Perhaps historically, due to the humble potato being deemed a poor man’s ingredient, there’s still some snobbery around potato vodka. It’s definitely unwarranted, as the best potato vodkas will outstand you with their creamy smoothness, depth and versatility.
Potato vodkas are a totally different ball game to the mass-produced grain-based vodka brands you might be familiar with. Generally creamier in taste and made in small batches, there seems to be a potato vodka revolution underway.
What Does Potato Vodka Taste Like?
Potato vodka has a creamy, earthy and slightly sweet flavour profile that’s smoother than traditional vodkas made from fermented grains that tend to be crisper and less flavoursome.
How Is Potato Vodka Made?
Potato vodka is made by first chopping and boiling potatoes that are then finely mashed. This potato mash then goes through a fermentation process to release the alcohol, then distilled to remove impurities and increase the strength of the final spirit.
Best Potato Vodkas
We’ve curated a list of the 10 best potato vodkas around so you can get acquainted with this deliciously creamy versatile spirit.
1. Chase Potato Vodka
Overview
- Distiller: Chase Distillery
- ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
- Country: England
- Colour: Clear
Review
Chase produce their Original Potato Vodka entirely from scratch, using potatoes deemed too small to be used in Tyrell’s crisps. The fermenting and distilling (using a copper still) is all performed on their family farm in Hertfordshire.
Chase vodkas have won several gold medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and aims to make this the finest ingredient for the ultimate vodka martini cocktail.
On The Nose
This is an aromatic vodka with a creamy, dairy-like overtone with hints of peppercorn, red berries and nectarine.
On The Palate
It’s creamy with light cracked black pepper and the tiniest hint of sweet liquorice and aniseed. The long finish is smooth and earthy, with plenty of character.
Summary
Chase Potato Vodka is ideal for those looking for a spirit with a flavour profile all of its own. Excellent choice for cocktails, Chase Vodka will make an incredibly delicious Screwdriver or Black Russian.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
2. Chopin Potato Vodka
Overview
- Distiller: Polmos Siedlce
- ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
- Country: Poland
- Colour: Clear
Review
Named after the famous composer, Chopin Vodka is distilled from locally sourced organic Polish potatoes. The brand only creates pure vodka to let the potatoes speak for themselves, rather than producing flavoured vodkas.
It’s distilled in small batches, with most ingredients coming from within 18 miles of the distillery. Much of the process is done by hand using an 18th-century copper column still.
On The Nose
It has a subtle, clean nose with hints of green apple and a touch of vanilla.
On The Palate
Fresh with crisp apple and the slight sweetness of creamy vanilla, pepper and nutty flavour. There’s the subtle twang of black pepper during the clean finish.
Summary
This small-batch vodka holds its heritage firmly in Poland, deemed the birthplace of potato vodka. Try it in a Vodka Martini cocktail.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
3. Karlsson’s Gold Swedish Vodka
Overview
- Distiller: Karlssons
- ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
- Country: Sweeden
- Colour: Clear
Review
Karlsson’s Gold Swedish Vodka is made from seven different varieties of virgin new potatoes to ensure a potato vodka that’s smooth, silky and buttery.
The manufacturing process leaves no stone unturned; it’s handcrafted, single-distilled and unfiltered to preserve the flavour and character of the flavoursome new potatoes that make up this fine spirit.
On The Nose
Hints of vegetation, black pepper and the slightest touch of vanilla come through in the scent of this vodka.
On The Palate
It has a dairy-like creaminess with lingering potato skins and a slight nuttiness. It’s quite drying on the finish but remains smooth.
Summary
The use of new potatoes has definitely paid off as this vodka has an intriguing flavour profile that, in my opinion, should be enjoyed neat on the rocks.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
4. The Muff Liquor Company Irish Potato Vodka
Overview
- Distiller: The Muff Liquor Company
- ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
- Country: Ireland
- Colour: Clear
Review
The Muff Liquor Company is an Irish distiller that creates a premium potato-based vodka based on generations-old recipes. They’ve won awards around the world for their spirits.
Fermented potatoes are mixed with several botanicals for flavour; then, this potato vodka is distilled six times in a copper pot still to ensure maximum purity.
On The Nose
Slightly creamy and earthy with the slightest hint of vanilla.
On The Palate
A delightfully crisp and clean opening soon evolves into a creamy and earthy middle. The finish remains clean with hints of pepper.
Summary
This versatile potato vodka has a smooth, clean and creamy flavour profile that lends itself well to sipping neat or as a base for a wide range of cocktails such as Sea Breeze or Vodka Matini.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
5. St Patrick’s Potato Vodka
Overview
- Distiller: St Patrick’s
- ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
- Country: Ireland
- Colour: Clear
Review
Produced exclusively from Lady Claire and Rosetta potatoes (the potatoes of choice used by many snack makers) at the St Patrick’s Distillery in Cork, this vodka has a sweeter flavour profile than most potato vodkas I’ve tried.
Packed with character, taste and personality, St Patrick’s Potato Vodka has won medals at both the International Wine & Spirit Competition
and the Irish Whiskey Awards.
On The Nose
Crisp with a slightly sweet and earthy aroma.
On The Palate
A clean opening that soon becomes creamy and smooth with no harsh edges. The finish is long, incredibly smooth and subtly sweet.
Conclusion
St Patrick’s Potato Vodka is full-strength without compromising on taste.
A great all-rounder that’s smooth and easy to drink in cocktails or neat over ice if that’s your thing. Add a dash of dry vermouth to create a delicious vodka martini.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
6. Priory Potato Vodka
Overview
- Distiller: Priory
- ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
- Country: England
- Colour: Clear
Review
Priory vodka is grown and produced on Priory Farm in Yorkshire – from seed to bottle, the ingredients (including fresh local spring water) all come from within a 13-mile radius. They even feed leftover potato skins to the livestock on the farm.
It’s an excellent choice if you’re looking for an ethically sourced, sustainable vodka that doesn’t compromise on taste – they’ve won medals at the Vodka Masters awards!
On The Nose
It’s a sweet-scented vodka with a slight floral undertone and lush creaminess.
On The Palate
This potato vodka has a clean, crisp opening that leads to a smooth, fruity and slightly floral mid. The finish is clean, long, and quite creamy.
Conclusion
I enjoyed this potato vodka over ice and a splash of Fever-Tree Indian tonic water. Plus, it has the bonus of being sustainable, British-made and created with love and care with little to no waste.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
7. D1 Potato Vodka
Overview
- Distiller: D.J. Limbrey
- ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
- Country: England
- Colour: Clear
Review
D1 Potato Vodka has a long fermentation process plus two distinct distillations. The vapour is elevated through seven-column stills and passes 2,000 purification plates to be bottled without further filtration.
They’ve sourced some of the best ingredients worldwide to create this exquisite potato vodka. The brand has won awards at the Vodka Masters and the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
On The Nose
Lightly toasted buttery sourdough, sage and a hint of potato earthiness.
On The Palate
Salted butter, chocolate, sweet fig and wild honey dusted with herbs. It has a long, creamy and peppery finish.
Conclusion
D1 Potato Vodka is a tasty blend that proves that putting time and effort into sourcing fine ingredients will develop a flavour profile with depth and character. I simply love the bottles!
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
8. Luksusowa Polish Potato Vodka
Overview
- Distiller: Luksusowa
- ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
- Country: Poland
- Colour: Clear
Review
This Polish vodka has a long history dating back to 1928, with the Luksusowa family distilling at factories in Poland since then. It makes it one of the oldest Polish vodkas available. The name means “luxurious” in Polish and reflects the premium vodka within.
To make their potato vodka, Luksusowa takes Polish potatoes grown on the Baltic Sea coast, where it’s said to create superior quality potatoes. They mash them up, fermenting and distilling through a single copper column, and it’s then rectified and diluted with pure water.
On The Nose
Clean and subdued with a faint chalky mineral and grassy aromas.
On The Palate
Clean and creamy with sweet, grassy mineral notes and faint hints of creamy mashed potatoes. A finish of mild cracked black pepper shines through, with hints of aniseed.
Conclusion
A creamy and versatile potato vodka with nice depth and moreish hints of black pepper, aniseed and minerals. It works equally well in cocktails as a solid base, mix with tonic, or sipped neat over ice.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
9. Vestal Blended Potato Vodka
Overview
- Distiller: Vestal
- ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
- Country: Poland
- Colour: Clear
Review
Vestal is another Polish potato vodka. It’s made from high quality, carefully sourced base materials including Asterix, Vineta and Lord varieties of potato to create a vodka with character.
They use their potatoes when they’re small and full of flavour and see purity as a more homely and down-to-earth quality, rather than creating a tasteless “pure” vodka like many commercial mass-market brands.
On The Nose
Fragrant and clean with notes of apple, kiwi, vanilla and minty potato skins.
On The Palate
Clean to start and becoming creamy and fruity with a slight herbal undertone. The finish is long, with a subtle sweetness of tropical fruits.
Conclusion
Vestal pride themselves on their dedication to quality over quantity, and I can see why. This potato vodka deserves to be sipped neat over ice so you can savour the creaminess of the young potatoes and the hints of tropical fruits on the finish.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
10. Arbikie Tattie Bogle Potato Vodka
Overview
- Distiller: Arbikie
- ABV: 43% (86 Proof)
- Country: Scotland
- Colour: Clear
Review
Distilled in copper stills in the Arbikie Distillery in the Scottish Highlands, this vodka blends Maris Piper, King Edward and Cultra potatoes grown on the distillery’s own farm.
Named after the “Tattie Bogles” (the ancient Scottish name for potato scarecrow) that once stood sentry on the fields at the farm. The brand does all of its distillation, bottling and labelling on-site too.
On The Nose
Black pepper, pear, and creamy potato skins.
On The Palate
A slightly smoky opening soon reveals creamy potato skins and a hit of spicy nuttiness. The velvety finish is ultra-smooth and soothing.
Conclusion
This full-flavoured vodka has a distinctive potato character that is silky, creamy and ultra-smooth. So smooth, in fact, that I feel you can enjoy this beauty neat.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
Andrew’s Top Pick
Luksusowa Polish Potato Vodka
My top pick of the best overall potato vodka is Luksusowa Polish Potato Vodka. This creamy potato vodka is creamy and smooth with moreish hints of black pepper, aniseed and minerals.
A Brief History of Potato Vodkas
The first appearance of the word ‘vodka’ is from 1405, with these traditional vodkas being made from grain or grape, plus there is some evidence pointing towards the use of carrots to distil vodka at first!
It was not until 100 years later, in the late 1500s, that potatoes made their way over to Europe from their native Peru for food consumption. History shows that Poland was first to incorporate potatoes into their vodka distillation process during the 1700s when at that time, the potato was a cheaper ingredient than grain.
Conclusion
Today, potatoes are no longer the cheapest ingredient for vodka. The best potato vodkas are usually more expensive than other alternatives, as they’re more labour-intensive to make. The other benefit is that they’re gluten-free, so if you’re avoiding wheat or grains, they’re a great choice.
They’re great for people with wheat intolerances. Still, even if you’re OK with wheat, we’d definitely recommend trying out potato vodka to get that complex flavour that mixes perfectly with other drinks.
Also Read: 7 Best Ginger Beers For A Moscow Mule: Spicy To Sweet
Further Reading
Below are some additional articles from The Drinks Geek blog. We write articles on several fascinating areas of drinks, including different brands, drink types, cocktail recipes and more.
