The History of How Vodka Became America’s Spirit of Choice

This summer, millions of Americans will drink vodka in a stunning array of popular cocktails: from the well-known Moscow Mule and martini to the more obscure vesper or Great Gatsby. In 2024, vodka accounted for nearly a quarter of the spirits consumed in the U.S. The clear, neutral spirit has dominated American liquor sales for decades, far surpassing whiskey, which once enjoyed an unchallenged status as the nation’s preferred spirit. While whiskey remains a cultural touchstone for claims on American identity...