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There are thousands of vodka brands on the world market, and producers annually present their products at leading international competitions. Experts determine which vodka is best by evaluating drinks based on clarity, aroma, and taste. Ratings are compiled based on the class, manufacturing features, raw materials and national character.
Results of international competitions
International Spirits Challenge
The international competition International Spirits Challenge is held annually in London and gathers more than one and a half thousand participants. The highest award Trophy is equivalent to the Grand Prix and is awarded to drinks that are selected from among the gold medalists by blind tasting. ISC is considered a kind of “Oscar” of the alcohol industry; only the best products that meet high international quality standards participate in the competition.
For two years in a row, the Belarusian vodka Syabry has been among the leaders of the London competition. In 2019, the brand’s strong drinks won two Grand Prix at once – experts highly appreciated the Lux and Chistaya brands. In 2018, the products of the Gomel plant received as many as eight awards in various categories, and the Belvingroup company was recognized as the manufacturer of the year.
Another permanent leader of the last two years is Belvedere Vodka Intense. Super premium vodka is created according to an old Polish recipe from rye alcohol and artesian water, which has passed 11 stages of purification. The strong drink has a delicate velvety taste with a slight hint of vanilla.
In 2019, ISC experts highly appreciated the legendary Zubrovka, a Polish brand of vodka, although a year earlier the drink was awarded only a silver award. The Grand Prix went to the classic Zubrowka Bison Grass based on grain alcohol and the herb Hierochloë odorata, which is hand-harvested in Belovezhskaya Pushcha. The company belongs to the Russian alcohol holding Rust.
World Vodka Awards
The judges of the World Vodka Awards in 2019 named British The Lakes the best neutral vodka in the world. Experts noted the almost complete absence of smell and a clean, slightly sweet taste, devoid of alcohol aggression. In 2018, the first place was taken by the Lithuanian vodka Gold, which was highly appreciated for its spicy aroma with fruity undertones and a perfectly balanced flavor bouquet.
For two years in a row, the Russian vodka “Gradus” with a slight smell of vanilla and bright citrus notes in the taste distinguished itself in the competition of national brands for two years in a row. The drink is made on the basis of spring water and Alfa alcohol at one of the oldest Russian enterprises – the Permalko plant. The blend goes through a multi-stage cleaning system with charcoal, quartz and silver, which gives the finished product softness.
Spirits Business Awards
The competition of the largest industry publication The Spirits Business has been held since 2008. About 45 thousand experts around the world evaluate the quality of alcoholic beverages, the work of enterprises and achievements in the field of marketing. The competition of vodka brands is called The Vodka Masters.
In 2019, the best flavored vodka was Smirnoff Peppermint Twist. The judges highly appreciated the bright aroma and minty taste of the drink, and also recommended drinking it in its pure form or adding it to coffee or hot chocolate.
The Super Premium category was won by Blu Lie Vodka Italiana, which was praised for its perfect balance of taste and velvety texture. Among the premium products, the experts awarded the first award to the Canadian Polar Ice Arctic Extreme, which is created using a unique filtration system with cooling down to -60 ° C.
The best Scandinavian brand was Koskenkorva Vodka Original with a creamy taste and light peppery notes. Vodka has been distilled in the Finnish village of Koskenkorva since 1953 and is highly valued at home for its impeccable quality and affordable price.
World rating of vodka
Participation in international competitions helps young and little-known brands to advance in the market. Big brands don’t often appear at the top of industry competitions, but that doesn’t stop companies from leading the way in global sales.
The five best-selling vodka brands in the mid-price segment:
- Smirnoff is the absolute world leader. The brand, founded in Russia by industrialist Pyotr Smirnov, has changed hands several times and is now owned by the British holding company Diageo. The line includes about forty types of vodka, which is sold in 130 countries around the world.
- Absolut is a Swedish vodka made from wheat alcohol, which at first aroused distrust among buyers due to the unusual shape of the bottle and a strange advertising campaign. For 40 years of its existence, it has become popular all over the world due to its pure taste and excellent quality.
- Khortytsya is a Ukrainian brand confidently conquering the markets of the USA, Canada and Southeast Asia. The drink is created from wheat alcohol, made according to a unique recipe, and goes through seven stages of purification.
- Zubrowka is a Polish vodka infused with the herb of the same name from Belovezhskaya Pushcha, recommended for mixing in cocktails with apple juice. The line includes 8 types of drinks with original and memorable tastes.
- Nemiroff – Ukrainian vodka at the end of 2018 showed a 40% increase in global sales. The manufacturer is one of the top three suppliers of duty-free shops. The brand’s drinks are distinguished by their impeccable taste, which has received high marks from experts at international competitions.
Elite brands of vodka are produced using high-quality organic raw materials. Popular in the super-premium segment are:
- Chopin Potato Vodka – fruity Polish vodka made from a special variety of low-starchy potatoes;
- Bar Hill Vodka is an American vodka made from Vermont honey that is fermented in small batches and then distilled;
- Carbonadi is an Italian vodka brand made from organic wheat and filtered through filters filled with black diamond chips.
Rating of Russian vodka
Russian manufacturers in the struggle for the buyer are constantly improving the quality of their products. Even among inexpensive brands, there are drinks made from Alpha alcohol, which contains a minimum amount of impurities. In 2017, the independent laboratory Roskachestvo conducted an examination of 49 brands of Russian vodka.
The top five were:
- Beluga is a classic vodka made from malt alcohol mixed with artesian water. The blend undergoes a 30-day aging before bottling, which softens the taste and completely eliminates sharp alcohol notes from the aroma.
- “Belebeevskaya” – a product of the Ufa plant “Bashspirt”, is made with the addition of mineral water from a natural source.
- “Gosudarev Zakaz” – a blend of high-quality alcohol “Lux” and purified water from an artesian well. The organoleptic characteristics of the drink are higher than those established by industry standards.
- “Green Mark” – presented on the Russian market since 2003. The vodka is double filtered with charcoal and silver.
- Russian Standard is the flagship brand of the Russian company Rust. A blend of wheat alcohol “Lux” and water from underground sources under Lake Ladoga.
Roskachestvo experts came to the conclusion that all samples of tested products are worthy of the attention of consumers, and the information on the label corresponds to the contents of the bottle. It is generally accepted that good vodka is easy to drink and does not cause a headache in the morning. To avoid unpleasant consequences, pay attention to the composition of the drink and choose manufacturers with a proven track record.