The World's Best Vodka, According To The 2025 SF World Spirits Competition
The Vodka finalists at the 2025 SFWSC.
Notwithstanding the growth of tequila and bourbon over the last decade, vodka remains the largest spirits category by volume and still ranks among the top three for revenue. It is also one of the biggest categories at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, which draws some of the world's best vodkas each year. Seven vodkas are finalists at the SFWSC: five for World's Best Vodka and two for World's Best Flavored Vodka. Below are brief backgrounds and tasting notes for the finalists.
Kalvelage Distillery, located in Santa Catarina, Brazil, is among the leading vodka brands in the country. Kalvelage Vibe Vodka is made from 100% Brazilian cereals. Its exceptional smoothness makes it perfect for enjoying straight or as a base for a cocktail.
The vodka presents a clean and fresh aroma, featuring a hint of minerality and subtle sweet grain undertones. It's smooth and silky on the palate, with well-integrated alcohol and a gentle yet persistent sweetness. The finish is long and crisp, leaving a lingering sweetness.
Although better known for its exceptional whiskeys, High Bank Distillery Co., located in Columbus, Ohio, produces vodka distilled from organic wheat and Ohio-grown apples. This vodka has been a frequent medalist at international spirit competitions and has won several Double Gold medals at the SFWSC.
The vodka presents a clean and fresh aroma with a hint of apple sweetness. It is crisp and smooth on the palate, exhibiting a silky texture and featuring subtle notes of apple and vanilla. The finish is refreshing, with a lingering sweetness.
Produced by Prodal in Romania, Stalinskaya Vodka is known for its strength and smoothness. The term in Russian means 'Man of Steel." Joseph Stalin adopted the name as his pseudonym in 1912. Otherwise, there is no association between him and the vodka. The vodka undergoes triple distillation and is filtered through coconut shell activated charcoal.
The vodka presents buttery notes on the nose, highlighting sweet cream, citrus, croissant, and candied nut aromas. The palate is smooth and robust, offering hints of waxy honeycomb and black pepper. The finish is long and bold, with lingering notes of pepper.
Sobieski Vodka is produced in Poland using 100% rye and pure spring water. Named after King Jan III Sobieski, it reflects the traditions of Polish vodka-making. Sobieski commanded the Christian army that lifted the Second Ottoman siege of Vienna in 1683. He led the largest cavalry charge ever recorded, breaking the Ottoman line and securing victory.
The vodka boasts an intense flavor profile with pronounced spicy and rye bread aromas. It's dry on the palate, complemented by flavors of toasted rye bread and spicy rye. The finish is long and flavorful, leaving lingering notes of spice and rye bread. It's excellent served straight and will also shine in spicy cocktails, such as a Bloody Mary.
Summum Vodka is made in Cognac, France, with local wheat and spring water. It is filtered multiple times through different materials to guarantee its smoothness.
The vodka is light and slightly floral on the nose, with hints of coconut and wheat bread. The palate offers nuanced flavors of fresh coconut, wheat bread, and an earthy truffle note with a touch of pepper. The finish is long and smooth, featuring a subtle lingering coconut note.
The Flavored Vodka finalists from the 2025 SFWSC
This flavored vodka blends Sobieski's classic rye vodka with natural grapefruit flavors, resulting in a refreshing, spicy citrus combination.
The vodka is fresh and citrusy, evoking ripe grapefruit with subtle rye spices in the background. It's tangy and slightly bitter on the palate, offering a pronounced citrus and grapefruit flavor. The finish is clean and crisp.
Tin City Distillery, in Paso Robles, California, infuses its vodka with real chocolate. The result is the ultimate dessert vodka.
The vodka features dark chocolate and vanilla aromas on the nose. It is creamy and silky on the palate, seamlessly blending the chocolate and the vodka. The finish is long and smooth, with a lingering sweet chocolate note.
These vodkas, sourced from around the world and crafted from diverse mash bills, are truly exceptional. They present a complex yet subtle flavor profile that faithfully showcases the raw materials, from rye to apples, from which they are crafted. They are excellent served neat and also work well in a range of cocktails.
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