"Boutique vodka" is a loose term, really. It's the best way to categorize the many smaller, lesser known brands of vodka that are in some way unique from all of the others that inundate the market. Many of these vodkas are hand-crafted, micro-distilled, produced in small batches, etc. Some have a unique ingredient, quite a few are organic or at least eco-friendly in some part of their process, and all are truly great tasting vodka. I think that these are some of the highest quality vodkas you are going to find. Though you may have to do some work to locate a bottle, it is worth every effort you put forth.
Charbay Vodka
Photo Credit: © Domaine Charbay
Charbay is by far my favorite vodka and I like to let everyone know about it. It is hand crafted in Napa Valley by the Karakasevic family alongside many other great spirits and wines and you will find it to be one of the smoothest vodkas you can find. They also do a wonderful job with their flavors because they choose the ingredients very carefully. The Red Raspberry is simply delicious and the Green Tea is unique and crafted to perfection.
- Made with grains from the Midwest
- Produced in Napa Valley, California
- Full vodka line: Clear, Green Tea, Pomegranate, Red Raspberry, Meyer Lemon, Ruby Red Grapefruit, Blood Orange
Square One Vodka
Photo Courtesy of: © Square One Organic Vodka
When it comes to producing great rye vodka that is certified organic, Square One is the best. What I really enjoy about Square One is that I know I'm drinking a really clean vodka that is not there just to jump on the organic bandwagon. The people behind this vodka are truly conscious about the social and environmental impact their company makes. They also just happen to produce some amazingly smooth vodka. It is an organic product that doesn't taste organic in the sense that some "health food" can lose its appealing qualities: it is just simply clean tasting and that has followed into their other spirits.
- Made from certified organic rye
- Organically certified by Oregon Tilth
- Full spirit line: Clear and Cucumber Vodkas, Botanical Spirit
Tru Organic Vodka
Photo Credit: © Shannon Graham
Melkohn Khosrovian and Litty Mathew are two people who love to produce great tasting spirits with an innovative flare and it shows in every bottle they release. The TRU line is an off shoot of their Modern Spirits company and every bottle in the collection is a gem. The vodkas are fresh and as natural tasting as a distilled spirit can get and everything that goes into it is certified organic. The clear vodka is exceptional and the Vanilla and Lemon vodkas are perfectly balanced infusions. These vodkas will take organic cocktails to a new level.
- Made from organic American wheat
- Produced in Monrovia, California
- Full TRU spirit line: Clear, Vanilla, and Lemon Vodkas, Tru2 Gin
Reyka Vodka
Photo Courtesy of: © Reyka Vodka
It is common knowledge that Iceland has the cleanest water in the world. It is only natural that it also have one of the cleanest vodkas in the world. Sure, other spirits (IS Vodka, Martin Miller, etc.) take advantage of the pure water, but Reyka is made at the only Icelandic distillery. Also, to make you feel a little better you should know that this smooth spirit is produced using the island's geothermal heat for energy.
- Made from wheat and barley and pure Icelandic water
- Produced in Borgarnes, Iceland
- Reyka is the Icelandic word for "steam"
42 Below Vodka
Photo Courtesy of: © 42 Below Vodka
42 Below is an interesting vodka company. They are based in New Zealand and sponsor the 42 Below World Cup there annually where they pit world renowned bartenders against each other in crazy and extreme competitions (i.e. mixing a drink while bungee jumping). It's a fun brand to follow and they produce a very nice line of vodkas. Though the full line is not available everywhere 42 Below is sold, you can find Passion Fruit, Feijoa, Kiwi, and Manuka Honey alongside the clear vodka. I have tasted the kiwi and honey vodkas and they are amazing and make some fun cocktails.
- Made from non-genetically engineered wheat
- Produced in New Zealand
- Host the 42 Below World Cup
Cocktail pictured is the Manuka and Maple Sour
Winter Palace Vodka
Photo Courtesy of: © Emperor Brands
Winter Palace is my favorite of the great selection of French vodkas imported by Emperor's Brand. Why? It is quite simply nice, clean vodka. This is a vodka that anyone can enjoy, even if you are not a regular vodka drinker. In cocktails or chilled and straight, Winter Palace is a regal delight no matter how you take it.
- Made from wheat and Cognac region spring water
- Imported from France
- Full vodka line from Emperor's Brand: Emperor, Imperial Exclusive, Versailles King's, Winter Palace
Oval Vodka
Photo Courtesy of: © Oval Vodka
Inside this stout, stylish bottle with three oval-shaped faces is a vodka that is so close to water it's almost scary. Oval takes the "clean, flavorless" mantra that is often associated with vodka to an extreme and it is a very good thing. The key is a "structuring" process in their production that surrounds the liquor with water. This is a vodka that those who do not enjoy the alcohol taste in vodka are really going to enjoy. Though, I do have to caution you that because it is so "pure," it is also very easy to forget you're drinking alcohol at all and one can easily over indulge.
- Made from grain using a proprietary "structuring" process
- Produced in Austria
- As of 2010 the Oval website is down, but bottles can at least be found online
