The Best Luxury Vodka Brands From Around The World
Vodka is the blank slate of alcohol. The clear spirit, which tends to be made most often from either fermented grains or potatoes, is a staple in so many cocktails and DIY mixed drinks. Good vodka is relatively flavorless to compliment whatever it's paired with and has enough of an alcoholic punch to make it interesting all on its own. Whether you prefer a dry martini or a zesty Moscow mule, vodka is the reliable bar staple that can essentially do it all.
Many of us who have dabbled in drinking may have bad experiences with cheap vodka with a taste that resembles nail polish remover more than it does a tasty spirit. Finding a good vodka can be difficult. Lucky for us, the world of top-shelf vodkas is ever-expanding, with so many options to find something that fits your flavor palate. In addition, if you have a lot of extra cash burning a hole in your pocket, there are a few luxury brands of vodka that come with high price tags as well as a high-quality reward.
We decided to shout out a few of the best luxury vodka brands from around the world. The price of these bottles can range from less than $100 to millions of dollars, and all of them will surely result in a drink unlike anything you've ever tasted before.
How we select the products
Unlike budget-friendly and average-priced bottles of vodka, luxury bottles have such an allure for being expensive and difficult to get your hands on. Therefore, to determine the best of the best of luxury, we relied a lot on the collective opinions on the internet. We've consulted with press buzz and online reviews to determine the flavor profiles of some of the bottles with high price tags and exclusivity that prevented us from getting our hands on them ourselves.
In addition, many luxury vodka brands provide robust information on what makes their bottles stand out from the average bar shelf. Many of the best vodkas that made it onto our list of luxury have gone through labor-intensive processes to get on the shelves, whether it's their unique distillation techniques or added ingredients that you definitely won't find at the average distillery. In general, taste is just half the experience of indulging in a high-end vodka. It's also the appreciation for the craft, the artistry on the bottle from which it's poured and the taste left in your mouth after you gulp it down. All of these factors determined which top-shelf bottles made the cut.
Absolut Crystal Pinstripe
Like so many of the best-flavored vodkas, Absolut is a common vodka with an extensive line of flavors that you will find at any regular bar or liquor store. The brand succeeds in being a high-quality and reasonably priced vodka, but the distillers also like to experiment beyond their comfort zone. One example is when the brand first introduced its Absolut Pinstripe bottles in 2011. The handmade bottle is crafted entirely out of crystal and comes with two matching tumblers. The bottle was created by Swedish design duo Magnus Skogsberg and Mimmi Smart, and the entire package comes in a very fitting treasure chest case (via Difford's Guide).
Absolut created only 800 bottles of this vodka, and they sell for $1,650 apiece, if you happen to be able to get your hands on one. Even more exclusive is the Absolut Crystal Pinstripe Black Bottle that sells for $10,000, but that price sort of makes sense when you consider that the brand only made 10 bottles in total (via Uncrate).
Beluga Vodka
Beluga vodka is the epitome of top-shelf vodka. The spirit comes from the Mariinsk Disillery in the solitude of Siberia, making it a Russian vodka with a noticeable amount of craftsmanship. One of the most premium bottles from the brand is Beluga Epicure, which is a collaboration with French crystal house Lalique. Only 1,000 bottles of Beluga Epicure were created, marked by a decanter that's nothing short of a work of art. The hand-blown decanter as well as the exclusivity of the bottle helps to justify the $6,000 price tag upon its 2017 release (via Forbes).
The vodka inside is also meticulously made out of artesian water and craft ingredients. In fact, some reviews on Master of Malt declare that the pure taste of crystal is reflected in the flavor, but you'll need a few thousand dollars to spare if you want to see for yourself.
As of 2022, a bottle of Beluga Epicure will cost upward of $12,000 due to the limited number of bottles left (via Best Buy Liquors).
Belvedere Bespoke Silver Saber
Belvedere is a common top-shelf vodka worthy of drinking on the rocks or straight-up for its smooth, slightly sweet, flavor. The brand is on the high-end of the price spectrum, but it has also released a few limited-edition products that are undoubtedly luxurious. The first is the Belvedere Bespoke Silver Saber bottle, which has a personalized laser-cut label with light-up LEDs to illuminate it. Belvedere allows customers interested in purchasing the bottle to customize the label as a gift for birthdays, anniversaries, and beyond, or whenever they're looking for some personalized indulgence. As for what's inside the bottle, don't believe all those myths you've heard about vodka. Belvedere uses Polish rye and purified water in its vodka that is produced in accordance with Polish regulations, which require the spirit have no additives whatsoever.
Another limited edition spectacle was the Belver Bears collaboration with Jean-Roch that put the bottle of vodka inside a crystal clear bear. The Belver Bears also lit up for dramatic effect and were sold for $7,200 at VIP rooms for those looking for something special (via Luxuo).
You can purchase a bottle of Belvedere Silver Saber starting at $122.99 on Reserve Bar as of October 2022.
Billionaire Vodka
Billionaire vodka prides itself for selling the world's most expensive and exclusive vodka. The price tag of a whopping $3.75 million per bottle lives up to the wealthy name. Billionaire vodka is unlike any other vodka on the market. Let's start with the spirit itself — it's created using the historically significant spring water from Caverswall Castle of England and then triple-distilled, once through sand made from crushed diamonds and gemstones. The platinum bottle itself is adorned with solid gold and diamond details and comes inside a leather briefcase that's even more over-the-top.
If $3.75 million for a bottle of vodka still sounds ridiculous, the Billionaire brand tries to really sweeten the deal with its customer service. First, a bottle is hand-delivered to each customer after it's flown on company planes, sails on company yachts, and is chauffeured to its finale destination where it is handed over in white gloves, of course. In addition, every customer receives 365-day access to the brand's 24/7 concierge service. "The only limit to our service is your imagination and we will take on any request, provided it is legal and ethical," the brand's site reads. Some services include travel booking, restaurant reservations, tickets to events, admission to private clubs and parties, home improvement, child-care services, and more. If that sounds worth the $3+ million to you, you can inquire on Billionaire Vodka's website.
A bottle of Billionaire Vodka can be purchased on the brand's website for $3,750,000 as of October 2022.
Ciroc X
Ciroc is well-known for its association with P. Diddy and bottle service at VIP clubs. The brand has an extensive line of flavored vodkas that can be considered top shelf, but nothing compares to the brand's limited-edition Ciroc Ten bottle. The recipe for this bottle that retails for more than $200 is similar to the original vodka with French grapes. However, Ciroc Ten stands out by using varietals that were part of the first harvest in 2013 (via Caskers). The flavor stays true with its reliance on fruit-forward notes of citrus, but with a distinct complexity that can likely be attributed to the age of the grapes. "If you have a taste for finer things and for the exquisite things in life, [Ciroc] Ten is for you," one Total Wine customer wrote in a review of the bottle.
A bottle of Ciroc Ten sells for about $210 on Total Wine as of October 2022.
CLIX
Buffalo Trace's Master Distiller Harlen Davis Wheatley entered into the world of vodka with CLIX, and it wasn't an undertaking he took lightly. Wheatley spent a decade trying to craft the perfect vodka and left no stone unturned in his quest. The final process took a colossal 159 separate distillations, which is represented in the name as CLIX translates to 159 in Roman numerals. The brand only produces 2,500 bottles per year, so it's relatively exclusive. HDW CLIX's recipe includes a complicated blend of corn, wheat, rye, and malted barley, but the result is a clear and smooth vodka rather than a complex bourbon like you might expect from the mash bill (via Sazerac). In general, Wheatley's recipe is exactly what you expect a luxury vodka to be — neutral and perfectly balanced, with no particular notes overpowering another.
You can purchase a bottle of Harlen Davis Wheatley's CLIX vodka for about $300 on Whiskey Caviar as of October 2022.
Crystal Head John Alexander
Crystal Head vodka stands out for its top-shelf drink placed in different skull-shaped crystal bottles, but the brand's John Alexander bottle is like no other. The brand introduced the limited-edition vodka in 2018 to celebrate its 10-year anniversary. Alexander is one of the founders who came up with the iconic design for the skull head, and he is also an artist. The vodka inside the brand's standard expression is derived from corn, but the bottle itself is gallery-worthy.
There are only 25,000 bottles of Crystal Head John Alexander, and each has art inspired by the founder's "Dancing on the Water Lilies of Life" painting. The design was hand-applied by one of three craftsmen, making the bottles a collectors item. "This bottle is absolutely gorgeous! The craftsmanship on the bottle and the display case is flawless. I had high expectations and they were exceeded," one customer review on Old Town Tequila reads.
You can purchase a bottle of the limited-edition Crystal Head vodka for about $200 at Total Wine as of October 2022.
Elit Vodka
Stoli isn't considered a luxury vodka in and of itself, but the brand's Elit line of spirits is worthy of a special occasion. Stolichnaya Elit vodka, particularly the Andean series, is a good example of how craftsmanship takes an average vodka and makes it worthy of being put above the top shelf.
Elit Andean was introduced in 2013 as part of the Pristine Water series, and the brand states that each bottle is valued at $3,000. The alpha-grade vodka is blended with water from the Colico Lake in La Araucania region of Chile and utilizes freeze filtration to achieve its smooth and satisfying finish. "One of the best 'ultra premium' vodkas out there. You get all the 'luxury' that you fancy but also, a real vodka at its core, very clean, smooth and delicious," one Distiller user wrote in a review.
A bottle of Stolichnaya Elit Andean is selling for nearly $4,200 at Whisky Liquor Store as of October 2022.
Hangar 1 Fog Point
Hangar 1 Fog Point vodka isn't just a catchy name for a $100+ bottle of vodka. The San Francisco distillery took inspiration from the California fog that surrounded its operations and decided to capture it into a spirit that's fruity and floral. The brand created fog catchers that transform fog into water that is then blended with its vodka. The vodka itself is distilled from a blend of two California wine grape varieties to result in the crisp spirit that feels like you're consuming a thick, yet pure, foggy atmosphere. "The product is extraordinary. Delicious," one fan of the bottle wrote on Hangar 1 Distillery's Instagram page. While it's luxury by our standards, it's one of the more reasonably priced bottles that you might be able to justify spending money on at least once, unlike the aspirational Billionaire Vodka.
A bottle of Hangar 1 Fog Point sells for $125 on Reserve Bar as of October 2022.
Harridan Paranormal Reserve
Another worthy splurge, especially for the horror-movie fanatics, is a downright terrifying luxury vodka from Harridan Distillery. The brand debuted The Paranormal Reserve vodka in October 2022 in celebration of Halloween. It's a limited edition release like no other. The brand rested 666 bottles of the vodka in the Occult Museum in Monroe, Connecticut, best known as the home of Ed and Lorraine Warren's collection of paranormal items. The house is familiar to fans of films like "The Conjuring" and "Annabelle." The museum isn't open to the public, but it allowed Harridan to let 666 bottles of its vodka hang out near a bunch of haunted items. The museum even opened the protective case holding the infamous Annabelle doll and are selling a special bottle that sat right in front of the supposedly haunted doll.
The Paranormal Reserve from Harridan comes with handling gloves and an authenticity card. The packaging is even spookier, as the wooden case also serves as a functioning Ouija board. A portion of the proceeds benefit Toys for Tots charity, making the $200 price tag a little easier to swallow. Be warned: This isn't a bottle for an easily frightened vodka drinker. Harridan even wrote on Instagram that the Occult Museum caretaker recommends the bottle be blessed by an ordained clergy member before a customer dare try it.
Harridan Paranormal Reserve is available for $200 on the brand's website.
Imperial Collection Super Premium
Ladoga takes luxury vodka to the next level with its Imperial Collection Russian vodka – many of its bottles are decorated in Fabergé egg-inspired packaging. The entire catalogue of over-the-top bottles is a work of art. Regardless of the style, every decanter in the Imperial Collection is made out of Venetian glass that's decorated with pure gold and a variety of crystals. Some of the bottles come in cylindrical boxes that makes them look even more expensive. The wheat and rye-heavy vodka is distilled 12 times and uses water from Ladoga Lake in its distillation process. The price of each bottle varies depending on design and availability at the time of purchase, but the red and white Faberge egg design did sell for nearly $2,000 on Old Town Tequila.
In order to purchase a bottle of the Imperial Collection vodka, you can send a request to the brand on its website.
JCB vodka
JCB vodka is the brainchild of French vintner Jean-Charles Boisset that takes the pure ingredients of fine winemaking and translated them into a clear spirit. The vodka is made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes that are fermented, barrel-aged, and distilled seven times. It's a limited edition product that is only made once a year using the select grapes and fresh French spring water. The brand also has truffle and caviar-infused vodka to amp up the luxury a notch. "I wasn't expecting to like it, as I thought their fancy bottle was just a marketing gimmick to jack the price up, but this is truly a fantastic vodka. Drink it straight — you don't need to mix this with anything," one Total Wine customer wrote in a review. "This is definitely the best vodka I've ever tried. So good, it was worth a review."
A bottle of JCB vodka sells for nearly $140 on Reserve Bar as of October 2022.
Kors vodka
Kors vodka is made for royalty — literally. The brand uses the same distillation recipe that was developed in the 20th century specifically for the last Russian tsar, who also shared the crystal-clear spirit with other royals across Europe. The royal vodka uses grains from 12 countries and pure water from the Italian Alps. What really makes the vodka so fancy (and expensive) is its diamond distillation process that also uses gold tubes.
Every bottle of Kors vodka is considered limited edition. The vodka is given the royal treatment by resting in crystal bottles with hand-painted gold details. Kors is another brand that offers its members some VIP perks, ranging from exclusive tastings to VIP exclusive access to clubs and events. Kors is pricy, with the cheapest bottle available as of October 2022 being the Saffron edition for $4,500. On the opposite end, the Kors 24K Gold is going for an appropriate $24,500 a bottle.
You can purchase Kors vodka on the brand's website for anywhere between $4,500 and $24,500 a bottle.
Russo Baltique
Another vodka made for millionaires is actually the product of a luxury car company well aware of a customer base that enjoys the finer things in life. Dartz MotorZ introduced Russo-Baltique vodka in 2009, dubbing it the "world's most expensive vodka." The bottle is a masterpiece, using vintage gold coins that replicate the radiator guards in Russo-Baltique cars. The whole idea of the vodka from the start was to be eye candy for the elite. In fact, Prince Albert of Monaco was the first person presented with a bottle once it was created.
In order to get your hands on Russo-Baltique vodka, you need to have a cool $1.3 million available to spend. The only way to get your hands on a bottle is to pre-order it from Dartz directly on its website, to be deemed worthy of spending a fortune on a single bottle of booze.