The rise of premium vodka began in earnest during the 1990s, a decade that saw vodka’s popularity soar to dizzying new heights. As the drink of choice for millions, vodka had cemented itself as a bar staple.
But as the market matured, the demand for something more refined emerged. Enter premium vodka – a category that aimed to elevate the spirit from simple mixer to luxurious indulgence.
Belvedere Vodka launched in 1993 CREDIT Ken Howard / Alamy Stock Photo
Spearheaded by now-iconic brands such as Belvedere and Grey Goose, premium vodkas made their entrance with serious style. Their sleek, minimalist bottles, often frosted or artfully sculpted, immediately set them apart.
But it wasn’t just about looks. These high-end spirits came with hefty price tags and a promise of superior quality – a combination that quickly won over discerning drinkers around the world.
What makes a vodka premium?
So, what truly defines a premium vodka? While price is a key indicator – for this discussion, we’ll place the starting point at above £25 – there’s much more that goes into justifying that extra spend.
First up: ingredients. Many of these premium vodkas are crafted from the finest raw materials available. That might be heritage grains or winter wheat sourced from specific regions such as Picardy in northern France. The choice of ingredients plays a crucial role in shaping the spirit’s smoothness and subtle flavour profile.
Wheat is used as a raw ingredient in some premium vodkas CREDIT Camille Delbos / Art In All of Us / Getty Images
Next, production techniques come into play. Premium vodkas often undergo meticulous distillation processes, using copper stills or multiple distillations to ensure clarity and purity.
Filtration is another crucial step — charcoal, quartz, and even diamond filters are sometimes used to create that famously clean finish. And of course, presentation matters. Those distinctive, high-design bottles are part of the allure, lending an air of exclusivity and sophistication to the whole experience.
Is premium vodka worth the money?
But is it worth spending more on premium vodka? The answer to that question depends on how you plan to enjoy it. If you’re mixing up vodka and cola or tossing it into a juice-heavy Highball, a solid mid-range option – such as Absolut or Stoli Red Label – will more than do the trick. Save your money for where it counts.
Vodka Martini Credit: Joakim Rolandsson
However, if you’re sipping the spirit neat or shaking up a Vodka Martini, that’s when it’s worth the upgrade. Equally if you’re crafting a cocktail where the spirit takes centre stage, – from a brunch-time Bloody Mary to a fruity Cosmopolitan or creamy White Russian – it’s wise to invest.
Here are a few standout premium picks to explore…
Best premium vodkas to try
Absolut Elyx
The luxury expression of Absolut, Elyx is made with winter wheat from the Råbelöf estate in southern Sweden. Wheat has been grown here since the 15th century. Distillation occurs in a manually operated copper column still, and the result is a silky vodka with flavours of nutty granola, ginger, freshly baked baguette and fudge. Alc 42.3%
Altamura Vodka
Altamura is an ancient variety of wheat that’s been grown in Italy’s Puglia region – specifically in the commune of Altamura and surrounding communes – for over 2,000 years. The only wheat in the world with a PDO designation, it’s the base of this decadently creamy vodka, which kicks off with aromas of vanilla, bright lemon citrus and lemon tart. Clean and crisp, with notes of cream soda, vanilla gelato, citrus zest and dry, black-pepper led spice. Supremely sippable. Alc 43%
Beluga Gold Line
This super-premium vodka from Montenegro is distilled from organic winter wheat and is rested for 90 days after distillation. For those who enjoy theatre, bottles come with a hammer to break the wax seal to open. Beyond the theatrics is a seductively smooth spirit, that bills itself as a ‘vodka gastronomique’ – and it is a fine choice to sip neat with caviar. Light grain notes give a base layer to fresh herbal and citrus flavours with a slightly salty savoury edge. Clean and crisp. Alc 40%
Belvedere
Made from Dankowskie Gold rye and quadruple-distilled, this vodka is bright, with vanilla, almond and citrus notes. There’s also a distinct peppery spice thanks to the rye. Belvedere means ‘beautiful to see’, and is inspired by the neoclassical Belweder Palace in Warsaw – the distinctive building that adorns every beautiful frosted bottle. Alc 40%
Copper Rivet Vela Vodka
Based in the English county of Kent, Copper Rivet Distillery follows a farm-to-glass philosophy for all of its spirits. Vela is made from a mix of wheat, barley and rye. The result is a silky-smooth, medium weight, sweet and spicy vodka. Deeper notes of rye bread and coffee grounds are overlaid with fresh pear and clotted cream. Alc 40%
Crystal Head Onyx
And now for something completely different… Rather than the usual grain or potatoes that’s used to make vodka, Crystal Head’s Onyx is produced using Blue Weber agave from Mexico. It’s a clean spirit, with aromas of lemon zest, green pepper and grass, and a light palate of meringue, more freshly cut grass, cinnamon and a touch of chamois leather. Alc 40%
Grey Goose
Launched in the late 1990s, French vodka Grey Goose is made in the Cognac region using wheat from Picardy, which is otherwise known as the ‘bread basket of France’. Francois Thibault, the maître de chai, focuses on teasing out the flavour of the grain in his spirit. The result is a creamy-spicy palate, with plenty of black pepper, alongside notes of anise, wheat and liquorice. Alc 40%
Haku
Japanese producer Suntory is better known for its whiskeys, but this vodka made from Japanese white rice (the word ‘haku’ means ‘white’ in Japanese) is well worth seeking out. Double distilled with bamboo charcoal filtration, the palate is pure, soft and rounded, with an edge of sweetness on the soft lingering finish that marries well with the dry vermouth in a Vodka Martini. Alc 40%
Meili Vodka
Created by actor Jason Momoa – famous for his roles in Aquaman and Game of Thrones – and designer Blaine Halvorsen, Meili (pronounced may-lee) is a seriously smooth spirit for sipping. It also makes a seductive Vodkatini. Rich and soft, with sweet cereal hints on the palate, it’s produced in Montana from a blend of local native and seasonal grains, with natural spring water from a 300-million-year-old aquifer. The rustic bottles are produced from 100% post-consumer recycled glass, meaning no two are identical. Alc 40%
Ramsbury Single Estate Vodka
This field-to-bottle English vodka is distilled at the Ramsbury estate in Wiltshire. It’s made using Horatio winter wheat that’s grown, milled and distilled on the farm. A rather floral nose of jasmine, honeysuckle, white pepper and lemon leads onto a creamy palate of sharp red currants, white pepper, anise and lemon zest. Alc 43%
Stolichnaya Elit
The premium expression of Latvian brand Stolichnaya, this wheat-and-rye vodka is triple-distilled and charcoal-filtered. It then undergoes a proprietary freeze filtration process inspired by the old Russian practice of leaving casks out in freezing temperatures. The result is a spirit with an oily mouthfeel, notes of butterscotch, a mineral chalky note, a hint of fennel and a crack of spicy black pepper on the finish. Alc 40%
X Muse
Pronounced ‘tenth muse’, this Scottish vodka from the Bonnington Estate just west of Edinburgh is a smart spirit full of character. Made from a blend of two different barley varieties (Maris Otter and Plumage Archer), it’s simultaneously creamy and flinty, with flavours of bread, walnuts and hazelnuts, dry cream soda and spicy chilli pepper on the finish. Alc 40%
