VODKA

VODKA

A brief history of vodka:

Vodka originated in the 12th century, either in Russia or Poland and it’s popularity quickly spread throughout the Baltic states. It takes its name from the Russian Zhiznennia Voda meaning water of life.. It has appeared under such names as “wodka”, “wodki” “vidky” and now vodka. Translated the word means little water” because like water it is colourless, tasteless and odorless. Like gin, vodka was first made for medicinal purposes as a cure for gout, gall stones and fragile stomachs. The basic raw material came from many vegetable sources, cane, grain and potatoes. What was used depended on the product with the largest annual surplus.

Vodka gains popularity:

Although vodka is native to European countries, it is now made in many other countries worldwide. The Americans really made the drink fashionable, The vogue for vodka started in 1940 in California and swept the country when it was realized that vodka was such a natural companion for mixed drinks and cocktails. About this time a new drink in the Cock’ n Bull tavern in Los Angeles was created which was to take America by storm. It was called Moscow Mule – a combination of vodka, ginger beer and a little lime juice. The vodka used was Smirnoff which was now made and marketed by US firm Hueblein. The company gave heavy promotion to vodka and Moscow Mule in particular.

Surprisingly the drinking revolution did not make any impact on Western Europe. Britain was particularly slow to accept vodka’s quality. However Russian and Polish émigrés fleeing the Russian Revolution helped to create a demand. Since then there has been a proliferation of brands with marketing aimed at young people who find that vodka is a pleasurable, easy introduction to spirits. It also has the added attraction that it can be felt not smelt. Vodka is a clean spirit, it has a youthful image and it is a great mixer. It is also claimed that vodka is a less fattening and less conducive to hangover than other spirits.

Traditionally prepared vodkas had an alcoholic content of 40% by volume. Today, the standard Belarusian, Polish, Russian and Lithuanian vodkas are 40% alcohol by volume (ABV) or 80 proof. The European Union has established a minimum of 37.5% ABV for any “European vodka” to be named as such. Products sold as vodka in the United States must have an alcoholic content of 40% or more.[3] For homemade vodkas and distilled beverages referred to as “moonshine”, see moonshine by country.

Control on vodka:

Excessive drinking of vodka has been a continuing problem in the former Soviet Union. Russia in fact banned the making of the spirit between 1914 and 1935. When production was restored, ostensibly for medicinal purposes, the nation was once again submerged in the gloom of alcohol excess. In 1985 Mr. Gorbachov tried to repair the damage to health and productivity by curtailing the manufacture of vodka and the times it was legally available for sale. But old habits die hard and the people continued to resort to vodka as an escape.

Vodka is traditionally drunk neat in the vodka belt countries of Eastern Europe and around the Baltic Sea. It is also commonly used in cocktails and mixed drinks, such as the Bloody Mary, Screwdriver, Sex on the Beach, Moscow Mule, White Russian, Black Russian, vodka tonic, and in a vodka martini.

Production of vodka:

Vodka may be distilled from any starch- or sugar-rich plant matter; most vodka today is produced from grains such as sorghum, corn, rye or wheat. Among grain vodkas, rye and wheat vodkas are generally considered superior. Some vodkas are made from potatoes, molasses, soybeans, grapes, rice, sugar beets and sometimes even byproducts of oil refining or wood pulp processing. The choice mostly depends on the material most plentiful and least expensive.

Step by step production of vodka:
1. Whatever may be the ingredients used as the raw material, it is first treated to liberate the starch from the grain.

2. Malted barley or malted wheat is added to the grains so that the diastase of the malted barley or wheat convert the insoluble starch to soluble starch .

3. When theses grains are mashed with water at the appropriate temperature that is 63 – 67°C, the diastase gelatinizes the starch into sugar. The sugary liquid is called as a wort.

4. The wort is then fermented in a tank to form a wash. The wash normally contains about 7 – 9 % of alcohol.

5. The wash is then distilled normally by patent still distillation. Some vodkas may go through double distillation in pot stills.

6. \Many vodkas undergo multiple distillations in column still to get the vodka as pure and clear as possible.

7. Some vodkas undergo filtration through activated charcoal to remove any possible volatile flavor and aroma.

8. The vodka is then diluted to the bottling strength with purified water.

9. Finally the vodka is bottled.

Flavoured vodka:

Although vodkas are generally unflavoured, there are some flavoured varieties also available, especially in Russia and Poland. Popular flavours include Rowan berry, lemon, peppers, honey and cherries. Some vodkas are even coloured using sunflower seeds to give a hint of mauve, saffron for yellow, cornflowers for blue, walnut shells for brown and Zubrowka grass to give a suggestion of green. Incidentally the Polish Zubrowka is one of the greatest vodkas. It is made with an infusion of zubrowka grass , the grass that the European bison or buffalo graze on. It is delicately aromatic with a slightly nutty flavor. A long bl;ade of grass float in each bottle.

Well known brands: of vodka:

Russia:
1. Krepkaya
2. Limonaya
3. Moskovskaya
4. Starka
5. Stolichnaya
6. Stolnaya
7. Russian Doll
8. Rodnik
9. Gold Symphony

Poland:
1. Bielska
2. Jarzebiak
3. Karpatia
4. Starka
5. Wyborowa
6. Zubrowka
7. Belvediere
8. Chopin
9. Ultimat

France:
1. Ciroc ( from grapes)
2. Gray Goose
3. Monte Carlo
4. Perfect 1864

Netherlands:

1. Kettle One
2. Pink vodka

Sweden:

1. Absolut
2. Renat
3. Swedka
4. Pinky vodka

United Kingdom:

1. Blavod ( Black coloured vodka coloured with Burmese catechu)
2. Chase
3. Smirnoff
4. Three Olives
5. Vladivar

United States:

1. Bowman’s
2. Black Dot Vodka
3. Cirrus
4. Gray Goose
5. Hanger One
6. Popov
7. Rain
8. Skyy
9. Vodka 14