From the Russia-Ukraine war to increasing competition from fast-growing spirits segments, vodka has faced a tough year. We reveal the brands that managed to increase their volumes in 2022.

The world’s biggest spirit category (with the exception of baijiu) has seen slower growth in recent years, as competition has grown from other categories such as Tequila, rum and American whiskey.

Total vodka sales rose marginally last year, up by 3% in 2022 compared with 2021, Euromonitor International data confirmed. The category sold 341.5 million nine‐litre cases last year, compared with 331.4m the previous year.

Looking across the vodka brands in our top 10 list, we noticed half had recorded decreases, some of which could be down to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

In a category dominated by Eastern European brands, one vodka from Asia managed to record an increase of 30.4% – the highest growth among the bestsellers.

To read the full Brand Champions report 2023, click here.

Below, we count down the top 10 biggest-selling vodka brands of 2022.

10. Soplica

2022: 4.1m

2021: 4.2m

% change: -3.3%

Place last year: 7

Maspex Group’s Polish brand, Soplica, slipped by three places on the biggest-selling vodka list after dropping by 3.3% in 2022. It was the brand’s second year in decline.

Soplica was formerly owned by Russian Standard producer Roust, which sold the brand along with nine other Polish brands, in November 2021. The deal was valued at almost US$1 billion.

9. Grey Goose

2022: 4.2m

2021: 3.9m

% change: 7.9%

Place last year: 8

Bacardi-owned Grey Goose recorded a modest 7.9% growth in 2022 to surpass four million cases for the first time. The brand had performed particularly well in 2021, growing by more than a third following the impact of the pandemic.

The brand tapped in the fast-growing ready-to-drink segment in March 2022, as well as launched its lower-ABV Essences range in the UK the following month.

The move into canned cocktails with a Spritz range could have helped to drive sales last year.

8. Żołądkowa (including Gorzka)

2022: 4.2m

2021: 4.9m

% change: -14.3%

Place last year: New entry     

Stock Spirits’ Polish vodka Żołądkowa reported a double-digit drop in 2022 to 4.2m cases. However this year the brand owner provided its Żołądkowa Gorzka liqueur data within the Żołądkowa figure. With both products included in the figure, it meant that Żołądkowa entered the top 10 best-selling vodka list for the first time.

Stock Spirits also owns Prestige Vodka, a former Vodka Brand Champion, and grappa producer Distillerie Franciacorta.

7. Magic Moments

2022: 4.8m

2021: 3.7m

% change: 30.4%

Place last year: 9

Indian spirits firm Radico Khaitan’s Magic Moments recorded the biggest growth among the million-case vodka brands with a 30.4% increase.

In addition to the flagship bottling, the vodka brand’s range includes Verve, Dazzle, and a ready-to-drink cocktail line.

Radico Khaitan is one of the largest producers of Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) in India.

The company is also the owner of million-case brands, Contessa rum and Old Admiral Brandy.

6. Morosha

2022: 6.2m

2021: 7.9m

% change: -21.3%

Place last year: 5

Moving down one place on our best-selling list is Global Spirits-owned Morosha, which dropped by 21.3% in 2022 – the biggest decrease among the top 10 million-case vodka brands.

The volume fall marks its first decline in five years, bringing it back to the 6.2m figure it reached in 2019, prior to the pandemic.

5. Hlibny Dar

2022: 8.6m

2021: 9.2m

% change: -6.5%

Place last year: N/A

Bayadera Group’s Hlibny Dar returned to the best-selling vodka list after its last appearance in 2020, with sales reaching 8.6m cases in 2022.

The Eastern European group is one of the largest spirits companies in the region.

The Ukrainian vodka brand likely saw sales take a hit due to Russia’s invasion at the start of 2022.

4. Khortytsa

2022: 9.4m

2021: 10.9m

% change: -13.8%

Place last year: 3

Slipping down by one place on our best-selling vodka list is Global Spirits’ Khortytsa brand, which dropped by 13.8% to 9.3m cases.

The decline is the Ukrainian brand’s first in five years and is likely due to the recent Ukraine-Russia war.

3. Żubrówka

2022: 10.5m

2021: 10.8m

% change: -2.9%

Place last year: 4

Maspex Group’s Polish vodka, Żubrówka, has swapped places with Khortytsa to take the third position on the best-selling list, a spot it once occupied in 2020.

The 2.9% drop in 2022 marked the brand’s first decline in five years, but it is now one million cases ahead of Ukraine’s Khortytsa. In previous years, the brands have reported similar figures with Khortytsa always slightly ahead.

2. Absolut

2022: 13.0m

2021: 11.7m

% change: 10.7%

Place last year: 2

After temporarily losing its second-place position in 2020, Pernod Ricard-owned Absolut has held the spot for a number of years, including in 2022.

The brand recorded an impressive 10.7% increase to 13m cases last year, but it remains far below its nearest competitor, category giant Smirnoff.

During the second half of 2022, Absolut recorded a 19% increase.

In April 2023, Pernod Ricard suspended exports of Absolut Vodka to Russia after consumer backlash in Sweden. The move could see the brand’s sales slip in 2023.

1. Smirnoff

2022: 28.1m

2021: 26.5m

% change: 6.0%

Place last year: 1

Unsurprisingly, Smirnoff remains the world’s biggest-selling vodka brand at 28.1m cases.

The Diageo-owned brand’s 6% increase prompted us to name it this year’s Vodka Brand Champion. The brand maintained growth to deliver its best year to date – and it continues to be the category leader by volume.

Stephanie Jacoby, global senior vice-president for Smirnoff, said the brand grew by double digits in Diageo’s fiscal 2022 results, mainly due to the company’s focus on “global drinks and socialising culture”.

She also points to the boom in cocktails, particularly as many serves call for vodka as their base.

Smirnoff has also focused on musical partnerships to drive sales. “We were the presenting sponsor for the inaugural Billboard MusicCon, which has also led to continued partnerships with Live Nation,” said Jacoby.