In this article, we are going to discuss the 20 best vodkas for a Moscow Mule. You can skip our detailed analysis of the global vodka market, the new trends in vodka, and the upcoming vodka RTD in the market, and go directly to 5 Best Vodkas for a Moscow Mule.
Once a curious footnote, the Moscow Mule, which turned 82 this year, is now one of the most popular drinks on the planet. The crowd-pleasing concoction was popularized in the 1940’s by Smirnoff-owner John G. Martin and Jack Morgan, the owner of the Los Angeles British pub Cock ‘n’ Bull. At the time, Martin was having a hard time selling vodka to Americans, who preferred whiskey and beer. Meanwhile, Morgan also had a surplus of ginger beer at his bar and his girlfriend happened to have a company that made copper mugs. When it all came together, quite a decent product emerged, one that revolutionized the American cocktail culture forever.
Though there is a wide variety of drinks out there made with ginger beer and lime these days, the Moscow Mule sticks out simply because it really doesn’t taste like alcohol, yet it still has culinary substance. It’s refreshing and light, but it has personality.
Vodka-based RTD beverages are witnessing a huge increase in new product development, which is expected to drive the market. The all-natural, flavored segment is expected to witness the fastest growth rate, owing to the growing demand of premium flavored vodka, especially among the millennial population.
The New Trends in Vodka:
There has been a significant shift in the spirits market in recent years. Ousted by craft gins and quality whiskeys, the sales of traditional premium vodka brands have declined. The war in Ukraine has also been responsible for the dip in popularity of the liquor. However, vodka producers are reinvigorating the category by tapping into the health conscious demand for low-alcohol beverages, and are moving towards lighter serves and low-ABV offerings to attract consumers back from competing spirits.
Major vodka brands have ramped up their innovation efforts in the low-alcohol space to attract new and mindful consumers by offering products made with less sugar and fewer calories. Diageo was among the pioneers in the low-alcohol vodka space, launching its 30% ABV Ketel One Botanicals range in May 2018, said to be the first of its kind at the time. It contains no artificial flavors, added sugar, or artificial sweeteners. Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ) also capitalized on the trend in 2020, with the release of its sugar-free SVEDKA Pure Infusions range, also 30% ABV.
The recent reincarnation of flavored vodkas has also seen the industry gain some much-needed traction. Gone are the days of the overly sweet artificial flavors and cheap plastic bottles, we are currently going through a flavored vodka renaissance where brands are reimagining the category with high-quality bottles and natural botanicals and extracts that expand the drink’s flavored expressions from subtle to overt. Flavored vodka also typically costs less than its premium counterpart, making it an attractive pocket friendly option. The flavored vodka segment represented 21.85% of the total vodka market share in the U.S. in 2021.
Owned by Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ), SVEDKA is a popular flavored vodka brand that is a great choice for mixing cocktails. Its smooth and clear taste makes it a versatile base for classic and modern cocktails alike. Plus, its affordable price point makes it a great option for home bartenders on a budget. SVEDKA was acquired by Constellation in 2007 in a deal worth $384 million.
Ready-to-drink beverages continue to make headlines as the fastest-growing alcohol beverage category. While malt-based RTDs still retain a 91% share by volume in the American RTD market, spirit-based RTDs grew by 51% in 2021, approximately double the growth of the wine-and malt-based categories. According to IWSR, the spirits-based RTDs are expected to grow at a CAGR of 33% in volume in the U.S. by 2025.
Keeping up with the trend, the French alcohol giant Pernod Ricard announced earlier this year that it is partnering with The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) to launch the Absolut Vodka & Sprite pre-mixed cocktail in select European countries in early 2024, including the UK, the Netherlands, Spain, and Germany. The packaging for the new 5% ABV RTD will feature both Absolut and Sprite’s trademarks and a zero-sugar Sprite option will also be available. In November last year, Pernod Ricard invested $22 million to install its first RTD canning line at the company’s plant in Arkansas.
It is worth mentioning that The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) also recently partnered with Brown-Forman to launch the quintessential classic Jack & Coke RTD, which made its U.S. debut in March this year in 12-oz. cans (7% ABV), and Jack Daniel’s and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar also became available in May.
With that said, here are the Top Vodkas for a Moscow Mule in 2023.
20 Best Vodkas for a Moscow Mule
Methodology:
To collect data for this article, we referred to a number of sources, such as Liquor, VinePair, Men’s Journal, Vodka Reddit threads etc., looking for the Best Vodkas to Use for a Moscow Mule. We picked vodkas that appeared at least thrice in these sources, assigned them a score based on their number of appearances, and ranked them accordingly.
When two vodkas had the same score, we ranked them based on their ratings on Drizly.
20. Absolut Vodka
Insider Monkey Score: 3
One of the most famous vodka brands in the world, Absolut is rich, full bodied, and blends beautifully with other aromas, enhancing the taste of your drinks and cocktails. Sweden’s Vin and Spirit, the parent company of Absolut, was acquired by the French group Pernod Ricard in 2008, in a deal worth around $8.9 billion.
SKYY is one of the first vodka brands to pioneer an innovative, state-of-the-art, quadruple-distilled, triple filtration process. The Campari Group acquired the majority stake in Skyy Spirits LLC in 2002, in a deal worth $207.5 million.
With a price tag of only $11 at Walmart, SKYY is among the Best Vodkas for the Price in the market.
18. Haku Vodka
Insider Monkey Score: 3
Haku is a premium Japanese vodka that is distilled from Hakumai – 100% pure Japanese white rice – to create 'Jyunpaku' – pure and brilliant vodka. Introduced by the House of Suntory in 2018, this top shelf craft vodka is carefully filtrated through bamboo charcoal for an unparalleled soft, round, and subtly sweet taste.
17. Ocean Organic Vodka
Insider Monkey Score: 3
Crafted on the beautiful island of Maui, Ocean Organic is the only vodka in the world made with deep ocean mineral water. The high mineral content of the water imparts a unique character to this offering and adds great depth of flavor to the traditional vodka cocktail. All the sugarcane used in the spirit is certified organic.
Ocean Organic is among the Top High Quality Vodkas for a Moscow Mule.
16. Crystal Head Vodka
Insider Monkey Score: 3
Created for the SNL royalty Dan Aykroyd, Crystal Head is an ultra-premium, kosher-certified, gluten-free vodka made using Newfoundland water which is filtered through 500 million year old crystals called Herkimer diamonds. The signature bad-ass crystal skull bottle is made in Italy by Bruni Glass, and makes Crystal Head one of the Coolest Vodkas in the market.
In honor of the Pride month in June this year, Crystal Head announced the launch of its limited-edition ‘Paint Your Pride’ bottle following the success of the rainbow bottle launched in 2020.
15. Hangar 1 Vodka
Insider Monkey Score: 4
Inspired by the fresh ingredients in Northern California, Hangar 1 began making vodka in Alameda out of an old World War II aircraft hangar – a real piece of California history. This is a small batch vodka made from a blend of pot-distilled Viognier grapes and column still-distilled American wheat.
Hangar 1 was acquired by Proximo Spirits in 2010.
14. Belvedere Ginger Zest Vodka
Insider Monkey Score: 4
This exceptional vodka offers a delightful twist of flavors that will awaken your senses. It is created by extracting fragrant oils from ginger, lemon, and grapefruit, which are then combined with Belvedere Vodka.
Belvedere is marketed as the world's first super premium vodka and is owned and produced by the French luxury conglomerate LVMH. First distilled in 1993, Belvedere is available in over 50 countries today and ranks among the Fastest-Growing Vodka Brands in the World.
13. Sobieski Vodka
Insider Monkey Score: 4
Produced using a unique blend of rye, this popular premium vodka is distilled at Starogard Gdanski distillery, one of the oldest distilleries in Poland. Sobieski is distilled following Polish ancestral tradition in the tallest column in the country, nearly 40 meters! This distillation process guarantees the quality and purity of this spirit, which makes it perfect to be mixed in your cocktails.
At $11.49 a bottle, Sobieski sits among the Best Cheap Vodkas for a Moscow Mule.
12. C?roc Vodka
Insider Monkey Score: 5
The essence of C?roc Ultra-Premium Vodka comes from fine French grapes, which are distilled a fifth time at the historic Distillerie de Maison Villevert - Chevanceaux in the South of France.
This gluten-free vodka is often associated with luxury and is a favorite among celebrities and high-end bars and restaurants.
Chopin Potato Vodka is a seasonally produced Polish vodka using locally sourced potatoes, grown within 18 miles of the Dorda family's distillery in Eastern Poland. Its uniquely creamy and full-bodied flavor profile makes it a great standalone vodka, ideal for sipping neat or in cocktails.
10. Reyka Vodka
Insider Monkey Score: 6
Introduced by William Grant & Sons in 2005, Reyka is an Icelandic vodka distilled from wheat and barley. It is also the world's first ‘green’ vodka brand, as it is made from glacial water and distilled using sustainable energy from geothermal heat.
Known for its Popular Scotch Brands, William Grant & Sons is the oldest family business in the whisky industry, and boasts distilling and bottling operations in Scotland, Ireland, Iceland, India, the US, and Mexico, with a team of over 2,600 employees at 48 global locations.
9. Absolut Elyx Vodka
Insider Monkey Score: 7
Absolut Elyx is a true luxury vodka, built on the principles of quality, integrity, and craftsmanship, manually distilled in a vintage copper still from 1921. This single-estate expression isn't only a smooth, delicious spirit but it also comes in an absolutely gorgeous bottle to look at which will be a welcome addition to your collection.
Produced in Sweden since 1870, Absolut is one of the largest spirit brands in the world and is sold in more than 126 countries worldwide.
Absolut Elyx is a great choice for a Vodka that Goes Best in a Moscow Mule.
8. Prairie Organic Vodka
Insider Monkey Score: 7
This #1 Organic Vodka is distilled to taste and made for those who appreciate hard work and no compromise. This delicious, creamy, slightly fruity spirit will go beautifully with the ginger and lime in a Moscow Mule.
Prairie Organic Spirits was founded by Phillips Distilling Company in 2008 with a mission to handcraft organic, world-class spirits using the fewest natural resources possible.
Prairie Organic ranks among the Top 10 Vodkas for a Moscow Mule.
7. Russian Standard Platinum Vodka
Insider Monkey Score: 8
Like all Russian Standard vodkas, Russian Standard Platinum is made with hardy winter wheat grown on the Black Steppes of Russia and soft glacial waters of Lake Ladoga in Russia's frozen north. Produced by the Tatspirtprom Company in Kazan, this expression represents all Russian vodka production traditions – the trademark clear, smooth, and crispy taste that perfectly matches a rich and creamy mouthfeel.
6. Luksusowa Vodka
Insider Monkey Score: 9
Introduced in 1928, this smooth and satisfying potato vodka adds a bit of creaminess to the body of a Moscow Mule. Since it is superbly clean and not overpowering, it lets the ginger beer take over and shies away just enough for you to be able to enjoy the other flavors in the mule, as it doesn't have any flavorings of its own.
Now owned by the French liquor giant Pernod Ricard, Luksusowa accounts for 10% of the Polish Vodka market.
Luksosowa is one of the Best Vodkas for a Moscow Mule According to Reddit.