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Spirits 101: What is vodka?
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Vodka is a distilled beverage, also known as liquor or spirit, made from fermented grain like rye or wheat, or from potato or sugar beet molasses. This clear liquid usually has an alcohol content of 35 to 50 percent by volume.
Vodka is the dominant spirit of Eastern Europe. The best Russian vodkas are made from wheat. Rye is more widely used for the production of vodka in Poland. When vodka is made for mass-production, it is typically distilled from potatoes; a method which most Russian vodka makers look down upon.
Classic Russian vodka is 40 percent alcohol by volume. When vodka is below 40 percent alcohol by volume, it can taste watered down when drunk neat. Vodka is traditionally drunk neat in the countries of the "Vodka Belt." Neat means the vodka is served without ice and is not mixed with any other liquids. Vodka with strengths above 40 percent alcohol by volume result in more of a "burn" when consumed.
Both Russia and Poland are included in the Vodka Belt which is a group of countries known for the amount of vodka they produce and consume. Belarus, Estonia, Latvia, the Ukraine and Lithuania are also considered a part of the Vodka Belt. These countries supply a large portion of vodka cosumed around the world.
While vodka is traditionally drunk neat in the Vodka Belt, in other places around the world it is more popular in cocktails like the bloody mary, the vodka tonic, the screwdriver and the white russian.
Vodka can also be infused with different flavors like vanilla, red pepper or fruit flavors.
For more information on vodka, click here.
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