Vodka · Standard Vodka

Smirnoff No. 21

Name: Smirnoff No. 21
Brand: Diageo India

The original — clean, neutral, and the base every other Smirnoff flavour is built on

🍯 Sweet & Honeyed

Diageo India

Distillery

India

Country

37.50%

ABV

9.2/10

Rating

★★★★½

9.2/10

Est. 1864 37.50% ABV

Tasting Notes

Colour & Appearance

Crystal clear

Nose & Aroma

Clean, neutral aroma with faint sweetness

Palate & Taste

Silky smooth texture, subtle sweetness, clean and crisp with no harsh aftertaste

Finish

Short, clean finish with no burn

History & Background

Smirnoff traces back to Pyotr Arsenievich Smirnov, who opened his Moscow distillery in 1864 and built it into the largest vodka producer in Imperial Russia. After the 1917 Revolution forced the family to flee, Pyotr's son Vladimir Smirnov re-established the brand abroad and formalised what became the No. 21 recipe. The brand later passed through several owners before landing with what is now Diageo, and No. 21 remains the world's best-selling vodka by volume — the plain, neutral base that every flavoured Smirnoff variant (Green Apple, Mirchi Mango, Minty Jamun, and the rest) is built from.

Production & Maturation

Production Method

Triple-distilled from a grain base, then filtered ten times through charcoal columns for a clean, neutral character with minimal congeners.

Aging & Maturation

Unaged. Filtered and bottled directly with no cask or bottle maturation.

Distillery

Diageo India

Founded

1864

Smirnoff No. 21 Price Guide 2026

Prices are indicative and may vary by retailer, store, and current stock. Last verified: August 2026.

India (Delhi) Prices

India (Delhi) INR1,315

About These Prices

Prices are indicative, not quotations. They are compiled from publicly available retail listings and state excise price lists, and are provided for reference only.
Alcohol pricing in India is set state by state. Excise duty, VAT and retail margins differ in every state and union territory, so the same bottle can vary by 40% or more between Goa and Kerala. Always check the price where you are buying.
Prices change without notice. State excise policies are typically revised annually, and retailers may price above or below the listed MRP depending on stock and demand. The figures above were last reviewed in August 2026.
We do not sell alcohol. The Spirit Atlas is an independent reference site. We take no orders, hold no stock, and have no commercial relationship with the distilleries or retailers documented here. Nothing on this page is an offer to sell.
Tasting notes and ratings are editorial opinion. They reflect the reviewer's assessment and are not endorsed by the producer.
For readers of legal drinking age. The legal drinking age in India varies by state, from 18 to 25. Please respect your local law and drink responsibly.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Smirnoff No. 21 worth buying in India?

Yes, Smirnoff No. 21 remains one of the best value picks in India for anyone who wants a reliable, neutral vodka for mixing. At around Rs 810 in Delhi and Rs 1315 in Mumbai for a 750ml bottle, it undercuts most premium vodkas while still being triple-distilled and ten-times filtered. If you drink vodka mostly in cocktails rather than neat, No. 21 is genuinely hard to beat at this price. If you want more character for sipping, look at Smirnoff Black or a premium import instead.

Which is the cheapest state to buy Smirnoff No. 21 in India?

Delhi and Goa are consistently the cheapest states for Smirnoff No. 21, with 750ml running around Rs 810-850 in both. Kerala is one of the most expensive at Rs 1350-1450, and Maharashtra sits in between at around Rs 1315. As with most spirits, the gap comes down to state excise duty rather than anything about the product itself.

What is the difference between Smirnoff No. 21 and the flavoured variants like Green Apple or Mirchi Mango?

Smirnoff No. 21 is the plain, neutral base vodka that every flavoured Smirnoff variant is built from. Green Apple, Orange, Vanilla and the newer India-exclusive flavours (Minty Jamun, Mirchi Mango, Zesty Lime) all start with the same triple-distilled No. 21 spirit, with natural flavouring added afterward. If you want a vodka that disappears into whatever you are mixing, go with No. 21. If you want the vodka itself to carry flavour, pick one of the flavoured variants.

What does Smirnoff No. 21 taste like on its own?

Smirnoff No. 21 has a clean, neutral character with a faint sweetness and no harsh aftertaste. It is not designed to be a sipping vodka with layers of complexity — it is built to be smooth enough to drink neat or on the rocks while staying versatile enough to disappear into a Moscow Mule, Vodka Tonic or Bloody Mary without fighting the other ingredients.

Is Smirnoff No. 21 the same strength everywhere in India?

Not necessarily — sources differ on whether Smirnoff No. 21 is bottled at 37.5% ABV or 40% ABV in India, and this can vary by state and by which duty-free or retail channel you buy from. Always check the ABV printed on your specific bottle rather than assuming, since this affects both the legal classification and how strong your cocktails will end up.

Similar to Smirnoff No. 21

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About the Author

Shivam Sharma

I am the founder and editor of The Spirit Atlas. With a deep appreciation for fine spirits, I built this platform to be the most helpful and honest spirits guide for Indian readers — covering everything from Scotch and Indian single malts to rum, gin and tequila, along with prices across every major Indian state. My goal is simple: to make the world of spirits a little more approachable for everyone.

Website Last updated: August 2026