Even though vodka is the world’s most popular spirit, it takes a backseat to its flashier cocktail cousins like whiskey, tequila, and gin for many drinkers. That’s understandable, especially when you look back over the last several decades when low-quality and flavored vodkas flooded the marketplace. Drinkers could be forgiven if their definition of vodka was a flavorless spirit best mixed into drinks.
But that would be a mistake. Dating back to the tenth century, vodka has a long and distinguished history as a spirit famed for its subtle and distinctive flavorings. From its origins in Eastern Europe, it became the foundation upon which today’s modern spirit landscape was formed.
These days, for every bubble-gum flavored vodka on the market, there are numerous high-quality bottles that highlight the skills that today’s distillers exhibit when making vodka. In the hands of the correct distiller, vodka can exhibit a whole host of subtle flavors that can elevate a martini or make sipping the spirit neat a memorable experience.
The San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC) just released its 2024 Best in Class Vodka awards finalists. Each bottle perfectly illuminates the subtle nuances of modern vodka. As one of the biggest annual spirits competitions in the world, its judges have access to the best bottles for their blind taste-testing format. This year, more than 5,000 products were entered into the event across the entire spectrum of the liquor world. The competition is fierce, and any of these finalists would be a worthy bottle to pick up.
Here are the finalists in no order; all are double gold medal winners, and the Best Vodka champion will be announced in October.
Sobieski Clear Vodka
Straight from the heartland of vodka, Poland, Sobieski Vodka is a spirit steeped in history named after Poland’s greatest leader, King Jan III Sobieski, from the seventeenth century. First founded in 1846, Sobieski Vodka has survived the test of time and these days produces a wide variety of vodkas from their distillery in the heart of Poland. Their Sobieski Clear Vodka, which made the finalist list, is distilled with Polish rye and spring waters to produce a spirit with a hint of berries and healthy aromatic qualities.
Aspen Vodka
Less than a year old, Aspen Vodka is a poster child for what a modern ecologically responsible distillery can achieve. Nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountains and operating out of a carbon-neutral facility, the team at Aspen Distilling uses fresh mountain spring water known for its purity and clarity to produce exceptionally crisp and clean vodka.
Amundsen Vodka
The second of two Polish vodkas to make the finalist list, Amundsen Vodka honors the legendary leader of the 1911 South Pole Expedition, Roald Amundsen. Made from a blend of barley for sweetness and rye for roundness, it aims to deliver a subtle yet smooth experience with each sip. By running the liquid through a six-distillation process, Amundsen Vodka delivers a spirit with a spicy flavor and a dry finish.
Verità Vodka
If you are looking for a testament to vodka’s global appeal, look no further. Verità Vodka is an Italian vodka crafted in the heart of the Italian Alps from 100% Italian wheat and mountain spring water. Made by an Italian family with a long history of distilling grappa, aperitive, and digestives, it undergoes a triple distillation to create a smooth sipper. Ideal on the rocks or straight, it perfectly spotlights the delicate beauty that a well-crafted vodka can deliver.
House Wheat Vodka
Every year, competitions like the SFWSC and others unearth new and exciting bottles for consumers to try, often from smaller brands that would have been overlooked. This year is no different. Hailing from Tree House Distilling, an offshoot of Tree House Brewing Company in Charlton, Massachusetts, House Wheat Vodka leaped ahead of many eminent brands to land at the top of the vodka category. Made with locally sourced ingredients, it is an unfiltered vodka that allows its local terroir to shine through with each sip.