Vodka

Vodka is a spirit, which originated in Eastern Europe; the name stemming from the Russian word ‘voda’ meaning water or, as the Poles would say ‘woda’. Vodka is traditionally made by distilling fermented cereal grains such as corn, rye or wheat, it is also commonly made with potatoes; the traditional technique has, however, been extended by some modern brands to include fruit such as grapes to produce vodka.

By regulation, Vodka must be at least 40% alcohol by volume and 80 proof. Vodka is traditionally drank neat, though it is often served chilled throughout the ‘Vodka Belt’ Countries such as Russia, Poland, Iceland, Sweden, Ukraine, Estonia and Lithuania. It is most commonly drank in other countries with fruit juices such as Cranberry Juice, Soft Drinks or as an essential ingredient in many cocktails such as the Cosmopolitan, The Screwdriver, The Bloody Mary or the Vodka Martini.