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The ongoing invasion of Ukraine has led to a slew of sanctions on Russia as well as credit card companies, streaming services, and brands distancing themselves from the country and its actions. In the spirits world the echo is heard through the boycott of Russian-made vodka. But this has led to other, non-Russian vodka brands suffering because drinkers associate the colorless, flavorless distilled spirit with the invading country.
That is, even though some historians believe the spirit originated in Poland in the 8th or 9th century. On top of that, while there are myriad Russian vodka brands on the market, there are also well-known, high-quality expressions from Poland, Finland, the US, Sweden, and a ton of other countries. That’s why, since we don’t think it’s right that you stop drinking vodka completely, we figured the time was right to highlight some of our favorites. Keep scrolling to see all of the crisp, delicious, highly mixable non-Russian vodkas.
Ranked! Non Russian Vodkas
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8) Belvedere Vodka (Poland)
This crisp, rye-based vodka is named after the Polish presidential palace in Warsaw called Belweder. This rye-based, flavorful vodka is produced in the Polish town of Żyrardów.
Photo: Belvedere Vodka
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7) Tito’s Handmade Vodka (US)
If you’re a vodka fan in the US, there’s a pretty good chance you’ve enjoyed Austin, Texas’ Tito’s Handmade Vodka. This small-batch corn-based vodka is known for its sweet, mixable flavor.
Photo: Tito’s Handmade Vodka
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6) Suntory Haku Vodka (Japan)
A fairly new vodka on the market, Japan’s Haku is made from 100% Japanese-grown white rice and gets its name for the Japanese word for “white”. It’s filtered through bamboo charcoal to create a soft, sweet, mixable spirit.
Photo: Suntory
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5) Absolut Vodka (Sweden)
Produced in Ahus, Sweden, Absolut is one of the most popular vodkas in the world for good reason. It’s known for its well-balanced, soft flavor that’s the perfect base for classic vodka-based cocktails.
Photo: Absolut
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4) Grey Goose Vodka (France)
Arguably the most well-known vodka in the world, Grey Goose is made using Gensac spring water as well as winter wheat. It’s known for its slightly floral, sweet flavor that’s great neat or mixed into your favorite drink.
Photo: Grey Goose
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3) Żubrówka Bison Grass Vodka (Poland)
The only “flavored” vodka on this list, Żubrówka Bison Grass Vodka gets its flavor from being infused with bison grass. The result is a slightly floral, vanilla, and spice-flavored vodka that’s great on its own or mixed into a cocktail.
Photo: Żubrówka
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2) Ketel One Vodka (The Netherlands)
This Dutch vodka consistently makes lists ranking the best vodkas in the world. It’s an award-winning, small-batch vodka known for its crisp, clean, soft flavor that stands out as the base for multiple classic drinks.
Photo: Ketel One
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1) Hangar 1 Vodka (US)
The second American brand on this list, Hangar 1 is distilled from a blend of grains and grapes. The result is a floral, fresh, crisp vodka that can be sipped neat, on the rocks, or as a base for a martini or vodka and soda.
Photo: Hangar 1
