Among the biggest markets is the United States, where vodka has long been the No. 1 selling spirit. That James Bond preferred his shaken martinis with an ounce of Stolichnaya Cristall didn't hurt vodka's reputation. Today the simple alcohol may be causing its biggest stir ever. Red Square is hip to the flavored martini trend. People have been moving away from heavier brown liquors.
Vodka is the drink for everyone.
Five or six years ago there was a martini revival, and today you see more vodka martinis than gin. There's a pine-needle flavor to gin that people either love or hate. That pine-needle flavor is juniper berry. It is gin's distinguishing quality. Mostly, though, vodka's a hit because it lacks a distinguishing quality.