THE FIELD GUIDE VOL. II

119 Vodkas, Decoded

Glacial spring water, single-estate Dankowskie diamond rye, Swedish winter wheat, and Finnish heirloom barley.

THE FIELD BOARD

The Quest for Absolute Purity

Vodka Types Explained

01

Wheat Vodka

France • Sweden • Netherlands

The most common base worldwide, giving a clean spirit with a faint sweetness on the finish.

  • Clean
  • Lightly sweet
  • Soft
  • Neutral

BottlesGrey Goose • Ketel One • Absolut

Best forVodka Martini • Vodka soda • Bloody Mary

02

Rye Vodka

Poland • Traditional Grain

The classic Polish base. Rye carries more character through rectification than any other grain.

  • Peppery
  • Dry
  • Structured
  • Nutty

BottlesBelvedere • Wyborowa • Sobieski

Best forMartini • Vesper • Sipping chilled

03

Potato Vodka

Poland • Naturally Gluten Free

Lower yield and more work per bottle, but it delivers the fullest mouthfeel of any base.

  • Creamy
  • Full texture
  • Earthy
  • Weighty

BottlesChopin Potato • Luksusowa • Karlsson's Gold

Best forDirty Martini • Neat and frozen • Espresso Martini

04

Corn Vodka

USA • Naturally Gluten Free

Corn ferments sweet and distils soft, which is why so many American craft vodkas start here.

  • Sweet edge
  • Round
  • Mellow
  • Approachable

BottlesTito's Handmade • Deep Eddy

Best forMoscow Mule • Vodka Tonic • Punches

05

Barley Vodka

Finland • Nordic Grain

Nordic distillers favour six-row barley and glacial water for a crisp, restrained house style.

  • Crisp
  • Cereal note
  • Bright
  • Cool

BottlesFinlandia • Koskenkorva

Best forHighballs • Long drinks • Neat frozen

06

Grape Vodka

France • Fruit Base

Distilled from wine grapes instead of grain, leaving a rounder, faintly fruity spirit.

  • Fruity hint
  • Silky
  • Slightly sweet
  • Soft

BottlesCîroc

Best forFruit sours • Spritz builds • Cosmopolitan

07

Flavoured Vodka

Infused After Distillation

Citrus peel, berries, pepper or vanilla added post-still. Sweetened versions may be labelled vodka liqueur.

  • Aromatic
  • Fruit forward
  • Sometimes sweet
  • Easy

BottlesAbsolut Citron • Stolichnaya Vanil • Ketel One Botanical

Best forCosmopolitan • Lemon Drop • Flavoured highballs

08

Bison Grass Vodka

Poland • Żubrówka Tradition

Rye vodka flavoured with bison grass from the Białowieża Forest, traditionally sold with a blade in the bottle.

  • Hay
  • Vanilla
  • Almond
  • Herbal

BottlesŻubrówka Bison Grass

Best forTatanka with apple juice • Chilled shots

09

Rectified Overproof

Poland • Up to 96% ABV

Near-pure rectified spirit sold for infusions, home liqueurs and preserving, not for drinking straight.

  • Extreme strength
  • Neutral
  • Solvent-like
  • Dilute first

BottlesSpirytus Rektyfikowany • Balkan 176

Best forHomemade infusions • Nalewka • Bitters production

Quick Comparison

TypeBaseHomeTexture
WheatWheatFrance, SwedenSoft, faintly sweet
RyeRyePolandDry, peppery
PotatoPotatoPolandCreamy, full
CornCornUSARound, mellow
BarleyBarleyFinlandCrisp, clean
GrapeWine grapesFranceSilky, fruity
FlavouredAnyGlobalAromatic
Bison grassRyePolandHerbal, sweetish
RectifiedGrainPolandRaw, up to 96%

Myth vs Fact

MythAll vodka tastes the same because it is meant to be flavourless.

FactNeutrality is the legal target, not a guarantee. Base material, still design and filtration still leave differences in sweetness, texture and finish.

Did You Know

Minimum strength is written into law: the European Union requires vodka to be at least 37.5% ABV, while the United States standard of identity sets the floor at 40%.

Behind the Bar

Let texture decide. Potato and wheat vodkas carry a stirred Martini, rye holds its own against vermouth and bitters, and softer corn or grape vodkas disappear politely into fruit-driven mixed drinks.