The World’s Natural Spirit
Vodka is something of a paradox in the world of spirits: originally the peasant’s cheap sidekick to help them through Eastern Europe’s long harsh winters, it has emerged as North America’s most popular spirit – easily outpacing rum, whiskey, gin and tequila.

So which country produces the world’s best vodka?

Most of the world’s vodka is produced and consumed in what has become known as the “Vodka Belt,” which comprises countries in Northern, Central and Eastern Europe.

Many purists argue that Russian vodka is the world’s greatest, citing its centuries of history and the fact that it has entrenched itself in the heart of Russian society. Russians drink vodka to celebrate special events, to relax at the end of a hard day’s work and even as a home remedy for the common cold! Other connoisseurs would cast their vote for Polish vodka (or wodka) on the belief that they’ve perfected both grain and potato-based distillation. More recently, the French surfaced in the vodka debate with Grey Goose, which advertises itself as the world’s “best-tasting vodka” and has won a number of international taste tests.

Vodka is a curious spirit to classify. It isn’t aged and it isn’t matured in oak casks. It is known as the “neutral spirit,” meaning that the perfect vodka is tasteless, colourless and odourless – hardly distinguishing characteristics for even the sharpest-nosed critic. In effect, the best vodkas strive to taste like nothing.

Best enjoyed ice cold with a splash of distilled water; good vodka should go down smooth. Since each vodka-producing region has impressed critics with their smooth offerings – Russia’s Stolichnaya, Poland’s Belvedere, Sweden’s Absolut and France’s Grey Goose – there really isn't a bad choice to be had.