Vodka ( Polish: wódka [ˈvutka]; Russian: водка [ˈvotkə]; Swedish: vodka [vɔdkɑː]) is a clear distilled alcoholic beverage. Different varieties originated in Poland, Russia, and Sweden. [1] [2] Vodka is composed mainly of water and ethanol but sometimes with traces of impurities and flavourings. [3] Traditionally, it is made by distilling liquid from fermented cereal grains, and potatoes since introduced in Europe in the 1700s. Some modern brands use corn, sugar cane, fruits, honey, and maple sap as the base. Vodka has kept its title as one of the most popular spirits in the world for many years, which means there are hundreds of different brands to choose from. However, while there are more brands to sample than we could ever reasonably sip, there is a handful that is known for being consistently excellent. Ingredients listings for alcoholic products are not mandatory, so additional care is necessary. So to be safe, tipplers with gluten sensitivity should choose specialty vodkas made from potatoes, corn, or grapes (like Cirac, Tito’s, and Crystal Head) and avoid single distilled spirits. Or they can opt for gluten-free vodka brands with an extensive distillation process, like Grey Goose or Burnett’s. The top five best brands of vodka Belvedere

Since launch, the company has created international celebrity campaigns, and expanded its portfolio to include 11 flavoured expressions. In summer 2013, American LGBT rights activists targeted Russian vodka brands for boycott over Russia's anti-gay policies. [48] [49] [50] a b "Regulation (EC) No 110/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 January 2008 on the definition, description, presentation, labelling and the protection of geographical indications of spirit drinks and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 1576/89". EUR-Lex . Retrieved 17 February 2020. Its low price point combined with ever-so-slight herbal notes makes it an excellent all-rounder, no matter the occasion. Our vodka has received numerous awards, taking home a number of medals at the prestigious Spirit Masters awards hosted by The Spirit Business.Price, Pamela Vandyke (1980). The Penguin Book of Spirits and Liqueurs. Penguin Books. pp.196 ff. ISBN 0-14-046335-6. 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 [34] or wood pulp processing. In some Central European countries, such as Poland, some vodka is produced by just fermenting a solution of crystal sugar and yeast. In the European Union there are talks about the standardization of vodka, and the Vodka Belt countries insist that only spirits produced from grains, potato and sugar beet molasses be allowed to be branded as "vodka", following the traditional methods of production. [35] [36]

A type of distilled liquor designated by the Russian word vodka came to Russia in the late 14th century. In 1386, the Genoese ambassadors brought the first aqua vitae ("the water of life") to Moscow and presented it to Grand Duke Dmitry Donskoy. The liquid obtained by distillation of grape must was thought to be a concentrate and a "spirit" of wine ( spiritus vini in Latin), whence came to the name of this substance in many European languages (like English spirit, or Russian спирт, spirt).As alcohol has a much lower freezing point than vodka, there’s no need to worry about it getting too cold. Freezing the vodka will remove any harsh flavors and soften the aroma and taste. Use an online calculator — there are a few available, including the Drinks Calculator and the Standard Drink Calculator Made from UK-sourced ingredients, the vodkas in Au’s portfolio are distilled by a third-party producer in Surrey, England.

Barley Barley wine Corn Mageu Pozol Tejuino Tesgüino Millet Oshikundu Tongba Rice Agkud Amazake Apo Beopju Brem Choujiu Chuak Dansul Gwaha-ju Hariya Makgeolli Mijiu Mirin Pangasi Rice wine Rượu cần Sake Sato Shaoxing wine Sonti Tapai Tapuy Rye Kvass Sorghum Pendhā Multiple grains Ale Ara Beer Boza Huangjiu We have combined our award-winning vodka with a unique fruit fusion creating a sweet and unique blue vodka. This pure grain alcohol, also known as rectified spirit, neutral spirit, or ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin is also available directly to consumers in some areas, as products such as Everclear, Polmos spirytus rektyfikowany, and others. In contrast to very-high ABV vodkas such as the Bulgarian Balkan 176° with 88% ABV, these grain alcohol products are not considered vodka; they have not (yet) gone through the filtration and refining process used to produce vodka. [5] [40] [41]Spirytus is often used to add to homemade fruit and herbal liqueurs or vodkas and to desserts. Its high alcohol base means that Spirytus certainly comes with a bite and should not be drunk without being heavily diluted first. THE GOLDEN TOUCH Q&A WITH JORDAN MAJOR, HEAD OF E-COMMERCE, AU VODKA Firstly, could you briefly introduce us to Au Vodka? As one of the UK’s fastest growing online brands, could you expand on the role that e-commerce plays at the company? How did the company navigate the COVID-19 pandemic? Did you notice any new trends during this time? How does Au Vodka differentiate itself from the competition on the UK retail market? Looking ahead, how will e-commerce continue to develop the company’s growth? THE GOLDEN TOUCH Vodka has a higher ABV than most beers, malt liquors, and wines, and has around the same ABV as tequila. It has a lower ABV than more potent types of alcohol, like absinthe or Everclear. Proof: Another term for measuring the alcoholic content of a beverage. The proof is double the alcohol by volume (ABV) measurement. We take a dive into Au’s growth and international sights for expansion with Head of E-Commerce, Jordan Major. Q&A WITH JORDAN MAJOR, HEAD OF E-COMMERCE, AU VODKA Firstly, could you briefly introduce us to Au Vodka?