Hammer & Sickle Vodka

Hammer & Sickle is a Russian winter-wheat vodka distilled six times in Klin, just outside Moscow — and that extra work in the still shows up in the glass. It’s clean and notably pure, but not stripped of all character the way a lot of neutral vodkas are: there’s a soft, cereal-grain sweetness here that keeps it interesting.

The wheat comes from Russia’s Chernozem — the famous “Black Earth” region in the south, prized for its rich, mineral soil. You can taste it: sweet cream and powdered sugar on the nose, a round and smooth body, and a finish that turns faintly mineral with a sprinkle of pepper. Wine Enthusiast scored it 93 points.

It’s smooth enough to sip neat or over ice, but the big 1.75L bottle is really built for a crowd — pour it into a crisp Martini, a Moscow Mule, or whatever the night calls for. Bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof).