16 Best Vodka Brands in India for 2024
Vodka is a clear distilled alcoholic beverage, which is loved across the world. With origins in Russia, Sweden, and Poland, vodka is the first preference for cocktails given its neutral flavour and colour profile. The name “vodka” is derived from Slavic word “voda” which translates into “little water”. Vodka has been part of popular culture since the late 1700s and has gone on to become one of the most popular beverages on the planet.
The best part about vodka is that you can get great options when on a low budget, which isn’t generally the case with whisky, gin, and wine. In case you are on the lookout for a nice vodka to treat yourself or your loved ones, we have curated a list of the best vodka brands available in India – including international and Indian brands. But before that…
What is Vodka?
As discussed, vodka is an alcoholic drink that has its origins in Russia, Poland, and Sweden around the late 18th century. Since then, it has travelled across the globe and is loved by millions of alcohol lovers. Contrary to whisky, vodka has no standard composition or formulation. Instead, you can see vodka being made from potatoes, rice, corn, rye, molasses, and even fruit by some brands. The EU has prescribed a 40% minimum alcohol by volume to be categorised as vodka, while the US puts it at 37.5%.
How to Drink Vodka?
You can drink vodka in a number of ways; the most popular ones are neat (without any mixing), with ice, and with water or soda. Usually, vodka is also used in several popular cocktails such as Vodka Martini, Screwdriver, and Cosmopolitan. There is no real purist way to drink vodka, and you can enjoy it in a number of ways.
What if I don’t drink vodka?
If you are a teetotaller, we have something exciting for you. There are several great 100% non-alcoholic drink brands to choose from. They offer a robust flavour and give you a chance to enjoy yourself with your friends without feeling left out.
How Do We Pick the Best Vodka Brands In India?
Vodka is one of the simplest kinds of alcoholic beverages. However, it has various elements including ingredients, smoothness, and price. We have curated a list of the best vodka brands that cater to almost every kind of drinker out there. Here you can also check the best rum brands in India.
List of Top 16 Indian Vodka Brands in India
1. Magic Moments
Magic Moments is the go-to vodka brand in India. Major liquor manufacturer Radico Khaitan owns this brand, which is one of the most popular and cost-effective alcohol brands in the country.
Notable Features
- Magic Moments is available in various flavour options including Plain, Green Apple, Orange, Lemon, Chocolate, and more.
- The vodka is prepared with a triple distilling process that ensures a smooth taste.
- Launched in 2005, Magic Moments has become one of India’s most popular vodka in less than 20 years.
Country of origin: India
Latest Price (in Gurgaon, Haryana): 750ml at Rs 350
2. Smoke
Smoke Vodka is one of the newest vodka brands in India. With a refreshing new design, Smoke Vodka by Smoke Labs is targeted at the millennials and Generation Z population of the country.
Notable Features
- Smoke vodka is filtered 5 times using an ultra-modern charcoal filtration technique.
- The brand offers a unique Aniseed flavoured vodka that not every major brand has in the country.
- Smoke vodka bottle designs are a treat to the eyes. In a world dominated by regular bottle designs, this one is a pleasant surprise.
Country of origin: India
Latest Price (in Gurgaon, Haryana): 750ml at Rs 1,450
3. White Mischief
White Mischief is yet another big brand when it comes to Indian vodkas. Owned by the UB Group, WM has fast become India’s most sold vodka with a mind-blowing 46% market share.
Notable Features
- White Mischief holds almost half the market in India, despite the hundreds of vodka brands present here.
- Comes in several great flavour options – Strawberry, Mint, Green Apple, Cinnamon.
- The White Mischief brand has been synonymous with Indian vodka among the country’s youth.
Country of origin: India
Latest Price (in Gurgaon, Haryana): 750ml at Rs 620
4. Romanov
While Romanov might sound Russian, it is indeed an Indian brand of vodka. It is yet another UB-owned vodka brand and is named after the dynasty that ruled Russian Empire for more than 300 years.
Notable Features
- You get four flavours with Romanov – Premium, Orange, Lemon, and Apple.
- One of the most cost-effective vodka brands that finds its place in low-cost clubs and bars.
- Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty has been the brand ambassador for Romanov.
Country of origin: India
Latest Price (in Gurgaon, Haryana): 750ml at Rs 300
5. Rahasya
The “India-infused” vodka brand, Rahasya, is one of the several independent craft liquor brands in the country. Originating in Goa, Rahasya has a gorgeous bottle design and a unique flavour.
Notable Features
- This is the first “innovative transformation” vodka from an Indian liquor brand.
- Has a flavour profile that reminds you of your Indian roots.
- Available currently only in Goa, availability in other states to follow soon.
Country of origin: India
Latest Price (in Gurgaon, Haryana): 750ml at Rs 850
Best International Vodka Brands Available in India
6. Absolut
With Swedish origins, Absolut vodka is probably the most widely recognised vodka brand in the world. It is owned by French brand Pernod Ricard and is sold in more than 120 countries across the globe.
Notable Features
- Absolut is available in several great flavour options including plain, watermelon, raspberry, passionfruit, and more.
- This vodka offers a mellow, smooth flavour with low harshness when drunk neat or with mixers.
- You get a unique character of the grain and a fruity essence for a refreshing experience.
Country of origin: Sweden
Latest Price (in Gurgaon, Haryana): 750ml at Rs 1,100
7. Belvedere
Belvedere is a Polish rye vodka named after Belweder, the Polish presidential palace. Owned by LVMH, Belvedere is one of the world’s most popular luxury vodka brands with a premium design and mellow taste profile.
Notable Features
- Belvedere has a smooth and rather spicey taste (thanks to rye), which makes it stand out from the crowd.
- The unique flavour makes it a great choice to give premium cocktails a custom flavour without using liqueurs.
- The vodka is distilled using a four-column still process, followed by charcoal filtering.
Country of origin: Poland
Latest Price (in Gurgaon, Haryana): 750ml at Rs 2,300
8. Ciroc
Ciroc is a well-known luxury vodka brand distributed by Diageo. It is known for its unique bottle design and interesting production process.
Notable Features
- Ciroc vodka is a unique vodka that is made from grapes instead of the regular rye, corn, and grain.
- The brand was founded in the wine capital of the world, Bordeaux.
- It offers a refreshing fruity and smooth taste that goes well neat as well as with some ice.
Country of origin: France
Latest Price (in Gurgaon, Haryana): 750ml at Rs 2,300
9. Finlandia
As the name suggests, Finlandia is one of the top-selling vodka brands from Finland. This is a one-of-a-kind vodka that is made from barley and later blended with glacial water and flavourings.
Notable Features
- The combination of six-row barley and glacial water ensures a unique yet smooth flavour profile that goes well with cocktails.
- It has a long finish that is refreshing and minerally.
- It offers a refreshing fruity and smooth taste that goes well neat as well as with some ice.
Country of origin: Finland
Latest Price (in Gurgaon, Haryana): 750ml at Rs 1,100
10. Grey Goose
Grey Goose is considered to be one of the most premium vodka brands in the world. Originating from France, this brand was founded by Sidney Frank in 1997. The luxury vodka is bottled in Cognac, France.
Notable Features
- Grey Goose is one of the youngest vodka brands with origins dating back just 25 years.
- The brand is now owned by Bacardi, acquired in 2004
- The water for this vodka comes from natural spring water filtered through Champagne limestone.
Country of origin: France
Latest Price (in Gurgaon, Haryana): 750ml at Rs 2,300
11. Ketel One
Ketel One is a Schiedam, Netherlands based liquor brand that specialises in vodka made from 100% wheat in copper pot stills. The distillery that makes the company’s vodka was established way back in 1691 by the Nolet family.
Notable Features
- Ketel One comes in several flavours including regular, citron, orange, botanical, and Jenever.
- Ketel One vodka is filtered over loose charcoal and rests in tile-laced tanks until ready for sale.
- Ketel One sells over 2 million cases every year.
Country of origin: Netherlands
Latest Price (in Gurgaon, Haryana): 750ml at Rs 1,300
12. Roberto Cavalli
One of the rare few Italian luxury vodka brands, Roberto Cavalli is a global designer brand that brings apparel, accessories, and alcohol. The company is headquartered in the Italian city of Panzano.
Notable Features
- Roberto Cavalli vodka or RC vodka has a trademark creamy and lemon zesty flavour profile.
- The RC vodka makes for a brilliant gift thanks to its designer look and its special edition bottles.
- The aftertaste of this vodka is long and soft, with a mineral-like texture that fades away.
Country of origin: Italy
Latest Price (in Gurgaon, Haryana): 750ml at Rs 4,000
13. Russian Standard
Russian Standard is one of the biggest vodka brands in the world, originating from Russia. Founded in 1998, this brand has gone on to become synonymous with Russian vodka over the last couple of decades.
Notable Features
- Russian Standard vodka is produced using a four-step process that involves mashing, distillation, fermenting, filtration, and more.
- The vodka uses water from Lake Ladoga near Saint Petersburg, Russia.
- It comes in several variants – regular, gold, platinum, and imperial.
Country of origin: Russia
Latest Price (in Gurgaon, Haryana): 750ml at Rs 1,200
14. Smirnoff
Smirnoff is possibly the highest selling budget vodka brand in the world. Owned by British company Diageo, Smirnoff started off in Moscow and is now sold across 130 countries in the world.
Notable Features
- Smirnoff vodka is unaged in nature and is made using the traditional filtration method followed centuries ago.
- Smirnoff sells Red Label, Silver Label, Black, Blue Label, Vladimir, and Black Ice Triple Filtered variants.
- The generic Smirnoff vodka variant has won double gold medals at global spirits competitions.
Country of origin: Multiple countries
Latest Price (in Gurgaon, Haryana): 750ml at Rs 3,200
15. Stolichnaya
Introduced in 1901, Stolichnaya is a Soviet vodka brand with a rich history and flavoured spirits. The company behind the brand produces and bottles its vodka in Latvia, although the brand has its origins in Russia.
Notable Features
- Stolichnaya vodka has a controversial background with several companies claiming ownership due to a blurred past.
- This vodka is available in several variants such as red label, gold, blue, Vanilla, Strawberry, and more.
- The brand has partnered with the New York Yankees to publish several digital banners behind the home plate.
Country of origin: Latvia, Russia
Latest Price (in Gurgaon, Haryana): 750ml at Rs 1,200
16. Tito’s
Tito’s Vodka is a rare 6-time distilled vodka that is uniquely made from yellow corn instead of potatoes or any kind of wheat. The brand is a rage in the US with over 4 million cases sold every year in its home country alone.
Notable Features
- Tito’s Handmade Vodka has been part of controversy regarding the ‘handmade’ in its name. However, several lawsuits have been struck down.
- Tito’s is an unaged vodka that goes through a 6-time distillation process that is unique to this brand.
- The brand sells its vodka in several variants including peppermint, sweet pepper, cinnamon, pear, raspberry, and more.
Country of origin: USA
Latest Price (in Gurgaon, Haryana): 750ml at Rs 2,500
Best Vodka Brands in India With Price List
| Best Vodka Brands | Price 750ml* (Gurugram, Haryana) |
|---|---|
| Magic Moments | Starting at Rs 350 |
| Smoke | Starting at Rs 1,450 |
| White Mischief | Starting at Rs 620 |
| Romanov | Starting at Rs 300 |
| Rahasya | Starting at Rs 850 (Goa) |
| Absolut | Starting at Rs 1,100 |
| Belvedere | Starting at Rs 2,300 |
| Ciroc | Starting at Rs 2,300 |
| Finlandia | Starting at Rs 1,100 |
| Grey Goose | Starting at Rs 2,300 |
| Ketel One | Starting at Rs 1,300 |
| Roberto Cavalli | Starting at Rs 4,000 |
| Russian Standard | Starting at Rs 1,200 |
| Smirnoff | Starting at Rs 3,200 |
| Stolichnaya | Starting at Rs 1,200 |
| Tito’s | Starting at Rs 2,500 |
*Prices are subject to change
Final Word
Vodkas are some of the most enjoyed spirits in the world. With several varieties and types of grains, we have curated a list of the absolute best vodka brands in India. While Smirnoff, Stolichnaya, and Absolut are our absolute party favourites, you can go through the list and take your pick depending on the budget, region, and taste profile mentioned.
FAQs
Which brand is best in vodka?
Smirnoff is one of the best selling vodka brands in India and across the world. The brand is said to have sold over 23 million cases in 2020.
How do you know if vodka is good?
Vodka is usually consumed with water, soda, or a fizzy drink. To know if vodka is good, the spirit should taste neutral and smooth in all of these avatars. It should ideally not alter the flavour of any cocktail.
How many different brands of vodka are there?
There are thousands of different brands of vodka. This is because vodka is usually unaged and made with a simple distillation process. Thus, the setup and production process is fairly cost-effective.
What are the 3 types of vodka?
Usually, vodka is made from three types of ingredients: grain, fruit, and potatoes. However, in some cases, it might be made from unique ingredients such as rice and more.
Is vodka good for health?
Vodka, like other spirits, is fine only if taken in moderation. Overdose of any kind of alcohol is seriously injurious to health.
What is the strongest vodka?
The strongest vodka in the world is the Spirytus Rektyfikowany. This is a Polish vodka brand and comes with 192 proof or 96% alcohol by volume. It is the strongest commercially-available vodka in the world.
What are the side effects of vodka?
The side effects of vodka, like other spirits, include drowsiness, loss of senses, and liver dysfunction. This is, of course, if alcohol is consumed in large doses.
Can we drink vodka with water?
Yes, in fact, drinking vodka with water is a common practice among liquor enthusiasts across the world.
