The San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC) has released the inaugural list of its 2024 Vodkas of the Year. Chopin Potato Vodka was chosen the Vodka of the Year. Below is a brief description and tasting notes of the SFWSC’s ten Vodkas of the Year.

These vodkas were Double Gold medalists at the SFWSC and received Gold Medals in at least four other major international spirit competitions. They are among the world’s best, offering diverse aroma and flavor profiles and range from established legacy brands to new offerings from craft producers. All of them are widely available and reasonably priced.

Global Vodka Trends

The global vodka market remained relatively stable in 2024 compared to 2023. According to Euromonitor International, vodka sales were expected to be 338.4 million cases by the end of 2024, a slight decrease from 338.44 million cases in 2023.

Despite this marginal decline in volume, the value of vodka sales experienced growth, increasing from $78.2 billion in 2023 to $79.4 billion in 2024. Sales in 2025 are projected to rise to $82.6 billion by 2025.

Economy and premium brands showed the most significant revenue increases as a combination of economic headwinds drove consumers to low-priced options while continued premiumization drove other consumers towards higher-priced expressions. The demand for premium vodka expressions seemed particularly prevalent among millennials and Gen Z consumers.

Flavored vodkas continued to outperform neutral expressions and are expected to surpass them in volume by 2025 or 2026. Flavored vodka volumes are growing around 6.5% while volume of neutral (unflavored) vodka expressions posted slight declines in 2024.

Botanical vodkas, those flavored with botanicals rather than artificial flavorings, are the fastest growing segment of the vodka market, albeit from a relatively small base. The emergence of botanical vodkas is creating a gin-like vodka category which differs from gin only in the prominence of juniper flavors and is often difficult to distinguish from “contemporary gins” that eschew a prominent juniper flavor.

Overall, while global vodka sales volume remained relatively steady with only a slight decline in 2024, the value of sales increased, indicating the trend towards premiumization in the vodka market is continuing.

SFWSC Vodka of the Year

These vodkas have been recognized with some of the most significant awards in the industry, including the Double Gold Medal from the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition. These accolades are a testament to their exceptional quality and craftsmanship.

Grey Goose Vodka, Grey Goose Distillery, France

San Francisco World Spirits Competition: Double Gold, IWSC: Gold, Concours Mondial de Bruxelles: Gold, Beverage Testing Institute: Gold, New York International Spirits Competition: Gold

Silky and smooth, Grey Goose features flavors of citrus zest and almond and a creamy mouthfeel, this vodka has a clean and elegant finish, making it a benchmark for luxury vodkas.

Belvedere Vodka, Polmos Żyrardów, Poland

San Francisco World Spirits Competition: Double Gold, IWSC: Gold, World Vodka Awards: Gold, International Spirits Challenge: Gold, Concours Mondial de Bruxelles: Gold

Belvedere is rich and full-bodied, with notes of vanilla and rye spice and a creamy, velvety texture. The finish is long, smooth, and subtly peppery.

Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Fifth Generation Inc., USA

San Francisco World Spirits Competition: Double Gold, IWSC: Gold, International Spirits Challenge: Gold, World Spirits Awards: Gold, New York International Spirits Competition: Gold

Corn sweetness with a creamy texture, subtle notes of bread, and a clean, slightly sweet finish. Tito’s Vodka is versatile for cocktails or sipping neat and pairs well with [specific food or mixers].

Absolut Elyx, The Absolut Company, Sweden

San Francisco World Spirits Competition: Double Gold, IWSC: Gold, World Vodka Awards: Gold, International Spirits Challenge: Gold, Concours Mondial de Bruxelles: Gold

Absolut Elyx is luxuriously smooth and silky with fresh grain flavors, subtle vanilla, and hints of fruit. The finish is crisp, elegant, and refined.

Cîroc Vodka, Distillerie de Chevanceaux, France

San Francisco World Spirits Competition: Double Gold, IWSC: Gold, Concours Mondial de Bruxelles: Gold, World Vodka Awards: Gold, International Spirits Challenge: Gold

Bright and crisp, with light grape, citrus, and tropical fruit flavors, the finish is clean, refreshing, and slightly sweet.

Stolichnaya Elit, Latvijas Balzams, Latvia

San Francisco World Spirits Competition: Double Gold, IWSC: Gold, Concours Mondial de Bruxelles: Gold, World Vodka Awards: Gold, International Spirits Challenge: Gold

Stolichnaya is ultra-smooth with a creamy mouthfeel and flavors of marshmallow, citrus zest, and a subtle peppery finish.

Reyka Vodka, William Grant & Sons, Iceland

San Francisco World Spirits Competition: Double Gold, IWSC: Gold, World Vodka Awards: Gold, Concours Mondial de Bruxelles: Gold, International Spirits Challenge: Gold

Clean and crisp with a soft minerality, notes of vanilla, and a hint of citrus. The finish is smooth and refreshing, with a slightly earthy undertone.

Chopin Potato Vodka, Polmos Siedlce, Poland

San Francisco World Spirits Competition: Double Gold, IWSC: Gold, International Spirits Challenge: Gold, World Vodka Awards: Gold, Beverage Testing Institute: Gold

Chosen as the Vodka of the Year, Chopin Potato Vodka offers a complex and nuanced aroma and taste profile.

It is full-bodied and creamy with earthy undertones, hints of vanilla, and a touch of sweetness. The finish is rich and smooth.

Crystal Head Vodka, Globefill Inc., Canada

San Francisco World Spirits Competition: Double Gold, IWSC: Gold, New York International Spirits Competition: Gold, World Vodka Awards: Gold, International Spirits Challenge: Gold

Bright and clean with subtle notes of vanilla, peach, and soft grains. The finish is crisp and refreshing.

Black Cow Vodka, Black Cow Distillery, England

San Francisco World Spirits Competition: Double Gold, IWSC: Gold, World Vodka Awards: Gold, International Spirits Challenge: Gold, New York International Spirits Competition: Gold

It is smooth and creamy, with hints of vanilla, coconut, and soft sweetness from its milk-based distillation process. The finish is clean and slightly sweet.

These vodkas represent some of the finest in the world, having won the coveted Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and multiple other gold medals from prestigious international competitions. Each of these vodkas demonstrates exceptional quality and craftsmanship, presenting a broad range of aroma and flavor profiles. Each is an outstanding vodka and worth trying!

The 2024 season was another disappointing one for the San Francisco Giants as they failed to make the postseason for the third consecutive year and seventh time out of the last eight campaigns.

A wide gap currently exists between them and their National League West rivals, the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres.

Looking to close that gap, new president of baseball operations Buster Posey was aggressive in free agency, signing shortstop Willy Adames to a seven-year, $182 million deal.

He provides the team with some much-needed offensive production to the middle of their lineup. Among the best offensive players at his position in the league, his addition was a major first transaction for the three-time World Series winner looking to get the franchise back to the level of prominence they experienced when he was the starting catcher.

With Adames now entrenched at shortstop, it means the Giants can slide Tyler Fitzgerald over to second base full-time.

Not someone who was considered to be in the mix for playing time during Spring Training, the versatile infielder earned his way into the lineup with his production and never stopped hitting.

His rookie campaign came out of nowhere and he was excellent, slashing .280/.334/.497 as one of the team’s most consistent hitters. An extra-base machine, he slugged 15 home runs with 19 doubles and two triples in 341 plate appearances to go along with 17 stolen bases.

Second base is where he should spend most of his time in 2025, but he has the capability of filling in other places around the diamond, giving manager Bob Melvin some flexibility when it comes to making lineup decisions.

As a rookie, Fitzgerald logged innings at center field, left field, second base and first base in addition to playing primarily shortstop. He was even on the mound for three innings.

That level of production was good enough for him to be recognized by MLB and MLB Network as one of the best rookies in 2024. He cracked their list of the top newcomers, landing at No. 25.

It was a spot that he earned with his unexpected production, which San Francisco is hoping he will carry over into 2025.

Now a key part of the team’s plans moving forward, Fitzgerald will be counted on as an everyday player. He looked capable of being an above-average performer with the glove at second base, which will make him even more valuable if he can keep up the torrid pace he had at the plate.

With Matt Chapman at third base, Adames at shortstop and Fitzgerald at second, the Giants are set for years to come in the infield. All they are awaiting now is first baseman Bryce Eldridge, who could easily be on the top rookies list in Fitzgerald’s place at this point next year.