The best vodka: 12 brilliant vodka brands we recommend

When it comes to vodka, if you're after the smoothest of the smooth, Black Cow Vodka from the heart of Dorset is a definite contender. Created using the same cows milk that also goes into making trophy winning cheddar, you can actually taste hints of cream on your tongue - its slightly bizarre in a delicious sort-of way. Perfect for making cocktails or creating refreshing long drinks, this is a vodka that's about quality over quantity.

Alongside so many heavyweights, Chase is a relatively new kid on the block. It was created in 2008 on a family farm.

However, Chase is still a spirit to be reckoned with. Each bottle is made using 250 Herefordshire potatoes and it's batch-produced in a copper pot still called Fat Betty – and if that's not a reason to try it, what is? You'll be rewarded with a smooth, creamy vodka and an earthiness that's ideal for a grown-up vodka martini.

A triple grained vodka is something of a rarity, so we were excited to try Dima’s Vodka, a Ukrainian vodka that has been created to sip, not shot. There's a real creaminess with this vodka, offering a nutty aftertaste with a lovely bit of warmth. Our sample came with some crunchy pickles and we were told to drink the vodka at an ambient room temperatue - all of this makes for a vodka like no other and that is nothing but a good thing.

The family behind Ketel One has been distilling for more than 300 years and, although the vodka was only born in 1983, all that expertise is a large part of what makes it special.

Ketel One is distilled using a combination of modern columns and copper pot stills, and named after the oldest pot they had available. It is one of the fresher vodkas you'll find, with hints of citrus and honey, a distinct tingle and a long finish. Great for punch or a dirty martini.

When a good bottle of vodka will set you back around £20, it's easy to wonder what makes Grey Goose cost more. The answer may lie in its provenance – it’s made entirely in France, using wheat from Picardie and spring water from a natural limestone well in the Cognac region, while each bottle is even cleaned with Grey Goose. The flavours are equally premium – expect a slightly floral aroma, coupled with sweet tones of toffee that make an excellent White Russian.

Absolut Elyx Copper Crafted Premium Vodka is a smooth and delicate offering as part of the list. Not only does this bottle look the part with its truly unique design and copper coloured finish, but its distinctive taste steps up to the plate too. Featuring a 42.3 per cent ABV, it matches many other classic offerings on our list, serving up hints of spice and chocolate that make it so distinctive.

Distilled using copper stills, the process creates a smooth, creamy texture that works well over ice or with the addition of a mixer.

Also known as Stoli, Stolichnaya is probably one of the best-known brands to come out of the former Soviet Union, right down to the Moscow landmark on its label. Inside the bottle you’ll find a traditionally made wheat and rye grain vodka that exhibits everything from sweet citrus rind aromas to peppery notes and a slight tartness.

For an authentic Moscow Mule, there’s probably no better but it also pairs well with strong fruit flavours, such as lime, or on the rocks.

While the standard Russian Standard is great for cocktails and mixers, for aperitif sipping, take things up a notch with Gold. There are a few differences, and ones you'll probably only be able to pick out while drinking it perfectly chilled, neat or on the rocks.

Like the original, it's made with Russian winter wheat and glacial water but Gold is infused with Siberian ginseng extract. This gives it a richer taste, alongside notes of vanilla, caramel and spearmint, making it more complex, but worth savouring.

It would be a crying shame to slug this savoury vodka into a glass of OJ, its flavour profile lost to overpowering citrus. Crafted using Diamond Dankowskie rye from a tiny village in rural Poland surrounded by pristine forest, its slightly peppery, salted caramel flavours are a nod to the unspoiled region.

On the rocks or neat is best or, if you must, combine with small amounts of ingredients that show off, rather than smother, its complexity, such as vermouth, absinthe and bitters.

A self-proclaimed ‘modern vodka’ made from French grapes, Cîroc is the vodka for people who, up until this point, are convinced they don’t like vodka. Because who could fail to be won over by its citrusy flavours, subtle hint of vanilla, far less harsh vodka burn, and a smoothness that comes from being distilled five times?

It’s ideal for making a range of sweet cocktail favourites, such as Cosmopolitans or fruity martinis, as well as stirred with tonic over plenty of ice.

Two Birds might have started with gin but its move into vodka is a bonus for lovers of a purer spirit. A departure from the usual wheat-based mashes, this artisan vodka is made from barley and sugar beet in small batches for a naturally sweeter taste.

The cereal and root crop blend also makes for a smooth mouthfeel with a delicate finish that works especially well with juices or in cocktails that need a sugary twist.

Once marketed as 'white whisky' in a bid to entice Americans who were more familiar with the brown stuff, No. 21 is a cocktail cabinet staple and for good reason. It's an essential for everything from Bloody Marys to Harvey Wallbangers thanks to its versatility and clean taste. Triple distilled using traditional charcoal, the grain vodka is then filtered ten times to take out any impurities and give it an instantly recognisable smoothness that has won Smirnoff fans the world over.