5 Vodkas Made from Fruit
These vodkas have been distilled with fruit
Most people think of vodka as the neutral spirit — the one that stays out of the way and lets the mixer do the talking. But a growing number of distillers are challenging that assumption by going back to the source: fruit. Whether it's an heirloom apple from Upstate New York, organic grapes from Sonoma wine country, or breadfruit harvested in the U.S. Virgin Islands, fruit-based vodkas bring something different to the glass. They tend to be smoother, rounder, and more expressive than their grain counterparts, with a natural sweetness and texture that doesn't need to announce itself. These are not infused vodkas or flavored vodkas. The fruit is the foundation.
From the farms of Northern California to the orchards of Greece, these bottles prove that the raw material matters, and that vodka, at its best, can be a true expression of where it comes from.
Apples: Upstate Vodka
$29.99, 750 ml | 80 proof
Upstate Vodka is made from apples. Photo credit Sauvage Distillery
Sauvage Distillery taps into New York’s status as the nation’s second-largest apple producer to create a spirit fundamentally tied to the land. Favoring fruit over traditional grain, Head Distiller Jamie Terk uses fresh-pressed juice from a blend of local varieties like Cortland, Liberty, and Spy Gold. Each bottle represents the essence of roughly 70 to 80 apples, twice distilled in column stills to maintain a soft, layered structure. The distillery also produces an ultra-rare Black Oxford expression, sourced from a 1790s heirloom variety that offers a deep, floral complexity seldom found in the vodka category.
Tasting Notes: Clean and crisp with light orchard notes on the nose. The palate is rich yet refined, with a soft, rounded sweetness from the apple base.
How to Drink: Upstate shines in an appletini or espresso martini but is clean enough to sip over ice with a twist.
Grapes: Hanson of Sonoma Original Vodka
$35, 750 ml | 80 proof
Hanson Original Vodka is made using organic grapes. Photo credit Hanson of Sonoma
This family-run operation in Sonoma takes a winemaker’s approach to spirits, utilizing organic grapes as their canvas. By first vinifying the grapes before moving them through a complex 50-plate column still, they strip away the harshness often associated with grain spirits. Co-Founder Brandon Hanson notes that this grape-centric method is the secret behind the vodka’s notable silkiness. The distillery emphasizes transparency and craft by hand-numbering every bottle, a quiet nod to the vintage-driven culture of their neighbors in wine country.
Tasting Notes: Bright on the nose with subtle citrus and floral notes. The palate is smooth and silky, offering a balance of delicate sweetness from the organic grapes and a creamy, lush texture. The finish is long and crisp.
How to Drink: Ideal over ice to highlight its smoothness, or in a martini. It also works nicely in fresh, citrus-forward craft cocktails.
Olives: Kástra Elión
$54.99, 750 ml | 80 proof
Kástra Elión is made with grains and olives. Photo credit Kástra Elión
This spirit will have you doing a mid-sip double-take. Produced in Greece, Kástra Elión utilizes a singular blend of hand-harvested olives and premium grains to create a profile that leans into savory territory. The distillate is proofed down using natural spring water from the Taygetus mountains and allowed to rest for two months prior to bottling. This resting period is crucial, as it allows the salinity of the olive to mellow into a rich, buttery texture. It is a sophisticated, full-bodied vodka that justifies its premium positioning with every sip.
Tasting Notes: Full-bodied with gentle notes of ripe olives, a touch of pepper, and a soft, buttery finish that lingers elegantly.
How to Drink: Best enjoyed neat or over a little ice. Try it over ice with a citrus twist, or in a dirty martini where the olive character can really come into its own.
Breadfruit: Mutiny Island Vodka
$26.99, 750 ml | 80 proof
Mutiny Island Vodka is made with tropical breadfruit. Photo credit Sion Farm Distillery
Hailing from the U.S. Virgin Islands, Mutiny Island is the first of its kind to use breadfruit — a starchy, versatile staple of island life — as its base. Sion Farm Distillery, which produces Mutiny Island, was born from a collaboration with a professional chef, and that culinary DNA is evident in its zero-waste, solar-powered facility. By combining the breadfruit distillate with local Caribbean rainwater, the distillery has created a vodka that feels bright and alive. It manages to capture a whisper of the tropics without relying on additives, offering a clean experience that is as sustainable as it is flavorful.
Tasting Notes: Bright and balanced on the tongue, offering a light tropical note and a clean finish.
How to Drink: Best enjoyed neat or over ice. It also works well with tonic or in a lemonade.
Pears: St. George All Purpose Vodka
$30, 750 ml | 80 proof
St. George Vodka is distilled from grain and pears. Photo credit St. George Spirits
St. George Spirits in Alameda, Calif., has been a pioneer in fruit distillation since the early 1980s. Their All Purpose Vodka is a masterclass in balance, utilizing their renowned Bartlett pear brandy as a flavorful backbone before it is blended with a non-GMO grain spirit. The goal isn't to make a "pear vodka," but rather to use the fruit to provide a lush, floral weight that grain alone cannot achieve. As master distiller Lance Winters puts it: "We believe that great vodka comes from selecting the right raw materials to work with, and then allowing their characteristics to shine through in the finished product."
Tasting Notes: Approachable and lush with a rich, round mouthfeel. The pear distillate contributes soft floral notes and a subtle sweetness on the finish that makes it one of the most elegant vodkas in this category.
How to Drink: Sip it chilled with a twist, or put it in a dirty martini or a vodka tonic. It also works nicely in an espresso martini, where the pear's softness plays against the coffee's intensity.