Vodka once dominated spirits sales in the United States by a wide margin. However, the clear spirit has seen sales slip as trending spirits like tequila and American whiskey continue to win over American palates. Despite the struggles plaguing the category, several brands have retained global success.
According to recent data from The Spirits Business’s annual Brand Champions report, Smirnoff remains the world’s top-selling vodka brand, with a whopping 26 million 9-liter cases sold in 2023 — a 7.7 percent fall year-over-year. It was a similar story for other major brands, like No. 2 seller Absolut, which experienced an 8.1 percent sales decrease at 11.9 million cases. For the third most popular brand, Źubrówka, case sales fell below 10 million for the first time since 2019, with just 9.5 million sold in 2023.
While the world’s largest vodka brands may have experienced recent hardship, smaller brands reported double-digit increases, like Ukrainian brand Nemiroff. It experienced a 57.2 percent drop in sales following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine but rebounded last year with case sales growing from 2.4 million in 2022 to 3.4 million in 2023 — a 41.7 percent increase. Belaya Berezka also saw its sales figures swell with a 46.3 percent increase, while brands Magic Moments, Green Mark, and Talka saw sales expand by 29.2 percent, 18.4 percent, and 16.7 percent, respectively.
Keep reading to discover 20 of the world’s most popular vodka brands.
20. Belaya Bereza Vodka
Created in 1993, Belaya Bereza is currently owned by the Alcohol Siberia Group, one of the leading alcohol conglomerates in Russia. While the brand is relatively small compared to others on this list, it reported colossal growth in 2023, with case sales of its grain-based product up 46.3 percent year-over-year.
19. Green Mark
Owned by Russian investment fund Industrial Investors, Green Mark vodka is wheat-based and has been described as slightly sweet. The brand enjoyed solid growth in 2023 with case sales growing from 1.9 million in 2022 to 2.3 million, an 18.4 percent increase.
18. Tsarskaya/Imperial Collection Gold
Tsarskaya/Imperial Collection Gold is owned by the Russian-based Ladoga Group. Available in both its original and “Gold” editions, the latter vodka is produced using a 17th-century distilling technique that adds honey and lime extracts to soften the spirit’s flavor profile. Similarly to other smaller producers on this list, the brand’s sales exploded in 2023, increasing 45.6 percent year-over-year to hit 2.3 million.
17. Wodka Gorbatschow
Founded in Berlin by Russian Leontowitsch Gorbachev — who originally distilled in St. Petersburg — Wodka Gorbatschow was created in 1921 following Gorbachev’s move post-October Revolution. The brand has been owned by German-based conglomerate Henkell since 1960 and produces flavored and unflavored expressions.
16. Russian Standard
Launched in 1998 by Russian banker Roustam Tariko, Russian Standard vodka is currently owned by Tariko-controlled Roust. Despite having once been the best-selling vodka in Russia, the wheat-based product has slipped in recent years, with a 15-percent sales decline reported for 2023.
15. Finlandia
Currently owned by Kentucky-based conglomerate Brown-Forman, Finlandia was originally launched in 1970 by Altia, Finland’s former state-owned alcohol corporation. Distilled from barley in the village of Koskenkorva, the vodka delivers a steely and mineral flavor profile.
14. Ketel One
One of the best-selling vodkas in the U.S., Ketel One first hit shelves in 1983. Founded in the Netherlands by the Nolet family, the brand is currently partly owned by Diageo, which entered into a partnership with the Dutch producer in 2008. Distilled from wheat, the vodka’s profile is botanical and accented by black pepper.
13. Talka
Also owned by Roust, Talka is exclusively available in Eastern European nations including Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, South Osetia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Russia. Despite its relatively small distribution, the brand had a successful 2023, reporting a sales increase of 16.7 percent.
12. Skyy
Founded in 1992 by entrepreneur Maurice Kanbar, Skyy Vodka was acquired by the Campari Group in 2009. The quadruple-distilled and triple-filtered vodka is made with grain and washes the palate with pepper and citrus.
11. Belenkaya
Produced using wheat, oats, rye, barley, and rice, Belenyaka Vodka was launched in 2001 and is currently controlled by Russian alcohol company Novabev Group. The brand has six expressions under its umbrella, and its original is said to offer a soft, honey-driven palate.
10. Nemiroff
Ukrainian Nemiroff struggled in 2022 following the Russian invasion, though the brand made an impressive recovery last year, increasing sales by 1 million cases. Distilled from 100 percent wheat since 1872, the vodka is available in unflavored and flavored expressions, with the former said to give off grassy and earthy notes.
9. Pyat Ozer
Also known as Five Lakes Vodka, Pyat Ozer is distilled in Siberia from grain and water from the Taiga Lakes. Despite case sales falling from 4.1 million in 2021 to 3.9 million in 2022, the brand rebounded last year by moving 4.2 million cases, a 7.2-percent increase year-over-year.
8. Soplica
Soplica Polish Vodka is currently owned by the Maspex Group, which purchased the brand — along with nine other Polish vodkas — in November 2021 for nearly $1 billion. Founded in 1891, Soplica uses rye as the spirit’s base grain, giving it a spicier kick ideal for cocktails like the Bloody Mary. In addition to its unflavored expression, the lineup also includes flavors like caramel, strawberry, and plum.
7. Grey Goose
While produced in France and touted as a French vodka, Grey Goose was actually founded by American businessman Sidney Frank in 1996. Frank sold the brand to Bacardi in 2004, which still produces the vodka today in Picardy, France using wheat grown in the region. Grey Goose has consistently been one of the best-selling vodkas worldwide, though case sales were flat from 2022 to 2023.
6. Źoładkowa (including Gorzka)
Hailing from Poland, Źoładkowa is one of the top-selling vodkas in its home country. Despite sales taking a hit in 2022, the brand made a comeback last year, increasing its case sales by 4.5 percent year-over-year.
5. Arkhangelskaya
Available in five expressions, Arkhangelskaya is a Russian-based vodka produced by the oldest and northernmost distillery in the country. The brand saw impressive sales in 2023, moving 4.4 million cases and earning a place in the top 10 of global best-sellers for the first time.
4. Magic Moments
Produced by Radico Khaitan, one of India’s oldest and largest distilleries, Magic Moments has grown its case sales by 2.7 million in just four years. In 2023 alone, the brand saw sales swell by 29.2 percent. Described as creamy and citrusy with a hint of spice, the triple-distilled Indian vodka is made in unflavored and flavored expressions.
3. Źubrówka
For those unfamiliar with bison grass vodka, meet Źubrówka. Owned by the Maspex Group, the Polish vodka has a singular flavor profile which provides diverse notes of woodruff, coconut, and the signature bison grass, which is added to each bottle via tincture. Despite sales still being high enough to crack the top three, the brand had a tough 2023, with case sales down 9.3 percent year-over-year.
2. Absolut
Founded in 1897 by Swedish entrepreneur Lars Olsson Smith, Absolut hit U.S. shelves in 1979 and has been a hit ever since thanks to its distinct bottle shape and wildly successful marketing campaigns. While the brand may have enjoyed a prosperous 2022 with case sales up 10.7 percent, its parent company Pernod Ricard reported a decline of 8.1 percent in 2023. Even so, the brand sold a whopping 11.9 million cases last year, solidifying its position as the second-most popular vodka in the world.
1. Smirnoff
Smirnoff is once again the world’s top-performing vodka brand, despite reporting a 7.7 percent decrease in sales last year. Nevertheless, the Russian vodka brand’s 2023 sales were still 118 percent higher than Absolut’s, with 26 million cases sold last year. The vodka is currently offered in over 30 flavors and several ready-to-drink expressions.
*Image retrieved from monticellllo via stock.adobe.com
