In this article, we are going to discuss the top 20 best selling vodka brands in the world. You can skip our detailed analysis of the new trends in vodka, the new entrant in the vodka market, the recent major acquisition in the vodka industry, the effects of the Russia-Ukraine war, and the size of the global vodka market, and go directly to Top 5 Best Selling Vodka Brands in the World.
Vodka’s overall popularity is largely based on its versatility, as it can be mixed with almost anything in a cocktail and is really easy to add flavorings to. Also, since vodka does not require aging, it’s convenient to produce a large quantity of the highly sought-after spirit. Both Poland and Russia claim to be the first places to originate vodka, however, its first documented production occurred at the end of the 9th century in Russia.
The New Trends in Vodka:
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, such as gin.
Major vodka brands, including Grey Goose, Smirnoff, Svedka etc. 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 plc (NYSE:DEO) was among the pioneers in the low-alcohol vodka category, 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.
Vodka brands have also already identified the burgeoning ready-to-drink (RTD) category as another potential revenue stream and Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) was again among the early movers, unveiling its Ketel One Botanical Spritz canned range in 2021.
Some of the Most Popular Gin Brands in 2023 are also owned by Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO).
New Entrant in the Vodka Market:
The beer behemoth Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD) has been making strides to enter the spirits category and vodka is no exception. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD) pushed its Natural Light beer brand into the vodka category and debuted three lemonade-flavored 30% ABV vodka expressions in 2021. Natural Light is among the Top-Selling Beers in America.
Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD) also announced that it was launching D’YAVOL, a premium black-pearl filtered vodka brand, in India this year, for which it has partnered with Aryan Khan, the son of the uber-famous Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan.
Major Acquisition in the Vodka Industry:
Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE:BF-B) announced in June that it had reached an agreement to sell its Finlandia vodka brand to Coca-Cola HBC AG for $220 million, subject to the customary closing process. The purchase is expected to close in the second half of 2023.
With 2.6 million 9L cases sold in 2022, Finlandia was among the best-selling brands in the Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE:BF-B) portfolio. The popular vodka brand was acquired by Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE:BF-B) from Altia Corp. in multiple phases, obtaining full ownership in 2004.
Effects of the Russia-Ukraine War:
Last year, vodka suddenly found itself in the international spotlight following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The start of the invasion led to Western consumers, retailers, and governments banning and boycotting Russian vodkas.
At the same time, Western vodka brands that have Russian sounding names, including the best-selling Smirnoff, were quick to point out that they aren’t actually from Russia. Smirnoff is instead owned by the industry giant Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO).
Sales of several Ukrainian vodka brands were also badly affected by the ongoing conflict, possibly due to the power outages and shelling, with several of them witnessing a double-digit decline in sales in 2022. However, with Russian vodkas still mostly absent from international shelves, several previously little-known Ukrainian brands are continuing to take their place.
Nemiroff is a popular Ukrainian vodka that had to close its main distillery for a month following the Russian invasion and saw its sales drop by a staggering 57.4% in 2022. However, the brand has proven to be resilient and is now witnessing a resurgence this year, including a two-fold increase in sales in the U.K.
The Global Vodka Market:
According to Research and Markets, the global vodka market was valued at $25.98 billion in 2022 and is estimated to reach $40.25 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 5.6% during the forecast period.
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.
With that said, here are the Top-Selling Vodka Brands Around the Globe.
Mateusz Gzik/Shutterstock.com
Methodology:
To collect data for this article, we have referred to The Brand Champions 2023 magazine by The Spirits Business, looking for the Top-Selling Vodka Brands in the World. We have ranked the vodka brands according to the sales volumes of their 9-liter cases in 2022. When two brands had the same amount of sales in 2022, we ranked them by their %age change in sales from 2021.
20. Pervak
Cases Sold in 2022: 2.1 million
Pervak is a real craft vodka made in Ukraine. Produced from wheat, Pervak is known for its smooth and clean taste. The brand witnessed a 25.8% increase in sales in 2022, as compared to the previous year.
19. Eristoff
Cases Sold in 2022: 2.1 million
Eristoff vodka originated from Georgia and was first produced in 1806. Now owned by Bacardi, this 100% grain vodka is triple-distilled and finally charcoal filtered to ensure absolute purity.
18. Nemiroff
Cases Sold in 2022: 2.4 million
Present in 5 continents, Nemiroff is a Ukrainian vodka dating back to 1872. Sales of Nemiroff declined by 57.4% after the Russian invasion of Ukraine but it still ranks among the best-selling vodka brands in the world.
17. Finlandia
Cases Sold in 2022: 2.6 million
Established in 1970, Finlandia is a leading vodka brand in Central and Eastern Europe with sales volume of 2.6 million 9L cases in 2022, the same sales figures it had in 2021.
16. Kozatska Rada
Cases Sold in 2022: 2.6 million
Also known as ‘Cossack Rada’, this premium vodka brand is a tribute to the glorious historical past and traditions of the Cossacks.
15. Ketel One
Cases Sold in 2022: 3.2 million
Unflavored and odorless, Ketel One vodka is produced at the Nolet Distillery in the Netherlands. In 2008, Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) and the Nolet family reached an agreement to form a new company under which the former would pay $900 million to become the world’s exclusive distributor of Ketel One vodka. The Nolet family continues to own the brand rights for Ketel One.
Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) owns some of the Best Vodka Brands Under $30, including Ciroc vodka. With several best-selling vodka brands under its belt, the spirits industry giant is among the largest vodka producers in the world.
14. Belenkaya
Cases Sold in 2022: 3.4 million
Represented in more than 30 countries, Belenkaya was the most consumed vodka brand in the Russian market for four years in a row. An unforgettable flavor and a noble aroma provide this great beverage with an irresistible sensibility.
13. Skyy
Cases Sold in 2022: 3.4 million
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 under $15, Skyy is also among the cheaper vodka brands in our list.
12. Pyat Ozer
Cases Sold in 2022: 3.9 million
Owned by the Alcohol Siberian Group, this Russian vodka brand witnessed a 5.7% decrease in sales from 2021, when it sold 4.1 million 9L cases.
11. Arkhangelskaya
Cases Sold in 2022: 4 million
Arkhangelskaya is another top-selling vodka brand owned by the Beluga Group, produced at one of the company’s oldest factories, the ALVIZ plant.
The Beluga Group is Russia’s largest alcohol company and operates five factories, including the Chugunov Sky ethanol plant. In 2020, the company’s revenue rose by 23% to $871.9 million.
10. Soplica
Cases Sold in 2022: 4.1 million
Produced since 1891, Soplica is one of the most famous brands of vodka in Poland, thanks to their old-fashioned method of distillation. Pure water, grain and rye are all it takes to produce this pure, natural-tasting vodka.
9. Żołądkowa Gorzka
Cases Sold in 2022: 4.2 million
Infused with a magical blend of dried fruits, herbs and spices, Żołądkowa Gorzka vodka is a Polish favorite. Available in several countries worldwide, this traditional brand is among the 10 most popular vodkas in the world.
8. Grey Goose
Cases Sold in 2022: 4.2 million
One of the best vodka brands in the world, Grey Goose was acquired by Bacardi Limited in 2004, in a deal worth over $2 billion, setting a record at the time for the largest purchase price in spirits business history for a single brand.
7. Magic Moments
Cases Sold in 2022: 4.8 million
Owned by Radico Khaitan, this Indian vodka soared by nearly a third to reach 4.8 million 9L case sales in 2022. Radico Khaitan is the fourth-largest liquor company in India, boasting a revenue of around $383.9 million in 2022. Magic Moments ranks 7th in our list of the best-selling vodka brands.
6. Morosha
Cases Sold in 2022: 6.2 million
This premium Ukrainian vodka is made with mineral water coming from the very heart of the Carpathians. The water used in production of Morosha vodka is extracted from Mizunskyi spring at an altitude of 470 to 1,050 meters above sea level.
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Disclosure: None. Top 20 Best Selling Vodka Brands in the World is originally published on Insider Monkey.