Craft Vodka

Yes, especially from small producers who distill less aggressively and leave more of the base ingredient's character in the spirit. Vodka can be made from almost any fermentable ingredient, and that base shapes the flavor. Wheat tends to be soft and lightly sweet, rye brings a peppery edge, corn feels rounder and sweeter, and potato gives a creamier, fuller texture. Craft distillers also work with grapes, apples, sugar beets, honey and even milk whey. Each product page includes the brand's own tasting notes.

It depends on the producer. Many large commercial brands flavor their vodka with concentrated flavorings, natural or artificial, often made by specialized flavor companies rather than from whole fruit, and frequently add sugar to round them out. Craft distillers tend to work the other way around: infusing or macerating real fruit, peppers, herbs and botanicals in the spirit, and building the flavor from the ingredient itself. In the US, a label mored" if artificial flavorings are used, so it's worth a look. Each product page here includes the brand's own description of how it's made.