Best Vodka
From imported vodkas that have been around for generations to American-made vodkas started in one-room distilleries, this list includes some of the best clear spirits on the market. Martini drinker? You'll find several vodkas below specifically vetted as excellent additions to this classic cocktail. If you're the type to reach for something ready-made, several brands have a full line of flavored options. Tell us your go-to by casting your vote.
These 10 vodkas were selected by our featured panelists and contributors and voted on by readers as the best of the best.
1. Western Son
Western Son starts each batch of its vodka with American-grown, naturally gluten-free yellow corn and uses a 20-foot column of copper plates to distill the alcohol 10 times. While many enjoy it in this purest form, the vodka also comes in flavors from local fruit that Western Son juices during the growing season. Want your vodka to make a difference? Each bottle purchased supports a nonprofit for military care packages.
2. Belvedere
Luxuriously smooth with the essence of almond, vanilla and peppercorn, Belvedere is a high-end vodka you can enjoy simply over ice with a twist. This liquor is crafted in Poland with 100% organic rye and purified water in the country's longest operating vodka distillery, providing an unchanged product that you'd be lucky to have in your freezer.
3. Purity Vodka
Recognized as one of the best vodkas by Wine Enthusiast Magazine for five years in a row, Purity's Connoisseur 51 Reserve is distilled 51 times over 20 hours for a hard-to-beat smooth vodka. This spirit is crafted from organic winter wheat and malted barley, notes that are highlighted through the copper distillation process and come to life in Purity's signature martini with a splash of vermouth and lemon twist.
4. Grey Goose
Grey Goose is a French masterpiece, using soft winter wheat from the Picardie region and natural spring water to produce one of the best-selling vodkas in the U.S. Each batch goes through 550 quality checks and a final tasting before bottling, which ensures the quality that makes it a mainstay in so many bars and home liquor cabinets.
5. Absolut Vodka
Made from winter wheat and water sourced from Southern Sweden, this vodka consistently delivers a mellow taste with notes of grain. Absolut believes in steady evolution, which is why the classic bottle style is the same today as it was in 1979, but you'll find the brand has expanded to over a dozen different flavors, including citron and apple, and is committed to sustainability by becoming carbon neutral by 2030.
6. Ketel One
Born from the desire to create a superb martini, Carolus Nolet Sr. used his family's distilling expertise (that goes back 11 generations) to create Ketel One Vodka. Every batch is made in Schiedam, Holland and is personally tasted by a family member before bottling. The result is a slightly sweet wheat aroma with a velvety mouthfeel that certainly does make a delicious dry martini.
7. Tito's
Trailblazing the path for others, Tito Beveridge opened the first legally operating distillery in Texas in 1995. Tito's is now the best-selling vodka in the U.S., a far cry from where Beveridge started his self-funded, one-room distillery. This vodka, known for being smooth enough to drink straight, is crafted from corn in old-fashioned pot stills, where each batch is taste tested to ensure quality.
8. Stoli
Offering a bold flavor not lost when coupled with other boozy ingredients, Stoli is ideal for stirred drinks. Created in 1938, the recipe features natural grain that is triple-filtered through quartz sand and a birch-activated charcoal column; it delivers a sweet start with a peppery finish, a distinct contrast to many clean-tasting vodkas.
9. Pinnacle Vodka
Distilled five times for an incredibly smooth finish, this premium French vodka combines whole-grain winter wheat with clear spring water for a clean, fresh and light aroma. While its original version has won plenty of awards, Pinnacle also makes a range of other vodkas, such as its unique whipped and habanero flavors and its Light & Ripe line, which includes zero-carb options like Guava Lime.
10. Meili Vodka
Owned by celebrities Jason Momoa and Blaine Halvorson, Meili Vodka is made in Bozeman, Montana, where local family farms grow the grains for this sustainable spirit. Its ancient aquifer is a regenerative water source that provides some of the purest water on Earth. Sold in 100% post-consumer recycled glass bottles, the vodka is spicy and complex with aromas of lime, heavy cream and lemongrass.
About Newsweek Readers' Choice Awards
Our nominees are editorially driven with contributions from a panel of travel experts. The final list is determined by Newsweek editors. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For more details, read our terms and conditions. For any questions, please see our FAQs or email us at readerschoice@newsweek.com.
Our Featured Panelists
Aly Walansky writes regularly about food news and trends. She has been a food journalist for over twenty years and has covered everything from budget shopping to recipes to culinary travel content for national publications that include the Food Network, Southern Living, Food & Wine, Travel & Leisure, The Kitchn and more. She was ranked among top 10 journalists of 2023 and top 10 freelance journalists in 2024, as well as #1 food journalist of 2022, by Muck Rack. Follow her at alywalansky.substack.com.
Gavin Booth of coupleinthekitchen.com specializes in recipe development, all things grilling, food- and wine-based travel and romantic destinations of the world. He has extensive travel experience, visiting all 50 U.S. states and over 40 countries. He's a full-time recipe developer, photographer, videographer and writer.
With more than 20 years in journalism and content creation, Gretchen Pahia is a wife and mother of two teenage boys. With articles published in several publications, she is a recognized writer covering a variety of different topics including travel, dining, lifestyle, family and entertainment. You can follow along on Instagram @gpahia.
Newsweek contributors speak from a variety of backgrounds and offer expertise in a wide range of subject areas.