6 Best Non-Russian Vodkas For Those Who Want To Support Ukraine

Quick Vodka Facts:
• Rye vodka, quadruple distilled
• 40% alcohol

First up, we have Belvedere from Poland. The Polish claim it was them and not the Russians who invented vodka… Considering how delicious Belvedere tastes, we’re inclined to believe them. We’ve all seen the elegant frosted bottle, and we’ve all thought how good it would look sitting on our shelf at home. The great thing is, this Polish benchmark vodka doesn’t just look good – it tastes great too. Smooth, velvety and subtlety flavoured, Belvedere is a truly guilt-free sip.

Quick Vodka Facts:
• Distilled four times from Newfoundland corn
• 40% alcohol

The bottle alone is reason enough to buy this vodka. The skull staring off your shelf doubles as a piece of art, just as intended by the co-founders of the brand, actor Dan Aykroyd and fine artist John Alexander. Okay, the bottle might be a bit gimmicky but the vodka is anything but. It’s a beautifully smooth drop with a slight burn to follow, and takes its name from the quartz crystals that it is passed through three times during the filtration process. It’s also made without any additives, oils or sugars. Crystal Head is an exceptionally pure vodka with an exceptionally cool aesthetic.

Quick Vodka Facts:
• Uses a uniquely Japanese method of bamboo charcoal filtration
• 40% alcohol

Japan’s perhaps not the first place you think of when you think ‘vodka’ but just like Japanese whisky or beer, Japanese vodka is a thing of beauty. Haku means ‘white’ in Japanese and refers to the Japanese white rice that this fantastic vodka is distilled from. Soft, round and subtly sweet, Haku is great in cocktails but is also great for sipping neat, as it has very little burn and is incredibly smooth. Why drink sake when you can drink this?

Quick Vodka Facts:
• Small-batch vodka distilled from European wheat
• 40% alcohol

Ketel One is one of those vodka brands that you might have thought was Russian, but nope – they’re actually Dutch. ‘Ketel’ is Dutch for kettle, and refers to the brand’s original copper pot still, “Distilleerketel #1.” The Nolet family that founded the brand is now in its tenth generation, and they’ve obviously learned a lot in that time because this is quite simply one of the world’s cleanest-tasting vodkas. There’s a reason bartenders love it.

Quick Vodka Facts:
• Triple distilled vodka, made from rich winter wheat
• Most of the range is 40% alcohol – although there is Absolut 100, which is 50% alcohol

One of the world’s most popular vodka brands, Absolut is absolutely not Russian in the slightest – it’s made in Åhus, Sweden, and has been since 1879. Famous for its minimalist bottle design and crisp, inoffensive taste, there’s a reason Absolut ranks as one of the most successful alcohol brands on the planet. Now, if only Sweden would join NATO…

Quick Vodka Facts:
• Incredibly small-batch, each bottle is hand-painted and signed by founder + head distiller Ryan Hartshorn
• 40% alcohol

Last but not least, we have an Australian vodka. Hartshorn is an independent distillery from Tasmania whose vodka is officially the first spirit in the world to be made from sheep whey – a novel use of cheesery waste. The spirit is made by fermenting the lactose sugar within the whey. This unconventional method means Hartshorn Vodka has a beautifully sweet and creamy taste, quite unlike any other vodka on the planet. If you’re not convinced, just know Hartshorn vodka won World’s Best Vodka at the World Vodka Awards in 2018. Try it for yourself – you won’t be disappointed.