VODKA

 DEFINITION

 Vodka is a neutral spirit distilled from any fermented material and treated in a way so as to be without any distinctive colour, taste or aroma.

Origin

Russia (17th century)

Spread to Finland, Poland and rest of North-East Europe

Vodka has come from the Russian word “WODKA” meaning, ‘Little Water’

 

SOURCE

 Most plentiful and least expensive grains

Principal grain is CORN

Other grains used are wheat, rye,

 

MANUFACTURING PROCESS

 Distilled at more than 95% v/v

↓

Filtered through alternate layers of vegetable charcoal (Siberian birch) and quartz sand

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Dilution with distilled water

↓

Ageing not required

 

FLAVOURED VODKAS

 Zubrowka

Flavoured with Zubrowka grass from the forests of eastern Poland

Yellowish tinge & aromatic bouquet

Exceptionally soft and smooth

Ice cold – toto – straight

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FLAVOURED VODKAS

 

 

Starka

 

 

• Means ‘old’
• Aged for about 10 years in oak casks previously used for ageing fine wines
• Amber colour & typically wine-like aroma
• Popular among brandy lovers

 

Pertsovka

 

 

• Dark brown Russian pepper vodka
• Infusion of capsicum, cayenne & cubeb
• Pleasant aroma with a burning taste
• Czar Peter the Great seasoned his vodka with pepper – Russians still enjoy!

 

 

Yubileyneya Osobaya

 

 

• Flavoured with brandy & honey among other ingredients
• Referred to as Jubilee Vodka

 

Okhotnichya

 

 

• Flavoured with many herbs
• Definite aroma of heather honey
• Referred to as Hunter’s Vodka

 

BRAND NAMES

 

 

• Smirnoff
• Nikolai
• Vladivar
• Bolshoi
• Bolskaya
• Stolichnya
• Moscovskaya
• Newyorkskaya