There are a few staples that are needed behind the bar when running a nightclub. One of these happens to be vodka. This is a key ingredient in an infinite number of drinks. If you’re trying for new drink ideas for nightclubs, this spirit would be where to start.
Though Russia and Poland both claim to be the birthplace of vodka, it gets its name from the Russian word for water. The word vodka literally means “little water,” and has been around for centuries. Originally used for medical purposes, it wasn’t until around the 14th century that people began to realize the intoxicating effects it had.
The following vodkas represent just a short list of popular vodkas requested in bars and nightclubs across the country.
– Stolichnaya
Commonly known as “Stoli” or “Stolis,” this is one of the most popular Russian vodkas. It delivers a smooth taste for the price and offers a variety of flavors.
Stoli mixes wheat and rye with pure glacier water from the Kalingrad region and is distilled four times. It is then filtered through not just charcoal, but also quartz sand and woven cloth.
Stoli Bluberi is the newest addition to the Stoli flavors. Other flavors include citrus, orange, cranberry, vanilla, raspberry, and strawberry.
– Absolut
Absolut vodka has been made in the small town of Ahus in southern Sweden since 1879. The wheat is grown there and the water that it is mixed with comes from a well there. It is known for its bottle, which was fashioned after an old Swedish medicine bottle.
Winter wheat is mixed with pure well water and is distilled using the continuous distillation method. It is distilled hundreds of times until all of the impurities are removed.
Chili pepper flavored vodka was the first flavor that Absolut Vodka came out with. Since then raspberry, citrus, mandarin, peach, pear, currant, vanilla, and grapefruit have also joined the ranks.
– Skyy
Skyy vodka is produced by Skyy Spirits in California and is known by its stand out, cobalt blue bottle. This vodka is made to have lower levels of impurities and is geared more towards martini drinkers.
Deionized water is mixed with ethanol made with American grain and distilled four times. It is then filtered through charcoal, rough cellulose, and fine cellulose. Each individual batch is then tasted for quality.
Skyy vodka flavors include spiced, vanilla, and berry. The Skyy Infusions lineup includes citrus, cherry, passion fruit, raspberry, and grape.
– Smirnoff
Smirnoff Vodka began in Russia by the son of illiterate peasants in the 1860s. Today it is one of the most popular brands in the United States, and claim to be the “best selling vodka in the world.”
Made form corn and pure filtered water, it is distilled three times. It is then filtered through charcoal for eight hours.
Their flavor line up includes a variety of fruit flavors such as Green Apple Twist, Vanilla Twist, Melon Twist, Passion Fruit Twist, Blueberry Twist, and White Grape Twist.
– Grey Goose
Made in Cognac, France, Grey Goose is relatively new to the vodka market, but has become a world favorite. Each bottle is corked and depicts three grey geese flying above the French Alps.
It is made from wheat and spring water naturally filtered through champagne limestone. It is then column distilled three times in small batches.
Flavors of Grey Goose include orange, vanilla, citrus, and pear.
– Three Olives
The production of one of the most popular vodkas, Three Olives, began over three centuries ago in England.
It is made from a 300 year old recipe and uses the finest English wheat, which is mixed with deionized water, then distilled and filtered four times.
When it comes to flavored vodkas, the popular Three Olives brand has three new interesting ones – tomato, root beer, and triple espresso. Nightclub operations carrying these flavors will rival any business around. Other flavors include berry, cherry, chocolate, citrus, grape, green apple, mango, orange, and passion fruit, among others.
– Sobieski
King Jan III of Poland ruled until his death in 1696. It is his name – Sobieski – that graces the bottle of Sobieski Vodka. They claim to have the “truth in vodka,” stating that other trendy bottles are not as important as what’s in them.
It is made from rye and pure spring water and distilled in a continuous distillation process, then filtered through charcoal.
Flavors of Sobieski include Cytron and Vanilla.
– Pravda
With a name meaning “truth,” Pravda Vodka is quite eye catching. It comes in a tall frosted bottle with a prominent violet jewel and is made in the Carpathian Mountains in Southern Poland.
Pravda vodka is made from late harvest sweet rye and pure mountain spring water. It is then distilled five times and then distilled an extra time in a copper still. Extensive charcoal filtration follows the distillation process with charcoal made from French birch wood.
– Tito’s Handmade Vodka
Tito’s Handmade Vodka is made in Austin, TX by a geophysicist. It began in 1997 in the first legal, licensed distillery in the state of Texas. Tito’s doesn’t rely much on outlandish advertising campaigns to sell it’s vodka, but on word of mouth and quality.
It is micro distilled six times from corn. Distillation takes place in old-fashioned copper pots.
– Finlandia
As the name suggests, Finlandia is from Finland. It was introduced to the United States in 1971, and in 2002, it became the new James Bond vodka.
It is made with six-row barley and pure glacier water, using a state-of-the art continuous distillation process. This process has over two hundred steps and requires no filtering.
Currently, Finlandia offers eight different flavors. They are cranberry, lime, mango, wild berry, grapefruit, tangerine, and black current.
– Rain
Made in Frankfurt, KY, Rain Vodka claims that it is “the organic vodka.” It is, in fact, certified organic by the USDA. Production began in 1996, and it was one of the first organic spirits.
Rain Vodka is made from 100% organic white corn and distilled seven times. The vodka is then allowed to “rest” in stainless steel tanks for several months before pure limestone water is added.
This vodka boasts some interesting flavor combinations, including Lavender Lemonade, Cucumber Lime, Red Grape Hibiscus, and Honey Mango Melon.
– Belvedere
Belvedere Vodka was introduced to the United States in vodka online vodka online 1996. It is named after the presidential palace in Poland and has a picture of the palace on the bottle.
Dankowskie rye and purified well water are the ingredients in this vodka. It is distilled four times and then filtered through charcoal and cellulose before being bottled.
Belvedere flavored vodkas are made using only real fruit, and when looking at the flavors, one will find the expected – pink grapefruit, orange, black raspberry, and citrus. In addition, they also produce Belvedere IX, which is a combination of guarana, ginger, ginseng, jasmine, cinnamon leaf, sweet almond, eucalyptus, black cherry, and acai juice.