Vodka Drinks and Recipes

vodkas dry martini

Vodka is a clear and (ideally) odorless, flavorless alcohol that is popularly co
nsumed in the U.S. and across the world. It lends itself well to mixing, making
it a versatile spirit capable of carrying a variety of flavors or fortifying any
number of drinks. Vodka has a long history closely tied to the frigid region of
its origin.
Origins of Vodka
The Slavic people of Eastern Europe (as well as Scandinavians to the North) took
alcohol very seriously. The rise of Christianity in this region can be traced t
o the Grand Prince of Kiev s decision to embrace the religion, largely because of
its tolerance of alcohol.
The region s freezing temperatures complicated the import of beer and wine, both o
f which would freeze in transit as a result of their low alcohol content. With t
he introduction of the distilling process in the 1400s, Eastern Europe began to
develop beverage spirits that would not freeze, all of which were generically te
rmed "vodkas."
Russian Vodka
Russians are proud that vodka was created in their homeland. The name itself com
es from the Russian word voda, meaning "water." Commercial vodka production bega
n as early as the 14th Century, and the Russian ruler Ivan the Terrible establis
hed the first government-run vodka monopoly in 1540. This led to rampant moonshi
ning.
Vodka production became integral to Russian society. Aristocrats distilled vodka
on their land, and the government launched vodka-making innovations, such as ch
arcoal filtration, at its test distilleries. In fact, by the 18th century, vodka
production was the most technologically advanced industry in Russia.
Vodka by Region
The leading vodka-producing countries are:
* Belarus
* Russia
* Ukraine.
While these regions produce all types of vodka, only the premium vodkas, those p
roduced from wheat and rye, are sold outside these regions.
Poland, another major vodka producer, exports vodkas made from grain and potatoe
s. Finland produces mostly wheat vodkas, as do Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. A
rising producer in recent decades is Sweden, which has grown its vodka exports s
ubstantially.
The United States and Canada produce vodkas from grains and molasses. Law dictat
es that U.S. vodkas are neutral spirits so they all generally taste the same, wi
th some being smoother due to more aggressive refining processes.
Caribbean vodkas are almost all made from molasses, and most are blended and bot
tled in other countries.
Popular Vodka Brands
While vodkas vary in quality, flavor and country of origin, some vodka brands ar
e synonymous with excellence. The next time you order or make a vodka cocktail,
try one of the following:
* Absolut® vodka
* Belvedere® vodka
* Finlandia® vodka
* Grey Goose® vodka
* Skyy® vodka
 * Smirnoff® vodka
* Three Olives® vodka.
How to Make Vodka
Distillers produce vodka by fermenting mash made from grains such as:
* beets
* molasses
* potatoes
* rye
* vegetable matter
* wheat.
The sugars created by the fermented mash are then distilled. While all vodka is
produced clear and colorless, vodka produced in a pot will still carry some slig
ht aroma and delicate flavor of the type of mash that produced it. Vodka produce
d in pot stills also usually requires a second distillation to rid it of residua
l color and/or flavor.
After the distilling process, the mix is typically filtered through tanks of cha
rcoal mixtures. This process takes out any unwanted flavors or aromas. The purif
ied spirit, which is roughly 95 percent alcohol, gets diluted with water. Becaus
e vodka is not generally aged, it can be bottled right after the purification pr
ocess.
Preparing Vodka Drinks and Cocktails
Vodka tastes best when served chilled. Keeping vodka bottles in the refrigerator
or freezer is a good way to ensure this alcohol is always ready to drink. The c
hill enhances desirable flavors and inhibits undesirable ones. Chilling also bri
ngs out just a hint of an oily quality in the vodka.
Vodka serves as the ultimate mixing spirit. Its neutral quality enables the mixe
r to be the dominant flavor. Vodka also works well as a substitute for similar s
pirits, such as gin, in drinks like the martini. In fact, although the classic m
artini is made with gin, vodka martinis are also widely popular.
Russians enjoy straight vodka with food, typically caviar. However, other well-s
easoned hors d oeuvres or rich snacks are also good accompaniments. Flavored vodka
s work well as aperitifs or served with coffee and desserts.
Drinking Vodka
Russians and other Eastern Europeans typically drink vodka as shots, shouting fe
stive toasts as they gulp them down. They don t generally mix anything with vodka
but may chase it with a swig of beer or cola.
Drinking vodka in the United States did not become popular until the 1950s. By t
he 1970s, vodka became the most popular spirit in the nation, outselling bourbon
. Vodka is a main ingredient in several popular drinks including the Bloody Mary
, the Screwdriver and the odka martini.