Cîroc
- $27.99 for 750 milliliters.
- 80 proof.
- French; distilled from grapes.
Cîroc's, placed in a smartly tapered purplish bottle which hints at the spirit's source—grapes grown in the Gaillac and Cognac regions of southwest France.
Grape-based vodkas are something of a novelty, and Cîroc, which was introduced in 2002, has positioned itself as a clear alternative to its wheat-based competitors, running clever advertisements that urged drinkers to "go against the grain."
Türi
- $28.99 for 1 liter.
- 80 proof.
- Estonian; distilled from rye
Absolut
- $22.99 for 750 milliliters.
- 80 proof
- Swedish; distilled from wheat
Absolut's advertising campaign is as ubiquitous as Coca-Cola's, and its packaging, which is based on an antique Swedish medicine bottle, is every bit as iconic.
It's hardly surprising that 40 percent of the imported vodka bought by Americans is Absolut brand.
Belvedere
- $32.99 for 750 milliliters
- 80 proof.
- Polish; distilled from rye.
Belvedere, which made its American debut in 1996, is imported by the same Minneapolis company that brings us Chopin.
Stolichnaya
- $22.99 for 750 milliliters.
- 80 proof.
- Russian; distilled from wheat
Americans began drinking this "genuine Russian vodka" in 1972, when Pepsi brokered a multimillion dollar trade deal to import it from the USSR.
Since then, Stoli's become a sentimental favorite; even today, it's one of the few Russian consumer products to make its way into American homes. The bottle is still a sterling example of Soviet kitsch. The taste is as biting and distinct as ever.
In Russia, Stoli's full name is pronounced Stolichnaya, not Stolichanaya.
Grey Goose
- $29.99 for 750 milliliters
- 80 proof.
- French; distilled from wheat, rye, and barley.
Made in Cognac but owned by the American Bacardi Corp., Grey Goose was introduced in the United States in 1997 and has since won a great many industry awards.
Grey Goose is sweet and smoky, with hints of anise and citrus in the finish, but it all adds up to only a sort of smooth, uninteresting neutrality.
Ketel One
- $22.99 for 750 milliliters.
- 80 proof.
- Holland; distilled from wheat.
Ketel One has been available in America since 1990. But in Holland the brand's been a family concern for 300 years, and the family in question—the Nolets—prides itself on its pedigree.
"Ketel" refers to the small, copper-pot stills this vodka is distilled in. The first and last thirds of each batch are automatically discarded as likely to be harsh and weak.
Zyr
- $32 for 750 milliliters.
- 80 proof.
- Russian; distilled from wheat and rye.
Manufactured near Moscow by a young American entrepreneur named David Katz, Zyr is dry and zesty, with a distinct floral bouquet, a full-bodied burn, and a surprisingly light, sweet aftertaste.
Jewel of Russia Classic
- $34.99 for 1 liter.
- 80 proof.
- Russian; distilled from wheat and rye.
Introduced in 2001, it comes in a stately, square-shaped bottle with red wax seals—the whole package looks heavy and handsome, and what's inside doesn't disappoint.
Armadale
- $33.99 for 750 milliliters.
- 80 proof.
- Scottish; distilled from wheat and barley.
Not long after its 2002 introduction, this unlikely contender—a Scottish vodka—started receiving shout-outs in Jay-Z's lyrics.
Shortly thereafter, Jay-Z and his Roc-a-Fella partners, Damon Dash and Kareem "Biggs" Burke, bought the rights to the brand itself. They picked wisely.
Chopin
- $29.99 for 750 milliliters
- 80 proof.
- Polish; distilled from potatoes.
Potato vodkas have never been as well-received as their grain-based competitors, but Chopin—which appeared on the American market in 1997—should go a long way toward changing their lowbrow reputation.
It's the smoothest vodka on the market.
Top Vodka Brands for around $10 (Bargain Brands)
Denaka - Denmark
KU:L - Poland
Luksusowa - Poland (potato)
Olifant - Holland
Seagrams - US
Smirnoff - US
Svedka - Sweden
UV - US
Top Vodka Brands for around $20
1.0.1 Vodka - US
Absolut - Sweden
ClearHeart - US
Blue Ice - US (potato)
Finlandia - Finland
Prairie Organic - US
Reyka - Iceland
Skyy - US
Stolichnaya - Russia
Sonnema VodkaHERB - Holland
Tanqueray Sterling - England
Top Vodka Brands for around $30
360 Vodka - US
42 Below - New Zealand
Blavod - England (black)
Bong Vodka - Holland
Cape North - France
Belvedere- Poland
Charbay - United States
Chopin - Poland (potato)
Christiania - Norway
Emperor Vodka - France
Grey Goose - France
Han Asian Vodka - Asia (rice & barley)
Herb's Aromatic - US (herbal infusions)
Imperial - France
IS Vodka - England
Jett - France (energy)
Ketel One - Netherlands
Oval - Austria
Square One Organic - US
Three Olives - England
Trump - Holland
Van Gogh Vodka - Holland
Versailles King's - France
Winter Palace - France
Zygo - (energy)
Zyr - Russia
Top Vodka Brands for around $40
IDOL - France (grapes)
IS - England
Stoli Elit - Russia
Tru Organic - US
source: slate