SKYY Infusions Bartlett Pear

The carb count can vary dramatically in flavored vodkas. Some contain no carbs at all, while others like Hpnotiq can contain as many as 11 g of carbs per serving. However, it’s not hard to find flavored vodkas that contain zero carbs — many of these use only natural ingredients and have no added sugar.

Flavored vodka is unlikely to have extra calories compared with plain versions. In a 1.5-oz. shot, 70 proof vodka has 85 calories and 100 proof vodka has 124 calories. However, this can vary — particularly if you confuse flavored vodkas with vodka drinks, which can contain syrups and sugary additives.

In general, the best-flavored vodka cocktails tend to be fruit-based. You can try mixing in things like orange juice, Collins mix, grapefruit juice, Cointreau or triple sec, fresh lemon/lime juice and simple syrup, crushed berries and fruit, margarita mix or lemonade. The sky's the limit, though — because vodka is so neutral, it allows you to get extra creative with your flavors.

Vodkas generally fall into three categories: plain, flavored and fruit vodkas. Flavored vodka is similar to plain but has additional flavors from the distillation process. On the other hand, fruit vodkas can be homemade by infusing fruit inside vodka for 3 to 5 days, shaking it daily and straining the fruit out at the end.

It’s a tough call, but Hanson of Sonoma Meyer Lemon may take the prize for the best-flavored vodka. It evokes the spirit of gin but doesn’t have juniper, which allows the citrus aromas to really shine. Add to that the drink’s black pepper spiciness and you’ve got a complex, dynamic vodka that’s perfect in a dry Martini or other mixed drink.

Cranberry juice is an excellent addition to a wide number of different flavored vodkas, particularly those flavored with citrus fruits like orange, lemon and grapefruit. Cranberry juice’s tart sweetness makes it pair well with most fruit-flavored vodkas, however, including peach, strawberry and others.

Flavored vodka can be drunk straight in shot form, though it’s perhaps best-loved as part of a fruity cocktail drink. Common ingredients you can add include citrus juices like lime concentrate, orange juice, lemon juice, pineapple juice or cranberry juice.