Atomik Chernobyl Exclusion Zone Vodka

More than three decades after the Chernobyl Power Plant disaster, a group of scientists developed a spirit that uses rye grown on land in the abandoned exclusion zone. The team have dubbed themselves The Chernobyl Spirit Company and began the project to show that alcohol made from crops grown near the defunct power plant are safe to consume. The spirit is triple distilled and then diluted using uncontaminated groundwater drawn from an aquifer in the town of Chernobyl a little more than 6 miles from the defunct power plant. After meticulous testing, no radiative isotopes such as plutonium, americium, cesium or strontium show up in the finished product. So far, only one bottle exists as a proof of concept.

Hangar 1 Fog Point Vodka

With Fog Point Vodka, Hangar 1 has bottled a pure expression of the state of California. At four San Francisco locations, the distillers installed fog catchers that turned fog into fresh water. That water was later blended with vodka distilled from wine sourced from a vineyard on the Central Coast. Only one batch of 2,400 bottles were released.

Carbonadi Vodka

A cheap vodka that's only fit for mixing can take the whole spirit down. But premium releases like Carbonadi Vodka help return it to respectability, with over half a century experience from a family-owned distillery. They use only the best crystalline water and organic wheat from the surrounding Italian Alps to create this unique spirit. Distilled five times through active charcoal to remove impurities, it's then re-filtered through uncut microporous black diamonds to purify it even more. And unlike most vodkas, it's best served neat or on the rocks, but also makes a fantastic martini.

Born and Bred Vodka

To many, all vodkas are the same. But there are some truly exceptional vodkas being distilled these days, and one of those just happens to be made in the USA. Born and Bred Vodka is distilled by Grand Teton Distillery in Jackson, Wyoming, home to some incredible unspoiled glacial water that flows from the Grand Teton mountains. It's made using some of the best Idaho potatoes and is more than just a casual mixer as it is fit to be enjoyed neat or on the rocks as well.

Black Cow Vodka

Traditionally made using potatoes or apples, it's tough to find something unique in the vodka section of your liquor store. But Black Cow Vodka is unlike any vodka you've had, as it's made using the milk from grass-fed cows. The world's first and only pure milk vodka is made entirely from the milk of the cows mentioned above and provides a smooth, creamy character that helps it stand out in the crowded vodka market. Drink it chilled or mix into a dirty martini for a different take on the biggest selling spirit in the world.

Mammoth Dry Stack Vodka

There are plenty of Vodkas to choose from at your liquor store, but not enough are handmade in the USA. Mammoth Dry Stack Vodka is made using locally grown grains and botanicals from Torch Lake, Michigan. Using their 650 liter copper pot still from Goppingen, Germany, Mammoth uses two types of yeast in the fermentation to maximize yield and create complexity. Made in the USA and ready to play nice in any cocktail you whip up.

BĒT Vodka

Minnesota is the largest producer of sugar beets in the United States. And sugar beets are the main ingredient in BET Vodka. Produced by two local friends with a shared interest in farm cooperatives and sipping vodka, BET Vodka uses the hearts of sugar beets that are distilled down to their essence and then crafted into this premium-pour vodka. Mix it in your favorite vodka cocktail or sip it neat for a pure representation of this unique spirit.

Humboldt's Finest Cannabis Vodka

Using hemp that's legally grown in Southern Oregon, the team at Humboldt Distillery have taken two vices and blended them into one. Humboldt's Finest Cannabis Vodka gives off the aroma of fresh cannabis, the small batch vodka doesn't contain enough THC to get you high, but the alcohol can get you where you need to be. A great replacement for gin cocktails, it's currently available in California and Colorado.

Grey Goose VX Vodka

Already known as one of the top vodka makers in the world, Grey Goose continues to pioneer rather than follow fickle trends. Grey Goose VX is a great example, crafted with a hint of cognac, which gives it a truly distinctive aroma and flavor profile without interfering with the vodka experience. And make no mistake, this isn't a fly by night flavored spirit, but rather a high quality vodka housed in a beautiful bottle, that stands apart thanks to the small cognac influence, while remaining delicately balanced and unique.

Hangar 1 Vodka

As the craft distilling movement continues to grow, it's important to decipher the real deal from the big brands in sheep's clothing. Hangar 1® Vodka is the real deal, based in Alameda, CA and housed in an old World War II aircraft hangar where they distill their spirits, one batch at a time using hand-operated pot stills. Their Straight vodka is a unique blend of grapes and grains, giving it just the right balance of flavors.

Presented by Hangar 1 Vodka.

OYO Bourbon Barrel Honey Vanilla Vodka

Middle West Spirits in Columbus, Ohio is known for their excellent vodkas and whiskeys, but rarely do the two spirits mingle with each other — until now. Bourbon Barrel Honey Vanilla Vodka is a unique creation distilled from red winter wheat and local wildflower honey with hints of fresh vanilla bean. The honey vanilla vodka then rests in OYO bourbon barrels for between 9 and 12 months. The result is a sweet, creamy liqueur that not only tastes good neat, but is a fantastic cocktail ingredient.

Our / Vodka

If you aren't a regular vodka drinker, it can be tough to distinguish between quality stuff and bottom shelf vodka that is prepared with the sole intent of self obliteration. Our / Vodka is one that certainly falls into the quality category, produced by local experts in Berlin, Germany in a specially built urban micro-distillery and sold exclusively in local bars. The good news for us is, it's done so well on the local market that the market is expanding, as the brand is opening up in eleven cities across the US, Europe and Australia, starting in Detroit, Michigan. Each batch will be made with the same recipe, but every distillery will use locally sourced ingredients, giving each run some hometown character.

Medea Vodka

And you thought your watch was blingin'. Medea Vodka ($40) is the world's first spirit to arrive in a programmable bottle that lets you display messages up to 255 characters in length across the "label", and thanks to a distillation process that pairs pure artesian water with centuries-old techniques, the vodka inside will be just as smooth as that "drink me" message you put on the outside.