10 Best Vanilla Vodka Brands Reviewed (2023 Updated)
Last Updated on October 25, 2023 by Lydia Martin
The increase in sales of other spirits like whiskey and tequila resulted in a decrease in vodka sales. Additionally, the continuous expansion of new refreshing flavored beverages makes it harder for a neutral spirit like vodka to recover. Vodka companies eventually started to create varieties like vanilla-flavored vodkas.
We have listed the best vanilla vodka brands that we often mix with our favorite cocktails.
Top 10 Vanilla Vodkas You Should Try
1. Smirnoff Vanilla
Smirnoff is the first on our list of best vanilla vodka brands and probably the most recognizable vodka product since the 19th century. The base vodka used for Smirnoff Vanilla came from triple distilled corn and was ten times filtered to ensure the drink’s purity.
After infusing the flavorless vodka with natural flavors of sweet vanilla, it results in a creamy aroma like a marshmallow. Smirnoff Vanilla has a balanced sweetness and spiciness on the palate, with lingering black pepper in its smooth finish.
2. Absolut Vanilia
In 1979, Absolut vodka entered the United States market in a pharmacy bottle that aimed to symbolize the drink’s purity [1]. Their plain vodka will undergo continuous distillation of winter wheat before infusing the vanilla flavor and creating the Absolut Vanilia vodka. It has no added sugar and is one of the first vanilla vodka products available.
Absolut Vanilia has a complex and unique vanilla flavor, where the first sip is a combination of bitter dark chocolate, butterscotch, and peppery spice. It finishes drily with an aftertaste of sweet white chocolate.
3. Veil Vanilla Vodka
Veil Vanilla has a base vodka that went through a distillation process for five-time and charcoal-filtered to achieve its incredibly smooth and rich sweet taste. The company strategically presented this vodka in a bottle that presents an image of vanilla ice cream, hinting to the consumer of the liquor’s flavor profile.
It tastes like a sweet syrup that is delicious to take straight or with a mix of citrus and beer. The vanilla flavor of this vodka gives an exciting twist to the vanilla martini, chocolate, lemon, or any fruit-based cocktails.
4. Stolichnaya Vanilla
Stolichnaya Vanilla only uses natural flavoring from vanilla bean products of Indonesia and Madagascar, adding no sugar in the whole process. Its base vodka went through three distillations and four filtrations before adding artesian water to tone down the alcohol.
This vodka is probably the most common bottle among bartenders. It has an underlying aroma of white pepper and a creamy sweet vanilla flavor. It tastes like cocoa powder and spicy black pepper in the middle but leaves no unpleasant taste in the finish.
5. Burnett’s Vanilla Vodka
Burnett’s vodkas have superior smoothness that resulted from the process of quadruple distillations and triple charcoal filtrations. It is under the company of Heaven Hills, the largest family-owned local distillery located in Kentucky. It has a well-balanced natural flavor of sweet vanilla with a mild and creamy texture.
Like most of the vodkas that undergo natural infusions, it is gluten-free. It blends well with any cocktail, or it can substitute whipped cream vodka for lesser sweetness in the flavor.
6. Starr Blu Vodka Vanilla
Available at a very affordable price of around $10, this liquor has all the sweet flavors of naturally-infused vanilla vodka. This product used a base vodka made from the finest grains that went through five distillation processes in Minnesota.
It is very smooth and has a crisp flavor, with hints of vanilla ice cream on the palate. It works well with mixed drinks because of its well-balanced sweetness. Dr. Pepper or coke makes a perfect choice to create a sweet, bubbly cocktail with this vodka.
7. Grey Goose Le Vanille
Grey Goose Vanilla came from a premium vodka brand in France. The company is famous for the five-time distillation of French winter wheat and sourcing limestone-filtered water below their main facility. The resulting vodka is the base of Grey Goose Vanilla, making it one of the smoothest vodkas worldwide.
It has a sweeter flavor than most vanilla vodkas, with a light taste of toffee, white chocolate, and licorice. This vodka has the smell of fresh vanilla ice cream that can be an easy booze treat to your favorite mixed drink.
8. Ciroc French Vanilla
This product is the eighth flavored vodka from Ciroc, a brand under the multi-national company of Diageo. Before the official launching of Ciroc French Vanilla in 2017, the makers pledged to donate roughly $1 for every bottle of this expression. This move supports ending extreme poverty in Africa and different parts of the world [2].
The makers naturally flavored their plain vodka with vanilla beans sourced from multiple places like Madagascar. It has an aroma of vanilla ice cream and white pepper, with strong sweet vanilla at first sip and mild cacao in the middle. The drink balances its profile with a pepper finish.
9. Heritage Vanilla Vodka
This vanilla vodka is one of more than twenty flavored drinks released by Heritage Distilling Company in 2014. The company carefully crafted this vanilla flavor variety using a base vodka of distilled grapes with no artificial sweeteners or flavors.
The combination of grapes and vanilla into a single flavored drink results in a sweet palate with a hint of tart in the middle. Due to its low alcohol content of 30% ABV, the vanilla essence dominates the drink from the first sip to the gentle warm finish.
The American Distilling Institute awarded a silver medal to Heritage Vanilla vodka in 2017, making it another award-winning product from the company.
10. Triple Eight Vanilla Vodka
The last of our vanilla vodkas came from the Triple Eight Distillery located on the island of Nantucket. Its remote location makes it hardly available to the market, with the company concentrating on the locals and visitors of the island for their sale.
Using corn from Holland that went through three distillation processes, they will tone down the alcohol concentration of the base vodka using water from well number 888. The distillery used natural ingredients like real fruit for their vanilla-flavored vodkas.
It features vanilla beans from New Guinea and Madagascar, creating a creamy and bittersweet spirit with a little biting finish.
Also Read:
Popular Vanilla Vodka Cocktail Recipes
Boozy Vanilla Latte
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Total Time: 3 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 ounce of vodka (preferably Absolut Vanilla)
- 3 ounces chilled coffee
- 2 ounces cream liqueur or heavy cream
Instructions:
Prepare a highball glass filled with ice cubes. Pour the Absolut Vanilla vodka, coffee, and cream liqueur into the glass. Stir well and enjoy.
Serving: 1
Strawberry Vanilla Sangria
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Ingredients:
- 750ml bottle of wine
- 325ml bottle of vodka
- 250ml of triple sec
- 250ml of soda water
- ten sliced strawberries
Instructions:
Prepare a punch bowl or pitcher for large servings. Combine all the ingredients into the punch bowl except for the soda water and stir. Wait for fifteen minutes for all the ingredients to blend properly. Add the soda water or any carbonated drinks just before serving.
Serving: 8
Vanilla Latte Cocktail
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces of vanilla vodka
- 1-ounce cold brew coffee
- 1-ounce Kahlúa
- milk or cream(optional)
Instructions:
Mix the vodka with the rest of the ingredients in a cocktail glass. Put in some ice cubes and stir. Adding cream or milk will add sweetness to the taste, but it can be optional. Serve and enjoy.
Serving: 1
Vanilla Orange Creamsicle
Prep Time: 4 minutes
Total Time: 8 minutes
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces of vanilla vodka
- 1-ounce orange curacao
- 1-ounce simple syrup
- 4 ounces of orange juice
- whipped cream
- carbonated drink(optional)
Instructions:
Pour the vodka on a highball glass, followed by orange curacao or triple sec. Put in the rest of the ingredients with the ice, then stir. Adding a carbonated drink is optional, but the cocktail can be more refreshing. Top it up with whipped cream, then serve.
Serving: 1
Skyy Vanilla White Russian
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Total Time: 3 minutes
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces of vanilla vodka
- 1 ounce Kahlúa
- 1-ounce heavy cream
- Grated nutmeg (optional)
- Ice
Instructions:
Chill a cocktail glass in the freezer ahead of time. Next, pour vodka, Kahlúa, and ice into another glass for mixing. Strain the liquor into the chilled cocktail glass. Put on another ice cube before layering the heavy cream on top. Garnish the cocktail with grated nutmeg for a twist.
Serving: 1
FAQs
What is the smoothest vanilla vodka?
The smoothest vanilla vodka is Grey Goose Le Vanille. It is a premium vodka from France, meticulously crafted from the finest wheat in Europe and mineral-rich Gensac water [3].
How much do vanilla vodkas usually cost?
The standard vanilla vodka usually costs around $9 to $20. Grey Goose and Triple Eight are among the most expensive vanilla vodka brands, priced around $35 to $50.
Final Verdict
Many enthusiasts consider vodka the most versatile spirit for making refreshing and vibrant cocktails. However, the food and other ingredients can barely mask ethanol’s biting and harsh taste in the drink. Instead of strong and plain vodka, flavored varieties like vanilla have become an alternative.
The vanilla flavor most commonly comes from plants grown in Madagascar, with a high concentration of vanillin that produces the sweet, warm and creamy palate. You can create different cocktails with this flavor though you have to be mindful of the nutrition information of the food ingredients you will have in the mix.
References:
- https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/trends/lifestyle-trends/the-tippling-point-the-absolut-joy-of-swedish-vodka-7535921.html
- https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sean-diddy-combs-french-montana-and-the-makers-of-ciroc-ultra-premium-vodka-deliver-a-new-indulgent-experience-with-the-launch-of-ciroc-french-vanilla-300537183.html
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/katiebell/2015/02/03/the-secret-to-grey-goose-and-making-the-worlds-best-vodka/
I don’t see Cariel vanilla vodka here. Of all I’ve tried it’s the best. Even Douglas Ankrah used it in his initial recipe for the maverick martini. I’m surprised at its omission.