Unlike other spirits, vodka tends to be distilled, and then filtered afterwards, multiple times to achieve its smooth, crystalline character. Like other spirits, vodka is generally made by fermenting a grain or fruit and then distilling that fermentation. You can even make vodka out of thin air, as Air Vodka has shown. But craft vodkas nowadays are produced using everything from blueberries to milk. Traditionally, vodka was distilled using a starch-based crop that could be converted into sugar during fermentation: potatoes, corn, and grains, essentially. Cloying or muddy-tasting vodkas arenвЂ™t the best of the lot. ItвЂ™s a foil to such foods because, ideally, it finishes clean, crisp, and brisk. Vanilla, caramel, citrus, berry, herbs, grass-You should be able to pick out unique flavor components in the glass.ДЄs the Russians know, if thereвЂ™s one thing vodka is good for, itвЂ™s washing down intensely flavored foods: pickles, smoked meats and fish, raw bar. There was time when the very definition of vodka was a spirit вЂњwithout distinctive character, aroma, taste, or color.' TodayвЂ™s vodkas, however, have real personality, partly derived from the base material and partly because of careful distilling. If it hurts going down, itвЂ™s not worthy of your sipping. Those should add a silky, smooth texture to spirit and decrease any alcohol burn. The hallmark of vodka is its multiple distillations. More into spicy, savory tastes? Go for Absolut Elyx ( view at ). If youвЂ™re a fan of sweeter flavors, then Crystal Head ( view at ) or TitoвЂ™s ( view at ) might be your jam. With the help of our experts, below you'll find a curated list of the best vodkas to get right now. Because of its robust flavor profile, the Hangar 1 Vodka is our choice for the overall best option available. And he looks for a creamy mouthfeel without a cloying glycerin texture, as well as a clean, mouthwatering finish.ДЇrom big, bold, and spicy to smooth and sweet, or anything in between, thereвЂ™s a vodka out there for every palate. With that said, how should you decide among them? Charles Joly, spirits tasting judge and founder of Crafthouse Cocktails, says вЂњMost people want something relativelyВ neutral, but that doesn't mean it has to lack character.вЂќВ When he judges a vodka, he considers the quality of the distillate: вЂњIt shouldnвЂ™t have an aggressive burn.' He wants an aroma that hints at the raw material used to make the vodka, be it grapes, potatoes, or grain. In April 2020, though, the bureau dropped the definition that held vodka back, acknowledging something that experts know: vodkas areВ wildly diverse, distilled usingВ everythingВ fromВ grains to grapes, milk to maple sap. It was even long defined as 'without distinctive character, aroma, taste, or color' by The Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade BureauВ (TTB). An unaged spirit distilled and filtered repeatedly to achieve smoothness and clarity,В vodkaВ has had a reputation for blandness.

Top shelf vodka