Scrumptious and versatile – there are myriad the reason why vodka stays a agency favorite worldwide. These medal winners are testomony to the standard that may be discovered within the class at this time.
Vodka stays one of many world’s biggest-selling spirits classes – and for good cause. The spirit has demonstrated its longevity and talent to adapt and reinvent itself when wanted by the many years. Its cocktail versatility and accessibility make it a agency favorite on again bars globally.
The stats again up its recognition, too. Vodka was the biggest-selling spirit within the US in 2024, in line with knowledge from IWSR and the Distilled Spirits Council of the US. Whereas quantity gross sales dipped barely (1.1%) and worth gross sales have been stagnant (0.0%), the 74.1 million instances offered within the US, price US$7.2 billion, are significantly spectacular.
So, which manufacturers ought to customers look out for? Throughout The Vodka Masters 2025, a plethora of high-quality entrants secured Silver, Gold and Grasp medals after being judged blind by knowledgeable judges.
Maintain scrolling as we spotlight 10 bottlings that secured coveted Gold or Grasp medals.
Let’s begin with the crème de la crème of The Vodka Masters 2025, which gained not solely a Grasp medal however the coveted Vodka Style Grasp accolade throughout this 12 months’s blind tasting.
The judges have been filled with reward for the liquid: “Actually traditional – very engaging base spirit, notes of herb and citrus, however all in steadiness. Textured however not heavy, and a mild, however layered, end.”
Król I is produced in western Poland and is the brainchild of a father-and-son group. The duo work carefully with native natural farmers to supply the rye to make the vodka, which is distilled 5 occasions. Król I clocks in at 40% ABV and retails for round £50 (US$68) per bottle.
Pure flavours have been again in trend for vodka lately – and Gold-winning Goral demonstrated how you can do it effectively with its cranberry creation. The vodka was loved for its daring, cranberry-forward profile that delivered an genuine flavour.
One decide remarked: “Wow – very cranberry, as promised. Can’t fault it.” A touch of grapefruit was additionally detected, including a beautiful layer of complexity, the judges famous.
Goral Cranberry Vodka comes from Slovakia and is crafted from durum wheat varieties. It undergoes a seven-column distillation course of earlier than a seven-step filtration course of. Bottled at 40% ABV, the vodka retails for round £33 (US$45) per 700ml bottle.
“Mild lemon drops on the nostril, with lemon sherbet – candy and citrussy.” These have been simply a few of the pleasing traits picked up by the judges that helped win Ghost Hill Natural Meyer Lemon a Gold medal.
The judges loved the “authenticity” of the lemon flavour on the palate, noting “there’s sweetness however lemon peel, too”.
Ghost Hill Natural Meyer Lemon is crafted from natural corn and goes by a ‘proprietary sharpening course of’ post-distillation. It’s infused with Meyer lemons earlier than being bottled at 40% ABV. It’s effectively price searching for out this proudly Texan vodka.
Created in Stockholm by Borg of Sweden, Borg Vodka took house a number of Gold medals in The Vodka Masters 2025. The spirit stood out for its “vibrant and contemporary, barely spicy and natural palate, with a well-integrated and textured end”. No imply feat for a bottling that formally launched in 2024.
The water and spring wheat used to craft Borg Vodka are sourced regionally. The water used to make Borg Vodka is collected from a pure spring within the Swedish mountains, whereas the wheat is organically grown by native farmers and milled on website on the distillery.
Sitting at 40% ABV, Borg Vodka is testomony to the distilling prowess coming from Sweden.
This was an actual deal with for the judges, who famous “shochu-style sweetness on the palate, with some berry notes that have been additionally on the nostril. Tremendous attention-grabbing and completely different.” It’s a key instance how the age-old trope that vodka is ‘impartial’ or ‘flavourless’ is grossly inaccurate.
The individuality and complexity of U’Luvka Vodka is what secured it a Gold medal throughout The Vodka Masters 2025.
The premium spirit is proudly Polish and produced from the best rye, wheat and barley. It’s triple-distilled in small batches, and bottled at 40% ABV. It’s in the stores for round £47 (US$64).
This Thai vodka is an thrilling improvement for the class. A Grasp winner, there was heaps of flavour within the spirit.
The judges praised the spirit’s aroma, which demonstrated “toasted rice, rice crispy treats, condensed milk, and a contact of milk chocolate”. The palate, in the meantime, introduced extra of those flavours plus “caramel popcorn and well-integrated alcohol”.
Distinctly showcasing its Asian roots, it generated pleasure among the many panel. Sitting at 40% ABV, the vodka will quickly be making its solution to the UK. Maintain your eyes on www.thespiritsbusiness.com to search out out when it is going to even be reaching different markets…
Piccadily Agro Indutries unveiled a brand new vodka in Could this 12 months – which is now a Gold-winning product. Cashmir, made with natural Indian winter wheat, blew the judges away through the blind tasting.
Made out of Indian winter wheat and water from Kashmir Valley, which is surrounded by the Himalayas, Cashmir Vodka is distilled seven occasions and sits at 42.8% ABV.
The aroma was complicated: “A little bit white peach, lemon rind and white pepper. The palate is nice, well-balanced alcohol, clean and the flavour matches the nostril. The end is nice; this can be a robust vodka for high quality cocktail-bar use.” Excessive reward certainly from the consultants.
Initially designed to be loved as a shot, that doesn’t imply Pernod Ricard compromised on high quality when creating Absolut Nights Smoky Piña. The spirit sits at 35% ABV and was awarded the highest Grasp accolade in The Vodka Masters.
“This positively is harking back to agricole rum,” famous the judges. “The smoky piña character exhibits up with its contact of overripe fermenting pineapple funk and burnt coconut.” On the palate, notes of “roasted pineapple with chilli, salt and lime” have been detected, with the judges concluding: “Dare I say, this is able to make rogue Piña Colada that thrills.” We all know what we’ll be shaking up at house subsequent.
“Impartial, stony, simple nostril,” mentioned the judges about this Grasp-winning expression. When sipped, Lithuanian Vodka Gold actually shone: “Stony, good texture and mouthfeel. There are hints of yellow fruit and a contact of citrus to offer degree of vibrancy. Nice size shifting to a savoury end.” As you possibly can see, this can be a vodka with tons to supply.
The spirit sits at 40% ABV, making it a really perfect addition to each cocktails and for sipping neat. It derives from Lithuanian grains and undergoes a multi-stage filtration course of. The affordability of such a well-rounded spirit – priced at about £24.99 (US$34) – can be an added bonus.
Rocky IV star Dolph Lundgren entered the spirits world in March this 12 months together with his now award-winning Arduous Minimize Vodka. Made out of Idaho potatoes and Rocky Mountain water, the model is known as from the filmmaking time period ‘onerous minimize’, the place a shot cuts from one to the subsequent. Lundgren based the model together with his spouse, Emma Krokdal.
So what makes this a Gold-winning product? The judges discovered lots to be enthusiastic about. The aroma was mentioned to be “clear with some biscuit, cereal parts”, whereas the palate was “flavoursome – the upper 45% ABV works effectively. It has citrussy notes, mild sweetness and is fairly traditional in model. The end brings some darkish chocolate for added complexity.”
Arduous Minimize is bottled at 45% ABV and is priced at RRP US$26 for a 700ml bottle.
Associated information
Mom of Pearl faucets into Australia’s vodka revival
Spiribam takes management of Le Philtre vodka
How Król I is reshaping the vodka panorama
