I Used to Drink Only Grey Goose Vodka, but These 10 Options Are Better

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By Aaron Webber Published

Quick Read

  • The best vodkas in the world don’t come from Russia. You can find them in New Zealand, Colorado, and the U.S.A.

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I Used to Drink Only Grey Goose Vodka, but These 10 Options Are Better

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Not all vodkas are created equal. The variety of the tastes and ingredients of vodka often leaves newcomers pleasantly surprised. So, if you’re tired of the same old vodka mixed drinks and cocktails and want to try something new but don’t know where to start, we have you covered.

For this list, we compared some of the most reputable vodka and liquor publications and compared their best vodka lists, picking a few that appeared the most on all the lists while still being affordable for normal people. Here are the ten best vodkas we recommend.

#1 Tito’s Handmade Vodka

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A vodka drink.

  • Price: $20
  • Notes and flavor: Corn, pepper, ginger, earth
  • ABV: 40%

Tito’s Handmade Vodka

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Tito’s vodka.

We kick off this list with an American favorite, Tito’s from Texas. This was the first craft vodka made in the United States and quickly became one of the preferred vodkas for a Moscow Mule cocktail. It is also gluten free with a sweet flavor profile.

#2 Hangar 1 Vodka

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A Dirty Shirley.

  • Price: $43
  • Notes and flavor: Cinnamon, orange, pepper, dried fruit
  • ABV: 40%

Hangar 1 Vodka

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A screwdriver cocktail.

Looking to support American vodka? You can’t go wrong with Hangar 1 because it usually tops the list of the best vodkas around, being affordable and flavorful. This is a mix of wheat-based vodka and grape-based vodka. It has a savory syrup flavor that isn’t too harsh and is fantastic for vodka lovers and haters.

#3 Belvedere Smogory Forest

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A vodka fizz cocktail

  • Price: $40
  • Notes and flavor: Spices, caramel, nuts, vanilla, honey, pepper
  • ABV: 40%

Belvedere Smogory Forest

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A moscow mule cocktail.

This is probably the best Polish vodka you’re ever going to find for a reasonable price. Belvedere is known for its vodka production which uses artesian well water and single-estate rye. This is one of the newest vodkas on this list, which should speak to how well it has been received in the vodka community.

#4 Absolut Elyx Vodka

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Pouring vodka drinks.

  • Price: $30
  • Notes and flavor: Citrus, malt
  • ABV: 42.3%

Absolut Elyx Vodka

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Pouring vodka drinks.

If you’re a fan of sipping vodkas, then Absolut is for you. This vodka regularly makes an appearance on the lists of best sipping vodkas, and for good reason. Like most premium vodkas, it is best enjoyed straight out of the freezer and slowly sipped as it warms up, revealing more complex flavors and notes.

#5 Square One Organic Cucumber Vodka

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A bloody mary.

  • Price: $35
  • Notes and flavor: Cucumbers, florals
  • ABV: 40%

Square One Organic Cucumber Vodka

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A mixed drink Vodka soda.

Do you love vodka but hate mixing your own drinks? You should give this Square One vodka a try because it is one of the best flavored vodkas on the market. A crisp cucumber flavor and sweet notes make this a great option for hot summer days when you don’t want to waste time mixing your drinks but still want something interesting. It also comes in a beautiful bottle that is sure to catch the eye of anyone who sees it.

#6 Humboldt Organic

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A screwdriver cocktail.

  • Price: $21
  • Notes and flavor: Butterscotch, sugarcane
  • ABV: 40%

Humboldt Organic

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A black Russian cocktail.

We come back to America, California specifically, for one of the best organic vodkas in the world. Made from American sugarcane, Humboldt brings a sweet flavor to every cocktail. This is a crisp, clean vodka that many people enjoy neat simply for it sharp taste.

#7 Absolut Peppar

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Absolut vodka.

  • Price: $36
  • Notes and flavor: Vanilla, pepper
  • ABV: 40%

Absolut Peppar

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A Moscow mule.

Why is this one so good? It was created specifically for bloody marys, was the first flavored vodka in the world, and continues to outperform almost all other newcomers. It has balanced the spice and burn that vodka is known for without making it overwhelming. If you want an iconic addition to your vodka lineup, this is where you should start.

#8 Woody Creek Distillers

Vodka Cocktail glass and ice-cold bottle on blue degraded background with copy space.
Miguel Tamayo Diaz / iStock via Getty Images

A vodka cocktail.

  • Price: $36
  • Notes and flavor: Pepper, earth, potatoes
  • ABV: 40%

Woody Creek Distillers

Honey, lemon Cocktails
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A vodka cocktail.

You might think the best potato vodkas only come from Russia, but Woody Creek would beg to differ and is often included in the list of best potato-based vodkas in the world. The potatoes for Woody Creek come from the banks of the Rio Grande. This is the vodka experts recommend if you want a strong, bold vodka that tastes like home.

#9 Broken Shed Vodka

Bartender serving alcohol shots in neon illuminated bar.
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Pouring vodka.

  • Price: $15
  • Notes and flavor: Florals, citrus, honey
  • ABV: 40%

Broken Shed Vodka

Distillery
Kelvin Murray 2015 / Stone via Getty Images

A vodka distillery.

We go all the way to New Zealand for one of the best vodkas for highballs. For a drink that should be refreshing, Broken Shed has breathed new life into the highball with this vodka. This one won’t beat you over the head with sweetness and has a natural taste that will leave you refreshed instead of gasping for air or struggling through the burn.

#10 Crystal Head Vodka

Five gin tonic cocktails in wine glasses on bar counter in pup or restaurant.
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Vodka cocktails.

  • Price: $30
  • Notes and flavor: Fruit, vanilla, herbs, florals
  • ABV: 40%

Crystal Head Vodka

Martini spot light
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A vodka martini.

You can’t forget the glass skull bottle once you’ve seen it, and the vodka inside is just as memorable. Crystal Head has become a Canadian icon in its short lifetime. It is filtered through diamonds during production (don’t ask us why, we don’t know how that would help) and has a fruity and sweet taste with tropical notes. This is often the go-to vodka for martini lovers.

Photo of Aaron Webber
About the Author Aaron Webber →

Aaron Webber is a veteran of the marketing, advertising, and publishing worlds. With over 15 years as a professional writer and editor, he has led branding and marketing initiatives for hundreds of companies ranging from local Chicago restaurants to international microchip manufacturers and banks. Aaron has launched new brands, managed corporate rebranding campaigns, and managed teams of writers in the education and branding agency industries. His experience extends to radio spots, mailers, websites, keynote presentations, TED talks, financial prospecti, launch decks, social media, and much more.

He is now a full-time freelance writer, editor, and branding consultant. Most of his work is spent ghost-writing for corporate executives, long-form articles, and advising smaller agencies on client projects.

Aaron’s work has been featured on INC.com and The Huffington Post. He has written for Fortune 100 companies and world-class brands. His extensive experience in C-suite ghostwriting has launched the personal branding initiatives of dozens of executives. He is a published fiction writer with publishing credits in science fiction, horror, and historical fiction.

Aaron graduated from Brigham Young University with a bachelor’s degree in macroeconomics, and is the owner and primary contributor of The Lost Explorers Club on www.lostexplorersclub.com. He spends his free time teaching breathwork and hosting healing ceremonies in his home.

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