VODKA

VODKA

Vodka is highly rectified spirit made from Sweet Potato, grains and sometimes Molasses. Vodka comes from “Voda” word-- meaning water; as a result vodka is also known as `Little water`, as the product looks like water, is odourless, colourless and usually tasteless.

 

Vodka came into prominence in late 1940`s, aided by fashionable mixes such as Bloody Marry, Screw Driver. Vodka is traditionally drunk neat and being flavourless it is also commonly used in cocktails and mixed drinks, such as the Bloody Mary, the Screwdriver, the Sex on the Beach, the White Russian, the Black Russian, the vodka tonic, and the vodka martini.

 

Traditionally prepared vodkas had an alcoholic content of 38% by volume. Today, the standard Vodkas are 40% Abv (80 proof).

 

Production of Vodka

 

–     First of all, grains are germinated, crushed and steeped with hot water.

–     This is then send to Mash tun where yeast (both natural and cultured) is added and allowed to ferment.

–     Then distillation of fermented Wash takes place in patent still and 95% alcohol spirit is obtained.

–     It is then diluted with distilled water and alcoholic strength is reduced to 38-40%ABV.

–     Vodka is then send/ filtered through bed of active charcoal or fine quartz sand, to absorb trace amounts of substances that alter or impart off-flavors to the vodka. This process is done to make vodka pure i.e. without any impurities.

–     The spirit, vodka, is then bottled and sold.

Note: No ageing is required for Vodka

Flavoured Vodka

Although most vodkas are naturally flavourless; some are artificially flavoured with different ingredients such as lemon, lime, orange, apple, pepper, strawberries, plum, peach, pear and other flavouring agent.

To prepare flavoured vodka, extra ingredients are added to the vodka and are left in a sealed container for a period of time to steep. The period can range from few hours to months, depending upon the ingredients. After this solid additives are removed and the infusion is then filtered. After this, vodka can be left for a period of time to allow flovour to mature.

 

Famous Flavoured Vodka

1.      Zubrowka: Outstanding polish vodka made with an infusion of Zubrowka grass (also known in English as Buffalo Grass Vodka or Bison Grass Vodka) which is aromatic and nutty in flavour. The blade of grass is kept in bottle only.

 

2.      Pretsovka: Vodka flavoured with honey and red pepper.

 

3.      Starka: Vodka flavoured with a hint of Brandy, honey and herbs.

 

4.      Wisniowka: Vodka flavoured with cherries.

Brand Names

1.      Absolut:          Sweden

2.      Skyy:               United States

3.      Smirnoff:         U.K.

4.      Finlandia:        Finland

5.      Belvedere:       Poland

6.      Iceberg:           Canada

7.      Fris:                 Denmark

8.      Zubrowka:       Poland