Just when you thought it was OK to write vodka off as boring and overpackaged, along comes Charles Vexenat with something that forces us to take it seriously again. Alice Lascelles heads to Baltic to find out why the words ‘interesting vodka menu’ need not be an oxymoron

Luxury vodka brand Belvedere came up with the ultimate prize for its recent contest: a $100,000 global ambassador role. No wonder the London semi-finals were so exciting

Base material is an increasingly important selling point for vodka brands, but how much effect does this really have on the finished product? There’s only one way to find out, says Clinton Cawood…

From spirits to celebrities, Eastern Europe is where it’s at right now, argues Geraldine Coates in her feature in this issue (p64). Here, she lines up the region’s most famous export for an international vodka taste-off.

Welcome to our third Imbibe Club Elite awards…

From the lowliest boozer to the most stylish cocktail bar, this humble mix of tomato juice, spirit and spice continues to fascinate, inspire and divide bartenders and consumers alike. Bloody marvellous, say Jared Brown and Anistatia Miller

Small batch, craft, artisanal… call them what you like, but this year has seen the launch of a number of small UK distillers. Clinton Cawood gets out his magnifying glass and takes a look at a mini revolution