Stolichnaya Elit Vodka
Stolichnaya Elit Vodka is a 40% ABV (80 proof) ultra-luxury vodka in a 750mL bottle — the top of the Stoli range, built from Alpha Spirit grade winter wheat and rye, triple-distilled, filtered through quartz sand and Russian birchwood charcoal, then freeze-filtered at −18°C so impurities crystallize out before bottling, available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 40% (80 proof)
- Size: 750mL (also 1.75L and 5cL miniatures)
- Process: single-sourced winter wheat and rye, Alpha Spirit grade, triple-distilled; blended with artesian well water; freeze-filtration at −18°C
- Filtration: fine quartz sand + Russian birchwood charcoal, then −18°C freeze filtration
- Origin: blended, filtered, and bottled in Riga, Latvia (SPI Group); grain from SPI-owned farms in Russia's Tambov region
- Awards: 97 pts, Beverage Testing Institute (2017); Platinum medals 2006/2007/2009/2010 (brand sell sheet); Gold, 2013 San Francisco World Spirits Competition; 98 rating, Cigar & Spirits Magazine 2014
Freeze-Filtered at −18°C
Stolichnaya launched elit in 2003 to create the ultra-luxury vodka category, and the production reads like a checklist of superlatives: single-sourced winter wheat and rye at Alpha Spirit grade (the highest purity tier), triple distillation, mineral-rich artesian water, quartz-sand and birchwood-charcoal filtration — and then the signature step, freeze filtration at −18°C, where impurities crystallize out of the spirit before it's rested and bottled. The result is a famously clean, velvety vodka: toasted grain, sweet aniseed, pepper, a whisper of citrus peel and vanilla, with a long, soft, spicy finish. (The "Vodka of the Year 2024" claim from one retailer couldn't be verified and isn't used.) Browse our vodka collection, explore the Stolichnaya range, or compare other premium vodkas.
Tasting Notes
Very clean and neutral on the nose with a whisper of toasted grain. The palate is sumptuous yet light — velvety mouthfeel, sweet aniseed, pepper, subtle citrus peel and vanilla — finishing very long, soft, and spicy.
How to Enjoy
Ice-cold and neat from the freezer — this is the vodka built for it. Also superb in a dry martini where the texture carries the drink.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "freeze filtration" mean?
The spirit is chilled to −18°C so impurities crystallize out, then filtered and rested before bottling — elit's signature step.
Is it Russian or Latvian?
Both, per the brand: grain from Russia's Tambov region, blended, filtered, and bottled in Riga, Latvia by SPI Group.
What is Alpha Spirit?
The highest purity grade of grain spirit — elit's base before blending and filtration.
How is it different from regular Stolichnaya?
Higher-grade grain, more filtration steps, freeze filtration, and a velvetier, more refined profile — it was built as the ultra-luxury tier.
Ultra-luxury vodka, freeze-filtered cold — order Stolichnaya Elit Vodka online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.