Highway Vodka, hailing from Houston, is crafted from hempseed. Good Liquor Works, for example, produces vodka from coffee pulp, a waste product of coffee bean production. While most vodka is grain-based - corn, wheat, rye - or made from potatoes - vodka’s lack of strict rules allows enterprising distillers wide latitude in distillates to create new and unexpected iterations. “Vodkas that are not only different but delicious,” he says. Morales searches out non-traditional vodkas, such as Snow Leopard, a Russian vodka made from spelt, as well as Covington’s Sweet Potato Vodka from North Carolina, and Vermont Gold Vodka distilled from whey, which confers a distinctly creamy mouthfeel.
When in full swing, Kachka offers about 60 different vodka selections and a dozen house-made infusions. “We carry a good number of vodkas that are unique and hard to find, and in that way we have become a destination.”Įven though Kachka specializes in Eastern European vodkas, particularly Russian, it also carries vodkas from all over the world, as well as from a bevy of local distillers. “Vodka is a foundational piece to our restaurant it’s tied to the concept and the culture of Eastern European dining,” says Israel Morales, co-owner and beverage director of Kachka restaurant in Portland, OR. It’s a staple.” Focused Approach on Vodka TrendsĪlthough vodka is a workhorse at every bar and restaurant, some establishments specialize in the spirit. “With all the buzz about whiskey, tequila and RTDs, sometimes vodka is a little forgotten, but vodka is still on every backbar, home bar and shopping basket.
Vodka consumption continues to be a massive driver in the spirits industry, says Erin King, director of brand marketing and on-premise for Western Son vodka. Sodie’s carries 560 SKUs of vodka the category accounts for 18% of the retailer’s overall spirit sales. Jones, store manager at Sodie’s Wine & Spirits, in Fort Smith, AR. “Our vodka SKU count is always growing, due to new products and brands becoming available to our distributors,” says Shaina B. While pandemic lockdowns have decreased on-premise sales at bars and restaurants, “we’ve been fortunate to see spikes in sales from shops and liquor stores, which represent a significant portion of our North American sales, as well as unprecedented growth in e-commerce,” de Dreuille notes.