Updated April 2026.
Potato vodka and grain vodka are the same TTB class if they meet 27 CFR 5.142 — neutral spirits bottled at ≥40% ABV, without distinctive character, aroma, taste, or color. A 1.5-ounce 40% pour is one NIAAA standard drink either way. The farm (potato, wheat, rye, corn, or grapes) is a production story, not extra ethanol. “Potato is creamier” is tasting talk, not a federal test.
Luksusowa and Chopin Potato are common US potato bottles at 40%. Grey Goose and Ketel One are wheat; Tito’s is corn; Cîroc is grapes. Related: vodka guide, vodka proof, Cîroc.
What the law actually splits
| Question | Rule | Not |
|---|---|---|
| US vodka floor | ≥40% ABV (27 CFR 5.142) | A potato bonus proof |
| Base | Any agricultural material the producer declares | Grain-only by law |
| 1.5 oz at 40% | 1.00 standard drink | Potato = fewer drinks |
| Gluten talk | Distilled vodka from grain is a labeling/medical question (TTB 2020-2) | Not a diagnosis |
| EU bottles | Often 37.5% — read the neck | The US floor |
A 750 mL 40% bottle is about 17 standard drinks from either mash. Four pours are four drinks. NIAAA binge pattern is a health line, not a target. Flavored “vodka” can drop below 40% and may be a different class. Freeze point is an ethanol table, not a potato tabledoes vodka freeze. No 2026 MSRP.
Sources
- TTB 27 CFR 5.142 vodka identity; TTB 2020-2 gluten-free distilled-spirits labeling.
- US potato SKUs commonly 40% on current necks (Luksusowa / Chopin Potato trade tiles). Confirm the bottle.
- NIAAA standard drink (December 2025). No invented texture lab.