Vodka's enjoyed around the world, so it's no wonder that the spirit is one of the world’s most popular choices at any bar, lounge, or club in town. But while it's a top pick, it isn't easy choosing a particular brand. While many of you may think that there isn't a difference, guess again. You need a fine palette and knowledge to go along with your selection. To help you out, here’s our list of the top ten vodkas that everyone will enjoy.
Ketel One
The Dutch introduced this fine vodka to us using distilled 100% wheat in copper pot stills, filtered over loose charcoal. This vodka was 300 years in the making and the brand recently announced a new orange flavor. If you ask us, stick with the original, you can't go wrong with playing it safe when it comes to Ketel One.
Wódka
If you haven't guessed by now, "wodka" is Polish for....drumroll...vodka! Wódka has turned into one of the most popular vodka brands in the world, recently getting praise from TIME Magazine's as their #1 vodka brand. Wódka's also known as the average bartender's favorite vodka for crafting martinis. It tastes great when it's room temperature and feels warm in your stomach due to the rye that adds power and density. Don't take our word for it though, get out and grab a drink now!
Stoli
Russia is known for first introducing vodka to the world, which is why Stolichnaya (AKA Stoli) is considered "the real" vodka to many connoisseurs. While it may feel like you're digesting fire after a shot of Stoli, that only means it's getting the job done. Stoli comes in many flavors, including blueberry, apple, orange, and vanilla, just to name a few. Word of advice - try blueberry Stoli with Red Bull, you'll be hooked!
Grey Goose
The finest there is...at least to some of us. Grey Goose hails from France using water naturally filtered through a champagne limestone (sounds sexy, doesn't it?). Mostly sold in North America, Grey Goose was marketed as a first-class brand to the finest bottle poppers in the land. A great way to impress a lady would be to order Grey Goose for its soft and sweet taste.
Absolut
The taste of this Swedish vodka comes from the winter wheat planted during the fall, growing under the snow. The world’s third largest vodka brand had its growing popularity based on their on-going ads using their classic bottle, a symbol of fine flavor. This vodka also comes in several unique flavors. Warning, their "Pepper" vodka is used for mixing drinks, never for shots!
Ciroc
Derived from the French, this distilled vodka stands out from others because it mainly uses grapes instead of wheat or rye. It’s not aged and is distilled at 96%, making this a tried and true vodka. If you've heard about Ciroc before, then you've probably seen Diddy's face right next to the bottle, seeing as he's the brand ambassador. Ciroc recently introduced two new flavors: Ciroc Red Berry and Ciroc Coconut.
Smirnoff
Known around the world as the best-selling spirit brand, Smirnoff vodka goes unmatched. This fan favorite has a great performance at spirit ratings competitions and continues to do so, thus increasing its fanbase. This vodka comes in different flavors, including Nordic berries, lime soda, and cranberry. Its Russian counterpart, Smirnov vodka, has the same great taste, but is somehow consumed by a completely different demographic.
Belvedere
This Polish brand comes directly from the French company Belvedere. Its water is distilled from Belvedere’s artesian well and combines 600 years of vodka producing expertise with commitment to quality and heritage. If there's one thing we know about liquor, it's that age and tradition go a long way. Once you order this, you can smell the vanilla and soft cream notes, as well as taste the sweet and savory texture.
SKYY
This San Francisco-based vodka has garnered much appeal from connoisseurs. The key to its great taste comes from the method of quadruple the cleansing and tripling the filtration, which makes one of the purest vodkas on the market. Best part is, it's not the most expensive brand. Go to your nearest corner store and get yourself a bottle for under $25.
Finlandia
From the outskirts of Finland, comes their own brand of vodka: Finlandia. The process of making this fine spirit takes a lot of time. That’s because the vodka is made from months of continuous sunlight and 10,000-year-old glacial water. The result is a taste that is initially crisp and clean with a small bitter aftertaste. While this brand may not get the attention that others do, it's one of the top ones in our books.