Forbes: The World’s Best Vodka, According To The Wine And Spirits Wholesalers Of America
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The World’s Best Vodka, According To The Wine And Spirits Wholesalers Of America
By Joseph V Micallef | Published February 15, 2025
The Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America has announced the results of its 2025 Wine & Spirits Tasting Competition. Three vodkas made the final round. The Best in Show Vodka, Hetman Elite, a Ukrainian vodka, automatically advances to the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Recently, I spoke with Sam Lerman, CEO of Spyrt Worldwide, about his Ukrainian vodka and its role in the current conflict.
JM: You are new to the beverage business and come to it after a military career. What impelled you to go into the liquor distribution business?
SL: In 2022, after the Russian invasion, I joined a volunteer mission as a military advisor to the Ukrainian government. There was no pay, backing, or insurance. An NGO paid my airfare. I packed up my gear, flew to Poland, and traveled by car into Ukraine.
I spent weeks living in a Ukrainian safe house with three cell phones, a laptop, a bottle of vodka, and an AK-74. I loved the people, the mission, the culture, and the vodka. The first night in the safe house, a bottle of Hetman Vodka was put on the table. I asked if it was vodka and was told:
“No, this is Horilka. Vodka is Russian, and it only makes you angry; Horilka is Ukrainian, and it opens your mind.”
Upon trying it, I was amazed by the quality, the taste, the texture, and the smoothness. I became an instant fan.
As I traveled between the U.S. and Ukraine, I became increasingly frustrated by my inability to buy these vodkas in the U.S. Eventually, I decided to import the vodka; I approached two close friends: a retired U.S Marine Corps and a Ukrainian veteran who had been in the safe house on my first trip. Together, we set up SPYRT Worldwide.
JM: You are new to the beverage business and come to it after a military career. What impelled you to go into the liquor distribution business?
SL: In 2022, after the Russian invasion, I joined a volunteer mission as a military advisor to the Ukrainian government. There was no pay, backing, or insurance. An NGO paid my airfare. I packed up my gear, flew to Poland, and traveled by car into Ukraine.
I spent weeks living in a Ukrainian safe house with three cell phones, a laptop, a bottle of vodka, and an AK-74. I loved the people, the mission, the culture, and the vodka. The first night in the safe house, a bottle of Hetman Vodka was put on the table. I asked if it was vodka and was told:
“No, this is Horilka. Vodka is Russian, and it only makes you angry; Horilka is Ukrainian, and it opens your mind.”
Upon trying it, I was amazed by the quality, the taste, the texture, and the smoothness. I became an instant fan.
As I traveled between the U.S. and Ukraine, I became increasingly frustrated by my inability to buy these vodkas in the U.S. Eventually, I decided to import the vodka; I approached two close friends: a retired U.S Marine Corps and a Ukrainian veteran who had been in the safe house on my first trip. Together, we set up SPYRT Worldwide.
Another side effect of modern warfare is the introduction of complex and innovative weapons, particularly improvised munitions used with drones. Some of this modified ordnance, containing potentially persistent fuzing that minimizes movement of people in the conflict area, will add a new element to clearance operations. Traditional mines, particularly the small, plastic PFM-1 “petal” mines and other cluster munitions, pose a serious threat to civilians and the military and can lay in wait for many years after fighting has stopped.
JM: The Ukrainian Vodka brands you represent have done well in international spirit competitions. What makes these vodkas such standouts?
SL: We are thrilled to be able to represent the absolute best of Ukrainian vodka. We currently work with two producers. Hetman Vodka, based in Lviv, just won Double Gold/Best of Show Vodka at the WSWA Spirits Competition. Ukrainian Spirit, out of Lutsk, won Double Gold/Best of Show Vodka at the same competition last year and Double Gold this year.
These vodka producers rely on centuries of distilling heritage in western Ukraine to produce exceptional products. Both are overseen by female master distillers with decades of vodka-making experience.
Each distillery uses exceptional artesian water for its vodkas. Hetman has its own water bottling facility in the Carpathian Mountains. The mineral-rich water is trucked to Lviv to make the spirit. In contrast, Ukrainian Spirit has a well, bringing up water from the depths of the Volyn forest. Producing vodka in Ukraine isn’t an occupation; it’s an art form.
JM. How have you found your experience in the beverage business? Where do you go from here? Are you looking at other products/brands from Ukraine?
SL: Working in this industry has been a fascinating experience. It’s incredibly different from my earlier career and quite the learning curve.
Our next step is to build out our distribution network across the U.S. and get placement in the right stores, restaurants, and bars. We intend to field the “Kyiv Mule” as a Ukrainian vodka-based replacement for Moscow Mules in bars across America and build our portfolio of great Ukrainian products.
JM: What role can sales of Ukrainian vodka in the U.S. play in helping Ukraine overcome the costs of the war with Russia?
SL: Bringing Ukrainian vodka to the United States is more than a business proposition in two distinct ways. First, it engages “Wine and Spirits Diplomacy” by showcasing Ukraine’s incredible craftsmanship. This invigorates a Ukrainian economy that the Russian invasion has severely damaged. Second, when Americans taste these amazing spirits, they will save lives and limbs. We are committed to demining Ukraine; one vodka shot at a time!
