Bar Managers Weigh In On The Top 7 Vodka Brands Your Bar Cart Needs

Vodka can be a polarizing drink. While it claimed the top spot as the highest-selling spirit of 2023, many people simply won't drink it. That's because different vodka brands can be hard to tell apart for the average consumer. When stocking your at-home bar cart, whether it's your first bottle of vodka or your fourth, you want to buy something you know you will enjoy. And if you're not an expert, you may never even sample enough brands to know which ones you prefer.

We called on two expert bar managers in two of the largest cities in the U.S. to find out not only what they serve at their own bars but what they serve to their family and friends at home. Mel Meza works at Level 8 in Los Angeles, a massive venue hosting eight different dining, drinking, and dancing establishments, which Meza oversees as beverage director. Jeff Fernandez is the bar manager for The Shanghai at Hutong New York, an award-winning art deco restaurant and lounge in Midtown Manhattan. The two drink experts give Foodie seven different vodka brands that are perfect for your bar cart at home.

Tito's is a classic for a reason. This affordable vodka is made in Austin, Texas, and is found at almost any grocery or liquor store in the U.S. It's just as good as many other vodka brands that cost twice as much, which is why Mel Meza of Level 8 uses it for almost everything. 

"Tito's excels in both shaken and stirred drinks," says Mel, who listed Tito's as one of their must-have vodkas. It's a sweeter spirit than most and pairs well with similarly sweet, fruity drinks such as a cosmopolitan or a vodka spritzer. "Tito's offers a great everyday option for mixing and larger groups," agrees Jeff Fernandez, who also lists this inexpensive brand as a must-have at The Shanghai at Hutong, New York. 

Its 750ml bottle (or around 20 shots) is fine, but what the brand is really known for is its 1.75-liter handles, which can be found for just over $25 on average. While Tito's isn't considered a high-end vodka brand, its affordability makes it one of the best alcohols to keep handy in your bar cart. So go ahead and grab that larger handle, it will cost about the same as the smaller size, anyway.

While you'll want to buy the biggest bottle possible when it comes to Tito's, Haku's craft vodka is more of a one-size-fits-all kind of deal. Suntory — which also produces Toki Whiskey and Roku Gin — bottles its vodka in a 750ml translucent glass that catches your eye on any store shelf. Mel Meza claims that "Haku [is an] essential vodka for [her] bar."

This Japanese vodka is made from white rice and distilled twice and filtered through bamboo charcoal. This process provides a super clean taste and a flavor that is more subtle than other grain or corn-based vodkas. 

Keep this vodka handy in your bar cart for to make dirty martinis or pre-game shots. You'll want to use Haku vodka for drinks with a prevalent vodka taste, since this spirit goes down super smooth by itself. At around $25 for 750ml, Haku isn't the cheapest — but certainly isn't the most expensive — bottle of vodka at the liquor store. Though you'll be hard pressed to find a brand as clean and crisp as this one. 

While many people leave Smirnoff behind after their 21st birthday, you shouldn't totally disregard the favorite brand of your college years. Let's face it: We've all had a bad night because of Smirnoff. Buying two handles in the liquor section of the Walgreens in Boston, Massachusetts, was certainly not my finest moment, nor were the long nights that followed. Still, sometimes you need to relive the glory days of your fleeting youth. And that's where Smirnoff fits in. 

Smirnoff comes in a plethora of different flavors and sizes. You can find a liter for about $15 – a price that is hard to beat. At home or the bar, Smirnoff is a decent vodka for any budget. Both Fernandez and Mel Meza use it for cheaper drinks at their respective bars on opposite sides of the country. "My preferred well vodka is Smirnoff," says Mel Meza, "[it's] valued not only for its affordability but also for its exceptional versatility in cocktails." Smirnoff's tingly taste goes well in just about any drink. Try it in a classic vodka soda or a Moscow mule, you could even put it in the strongest cocktail in the world. Better yet, a small $12 bottle of vanilla-flavored Smirnoff is the perfect base for the pornstar martini. 

Hanson's organic vodka hails from Sonoma County, a place more well-known for its wine than its liquor. The Northern Californian wine country's best-kept secret, though, might be this colorful bottle of vodka. 

Staying true to its roots, Hanson's vodka is grape-based, similar to the French brand CÎROC. "I highly recommend Hanson Vodka for home use," says Mel Meza, "crafted in small batches, it boasts a clean, smooth profile that's exceptional for enjoying straight-up." With a plethora of different flavors, Hanson vodka also works well with most of your favorite mixers. For a refreshing drink, try a cucumber vodka lemonade. For something with a bit more kick, try its habanero vodka with orange or mango juice paired with your favorite California burrito.

This gluten-free vodka costs around $25 for a 750ml bottle, placing it right in the mid-range tier. This is the brand to try if you're looking for a vodka to shake up your at-home bar cart. 

Grey Goose is well known as a premium French vodka popular in the United States and around the world. Despite the rumors, Grey Goose does not also produce Costco's Kirkland Vodka, though it does have the same country of origin.

Unfortunately, Grey Goose's premium vodka is hard to replicate at a lower price, making this brand a great top-shelf option. "Grey Goose, known for its purity, is great for martinis or vodka-forward cocktails," says Jeff Fernandez. This spirit has a clean and smooth profile that goes down easily with very little after-burn. Mel Meza agrees, sharing how she best utilizes Grey Goose: "For a top-shelf experience, I favor Grey Goose. I generally lean towards top-shelf brands for both shots and martinis," she says, "they tend to offer a smoother and more refined experience." 

At around $40 for a bottle, Grey Goose certainly isn't the cheapest vodka in the liquor aisle. Still, it's worth grabbing one for your at-home bar cart to save for a celebration or special occasion. 

Belvedere is the premium vodka brand — not to mention a number of hip-hop artists, from Jay-Z to Missy Elliot, have mentioned the brand in their lyrics . It's the brand you see on TV or in the club with sparklers sticking out the top, held by someone trying desperately to shimmy past crowds without burning themselves. Needless to say, you want this vodka as part of your at-home repertoire. 

This Polish vodka brand was founded in 1910, making it the country's longest-operating vodka distillery. Since then, the company has created a line of products that can only compete against itself. The classic Belvedere variety is made of organic rye and has a velvety mouthfeel and an incredibly light taste. "Belvedere is smooth with a slightly creamy texture, ideal for sipping or premium drinks," says Jeff Fernandez. Try this one by itself; you don't necessarily want to dilute a bottle of this with less-than-premium mixers. 

A liter of Belvedere will set you back around $50, making it the most expensive vodka brand on our list. Still, you get what you pay for when it comes to this brand. Because with Belvedere, it's all about the luxury. "Belvedere offers a refined and premium quality," agrees Mel Meza, who uses this top-shelf vodka at her Los Angeles rooftop bar. Pick one up at the liquor store and have that rooftop feel ready to go in your bar cart. 

Ketel One vodka is produced by the Dutch distillery Nolet, which has operated in the Netherlands since 1691. However, it wasn't until nearly 300 years later, in the early 1980s, that the family-owned company branched out to the United States and created Ketel One vodka. 

Now, the brand is listed by both Mel Meza and Jeff Fernandez as one of their bar's essential mid-tier vodkas. "Ketel One is versatile and crisp, perfect for cocktails," says Fernandez. The bar manager utilizes Ketel One to craft Hutong New York's signature drink: the Comfortably Numb. It combines Ketel One or vanilla vodka, lychee, honey, Thai chili, and Sichuan pepper. 

Ketel One vodka has more of a neutral pallet, which means it works well in pretty much whatever flavor combination you would like. At around $30 for a liter, it makes for an affordable and accessible mid-range option for your bar cart. Its botanical collection offers an array of inventive flavor combinations, such as grapefruit & rose or peach & orange blossom.