Learn about Vodka - Decanter (2024)

A colourless spirit composed primarily of water and ethanol...

What is Vodka?

Vodka is a distilled beverage that can be made from any starch or sugar-rich fermentable agricultural material. Traditionally made from potatoes, most vodka today is produced from grains such as sorghum, corn, rye or wheat and molasses.

Because of its distillation process, vodka tends to have little-to-no flavour but it can have varying characteristics depending on the different methods and ingredients used resulting in a range of tastes and textures.

Vodka production in its earliest form dates back to the 14^thcentury, primarily in Poland and Russia, the home of modern day vodka. Initially used as a medicinal remedy, vodka as a drink slowly increased in popularity and through advances in distillation and distribution it eventually reached the mass-market, becoming the national drink of choice in both countries.

By the end of the 20th century, vodka had become one of the world’s most popular spirits. Its natural purity gave it intrinsic appeal for northern European traditionalists, who drink it freezer-chilled and neat (not mixed with water, ice or any other liquid). It’s alsoan ideal neutral base for co*cktails and mixers.

Vodka is made all across the world, though notable countries of production – and ones with the highest consumption worldwide – include those in Northern, Central and Eastern Europe, collectively known as the ‘vodka belt’.

Essential Info:

Raw materials

Vegetables or grains – vodka can be produced from virtually any fermentable ingredients that contain sugar or starch, but it’s mostly made from potatoes, sugar beet molasses and cereal grains. Rye is a popular choice for Polish vodka while barley is favoured in Finland and wheat in Russia.

Water – Since water forms some 70% of the contents of a bottle of Vodka the type of water used can have significant effect to the final taste and mouthfeel. Distilleries are usually located where there is a plentiful supply of water, ideally which is soft and low in salts and ions making artesian wells or natural springs a preferable choice. Though modern technology allows distillers to demineralise water to produce a pure, tasteless water that won’t affect the final flavour.

Malt meal – The presence of this ingredient is often required to enable the transformation of starch into sugar.

Yeast – An essential ingredient for the process of fermentation. In the past distillers would have relied on natural airborne yeasts for fermentation but today commercially prepared distiller’s or brewer’s yeasts are usually used.

Flavour additives – Commonly used at the end of the production process to add varying characteristics. The most popular flavours range from herbs and grasses to spices and fruits – red pepper, ginger, vanilla, chocolate, cinnamon and bison grass are some examples. Small amounts of honey can also added to increase the vodka’s viscosity or mouthfeel and to take the edge off the attack of the ethanol alcohol – particularly in more mellow western Vodkas.

Manufacturing process

Vodka is made by harvesting and milling fermentable substances which are then cooked alongside fresh, filtered water.

The mixture is then heated transforming the starch into sugar resulting in ‘mash’ which is then poured into stainless steel tanks and left to ferment into ethyl alcohol – a process that takes anywhere from one day to two weeks.

The liquid ethyl alcohol is then distilled to remove impurities and increase overall alcohol content. This can be done either with pot stills, which need multiple distillations to reach the required content of alcohol but are more practical and cost-effective for small vodka producers, or through column stills which are more commonly used for large production scales and praised for the cleanness and purity of the final product. The aim of vodka distillation is to produce a spirit that is as close to pure ethanol as possible.

After distillation, the liquid should have between 95-100% alcohol (by law most vodkas have to be distilled to a strength of at least 96% ABV or in the US 95% ABV). Once the final spirit has been distilled some distillers choose to use activated charcoal to remove any remaining impurities.

Water must then be added to weaken the alcohol to the standardised 40% ABV (though this varies from country to country) – it is also at this point that the distiller can add flavour additives. The flavour can be added either by macerating the ingredient in the vodka or by blending in distilled fruit spirits. Less expensive essences can be used, as with gin production, though these can smell and taste artificial and fade quickly in the glass.

Unlike wine or whisky, vodka does not have an ageing process so can be immediately bottled and sold. Up to 400 bottles per minute can be machine-filled in some automated distilleries.

Standard, Premium and Super-Premium

Standard, inexpensive vodkas are often made with molasses which give the impression of sweetness but have very little actual flavour. Quick distillation and heavy processing can also adversely affect a vodka’s flavour.

The grains barley, rye and wheat are the traditional raw, base materials for quality vodkas, as well as potatoes. Light, crisp and drier vodkas tend to be made from barley, sweeter versions from rye and richly textured from wheat, while potatoes produce vodka with a uniquely creamy texture.

Premium or super-premium vodkas are often more characterful and are generally made with unusual ingredients, unusual water sources and methods of production – as well as distinctive branding and packaging. These vodkas can command the highest price tags, though there is no legal weight to premium or super-premium titles and can make no discernible difference in blind tastings.

In this regard, the importance of marketing and branding in setting different vodka brands apart is greater for vodka than any other spirits category.

Alcoholic strength

The minimum ABV for standard vodka production in Poland, Russia, Belarus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Slovakia, Sweden and Ukraine is 40% ABV (alcohol by volume).

This figure differs in the European Union which has established a minimum of 37.5% ABV. In the United States products sold as vodka must have a minimum alcohol content of 40%.

Tasting Vodka

As with wine, the first step of tasting starts with the nose as aroma is responsible for around 80% of what we process as flavour.

A vodka’s particular aroma may define how you drink it – neat, on the rocks or in a co*cktail. Experts suggest starting with an unflavoured brand of vodka and storing it in the freezer – three hours prior to serving is an accepted rule of thumb.

Pour 50cl into a clean, short heavy-bottomed glass, bring it to your nose and slowly inhale through your nose with an open mouth, swirl and repeat. A strong, pungent aroma of alcohol would suggest a poorly crafted vodka. A well-made vodka should present light, medium and heavy notes.

Next, take a sip and coat the tongue with the liquid for a few seconds before spitting it out. Depending on the vodka there may be a light or heavy mouthfeel, which can appear slightly cloying, as well as either a sweet or salty finish. A small amount of water can be added to the vodka at this point with the process repeated to bring out any hidden flavours.

Did you know?

Best-selling Vodka brands in the world

1. Smirnoff – Eponymous brainchild of Russian farmer Pyrtor Smirnov who used the French spelling of his surname. Owned by Diageo.
2. Absolut – Swedish brand founded in 1879 by entrepreneur and ‘King of Spirts’ Lars Olsson Smith. Owned by Pernod Ricard.
3. Khortytsa – A grain-based Ukranian vodka named after the largest river island in Europe and one of the seven wonders of Ukraine. Owned by Global Spirits.
4. Żubrówka – Poland’s favourite vodka and unique among vodkas for its flavour profile and slight greenish-yellow colour which is attributed to the Bison grass that is added to the bottle as a tincture. Owned by Roust.
5. Krupnik – Eastern European Vodka brand that shares its branding with the long-established honey liqueur. Second biggest vodka brand in Poland, and popular in Belarus and Lithuania. Owned by Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits.

Leading brands, origins and base ingredient

Classic vodka co*cktails

• Vodka Martini
• Cosmopolitan
• Vodka Tonic
• Screwdriver
• Greyhound
• Black or White Russian
• Moscow Mule
• Bloody Mary