The World's Best Vodka—According To The 2025 London Spirits Competition

Forbes

30-04-2025

Last week the London Spirits Competition revealed the winners of its 8th annual grand tasting. Plenty of press has been devoted to the top whiskey--a perennial all-star in the realm of brown spirits. But today it's time we talk about what these esteemed judges deemed the world's best vodka, because it's a bottle that likely remains unknown even to the fiercest of booze aficionados.
And the winner is…Xaoma Gold, an 80-proof vodka distilled primarily from wheat in Kazakhstan. In awarding the liquid 98 out of 100 potential points, the LSC had this to say in its official tasting notes:
Although it is produced in Kazakhstan, using markedly modern distillation equipment, the drink is actually inspired by ancient Iranian nomads. For hundreds of years, these wanderers would traverse the flat grasslands of Central Asia carrying with them a fermented elixir known as xaoma. According to the lore, this magical juice bestowed strength and sagacity upon all those who imbibed it.
To honor this past, the producers of Xaoma Gold have crafted a soft and rounded vodka. According to the brand, the wheat used in its production is sourced from the fertile regions of northern Kazakhstan, which helps encourage said softness. It also leverages the aromatic infusions of Central Asian herbs, resulting in a spirit that sings with coffee and lemon in a crisp finish. Before hitting the bottle, it undergoes an 8-stage filtration process, which removes impurities while retaining character and mouthfeel.
The stellar showing at London Spirits Competition doesn't mark the first time Xaoma has wowed judges, either. Last year it won Double Gold at the Warsaw Spirits Competition. The year before that it earned 95 out of a potential 100 points at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge. And it has earned gold at the European Spirits Challenge for two consecutive years. So, clearly there's something special happening here.
Across European markets, Xaoma Gold is readily available. And though it doesn't enjoy wide distribution here in the states, you can still procure a bottle of the liquid for around $24. It stands out on shelves--and backbars--with its artful green and gold label, inspired by the cultural expressions of those aforementioned ancient nomads.
Vodka is all-too-often written off as an unexciting category of spirit. Anyone eager to do so ought to have a crack at this particular pour. It's filled with intrigue both inside the bottle and out. And it makes for one heck of a fine martini when chilled with a lemon twist.