted with natural honey notes. This sweet spirit contains no added sugar (which should, in theory, ease the hangover) and is delightful in a Lemon Drop Martini or for adding a mellow twist to an Espresso Martini. Huns: assemble.
Buy now £22.00, Tesco
Crystal Head vodka
From Ghostbusters writer and actor Dan Aykroyd, this distinctive bottle of vodka came to market in 2008. Intended to represent life, it’s one of the most premium vodkas around, with different bottle colours - including a rainbow-splattered one for Pride - making them collector’s items. The latest launch is presented in an incandescent bone-coloured skull, making them perfect for grown-up Halloween bashes.
The spirit is among the purest you’ll find, going through a quadruple distillation process and seven times filtration and made with Newfoundland water.
Buy now £57.50, Fortnums
Smirnoff Spicy Tamarind Vodka
Tangy tamarind is the overriding flavour in this adventurous new expression from Smirnoff together with Mexican chillies and a hint of lemon. Try it in a margarita or with a lemonade mixer for a twist on classic drinks.
Buy now £16.95, Amazon
Sipsmith Sipping Vodka
The clue’s in the name with Sipsmith Sipping Vodka: it’s a vodka that’s designed to be sipped, rather than thrown back in shot form or semi-diluted with lemonade or coke. If you’re someone who likes to pay attention to the various notes and aromas from each spirit, Sipsmith Sipping Vodka is one of the best choices for affording that experience without a huge price tag. It’s made from English wheat and is distilled in copper for extra purity.
Buy now £29.49, Amazon
Slingsby vodka
Slingsby Vodka is one of the most versatile of the bunch: great for mixing into a full range of cocktails but also for mixing with a dash of soda and a squeeze of lime. One of the more budget friendly vodkas (but significantly more enjoyable than most of them), it’s always useful to have a bottle of Slingsby in the cupboard for all kinds of drinking opportunities. This award-winning vodka is made using English wheat and is distilled seven times. It’s also blended with Harrogate spring water from the world-famous Harrogate aquifer.
Buy now £28.00, Ocado
Dima’s vodka
Vodka is one of the best low-calorie spirits around and pairs well with a host of slimming mixers. Or if it’s like Dima’s, you could just as easily sip it on its own.
The Ukrainian-made spirit is distilled from barley, wheat and rye and offers a rounded, velvety smoothness. It’s 40 per cent and best enjoyed with a pickle, Ukrainian style. Buying a bottle is an excellent way to support the Ukrainian business, especially as the war against Russia rages on.
Buy now £32.07, Master of Malt
Silver Circle Botanical Vodka No1
Silver Circle’s Botanical Vodka No1 fuses the gap between vodka and gin with a bottle that’s just as crisp as any premium vodka with the added benefit of gin’s delicious botanicals. Hailing from the most easterly distillery in Wales, Botanical Vodka No1 works just as well in a V&T as it does with a dash of soda water. Its botanicals include cassia, which brings spiced notes, the zingy sherbet of Galangal, the body and warmth of allspice and the subtle fruity heat of Carolina Reaper chillis. Sip a little more and you’ll taste notes of lime and strawberry, too.
Buy now £30.95, Silver Circle
Desi Daru No.2 Mango Vodka
Using the Hindi word for booze (daru), this fun vodka has been made with a blend of English and Indian ingredients, making it fitting for celebrating both nations.
It's spiked with Indian Alphonso mangoes, widely considered the best variety, for a delicious spirit that's very hard to resist.
The attractive orange-yellow ombre glass and tall shape make a striking impression - one you’ll want to keep around long after the final drops have been eked out.
Buy now £32.99, Amazon
Brecon Five Vodka
It’s rare to see vodka bottled in entirely opaque bottles, which gives some indication that Brecon Five Vodka may be a little spicier than the norm. In fact, this premium vodka paves the way for those looking for a little extra kick from their spirits with its addition of peppery, herbal notes.
Another popular Welsh contender, Brecon Five Vodka is bottled at 43 per cent ABV making it one of the stronger options around. Despite that, it’s also one of the most budget friendly vodkas if you’re looking for something a little more special. It’s made with pure clean water from its own glacier-bred, rock filtered source in the wild Brecon Beacons Mountain Range.
Buy now £25.00, Amazon
Verdict
For a crisp, clean, “everything vodka should be” kind of vodka, look no further than Haku Vodka. This ever-popular bottles ticks all the boxes and, with its understated packaging, sits perfectly at home on your bar cart too.
