"25 Best Vodka Brands for 2023" - VinePair
Source: VInepair
ARTICLE BY TIM MCKIRDY
PHOTOGRAPHY BY GABRIELLE JOHNSON
Vodka is a paradoxical spirit. It leads spirit sales in America in terms of volume, and has done so for the last 40 years. Yet it holds none of the cultural cachet of whiskey or tequila. Browse liquor store shelves and you’ll discover more flavored iterations than all other spirits categories combined. But when it comes to judging quality, we instead base our opinions of a bottle on its lack of flavor.
In recent years, that last factor has changed. Fueled by craft producers turning to new base ingredients, and global brands attempting to showcase terroir in their distillates, “flavor” and “flavored” now hold two very different definitions in vodka. Even the TTB now recognizes that vodka can exhibit character.
Not all brands are going down this route, it should be noted. The best bottles currently available fall into two camps: vodkas that subtly highlight the profile of their base ingredients, and indeed show “distinctive character,” and vodkas produced with a truly neutral profile. In the case of the latter, the leading examples not only arrive without aromas or flavors from their base distillates, but provide the enjoyable buzz of alcohol without leaving a hint of ethanol on the nose or palate.
No matter the camp you prefer, the category has come a long way in recent years. Here are the 25 best vodkas to drink right now.