Vodka is synonymous with a Slavic word meaning water. The history of vodka is ancient, dating back to medieval times, when the alchemists held the secrets of distillation. It was probably popularized in Eastern Europe, Poland or Russia. Most western Vodkas are generally tasteless while the Eastern and European Vodkas have a tradition of adding subtle distinguishing flavors referred to as characteristics.
Polish Vodkas
Poland is probably best known for its vodka and there are many of them. Distilled from grain or potatoes, Polish vodka tends to have more taste and texture than those of the West. The Polish flavored vodkas are common and really not new at all, but an aged custom dating back to a time when Poles were taxed but allowed to distill their own vodkas.

• Top Polish Vodkas
Russian Vodkas
You can't say Russia without thinking of vodka. Though there are not as many Russian types of vodka as there are Polish vodkas, there are some notably great ones though they tend to have a bit more oil to them and are not quite as sweet. Through the ages, commoners were devoid of the wonderful rye based filtered ones that the gentry perfected, drank, exported and set standards for today’s Russian exports..

• Top Russian Vodkas
Western Vodkas
Western vodkas are lumped together not because they are few, but because they have a common thread to them. They tend to be highly filtered, crisp, and less flavorful. The regions include Scandinavia, Western Europe, and the Americas.

• Top Western Vodkas