Vodka has gained a new legion of fans over the past few years and many new brands are starting to enter the market. Well-established brands have begun producing new flavours to offer alternatives and it’s being drunk by a wider audience than ever before. Whether you enjoy your vodka with a mixer, on the rocks, or you like to shake things up and make your own vodka-based cocktails, there are more choices than ever. Some brands are also launching a half bottle of vodka so you can try it before committing to a large bottle.
Where it used to be much harder to find a half bottle of vodka, now more brands are launching 20cl and 35cl bottles of vodka. But why buy a half bottle of vodka you may be asking yourself? There are many reasons. Half-size bottles make for great gifts, they are more affordable and give you a chance to try a new company without the hefty price tag. The last thing you want is to buy a full-size ultra-premium bottle of vodka to not enjoy it!
So, if you want to try a new cocktail with a vodka you haven’t tried before, or you think a half bottle of vodka would make a great present, we’ve put together a few options for you. An ultra-premium vodka by Grey Goose for you to drink on the rocks or a Cornish Vodka by a smaller brand, we’ve included them all. Try out their half bottle of vodka and then purchase the larger version once you know you like it.
Treat yourself or someone you love to a half bottle of vodka
Grey Goose – 35cl
When looking for a half bottle of vodka for a gift or to try new cocktails with, you can’t really go wrong with a bottle of Grey Goose. Known for being a more premium vodka, it’s made in France, using soft winter wheat and Gensac spring water. If enjoyed neat, you’ll find it’s very well-rounded with a smooth finish and part of the reason for this profile is that Grey Goose is distilled five times. If you enjoy a cocktail, this vodka makes a delicious martini or bloody Mary.
Amazon.co.uk
Price: £21.50
Sapling Vodka – 35cl
As well as producing a beautiful-tasting vodka made exclusively from British wheat, Sapling Vodka has an initiative where every bottle sold, a tree is planted. On each bottle, a unique code tells you what tree was planted where and a little about the planting project. This means you can enjoy your vodka, knowing you have helped the planet.
The Vodka by Sapling is very enjoyable when sipping neat or over ice, a contributing factor to this is that they distill their vodka four times. It’s smooth, clean and drinks very easily, with citrusy notes on each sip. Sapling Vodka also mixes well in a cocktail. They recommend a London Mule or Espresso Martini if you’re after some inspiration.
Amazon.co.uk
Price: £20.00
Porthilly Spirit Cornish Vodka – 20cl
Based in Cornwall, Porthilly Spirit is a small distillery producing super smooth, high-quality spirits. Their Cornish vodka in particular is a real highlight for the brand. Made from 100% British sugar beet and pure Cornish spring water, it’s favoured for its vibrant and clean taste. You can easily enjoy this vodka neat or over ice as well as in a cocktail. Why not impress your guests by making a cosmopolitan or a vodka martini?
If you enjoy a refreshing gin & tonic or gin-based cocktail, Porthilly Spirit also produces a range of delicious gins for you to try. For any rum lover out there, you may have noticed their cask-aged rum or pure golden rum which is distilled at their distillery in Cornwall.
Amazon.co.uk
Price: £17.00
Chase Vodka – 35cl
If you’re familiar with the Chase Distillery (we recommend going on a tour if you get the chance) then you will know Chase does delicious gins as well as vodkas. Their Chase Original potato vodka in particular is award-winning, having won a Gold Medal in the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2021.
The vodka is made from potatoes, using a copper pot still for the purest finish. The profile of the vodka is very smooth, clean and well-rounded. Just like the Grey Goose above, you can enjoy Chase Vodka neat as well as in a cocktail. We have used it to make a classic English Mule a number of times.
thewhiskyexchange.co.uk
Price: £19.95
Belvedere Vodka – 20cl
It’s not your standard half bottle of vodka size as this comes in 20cl instead of 35cl, however, with its quality and taste, we feel it deserves a spot on the list. Especially as we know we would love to receive a bottle of Belvedere, making it a perfect gift for someone.
Belvedere is a super premium Polish vodka that contains no additives. It’s made with natural Polish rye and purified water. Interestingly, this vodka is distilled by fire – a complex process that makes this vodka so premium.
Best served neat with or without ice, Belvedere Vodka is a stunning bottle that looks great on the shelf. If you want to mix it, we recommend a classic martini or an Espresso Martini for its flavours and pick me up.
Amazon.co.uk
Price: £16.95
Ciroc Vodka – 20cl
Another 20cl bottle on our list of half bottles of vodka but we feel it deserves a mention is Ciroc. Ciroc is a delicious ultra-premium vodka made in France, that regularly launches new flavours depending on the seasons. Their most recent one is summer watermelon with other flavours including red berry, mango, apple and pineapple.
What makes Ciroc very unique is the process of making its vodka. Ciroc Vodka is distilled from fine French grapes instead of grain which a lot of vodka in the market is made from. Their traditional Ciroc Vodka is inspired by the modern era, from its bottle design to its taste. Enjoy on the rocks or make your favourite vodka-based cocktail. If you want to impress your guests, try out a few of Ciroc’s flavoured range. Once you’ve tried a half bottle of vodka and know the flavours you like, buy a 70cl or litre version!
Thewhiskyexchange.co.uk
Price: £18.95
Fox’s Kiln Vodka Black – 35cl
Take a step away from the mainstream vodka brands and give Fox’s Kiln Vodka Black a try. A small distillery based in the Cotswolds, they’re known for producing a range of delicious gins and now various vodkas. Their vodka range includes vodka black, salted caramel vodka liqueur, sour raspberry vodka liqueur and spiced apple vodka liqueur.
Each bottle is triple-distilled and charcoal filtered for a pure, smooth velvety taste. Thanks to the fresh flavours, this vodka is easy on the palette and mixes nicely with tonic, in a cocktail or sipped over ice.
gloucesterbrewery.co.uk
Price: £16.00
Ultimat Vodka – 35cl
If you enjoy Polish Vodka, then you are going to love this half bottle of vodka by Ultimat. Once known as one of the more pricier vodkas, it’s now a bit more affordable, especially as a 35cl bottle.
It’s very easy to drink due to its smooth texture and rich complexity and goes well neat, on the rocks, or in a cocktail. Its bottle is beautifully crafted and makes for a nice display on a drinks trolley.
Thewhiskyexchange.co.uk
Price: £19.95
Absolut Vodka – 20cl
Absolut Vodka is a great vodka due to its affordable price and its mixing ability within a cocktail. This Swedish vodka has a variety of flavours, enabling you to create a whole range of drinks to show off to your friends. Some of their flavours include vanilla, passion fruit, watermelon, raspberry, grapefruit, lemon, pears and more.
A classic Swedish vodka, it’s made from natural ingredients with no added sugar. Part of the ingredients include Swedish water and winter wheat. You’ll find it’s bold, creative and goes down very easily. Many bars, restaurants and clubs will use Absolut Vodka as their go-to for a lot of their cocktails – we use Absolut vodka or Absolut Vanilla Vodka to make a pornstar martini for example. You can purchase a bottle of Absolut from most supermarkets near you as well as online stores like Amazon.
Amazon.co.uk
Price: £11.73
Smirnoff Red – 35cl
To round this article off, we have a half bottle of vodka produced by Smirnoff. Smirnoff is very much a household name, selling in most supermarkets worldwide. It’s very affordable, drinks well with a mixer and can be used for a cocktail. Some people drink Smirnoff neat, however, we prefer to mix it. Recently, Smirnoff has expanded its vodka range, releasing several flavoured vodkas, these include, mango & passionfruit twist and raspberry crush.
Amazon.co.uk
Price: £10.70
Tips for choosing a half bottle of vodka
- When choosing a half bottle of Vodka, consider the different ways in which you are going to drink it. We enjoy vodka mixed in a cocktail or on the rocks.
- Try a couple from the list and then decided which ones you would like to try as a full-sized bottle.
- Flavoured vodkas are becoming very popular. It may be worth trying one to see if you enjoy it.
When choosing a half bottle of vodka, would you choose one of the above? Are there any bottles that you think we should include in our article? Have you tried any from the list above? Let us know in the comment box below.
