Ten award-winning vodkas you should know about
Delicious and versatile – there are myriad reasons why vodka remains a firm favourite worldwide. These medal winners are testament to the quality that can be found in the category today.
Vodka remains one of the world’s biggest-selling spirits categories – and for good reason. The spirit has demonstrated its longevity and ability to adapt and reinvent itself when needed through the decades. Its cocktail versatility and accessibility make it a firm favourite on back bars globally.
The stats back up its popularity, too. Vodka was the biggest-selling spirit in the US in 2024, according to data from IWSR and the Distilled Spirits Council of the US. While volume sales dipped slightly (1.1%) and value sales were stagnant (0.0%), the 74.1 million cases sold in the US, worth US$7.2 billion, are seriously impressive.
So, which brands should consumers look out for? During The Vodka Masters 2025, a plethora of high-quality entrants secured Silver, Gold and Master medals after being judged blind by expert judges.
Keep scrolling as we highlight 10 bottlings that secured coveted Gold or Master medals.
Król I Luxury Organic Vodka
Let’s start with the crème de la crème of The Vodka Masters 2025, which won not only a Master medal but the coveted Vodka Taste Master accolade during this year’s blind tasting.
The judges were full of praise for the liquid: “Really classic – very attractive base spirit, notes of herb and citrus, but all in balance. Textured but not heavy, and a gentle, but layered, finish.”
Król I is produced in western Poland and is the brainchild of a father-and-son team. The duo work closely with local organic farmers to source the rye to make the vodka, which is distilled five times. Król I clocks in at 40% ABV and retails for around £110 (US$150) per bottle.
Goral Cranberry Vodka
Natural flavours have been back in fashion for vodka in recent years – and Gold-winning Goral demonstrated how to do it well with its cranberry creation. The vodka was enjoyed for its bold, cranberry-forward profile that delivered an authentic flavour.
One judge remarked: “Wow – very cranberry, as promised. Can’t fault it.” A hint of grapefruit was also detected, adding a lovely layer of complexity, the judges noted.
Goral Cranberry Vodka comes from Slovakia and is crafted from durum wheat varieties. It undergoes a seven-column distillation process before a seven-step filtration process. Bottled at 40% ABV, the vodka retails for around £33 (US$45) per 700ml bottle.
Ghost Hill Organic Meyer Lemon
“Light lemon drops on the nose, with lemon sherbet – sweet and citrussy.” Those were just some of the enjoyable characteristics picked up by the judges that helped win Ghost Hill Organic Meyer Lemon a Gold medal.
The judges enjoyed the “authenticity” of the lemon flavour on the palate, noting “there’s sweetness but lemon peel, too”.
Ghost Hill Organic Meyer Lemon is crafted from organic corn and goes through a ‘proprietary polishing process’ post-distillation. It is infused with Meyer lemons before being bottled at 40% ABV. It’s well worth seeking out this proudly Texan vodka.
Borg vodka
Created in Stockholm by Borg of Sweden, Borg Vodka took home multiple Gold medals in The Vodka Masters 2025. The spirit stood out for its “bright and fresh, slightly spicy and herbal palate, with a well-integrated and textured finish”. No mean feat for a bottling that officially launched in 2024.
The water and spring wheat used to craft Borg Vodka are sourced locally. The water used to make Borg Vodka is collected from a natural spring in the Swedish mountains, while the wheat is organically grown by local farmers and milled on site at the distillery.
Sitting at 40% ABV, Borg Vodka is testament to the distilling prowess coming from Sweden.
U’Luvka Vodka
This was a real treat for the judges, who noted “shochu-style sweetness on the palate, with some berry notes that were also on the nose. Super interesting and different.” It’s a key example how the age-old trope that vodka is ‘neutral’ or ‘flavourless’ is grossly inaccurate.
The uniqueness and complexity of U’Luvka Vodka is what secured it a Gold medal during The Vodka Masters 2025.
The premium spirit is proudly Polish and made from the finest rye, wheat and barley. It is triple-distilled in small batches, and bottled at 40% ABV. It is available to buy for around £47 (US$64).
Sawasdee Jasmine Rice Vodka
This Thai vodka is an exciting development for the category. A Master winner, there was heaps of flavour in the spirit.
The judges praised the spirit’s aroma, which demonstrated “toasted rice, rice crispy treats, condensed milk, and a touch of milk chocolate”. The palate, meanwhile, brought more of these flavours plus “caramel popcorn and well-integrated alcohol”.
Distinctly showcasing its Asian roots, it generated excitement among the panel. Sitting at 37.5% ABV, the vodka will soon be making its way to the UK. Keep your eyes on www.thespiritsbusiness.com to find out when it will also be reaching other markets…
Cashmir Vodka
Piccadily Agro Indutries unveiled a new vodka in May this year – which is now a Gold-winning product. Cashmir, made with organic Indian winter wheat, blew the judges away during the blind tasting.
Made from Indian winter wheat and water from Kashmir Valley, which is surrounded by the Himalayas, Cashmir Vodka is distilled seven times and sits at 42.8% ABV.
The aroma was complex: “A little white peach, lemon rind and white pepper. The palate is good, well-balanced alcohol, smooth and the flavour matches the nose. The finish is good; this is a strong vodka for quality cocktail-bar use.” High praise indeed from the experts.
Absolut Nights Smoky Piña
Originally designed to be enjoyed as a shot, that doesn’t mean Pernod Ricard compromised on quality when creating Absolut Nights Smoky Piña. The spirit sits at 35% ABV and was awarded the top Master accolade in The Vodka Masters.
“This definitely is reminiscent of agricole rum,” noted the judges. “The smoky piña character shows up with its touch of overripe fermenting pineapple funk and burnt coconut.” On the palate, notes of “roasted pineapple with chilli, salt and lime” were detected, with the judges concluding: “Dare I say, this would make rogue Piña Colada that thrills.” We know what we’ll be shaking up at home next.
Lithuanian Vodka Gold
“Neutral, stony, easy nose,” said the judges about this Master-winning expression. When sipped, Lithuanian Vodka Gold really shone: “Stony, nice texture and mouthfeel. There are hints of yellow fruit and a touch of citrus to give a good level of vibrancy. Great length moving to a savoury finish.” As you can see, this is a vodka with lots to offer.
The spirit sits at 40% ABV, making it an ideal addition to both cocktails and for sipping neat. It derives from Lithuanian grains and undergoes a multi-stage filtration process. The affordability of such a well-rounded spirit – priced at about £24.99 (US$34) – is also an added bonus.
Hard Cut Vodka
Rocky IV star Dolph Lundgren entered the spirits world in March this year with his now award-winning Hard Cut Vodka. Made from Idaho potatoes and Rocky Mountain water, the brand is named from the filmmaking term ‘hard cut’, where a shot cuts from one to the next. Lundgren founded the brand with his wife, Emma Krokdal.
So what makes this a Gold-winning product? The judges found plenty to be excited about. The aroma was said to be “clean with some biscuit, cereal elements”, while the palate was “flavoursome – the higher 45% ABV works well. It has citrussy notes, light sweetness and is pretty classic in style. The finish brings some dark chocolate for added complexity.”
Hard Cut is bottled at 45% ABV and is priced at RRP US$26 for a 700ml bottle.
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