The World’s Best Vodka, According To The Wine And Spirits Wholesalers Of America

The Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America has announced the results of its 2025 Wine & Spirits Tasting Competition. Three vodkas made the final round. The Best in Show Vodka, Hetman Elite, a Ukrainian vodka, automatically advances to the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Recently, I spoke with Sam Lerman, CEO of Spyrt Worldwide, about his Ukrainian vodka and its role in the current conflict.

JM: You are new to the beverage business and come to it after a military career. What impelled you to go into the liquor distribution business?

SL: In 2022, after the Russian invasion, I joined a volunteer mission as a military advisor to the Ukrainian government. There was no pay, backing, or insurance. An NGO paid my airfare. I packed up my gear, flew to Poland, and traveled by car into Ukraine.

I spent weeks living in a Ukrainian safe house with three cell phones, a laptop, a bottle of vodka, and an AK-74. I loved the people, the mission, the culture, and the vodka. The first night in the safe house, a bottle of Hetman Vodka was put on the table. I asked if it was vodka and was told:

“No, this is Horilka. Vodka is Russian, and it only makes you angry; Horilka is Ukrainian, and it opens your mind.”

Upon trying it, I was amazed by the quality, the taste, the texture, and the smoothness. I became an instant fan.

As I traveled between the U.S. and Ukraine, I became increasingly frustrated by my inability to buy these vodkas in the U.S. Eventually, I decided to import the vodka; I approached two close friends: a retired U.S Marine Corps and a Ukrainian veteran who had been in the safe house on my first trip. Together, we set up SPYRT Worldwide.

JM: You are devoting much of your operating profits to funding demining activity in Ukraine. What is the scope of that activity, and what's your role in it?

SL: When Russia is forced out of an area, they mine everything, leaving behind an incredible danger for the civilian populace. Our profits fund our humanitarian partner, Invictus Global Response, a 501C3 organization. Their team is primarily composed of U.S. military veterans in Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Combat Engineers (Sapper).

These volunteers conduct humanitarian demining operations in newly liberated Ukrainian territory. They also engage in training local and national demining organizations. Their director, Michael "Monty" Montoya, who lost his right foot to an anti-personnel mine in eastern Ukraine in 2023, and IGR founder Stuart Miller, himself a U.S. Army veteran wounded in Afghanistan, are both teaching and demining in Ukraine.

According to the Ukrainian Ministry of Economy, around 54,000 square miles of Ukraine are at risk of explosive hazards.

If the war ended tomorrow, it’s estimated it could take decades, even centuries, to clear the explosive hazards. One day of combat can equal 30 days of clearance efforts. There are millions of mines and even more explosive remnants of war spread throughout the country. Thousands of civilians have been injured or killed in landmine incidents since 2022; many are farmers cultivating the land.

Another side effect of modern warfare is the introduction of complex and innovative weapons, particularly improvised munitions used with drones. Some of this modified ordnance, containing potentially persistent fuzing that minimizes movement of people in the conflict area, will add a new element to clearance operations. Traditional mines, particularly the small, plastic PFM-1 “petal” mines and other cluster munitions, pose a serious threat to civilians and the military and can lay in wait for many years after fighting has stopped.

JM: The Ukrainian Vodka brands you represent have done well in international spirit competitions. What makes these vodkas such standouts?

SL: We are thrilled to be able to represent the absolute best of Ukrainian vodka. We currently work with two producers. Hetman Vodka, based in Lviv, just won Double Gold/Best of Show Vodka at the WSWA Spirits Competition. Ukrainian Spirit, out of Lutsk, won Double Gold/Best of Show Vodka at the same competition last year and Double Gold this year.

These vodka producers rely on centuries of distilling heritage in western Ukraine to produce exceptional products. Both are overseen by female master distillers with decades of vodka-making experience.

Each distillery uses exceptional artesian water for its vodkas. Hetman has its own water bottling facility in the Carpathian Mountains. The mineral-rich water is trucked to Lviv to make the spirit. In contrast, Ukrainian Spirit has a well, bringing up water from the depths of the Volyn forest. Producing vodka in Ukraine isn't an occupation; it's an art form.

JM. How have you found your experience in the beverage business? Where do you go from here? Are you looking at other products/brands from Ukraine?

SL: Working in this industry has been a fascinating experience. It's incredibly different from my earlier career and quite the learning curve.

Our next step is to build out our distribution network across the U.S. and get placement in the right stores, restaurants, and bars. We intend to field the "Kyiv Mule" as a Ukrainian vodka-based replacement for Moscow Mules in bars across America and build our portfolio of great Ukrainian products.

JM: What role can sales of Ukrainian vodka in the U.S. play in helping Ukraine overcome the costs of the war with Russia?

SL: Bringing Ukrainian vodka to the United States is more than a business proposition in two distinct ways. First, it engages "Wine and Spirits Diplomacy" by showcasing Ukraine’s incredible craftsmanship. This invigorates a Ukrainian economy that the Russian invasion has severely damaged. Second, when Americans taste these amazing spirits, they will save lives and limbs. We are committed to demining Ukraine; one vodka shot at a time!

Below is a brief description of the three finalists, tasting notes on the vodkas and their list price.

Hetman Elite Vodka, 40% ABV, 700 ml. $35

Hetman Elite was the Best in Show Vodka. This Ukrainian premium vodka is part of the Hetman vodka brand family. Known for its exceptional quality, Hetman Elite is made using corn and water from the Carpathian mountains.

The vodka is distilled multiple times to ensure a smooth and clean profile. The brand emphasizes traditional production methods, incorporating advanced techniques, and is regarded as a luxury vodka known for its crisp and velvety texture.

The nose is clean and refreshing, with subtle hints of citrus zest, vanilla and a light trace of grain. It has an underlying aroma of smooth sweetness and a touch of minerality.

Hetman Elite is incredibly smooth on the palate, featuring buttery vanilla, almond and a gentle grain sweetness. The texture is velvety, with a slightly creamy mouthfeel that balances the clean, crisp finish.

The finish is long and smooth, with a clean, peppery warmth and a hint of sweetness.

Two other vodkas made the final round—both received Double Gold medals.

Ukrainian Spirit Vodka, 40% ABV, 700 ml. $25

Ukrainian Spirit expresses a clean and crisp aroma with faint cereal notes and a slight hint of pepper. There’s a subtle trace of citrus and a hint of minerality in the background.

The vodka is smooth and slightly sweet on the palate, with cereal, vanilla and a slight spice that adds complexity. The mouthfeel is clean and refreshing, with a balanced warmth.

The finish is crisp and smooth, with a clean, slightly peppery aftertaste and a lingering sweet grain flavor.

Utopia Vodka, 40% ABV, 1.75 lt. $18

Utopia Vodka is an American premium vodka made from a base of corn and wheat, contributing to its smooth texture and balanced flavor profile. The vodka undergoes multiple distillations to ensure its purity.

The vodka is crafted with an emphasis on smoothness and versatility. The distillation process ensures that Utopia Vodka maintains a clean and crisp character while offering a subtle complexity that appeals to a broad range of palates.

The nose is clean and refreshing, with a faintly sweet aroma of corn or wheat, depending on the base used, and a light alcoholic warmth. Subtle hints of vanilla and citrus zest add complexity to the otherwise pure and crisp profile.

Utopia Vodka is smooth and well-balanced on the palate, with a soft, creamy texture that gives it a rich mouthfeel. The flavor profile is clean, with a slight sweetness from the base grain, balanced by a touch of pepper and citrus. The vodka features a subtle hint of herbal or spicy notes that provide depth without overwhelming the palate.

The finish is clean and dry, with a smooth, lingering warmth and a faint trace of vanilla and pepper, making it incredibly easy to sip neat or mix in cocktails.

The Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America is a leading trade organization representing wholesalers, distributors, and suppliers of wine, spirits, and related products. The WSWA plays a crucial role in the industry, advocating for responsible consumption, promoting fair trade practices and organizing events like the Annual Wine and Spirits Competition to recognize the best wines and spirits.

The 2025 competition, in conjunction with the Tasting Alliance, showcased innovative and high-quality products. The panel of expert judges, supplied by TA, including sommeliers, mixologists, journalists and industry professionals, brought their extensive knowledge and experience to the table, ensuring the credibility of the awards. Their expertise guarantees the quality of the products and can significantly boost brand visibility and influence consumer choices.

These very reasonably priced vodkas offer a range of smooth, high-quality options. Each is crafted with a focus on purity and balance, making them excellent for sipping straight or incorporating into classic vodka cocktails.