Flavoured vodkas have only recently become fashionable, but the earliest vodkas were always flavoured, though that was entirely due to necessity. When commercial distillation got underway, during the 14-15th centuries, the original technology was obviously crude, and distillers lacked the ability to rectify ('purify') the spirit.
Flavoured with orange and mandarin extracts and packaged in a classy frosted bottle with an orange punt, Absolut Mandrin is perfect for summery cocktails.
Billed as 'the bloody original vodka spirit', this is a spirit produced in a similar manner to a vodka. It's an infusion of spices, aromatics and botanicals including chilli, black pepper and cayenne in English wheat vodka to create the perfect back bone to a bloody mary.
A unique flavoured Absolut blended with natural extracts of blackcurrants, showing cassis aromas and a palate of concentrated blackcurrant and dark fruit flavours.
Zubrowka is one of the best Polish vodkas available, flavoured with a special kind of aromatic bisongrass that is so prized that it costs £400 per kilo. Long-renowned for its luxurious flavours and stellar quality, Zubrowka is simply outstanding with apple juice, especially the posh cloudy stuff. IWSC 2012 - Gold Medal - Vodka
A recent introduction to Stolichnaya's splendid range of vodkas, this has been flavoured with Gala apples (my favourite kind) and is sweeter and less tart than green apple vodkas.
Wisniowka is an outstanding medium-sweet traditional Polish cherry vodka infused with the juice and other extracts of cherries. No decent bar should be without it.
A Swedish wheat vodka, triple-distilled and flavoured with a natural vanilla extract, Cariel is possibly the best vanilla vodka on the market and makes a cracking White Russian.
A unique aged Polish vodka liqueur, only 4000 bottles are produced per year, with 500 going to the president of Poland for diplomatic gifts. Miodula is flavoured with honey, vanilla and other herbs.
This Starka is an aged Russian vodka, filtered through birch charcoal and quartz sands and enhanced with port, brandy and fruit essences. Best served well chilled.