Vodka

Vodka (Russian: во́дка; Polish: wódka) is a strong, clear, typically colorless liquor, usually distilled from fermented grain. It is commonly thought that the term is a diminutive of the Slavic word "voda" (woda, вода) for "water," although there exists another opinion (see below).

Vodka production

Vodka may be distilled from any starch/sugar-rich plant matter; most vodka today is produced from grains such as rye (rye vodka is generally considered superior to other types) or wheat. Some vodka is made from potatoes, molasses, and sometimes even byproducts of oil refining or wood pulp processing. In some central european countries like Poland vodka is being produced by just fermenting a solution of crystal sugar and some nutrious salts for the yeast and distilling this after a few weeks. Today vodka is produced throughout the world, see List of vodkas.

Related Topics:
Starch - Sugar - Grains - Rye - Wheat - Molasses - Crystal sugar - List of vodkas

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A common property of all vodkas, compared to other spirits, is that before any flavouring is added, they are neutralized as far as possible. This is often done by filtering it through charcoal. The idea is to remove everything except pure water and pure alcohol from the liquid. As a result, vodka has a very neutral taste.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Apart from the alcoholic content, vodkas may be classified into two main groups:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

clear vodkas and flavoured vodkas. From the latter ones, one can separate bitter tinctures, such as Russian Yubileynaya (jubilee vodka) and Pertsovka (pepper vodka).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

While most vodkas are unflavored, a wide variety of flavored vodkas has long been produced in traditional vodka-drinking areas, often as homemade recipes to improve vodka's taste, or for medicinal purposes. Flavorings include red pepper, ginger, various fruit flavors, vanilla, chocolate (without sweetener), and cinnamon. Ukrainians produce a commercial vodka that includes St John's Wort. Poles and Belarusians add the leaves of the local bison grass to produce Żubrówka or Zubrovka vodka, with slightly sweet flavor and light amber color. In Ukraine and Russia, vodka flavoured with honey and pepper (Pertsovka, in Russian, Pertsivka, in Ukrainian) is also very popular.

Related Topics:
Ukrainians - St John's Wort - Pole - Belarusian - Bison grass - Zubrovka - Ukraine

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

This tradition of flavoring is also prevalent in the Nordic countries, where vodka seasoned with various herbs, fruits and spices is the appropriate strong drink for all traditional seasonal festivities, midsummer in particular. In Sweden alone there are some forty-odd common varieties of herb-flavored vodka (kryddat brännvin).

Related Topics:
Nordic countries - Midsummer - Sweden

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Poles also make a very pure (95%, 190 proof) rectified spirit (Polish language: spirytus rektyfikowany) which is used in a variety of ways. Technically being a form of vodka, it is sold in liquor stores, not pharmacies.

Related Topics:
Rectified spirit - Spirytus rektyfikowany

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Due to vodka's high alcohol content it can be stored in ice or a freezer.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In some countries, black market or "bathtub" vodka is widespread, as it can be produced easily to avoid taxation. However, severe poisoning, blindness, or death have been recorded as a result of impurities, notably methanol.

Related Topics:
Black market - Blindness - Methanol

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~