6 of the Best Brands of Vodka for $10

There is a new vodka in town that falls into this price range but is by far cleaner, smoother and more flavorful than the majority. KU:L is a surprisingly impressive Polish vodka that you might expect to pay $20 for, but this bottled gem with the "cool" label is a mere $10-12. This is an outstanding spirit in any drink you want to throw at it and top recommendations include the Vodka Martini (with orange bitters, please), Flirtini, Vodka Tonic, and Idonis.

If you shop around you can find Svedka Vodka for right around $10 and it will likely be a liter, which breaks my liter rule, but this one's worth it. Svedka is one of the cleanest value brands available, is distilled from wheat and is imported from Sweden. Almost any vodka cocktail you want to mix Svedka in, you'll likely enjoy it especially when you think about the green it's going to save you. Try out a Sex on the Beach, Hairy Navel, Smith & Wesson, Mudslide or whatever you want.

UV Vodka is one of the most popular value brands of vodka available. The key behind the brand's success is its innovative and colorful flavor line and the clear vodka distilled from Midwest grain is just as good as any of the others. This is a great vodka for almost any type of drink, especially your easy mixed drinks like a Cape Codder, Greyhound and Bay Breeze.

UV Vodka's flavor vodka line includes Pink Lemonade (try a Pink Flamingo), Blue (raspberry-flavored, try a UV and Lemonade), Orange, Grape, Citrus, Red (cherry-flavored), and Green (apple-flavored, try an Apple Martini)

Denaka Vodka may be one of the best vodkas you never heard of. This wheat vodka from Denmark is resoundingly smooth for the price and if you can't find it in your local liquor store there are plenty of online stores that carry it. Because of its earthy flavor and smooth profile Denaka is great for any vodka cocktail and makes a great base for any of your favorite vodka "martinis" like the Green Carnation, Hollywood Martini and Kiwi Martini.

Denaka also has a nice line of flavored vodkas including blackberry, orange, citron, raspberry, vanilla, and grape.

Almost anywhere you look you'll be able to find Smirnoff Vodka and any of its flavors. Smirnoff is a grain based vodka that has been around since the beginning of the 1900's. The company's marketing campaign in the middle of the century was instrumental in kicking off the vodka cocktail craze in the latter part of the century. Smirnoff is a great every day vodka and an inexpensive brand you can rely on being readily available. Try Smirnoff in a Moscow Mule, Black Russian or Screwdriver.

Smirnoff also has a full flavor line that includes green apple, blueberry, citrus, cranberry, watermelon, orange, raspberry, strawberry and black cherry (try a Black Cherry Breezer).

Seagram's Vodka is another good vodka that you can find almost anywhere and it works well for most cocktails. This American wheat vodka is not as smooth as some of the others in the list but it is decent and makes an excellent Bloody Mary, Colorado Bulldog and Jellyfish.

Seagram's also produces flavored vodkas including espresso, black cherry, wild grape, raspberry, apple, citrus, orange, blackberry and vanilla. The company's gin isn't half bad either and is one of my picks for best budget gins.