The Best Vodka Brands in India: Meet the Winners of the Cosmo India SNAs

1. Smoothest Vodka - Editor's Choice

Tito's Handmade Vodka

This is a real connoisseur’s choice, and Editor Nandini Bhalla and the Cosmo SNA panel agreed. Tito’s Handmade Vodka is a real artisanal vodka that was born in Austin, Texas in the mid-90s. It’s still made in the same way, in small batches, and using old-fashioned pot stills, in Austin’s oldest legal distillery. It started when trained geologist and Texan Tito Beveridge started making flavoured vodka for his friends. Known as ‘the vodka guy’ in his circles, he was persuaded to start distilling his own vodka, but in those pre-Internet days, all he could find were old photos of moonshiners from the Prohibition era. He made copper stills based on those photos and started cooking, until he had a vodka that he ‘could drink straight’. It’s made from corn, so it’s naturally gluten-free, hence it appeals to a wide audience.

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2. Smoothest Vodka

Absolut Elyx

This is the luxury vodka from Absolut, inspired by the values of ‘quality, integrity, and craftsmanship’. And it is still distilled in a manually operated, vintage copper still from 1921. The result is the award-winning, smooth-as-silk vodka that’s perfect for martinis, cocktails, or on the rocks. Absolut Elyx is made from ‘winter wheat’ grown on a single estate in southern Sweden. The Råbelöf estate has been cultivating its wheat since the 1400s, and the region has the ideal climate for producing winter wheat, with dry, cold winters and long, warm summers. Every drop produced is from seed-to-bottle within a 24km (approx) radius. On the nose, it’s clean, rich, with notes of white chocolate and mellow spice. On the palate, it has a full bodied, luscious, silky mouthfeel with waves of rich macadamia nuts, creamed cereal, and buttery notes of freshly baked bread. Absolut recently redesigned its iconic glass bottle—brought to life by London-based design agency Stranger & Stranger, and the new Absolut Elyx bottle now boasts a timeless silhouette, made from over 40 percent recycled glass.

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3. Best Vodka for a Cosmopolitan (and Other Cocktails)

Stolichnaya

This is one of those iconic vodka brands that really stands out for its heritage, taste, and popularity. The brand was born in Moscow and Latvia (formerly part of the Soviet Union) in the year 1938, where the recipe for this vodka was first created, with its unique Soviet-era labels. The historic Latvijas Balzams [the Cathedral], a lovely white building in Riga, Latvia, became part of the award-winning Stolichnaya production process (they won a gold medal in Brussels in 1958) and is still used for bottling Stoli to this day. In 1962, they became the first vodka in the world to introduce flavours in their vodka—Pepper and Honey & Herb. In 1972, the Stolichnaya was imported into the US, and became a brand of firsts—first to go on an Apollo space mission, first to introduce lemon vodka, and first to embrace and champion LGBTQIA+ rights.
But what makes Stoli the vodka worth making your cocktails with is its exceptionally smooth finish and slightly sweet, subtle mouthfeel that mixes well with everything. You can thank the distillation process for this—Stoli is distilled four times, then filtered through quartz sand and birch activated charcoal, and blended with artesian water.

Ruby mini bag, Aanchal Sayal, ₹9,500

 

4. Best Vodka for your Home Bar - Editor's Choice

Grey Goose

This is the most unusual vodka in the world due to its provenance. Born in Cognac, France—Grey Goose is completely gluten-free, made using soft wheat from Picardie and pure water from their limestone well in Gensac-la-Pallue. The company prides itself on its single distillation process and its 100 percent traceability from crop-to-cork. It’s a true luxury vodka that Editor Nandini Bhalla feels should occupy the place of pride in your bar. Plus, it’s the kind of reliable vodka that will please both solo drinkers and guests.

Grey Goose is created using some of the world’s finest wheat (that is used for making famous French baguettes), and distilled in a town an hour from Paris, then bottled at a plant in Gensac-la-Pallue (in the famous tall, frosted bottles). This is the brainchild of US entrepreneur Sidney Frank, who wanted a luxury vodka for the US market (Grey Goose’s original recipe lies with Maitre de Chai François Thibault). On the nose, it is clean, with a hint of pepper and almond. To taste, it’s got a touch of pepper, with hints of star anise. It has a great, creamy finish, and is best served straight from the freezer or in your favourite cocktail.

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5. Best Flavoured Vodka 

Absolut Citron

Did you know what inspired the creation of the Cosmopolitan, one of the world’s best-known modern cocktails, made famous in the 1990s by Sarah Jessica Parker’s character in Sex and The City (SATC)—Carrie Bradshaw? It’s an Absolut secret, but don’t be ‘sour’—we’ll share it with you anyway! It was Absolut Citron vodka—the secret ingredient that went into the original Cosmo (and we have the recipe just for you), that led to trendy young Manhattan-ites ordering their ‘Cosmos’ in the Big Apple’s hottest bars and clubs. And did you know that Absolut Citron both enhances a wide selection of drinks and works brilliantly on its own just by adding ice? This smooth, lemon-flavoured vodka that hit the world’s shelves in 1986, following the launch of Absolut Peppar. It quickly became the company’s best-selling vodka, and still is! So for decades, Absolut Citron (which is made in Ahus, southern Sweden; ‘citron’ means lemon in Swedish) is made of Swedish winter wheat, water from the wells of Ahus, and of course, citrus fruits.
It is the top-selling flavoured vodka in the world, and has played a major part not only for Cosmo fans worldwide, but for the evolution of mixology as a whole. It has always mixed well with others, just like Absolut (the original vodka). And here is the recipe for the perfect Cosmopolitan: fill a shaker with ice cubes. Add 40ml Absolut Citron; 20ml Triple Sec; 20ml lime juice; and 20ml cranberry juice. Shake and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with an orange zest twist, and serve. And now, 20 years after SATC ended, and we have a reboot in And Just Like That...you can still order that Cosmopolitan...it never gets old.

Selena Spruce Bag, Mistry, ₹5,250

 

 

6. Best Flavoured Vodka - Editor's Choice

Svedka

When you think of flavoured vodka, the candy-coloured bottles of Svedka come to mind—a brand from a country that’s famous for making this spirit since the 1500s, Sweden. The name itself is cleverly derived from svenksa or Swedish in Sweden! Founded in 1998 by Guillaume Cuvelier in Lidkoping, in the southern part of Sweden, it’s been the number one imported vodka in the US, and since 2007, belongs to Constellation Brands. Made originally from Swedish wheat, the distillation processes out almost everything and you’re left with a pure spirit. One standout feature of Svedka is the fact that it’s got a constellation of flavours to choose from and that is one of the reasons why it made it to the top of our panel’s list for Best Flavoured Vodka. The flavours on offer are Raspberry, Citron, Cucumber Lime, Peach, Mango Pineapple, Strawberry Lemonade, Blue Raspberry, Dragonfruit Melon, Ginger Lime, Strawberry Guava, the all-new Cherry Limeade, and there’s even a Rose!

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7. Coolest Packaging - Editor's Choice

Tito's Handmade Vodka

Founded by a sixth-generation Texan, Bert Beveridge, aka ‘Tito’, in rural Austin, out of a one-room distillery, with copper pot stills assembled by looking at old photos of moonshiners during the Prohibition—this corn-based vodka is 100 percent artisanal and 100 percent gluten-free. Tito basically used the same process as what is used to create single malts and cognacs. Pouring his life savings into setting up the distillery, it went on to become Texas’s first legal distillery. And to always stay true to its roots, Tito created his own label, sticking it on a clear bottle with Elmer’s glue. Until today, the clear glass bottle, with the simply designed brown label remains—something that truly stands out in a sea of hyper sophisticated, glitzy, and colourful bottles. But the bottle entered into Cosmo’s Saturday Night Awards also came wearing an ‘ugly’ sweater—as part of a special initiative by Tito’s. “The focus is to get everybody on board with the ugly sweater programme for the holidays,” John McDonnell, Tito’s Managing Director, International, said. We’re in!

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8. Best Made in India Vodka - Editor's Choice

Smoke Lab

This is India’s New Age vodka, distilled meticulously five times, using an ultra-modern charcoal filtration process. This smooth yet fiery spirit is the perfect addition to a party—just open a bottle and watch the surprised expressions when you tell them where it’s made—right in the capital city of New Delhi! This vodka has recently picked up a slew of international awards in Asia and San Francisco, and it’s a matter of pride that an Indian vodka has such a bright future. No wonder Editor Nandini Bhalla awarded it the Best Made In India Vodka for our list! This classic variant (that comes in a minimalistic white bottle) has an intense and smooth finish with a nutty aroma on the nose, accented by a tinge of citrus. For a fun cocktail, try this recipe for Blessed Be Thee by renowned Indian mixologist Yangdup Lama: take 60ml of Smoke Lab vodka; 10ml of fresh lime juice; 10ml elderflower cordial; egg white; and 5-6 fresh basil leaves. In an ice-filled shaker, pour the liquids and shake to get a green frothy texture. Strain into a chilled coupe and garnish with a sprig of fresh basil and edible flowers. Voilà!

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9. Best Vodka to Serve at Parties

Stolichnaya

Since 1938, Stoli has held the bar high for quality vodka, combining innovation, creativity, and daring with century-old traditions to create something refreshingly modern and yet classic. This brand is headquartered in New York yet still bottled in Latvia, and is a classically styled, exceptionally smooth vodka. Crystal clear in colour with marshmallow, mineral, and mild fruit peel aromas, a soft, supple entry leads to a smooth, medium-bodied palate with pastry frosting, talc, and citrus rind flavours. It finishes with a clean, lightly sweet, sugar dust, wet straw, and a balanced pepper fade. It’s really one of the best ways to enjoy a martini à la James Bond—Roger Moore famously sipped on a Stoli inside a Russian submarine (surprise!), somewhere in Siberia in the movie A View to a Kill. It’s also made an appearance on US television series Mad Men—there are many such delightful stories about Stoli (its colourful, mysterious history itself reads like a Soviet-era spy drama)—and this just might make you want to serve it up at your next party, even as a conversation starter.
 You can also make a fantastic cocktail out of it—the perfect Stoli Dirty Martini (all that talk about James Bond has us thirsty). Just take 30ml Stoli Vodka; 5ml olive juice; and one olive. Shake (or stir) in a martini glass and voilà.

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10. Best New Launch - Editor's Choice (January 2020 Onwards)

Absolut Grapefruit

This is yet another sibling recently added to the family of Absolut Citron and Absolut Lime vodkas. With its well-balanced sweetness and fruity taste, we know this will become one of your new Absolut favourites, if you haven’t tried it yet. It has the aroma of freshly squeezed pink grapefruit and is slightly sweet to taste. We love cocktails as much as the next person, and Absolut Grapefruit is a great base for a wide variety of drinks. You can try the easy-peasy Grapefruit Vodka Tonic: fill a highball glass with ice cubes, add Absolut Grapefruit, tonic water, and stir. Garnish with a wedge of grapefruit, and you are set. And to really get a wonderfully ‘layered’ and fruity cocktail, go for the Greyhound: fill a highball glass with ice cubes. Add Absolut Grapefruit, grapefruit juice, and stir. Add a twist of grapefruit zest, and you have a wonderful pink and fruity drink that tastes heavenly!

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