We like to think of vodka as a blank canvas. Sure, the best of the bunch are great on their own or as a classy vodka Martini, but many benefit from the infusion of additional flavors. Granted, it’s a massive category riddled with some options that should probably stay in the past, shoved deep into the farthest reaches of your old dorm room fridge. But there are treasures, too, top-shelf vodkas that ascend from drinkable to utterly enjoyable courtesy of some complementary part or parts. As you search for something perfect to mix with a little soda or enjoy neat on a lazy afternoon, look to these nine flavored vodkas.
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Frankly Apple Vodka
Austin distillery Frankly specializes in organic vodkas, often flavored with a shortlist of intriguing ingredients. The entire lineup is solid, but the apple takes the cake, hit with just the right amount of ginger to offset the apple notes. It’s a fun one to mix cocktails with or sip neat as liquid dessert after a meal.
Wild Roots Marionberry Vodka
The marionberry, a delicious relative of the blackberry, was invented in Oregon. Makes sense that a Pacific Northwest distillery like Wild Roots knows just how to work with the bramble notes of this fruit, blending it masterfully with its vodka. This is a great option for cocktails like slushies and frozen swizzles.
OYO Honey Vanilla Bean Vodka
The product of Middle West Spirits in Ohio, this vodka offers an ideal touch of sweetness. It’s surprisingly layered, with flavors like marshmallow, cinnamon, and honeycomb. There’s a barrel-finished version, too, if you’re after even richer, rounder notes.
Kachka Horseradish Vodka
What started as a house vodka for Russian restaurant Kachka morphed into a unique and popular label. It’s invigorating as a shot straight from the freezer, great in a bloody mary, and quite tasty with things like savory dumplings or seven-layer dip. The label alone is a piece of art.
Heritage Lavender Vodka
Touting one of the largest lineups of flavored vodkas, Heritage knows its niche. This recipe is among the best, a floral and grassy option with incredible color in the glass. It brings elegance to vodka-based cocktails and a sense of spring to your senses.
St. George California Citrus
The team behind a mean green chile vodka also makes a tantalizing citrus-infused option. This spirit is crafted with the help of Valencia and Seville oranges along with bergamot. The result is a juicy vodka with notes of zest and tea.
Charbay Green Tea Vodka
Green tea and vodka is a special combination, and Charbay capitalizes on it. This expression is consistently highly rated by the critics and for good reason. It’s made with whole leaf Chinese tea, and thanks to 120 days of extraction, you get pronounced flavor and a lot of finesse.
Breckenridge Pear Vodka
This pear vodka from the Rocky Mountains is delicious, drinking like a brandy but offering that clean vodka finish. You’ll come away with a deeper respect for pears and how well they tend to fit into the spirits equation.
Grey Goose Essences Watermelon & Basil Vodka
Plainly put, this vodka tastes like summer. No matter what you’re doing or how you’re sipping it, the spirit sends you straight to a sunbaked lake in a an inflatable raft. The fruit and herb notes mesh well, and the underlying vodka is balanced.
Article originally published May 30, 2018. Updated May 7, 2021 by Mark Stock.
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