Most vodka is made by distilling potatoes or cereal grains that have been fermented. ($25 at drizly.com) If you are looking for a vodka that is best served on the rocks with nothing mixed in, your best bet is to stretch your wallet a little and opt for a quadruple distilled vodka that is soft and smooth on the palette. A little bit of sweetness and a whole lot of spice mingle together for a complex, multilayered spirit with just the right flavor you'd want for an exemplary Bloody Mary. The judges said the Russian vodka is … So if you are on a budget, know that this means you will likely be settling for a vodka that is best mixed rather than sipped. Low-calorie and, at just 60 proof, light on the alcohol, it's a “smooth and friendly spirit for low-ABV drinks,” says Borisov. There is a taste of grain as well as smooth flavors that give a delicious drink. The result boasts a layered flavor profile that spans the divide between syrupy and savory, between subtlety and burns. Make sure it pairs deliciously with food. This botanical vodka is a pretty smooth choice too, and whilst it hasn't got the same gentle touch on the palette as Grey Goose or Beldevere, it's unusual taste make it a must-try for any vodka lover. Poland may be best known for potato vodkas, but Sobieski Vodka (popularly called Sobi) is a great Polish rye vodka. Ciroc is a great vodka if you want to add flavours to your favourite cocktails. As Abou-Ganim points out, there’s been a return in the highball, a three-ingredient cocktail of spirit, bubbly water, and crucially, ice. “I love sipping vodka straight from the freezer,” says Tony Abou-Ganim, the author of "Vodka Distilled." From vanilla to passionfruit, this unique brand of vodka has something for everyone. Prices vary from around £15-£50+, and the smoothness of the drink generally tends to be reflected in how much you spend. Best for Martinis. Her favorite way to drink vodka is in a Salty Dog, with fresh grapefruit juice in an iced highball glass with a salted rim. Made in Chicago’s Pilsen District, it’s a small-batch, artisan product from sourcing to bottling. He says it’s the vodka to reach for if you like your martinis big, bold, and garnished with a blue cheese–stuffed olive. Betsy Andrews has been writing about wine and spirits for two decades. 8. We have brought together our top 10 picks for the best vodkas you should be drinking right now. …the final rankings to determine the best vodka for cocktails. Razer's Kiyo 1080p webcam with built-in light is a working-from-home essential, and it's back in stock! This vodka has very citrusy undertones which is generally why it is a bit easier to drink neat than many other vodkas out there. A long-time gin drinker, she first discovered how exciting vodka can be back in 2012 when she was working at Saveur magazine and edited a story on new American craft vodkas. Just make sure it’s been chilled in the fridge properly to get the best out of it. If you like the sound of Ciroc’s flavours but don’t want to pay that much, then Absolut is an affordable alternative. Betsy Andrews is a freelance journalist specializing in wine, spirits, food, travel, and the environment. “It’s 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. Visit our corporate site. Today’s best vodka is made in a variety of different ways, with more flavours than ice cream – and better still, there’s something for every budget. However, if you are coeliac, it is important to note that Absolut isn’t gluten free like Ciroc is. Charles Joly, spirits tasting judge and founder of Crafthouse Cocktails, says “Most people want something relatively neutral, but that doesn't mean it has to lack character.” When he judges a vodka, he considers the quality of the distillate: “It shouldn’t have an aggressive burn." These are the best beers to put in it…, Often enjoyed with a slice of orange as an after-dinner drink, we’ve rounded up the best tequila on the market, By Sarah-Jane Butcher • Best Vodka for Cocktails Ultimat Vodka. Martinis on the brain? It is quadruple distilled, making it taste incredibly smooth and therefore a definite winner for both vodka novices and aficionados alike. Well, it depends. Great sipping vodkas, Abou-Ganim says, “cuts through caviar like a knife; it goes with pickled herring, stinky cheese, charcuterie, foie gras, gravlax—anything cured.". “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.". See the list of the 15 best vodkas for 2019 now! 1. Read Next: The Best Cocktail Books, According to Experts. Best Vodka for Shots: Russian Standard Vodka; The Short List Best Overall Vodka: Reyka Vodka. This vodka thrives on the 300-year distilling legacy of the Dutch Nolet family. In 2002, St. George Spirits birthed this small-batch vodka in an old aircraft hangar in California. If you are on a tight budget you may want to buy one of the less expensive brands. For many, vodka is either tasteless or the ultimate taste of regret we’d rather forget, but these days you can get a wide variety of different vodkas to cater to your palate and even dietary requirements. This year, the lineup of new vodkas includes a pair of Pacific Northwest newcomers and a handful of refreshing flavored vodkas with plenty of fruity and citrusy appeal, including one from … The options are endless when you’ve got the best vodka on your bar cart.. On the market are plenty of expensive vodka brands, including French vodka, Polish vodka, Russian vodka and American vodka.As one of the world’s most versatile spirits, a good, cheap vodka is a staple bottle while a top shelf vodka can be the perfect addition to a dinner party. Abou-Ganim describes Belvedere, the quintessential Polish vodka, as “Big, bold, and robust.” It’s distilled three times from just Dankowski Gold rye and artesian well water, then filtered twice—a measured amount of refinement for today’s vodka standards. Get our best cocktail recipes, tips, and more when you sign up for our newsletter. So, if you’re someone who doesn’t like tend to opt for plain vodka because you find it a little tasteless, Ciroc's range of vodka flavours will keep you entertained. Proof66 provides listings for our top rated, best Vodka. Organic sugar cane grown on a family estate in Maui combines with desalinated water pulled from 3,000 feet below the depths of the Pacific Ocean for a flavor that's clean, easy, and long-lasting. An unaged spirit distilled and filtered repeatedly to achieve smoothness and clarity, vodka has had a reputation for blandness. The Fifty Best held a “blind” tasting of 34 American-made unflavored craft vodkas with 11 members of our spirits judging panel. Crack open the skull-shaped bottle of the racy, Crystal Head vodka from comedian Dan Aykroyd. © Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. Proximo Spirits, which bought the brand back in 2010, still produces it at the old Naval Air Station Alameda on San Francisco Bay, albeit in a new distillery. Vodka. Read Next: The Best Cocktail Shakers, According to Experts. If vodka and coke is your tipple of choice, give this one a try to change up the flavours. Here are the ten best bottles of vodka, power ranked by the people. Russia may get most of the attention when it comes to vodka, but we're giving this Icelandic vodka the title of "best overall vodka." By Chris | September 19 2013 . A traditional Polish Vodka; Belvedere has won numerous blind tasting awards and is considered of fine quality but without such a hefty price tag. Vodka. If you want a high quality vodka that you can either drink straight or mix up your favourite cocktail with, Belvedere is the one. 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. It’s a versatile vodka that works in any number of cocktails (and even pasta), but it's also great on the rocks with a twist. Vodka - like whisky, rum and brandy – is a staple for anyone who wants to take their home bar seriously. To find the best vodka brands at every price, VinePair tasted dozens of spirits from different countries and base grains. From Grey Goose Martini’s to Russian Standard; we’ve rounded up the top 10 vodkas on the market right now to wet your whistle. While potato vodkas only used to come from Russia, the U.S. now produces outstanding versions of its own. 2019-01-01T15:28:32Z, From vodka to brandy keep your booze easily to hand with one of these lavishly hand tooled drinks cupboards, By Sarah-Jane Butcher • These are the world's best vodka brands. It’s so pure you can sip it neat, honestly. But this bottle pairs best with cream-based cocktails, like the White Russian: stir it up with Kahlua and milk over ice, and you’ll see that its creamy texture and sweet vanilla notes shine. It was even long defined as "without distinctive character, aroma, taste, or color" by The Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). It tends to go with anything, is pretty drinkable and won't break the bank. Hangar 1 is a vodka that will please everyone at the party, from newbies wanting a sweet touch in their Cosmopolitans to seasoned imbibers looking for a rugged punch in their Gibson. Whether you're taking … He notes the superiority of both the water source and the filtration process—two key contributors to the vodka’s bouquet and flavor profile. For anyone looking to buy a gift for a gluten intolerant friend that enjoys a drink, this is spot on. If you find yourself standing in the supermarket aisles umming and ahhing about which bottle to pop in the trolly, you can't go wrong with this one. Oct 12, 2020 Alyssa Gray. #9 of 10 Best Vodka Labels of 2017 - Fris Vodka comes in a tall bottle that has a dark color. We doubt you saw in the New Year with it, and it’s not everyone’s first choice of spirit for sipping straight, but it makes a cracking cocktail or mixer. From big, bold, and spicy to smooth and sweet, or anything in between, there’s a vodka out there for every palate. Plus, each bottle is hand-painted for a one-of-a-kind showpiece on your bar. Slava Borisov of Travelle at The Langham Hotel in Chicago, calls this bottle of Ketel One “playful." With cocktail culture spreading rapidly across the globe, vodka – Slavic for “little water” — is experiencing a renewed wave of popularity. Best Premium Imported Vodka . Best Vodka. Americans drink more vodka than any other spirit, although whiskey has been gaining ground in recent years. The most ubiquitous vodka brand in the United States, Tito's is the best vodka to keep stocked up at home for any sipping occasion. Microdistilled in small batches in Austin, Texas, for a super crisp and clean finish, Tito's can certainly go toe-to-toe with any luxury vodka. Curio cocoa nib vodka. You'll find it best in simple recipes like the vodka martini and vodka tonic. Stolichnaya Elit Vodka (also known as Stoli Elit) is an ultra-premium vodka that is regarded by many critics as one of the best vodkas in the world—even earning a coveted five-star review from F. Paul Pacult's Spirit Journal. Some of these may be hotter than some of the more high-end brands and in the long run may not be worth the savings. There, a wheat-based, column-distilled vodka gets blended with vodka made from viognier grapes that have been run through copper pot stills. However, this is a particularly fashionable choice for 2018, gracing the top shelfs of most swanky bars and clubs. “It’s earthy, funky, and vegetal with a rich character." Made from Polish Dankowski rye, it’s the best-selling spirit in the vodka-loving nation—silky and smooth on the palate. It's distilled in small batches from European wheat, offering a crisp but silky taste. The Tasting: The Fifty Best held a “blind” tasting of 8 imported vodkas with 10 members of The Fifty Best's spirits judging panel. Beluga uses pure artesian well water from Siberia, and it triple filters its vodka through birch charcoal, a silver filter, and quartz sand. Strict tasting rules were applied. If you are a vodka lover who would like to try something a bit different, or if you have a gluten intolerance, then this is something a little quirky and different. The vodkas were poured into fresh glasses from new sealed bottles, and served at slightly above room temperature. Best Vodka, Top Rated Vodka, Top 20 Vodka. The bison grass infusion gives this vodka an aromatic taste which is smooth and fresh with a slightly herbal undertone. Sobieski Vodka. It has a clean and neutral taste which not everyone’s palette will agree with as it can be a bit dry compared to other richer vodkas like Zubrowka. 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. This is a pure tasting vodka that has been double-distilled and quadruple-filtered through birch charcoal (everyone’s loving the benefits of charcoal these days!) Russian Standard Vodka is the ultimate premium tasting vodka without the hefty price tag, so if you like your vodka but don’t want to fork out on the likes of Chase and Grey Goose, this is your go-to option. As you might expect from the inclusion of milk, this vodka has a smooth creamy taste which works brilliantly in long drinks and on its own. Here are 15 great vodka makers to try. With the rise of food intolerances and health trends, gluten-free vodkas and even vodkas made from milk are now available quite widely, so if you have any special requirements, keep your eyes peeled for these options. The true test of a sipping spirit? Zubrowka Vodka is probably one of the most unique vodkas on the market. Made from corn, it’s distilled six times over, then filtered 15 times, so it’s smooth sailing in all kinds of drinks, including some of the canned cocktails that the distillery produces: Vodka Mule, Spicy Bloody Mary and Grapefruit Vodka Soda. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links. “It has notes of salted caramel, honeycomb, and white pepper,” she says. Top 10 Best Vodka Brands – 2020. With that said, how should you decide among them? All rights reserved. KU:L Vodka. Flavor: Sweet, earthy, and spicy all at once — smooth and hints of flavor on top of a classic modern vodka Best In: Vodka … The Best Vodka Brands to Stock Your Bar Cart With. And he looks for creamy mouthfeel without a cloying glycerin texture, as well as a clean, mouthwatering finish. The beverage is produced in Canada. Despite—eh, who are we kidding, because of—its mass appeal, vodka is disdained by most cocktail snobs, which is reason enough to celebrate its continued prominence. If you like your vodka strong on the taste buds, then Stolichnaya needs to be in your drinks cabinet. In April 2020, though, the bureau dropped the definition that held vodka back, acknowledging something that experts know: Vodkas are wildly diverse, distilled using everything from grains to grapes, milk to maple sap. The Best Vodka in the World. $55 Jean-Marc XO. The Best Cocktail Shakers, According to Experts, The Best Cocktail Books, According to Experts. The bottle is distilled with grain grown near its namesake in Western Poland. 2018-01-13T14:53:17.120Z. In its round, blue bottle, Ocean Vodka exemplifies the beauty of organic spirits. 2019-01-01T13:20:31Z. Related rankings. Borisov raves about the Smogory Forest version, which is part of Belvedere's newest vodkas made with rye sourced from single estates. For those of you who want to try making a tasty drink at home, Absolut is one of the best vodka’s to keep in your drinks cabinet for when mates come over. It is harvested by hand in Poland, where the continent’s only herd of bison can be found. It’s distilled only once from Rio Grande spuds grown on the distillers’ own farm at alpine altitudes. Right now there are a million and one different types and flavours to choose from, so how do you find the best vodka? Joly likes the low-priced, CH vodka so much that he uses it in the Moscow Mule in line with his bottled mixed-drink, Crafthouse Cocktails. Awards: 2019 Best Flavored Vodka $19.99 Best Buy » Read Full Review. As I mentioned earlier in the article, I’m going to split up the final results into two different sections: Results where the brand reputation rankings are included. These Are the Ones to Buy. Courtesy. The flagship vodka forms the base for the brand's flavors, and all weigh in at 40 percent ABV (80 proof). 21 Best Bottles Of Vodka To Try In 2020. To help you choose what the best vodka is for your personal tastes, we have created a ranking divided up into a number of sub-categories: Best Russian Vodka, Best Flavored Vodka, Best Potato Vodka, and Best Cheap Vodka. Flavorful yet bright, it makes you want to go back for another sip. 2020-08-02T13:35:45Z, Warm out, isn’t it? Distilled with glacial water sourced from the Alps and filtered through Italian marble, 2Nite has a lemony aroma and a fresh, broad flavor with just a touch of sweetness. There are several factors that can affect quality and taste. “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. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. The order of service was established beforehand by lottery. Yet, there’s nothing overly sweet or cloying in there. To create this ranking, we assessed each spirit based on … Whether you are simply buying a bottle for after-dinner drinks at home or want to find a unique gift for someone, we’ve found a fantastic range of local and international brands that are changing the way we view vodka. Premium Russian Vodka This is the second of only two bottles of vodka to earn a "Gold Outstanding" rating at the 2014 IWSC. The order of service was established beforehand by lottery. Still, it retains its grape-based character. Distilled from whey and pristine aquifer and mountain water, this spirit has a floral honeyed character and a creamy, luscious body. Flavorful but approachable, this spirit delivers alluring, complementary notes: a big, soft serving of vanilla followed by a spicy, peppery kick. Absolut is served in most bars and restaurants and tastes great in a range of cocktails. Walmart Xbox Series X, PS5 restock: consoles coming THIS WEEK! Abou-Ganim’s top choice is this bottle from Colorado-based Woody Creek Distillers. Served on the rocks, you might just find that this is a vodka you'll enjoy drinking straight...who would have thought?! However, there is a relatively new brand Polish Vodka called KU:L Vodka. For good reason, this crisp, clean spirit is the most-consumed spirit in the world. It starts with certified-organic Illinois winter wheat and rye, and, in a rarity for the vodka category, it’s milled, mashed, fermented, and column-distilled entirely in-house. Please deactivate your ad blocker in order to see our subscription offer, We check over 130 million products every day for the best prices. And if it’s vodka’s tasty cousin whiskey you crave, check out these lists of the best bourbon brands and best scotch brands . Spirits snobs can groan about vodka all they want—the clear spirit has maintained its status as America’s most popular spirit since 1976. However, if the strong kick of vodka is what you are trying to avoid, then avoid this. Skyy Vodka is one of the only vodka’s that is made purely from American grains. review process here. T3 is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. This vodka typically tastes best served as a long drink with lemonade or sparkling water or on its own is you can cope with the kick. Made with single-estate winter wheat, it has a “sharp brightness,” he says, that “elevates all those malty, grainy flavors” in standard Absolut. It's expensive, sure, but if you aren’t a fan of the harsher kick that many vodkas bring to the taste buds and you fancy a bit of a treat, then Grey Goose is one of the best easy-drinking vodkas you'll find on the supermarket shelves. The process “leaves in a lot of the character of the potatoes,” says Abou-Ganim. Strict tasting rules were applied. Some vodkas are made from rice, soybeans, and even grapes. Best E liquid 2020: set the vape juice loose, Best vape 2020: vape pens and e-cigarettes for the discerning vapeur, The best whisky 2020 (or whiskey if you're after an Irish), The best gin 2020: our pick of the top tipples, The best beers 2020: ales, lagers and wheat beers, The best tequila 2020: a spirit for every budget, The best bourbons 2020: old Kentucky's finest for juleps, old fashioneds, or just on the rocks, The top 5 best drinks cabinets: store your spirits and show off your style, The best gin: our pick of the top tipples, The best tequila: a spirit for every budget, Take your vodka on an adventure with our top picks of. Organically-grown semolina wheat is the basis of this Tuscan spirit, made sans sugar or other additives in a small, family-owned distillery dating back to 1842. The Best American Vodkas, Ranked The Best American Vodkas, Ranked As strange as it sounds, the capital of vodka right now might just be the U.S. of A. Chad Walsh March 7, 2016. We’ve put Belvedere at our top spot due to its palatable creamy vanilla taste with a slight hint of white pepper which gives it just the right kick. Below, we guide you through our top picks of the best vodkas 2018. Reyka harnesses its proximity to volcanoes to distill an exceptionally clean and crisp vodka. An unaged spirit distilled and filtered repeatedly to achieve smoothness and clarity, vodka has had a reputation for blandness. It’s made from corn for a deep, rich flavor, and Abou-Ganim is a long-time fan. Because the vodka is made in this way, more of the impurities are removed. Walmart rolls out another Xbox Series X and PS5 restock this week, No more looking like you're in that video from The Ring on video chats – a light makes all the difference, Enhance the flavour of your vaping with the best e juice, e liquids and vape liquids for all your fruity cloud chasing needs, Give up smoking or enjoy the biggest clouds of fruity or herb-tinged vapour possible with the best vaporisers, Enjoy a wee dram with our guide to the best whiskies, We've rounded up the best gins on the market that are bursting with botanicals, By Sarah-Jane Butcher • Thanks to Tito’s corn-based earthiness, this gluten-free spirit pairs perfectly with the spicy profile of the ginger beer or ginger ale in a classic Moscow Mule. He wants an aroma that hints at the raw material used to make the vodka, be it grapes, potatoes, or grain. It’s made in Newfoundland, using crystalline Canadian water, and it’s distilled four times and filtered through semi-precious Herkimer diamonds a total of seven times—making for a super-easy finish. Freeze distillation is used when making the vodka. The top rated, best Vodka top 20 lists change as new liquor reviews and liquor ratings are entered. Then, the spirit is left to rest for a month to relax its aroma. The vodka apparently owes its name to John III Sobieski, whose image was on the label for many years. Normally, a cheaper vodka means a cheaper taste, but this bottle from Skyy is sort of bucking that trend, offering a pretty smooth tasting vodka for a budget-friendly price. Its pure, light taste, with a muted sweetness, works well with fresh fruit juices including coconut, mango, and pineapple. Sarah-Jane Butcher Date Tasted: 3/21/2019 in our Chicago tasting lab - 97 points out of 100. Best Domestic Vodka . View rankings of best expensive vodka, vodka reviews, best vodka liquor, luxury vodka, fine vodka at bestofluxury.com Last updated: November 1, 2020 Contributor Chad Walsh writes about wine and other beverages frequently for Food Republic. This is one of the best vodkas for celiacs as it is made from potatoes only and is best served straight from the freezer for a cracking ice cold gluten-free martini. Bottoms up! The best vodka to buy. It was even long defined as "without distinctive character, aroma, taste, or color" by The Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). “There’s a grainy sweetness to it,” he says. By Katie Bourque and Kristin Salaky. and that’s what gives it such a pure taste. Made with non-GMO grain, naturally extracted cucumber and mint essences, and no additives, this Dutch-flavored vodka is crisp as can be, but it’s also packed with personality. By Lauren Hubbard. Last year, a consumer study revealed the top 5 vodkas preferred by American consumers , listing Grey Goose as the favorite. Vodka is cheap, tasty, and everywhere. Vote up your favorite and vote down the vodka names that just miss the mark. How about a cool, golden beer in a frosted glass? It might be named for a poisonous delicacy (the Japanese blowfish, or fugu), but there’s nothing dicey about this vodka from San Diego-based Cutwater. Best for Bloody Marys: Hanson of Sonoma Habanero, Best for Cream-Based Drinks: Cutwater Vodka, Best Potato Vodka: Woody Creek Distillers, The 12 Best Flavored Vodkas to Drink in 2020, The 12 Best Canadian Whiskies to Drink in 2020, The 8 Best Coffee Liqueurs to Drink in 2020, 7 Delicious Vodkas That Happen to Be Sustainable. Vodka isn't exactly a darling of the mixology community, but in terms of overall popularity, the numbers speak for themselves. Featuring vodka names from all over the world, these vodka rankings have them all! “This vodka is the greatest combination of old traditions and contemporary chic,” says Borisov. For those who love all things British, Chase Vodka is made right here on our very soil and is one of the top contenders for vodka on the market right now. This is a unique vodka made from milk rather than the traditional potatoes, wheat or rye, and is made in the South of England. The best vodka 2020: 10 vodkas we recommend. If you want a middle range vodka that tastes good but won’t break the bank, this is the one. This organic corn vodka is not only kind to the environment, it arrives in an attractive “craft”- style bottle, costs less than $20, and, best of all, tastes great. You can drink this any way you like although it works particularly well mixed in a cocktail as this takes away a little of it's harsher bite. Booze Can Be Made from Honey. 5 Spicy Vodkas to Kick Your Bloody Mary Up a Notch, The 10 Best Japanese Whiskies to Drink in 2020, 8 Things You Probably Didn’t Know Vodka Could Be Made From, 5 Single-Estate Spirits That Will Totally Blow Your Mind, 6 Spirits Made with Ingredients You'd Never Guess, The 11 Best Rye Whiskeys to Drink in 2020. From bloody marys to classic martinis and cosmos, these are the best vodkas to stock your bar with. From Grey Goose Martini’s to Russian Standard; we’ve rounded up the top 10 vodkas on the market right now to wet your whistle, By Grey Goose is a beautifully smooth vodka which you can drink on its own or whip up a classic Grey Goose Cosmo or Vodka Martini with. Vodka brands are experimenting more than ever with how they’re making it, as well as infusing and distilling their spirits with unique flavors. But vodka has uses far beyond simply riling up the joyless prigs who pretend to prefer chartreuse. 2020-08-02T13:27:28Z, Bourbon is an all-American classic, and we’re here to help you swig only the best, By Carys Lowry-Carter • America’s first craft vodka, Tito's from Austin, Texas, has been the choice for trendy cocktailians since it hit the market in 1997. Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our The base spirit for this spicy elixir is distilled from organic grapes sourced in California wine country, where the family-owned Hanson of Sonoma distillery is located. Best Potato Vodkas; Best Russian Vodkas; Best Flavored Vodkas; How does cheap vodka taste? Flavorwise, there are some vanilla and tropical notes, but they’re matched by a herbaceous savoriness that makes this vodka flexible for both citrus-garnished and dirty, two-olive martinis. Clear color. Produced in a small craft distillery at Mullion in Cornwall, Curio has explored the idea of flavouring its spirits using some fairly unconventional flavours: cardamom, samphire and also Peruvian cocoa nibs, which bring a powerful, earthy, chocolatey note to the vodka. Perfect for "light, refreshing spring and summer cocktails” enjoyed in the garden, the fragrant vodka mixes well with sparkling sodas, sparkling wines, and floral liqueurs. It retains the character of the grain, but with a silkiness that buoys its booming flavor: nuts and vanilla, spices, and cream. It is not the smoothest vodka around but, to be honest, if you're mixing it, it doesn't need to be. No big marketing push here; just a fairly priced spirit. Sweet and smooth with a fruity appeal, it’s a worthy bottle in and of itself, but infuse it with locally sourced, organic chiles—habaneros and half a dozen other varieties—and the resulting flavored vodka bristles with complex heat.