Best flavoured vodka 2020: great vodka brands for cocktails, mixers or drinking straight
The traditional tipple with a flavourful twist - these our the best flavour vodkas.
The world of flavoured spirits has exploded in the last few years, and whilst gin has taken the brunt of it, vodka has not got off unscathed (as our best flavoured vodka list is about to prove).
UPDATE: This week's addition to our list is Two Bird's Passion Fruit and English Vodka because as we head into the warmer months we thought you'd like a fresh and fruit drink to enjoy the sunshine with. Made in an award-winning distillery in Leicestershire, this vodka is only made in small batches so it's a great option if you like buying local.
- Prefer something more traditional? Try a bottle from our best vodka list
Best flavoured vodkas to try in 2019
1. Black Cow English Strawberries
The strawberries used in Black Cow’s vodka are locally sourced in west Dorset, and are either leftover or misshapen so would otherwise go to waste. There is no added sugar or sweetness, instead it comes naturally from the strawberries which are left to infuse for four days. Ideally served over ice or with a splash of soda water.
2. Zubrowka Bison Grass
This Polish vodka is flavoured with wild grown bison grass (also known as sweet or holy grass) from the Bialowieza Forest - one of the last and largest remaining parts of a forest that once stretched across Europe. It’s a smooth vodka with an aromatic flavour and comes with a stem of bison grass in each bottle.
3. Two Birds Passion Fruit and English Vodka
Founded in 2013 as a gin distillery in Leicestershire, Two Birds has since branched out into making English Vodka and Absinthe - and it isn’t afraid to play with flavours, either. A perfect summer drink, this passion fruit vodka is fresh and fruity.With a lower ABV of 29%, it’s also a great addition to your drinks collection if you love making a cocktail.
4. Ciroc French Vanilla
Another award-winning vodka - this time for being the best flavoured vodka of 2018 (how fitting). Distilled five times from fine French grapes, this vodka then gets its vanilla “from multiple sources, including Madagascar”, its makers say. The ideal base for a Porn Star Martini, but can also be enjoyed over ice.
5. Absolut Juice Rhubarb
Said to be inspired “by the colourful days of the Swedish Spring”, Absolut Juice Rhubarb is made with 5% rhubarb juice to give it a well-balanced sweetness and a tangy bite.
Don’t be tricked by the fruity flavour though, it still has an ABV of 35%. Ideal over ice with soda or tonic.
6. Smirnoff Gold Cinnamon
This is your cabinet staple with a bit of an upgrade. This triple-distilled No.21 vodka is flavoured with cinnamon and most importantly, gold! - 23-carat edible gold leaf to be exact. It’s makers suggest enjoying it simply in a shot or as a Highball with apple juice and lemonade over ice. Definitely not the most premium vodka on our list, but a lot of fun and a great gift option.
7. Hotel Chocolat Salted Caramel
This indulgent chocolate brand’s liqueur is made by infusing the vodka with cocoa before melting in salted caramel. It’s award-winning, too - having won the 2019 title of World’s Best Vodka Liqueur. To really appreciate the taste, serve it on its own over ice.
8. Whitley Neill Blood Orange
Bring the spirit of Sicily to your home with Whitley Neill’s Blood Orange vodka. The flavour came to be after Frederick Neill and his wife wanted to find a way to evoke memories of their honeymoon in the Sicilian countryside. Enjoy neat, or with tonic over ice - add slices of orange as garnish if you’re feeling fancy.
9. Wilkin & Sons Tiptree Chocolate Orange
Made in Essex, this liqueur is created by distilling Tiptree’s small-batch vodka with its own Chocolate Orange Spread. Originally a fruit preserving company created in 1885, Wilkins & Sons has since branched out into vodkas, gins, condiments, and juice (as well as still making jams and spreads). Sip over ice or use it to create a Chocolate Orange Martini for a special occasion.
10. Belvedere Pink Grapefruit
007’s vodka of choice has had a citrus makeover. With flavours of pink grapefruit, fresh ginger and lemons, this vodka is four times distilled. And Belvedere knows what they’re doing, having won Vodka Producer of the Year three times in a row. You can enjoy this drink however you prefer - neat, over ice or in a cocktail.
11. Pimm’s No.6 Vodka Cup
Having originally been created in the 1700s, Pimm’s have revived their sixth ‘cup’ made with a vodka base. The more grown-up sister to Pimm’s No.1, the Vodka Cup has the same distinct spice and sweetness you get from Pimm’s with a more delicate finish. As with your standard Pimm’s, serve with lemonade and an abundance of fruit.
12. Grey Goose La Poire
Grey Goose use French Anjou pears to give its vodka a sweet, crisp taste - an ingredient which is traditionally used in patisseries across the country. The sweetness from the pears is mellow and subtle, and the vodka provides a great base for any martini.
13. Chase Elderflower Liqueur
If you’re still uncertain about the world of flavoured vodka, then this might be a good one to start with. With notes of fresh honeydew melon, this liqueur has a more subtle flavour than many on this list. The handpicked elderflowers are steeped in Chase Potato Vodka to create this 20% ABV liqueur. The perfect partner to soda water, sparkling wine or champagne.