Gone are the days when all you needed was cheap vodka to make great cocktails. The vodka industry now accommodates new taste and flavor options, innovative craftsmanship, and regional personalities, meaning your mixology has to be up to scratch.

Making the cleanest, crispest vodka with little flavor or aftertaste remains the goal for many cheap vodka distillers, while ultra-premium vodka expressions are more interested in taste and function. The best vodka brands are distilled multiple times and use the best water possible in filtering the distillate down, and some even have their distillery located on artesian wells or near extra clean water sources for this reason.

The following list of the best vodka cocktails includes great bottles of the spirit from the world’s top producers. It mixes new entrants, old favorites, and interesting flavored vodka products that are sure to spice up your cocktail making.

Best Buy

1. Elit Vodka

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Recently named the world’s best vodka by the Beverage Testing Institute (BTI), Stolichnaya’s Elit Vodka is an ultra-lavish vodka that screams luxury; from the elegant bottle design to the velvety mouthfeel and touch of sweetness on the palate.

BTI described Elit by the following qualities: “Clear color. Aromas of sweet mascarpone, nut brittle, and flint with a satiny, crisp, dry light body and a smooth, buoyant lemon custard and a hint of herbs and pepper finish. An outstanding silky-soft vodka for martinis.” We agree.

Only the highest quality wheat, rye, and water are used for this Vodka made with traditional Russian distilling techniques. Stoli Elit is made using a traditional “freeze filtration” method inspired by the Russian practice of leaving casks out in the freezing conditions to age and mature during distillation.

The perfect vodka to put in a premium Vodka Martini or vodka soda, you’ll be hard-pressed to experience a smoother (or more dangerous) drinking experience.