Vodka
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Related products | Flavored vodka, nalewka |
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Vodka (
Since the 1890s, standard vodkas have been 40%
Vodka is traditionally drunk "
Etymology
The name vodka is a
In English literature, the word vodka appeared in around the late 18th century. In a book of travels published in English in 1780 (presumably, a translation from German), Johann Gottlieb Georgi correctly explained that "kabak in the Russian language signifies a public house for the common people to drink vodka (a sort of brandy) in".[11] In 1799, William Tooke glossed vodka as "rectified corn-spirits",[12] using the traditional English sense of the word "corn" to refer to any grain, not just maize. In 1800, French poet Théophile Gautier glossed it as a "grain liquor" served with meals in Poland (eau-de-vie de grain).[13]
Another possible connection of vodka with "water" is the name of the medieval alcoholic beverage
People in the area of vodka's probable origin have names for vodka with roots meaning "to burn":
History
Scholars debate the beginnings of vodka[15] because there is little historical material available.[16][17] For many centuries, beverages differed significantly compared to the vodka of today, as the spirit at that time had a different flavor, color, and smell, and was originally used as medicine. It contained little alcohol, an estimated maximum of about 14%. Distillation techniques were developed in Roman Egypt by the 3rd century, but the description of aqua ardens ("burning water", i.e., alcohol) made by distilling wine with salt appears in Latin works only by the 12th century. The process was well known among European medieval chemists by about 1300.[18]
Poland
The world's first written mention of the word wódka was in 1405 from Akta Grodzkie recorder of deeds,[19] in the court documents from the Palatinate of Sandomierz in Poland.[19] At the time, the word wódka referred to chemical compounds such as medicines and cosmetics' cleansers. The production of
In these early days, the spirits were used mostly as medicines. Stefan Falimierz asserted in his 1534 works on herbs that vodka could serve "to increase fertility and awaken lust". Wodka lub gorzałka (1614), by Jerzy Potański, contains valuable information on the production of vodka. Jakub Kazimierz Haur, in his book Skład albo skarbiec znakomitych sekretów ekonomii ziemiańskiej (A Treasury of Excellent Secrets about Landed Gentry's Economy, Kraków, 1693), gave detailed recipes for making vodka from rye.
Chopin | Wyborowa | Żubrówka | Luksusowa |
Some Polish vodka blends go back centuries. Most notable are Żubrówka, from about the 16th century; Goldwasser, from the early 17th century; and aged Starka vodka, from the 16th century. In the mid-17th century, the szlachta (nobility of Poland) were granted a monopoly on producing and selling vodka in their territories. This privilege was a source of substantial profits. One of the most famous distilleries of the aristocracy was established by Elżbieta Izabela Lubomirska and later operated by her grandson, Alfred Wojciech Potocki. The Vodka Industry Museum, located at the park of the Potocki country estate has an original document attesting that the distillery already existed in 1784. Today, it operates as "Polmos Łańcut".[20]
Vodka production on a much larger scale began in Poland at the end of the 16th century, initially at Kraków, whence spirits were exported to Silesia before 1550. Silesian cities also bought vodka from Poznań, a city that in 1580 had 498 working spirits distilleries. Soon, however, Gdańsk outpaced both these cities. In the 17th and 18th centuries, Polish vodka was known in the Netherlands, Denmark, England, Russia, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Ukraine, Bulgaria and the Black Sea basin.
Early production methods were rudimentary. The beverage was usually low-proof, and the distillation process had to be repeated several times (a three-stage distillation process was common). The first distillate was called brantówka, the second was szumówka, and the third was okowita (from aqua vitae), which generally contained 70–80% ABV. Then the beverage was watered down, yielding a simple vodka (30–35% ABV), or a stronger one if the watering was done using an alembic. The exact production methods were described in 1768 by Jan Paweł Biretowski and in 1774 by Jan Chryzostom Pasek. The late 18th century inaugurated the production of vodka from various unusual substances including even the carrot.[21]
Though there was a substantial vodka cottage industry in Poland back to the 16th century, the end of the 18th century marked the start of real industrial production of vodka in Poland (
After
Russia
Russian Empire
A type of distilled liquor designated by the Russian word vodka came to Russia in the late 14th century. In 1386, the
Perhaps one of the earliest terms linked to vodka production was varenoe vino ("distilled wine") which appears in a 1399 document. Another term used was perevara, a precursor to vodka, which last appears in official documents in 1495. The term korchma is one of the oldest official terms used for vodka, which was used alongside varenoe vino, but later came to denote illegally produced vodka by the 16th century. Other terms that referred to vodka included goriachee vino ("burning wine"), zhzhenoe vino ("burnt wine"), and khlebnoe vino ("bread wine").[22][23][24]
According to
In every great towne of his Realme he hath a Caback or drinking house, where is sold aquavitæ (which they call Russewine) mead, beere, &c. Out of these hee receiveth rent that amounteth to a great summe of money.
— Of the Russe Common Wealth (1591)[24]
Until the mid-18th century, the drink remained relatively low in alcohol content, not exceeding 40% ABV. Multiple terms for the drink were recorded, sometimes reflecting different levels of quality, alcohol concentration, filtering, and the number of distillations; most commonly, it was referred to as "burning wine", "bread wine", or even in some locations simply "wine". In some locations, grape wine may have been so expensive that it was a drink only for aristocrats. Burning wine was usually diluted with water to 24% ABV or less before drinking. It was mostly sold in taverns and was quite expensive. At the same time, the word vodka was already in use, but it described herbal tinctures (similar to Nalewka), containing up to 75% ABV, and made for medicinal purposes.
The first written usage of the word vodka in an official Russian document in its modern meaning is dated by the decree of Empress Elizabeth of 8 June 1751, which regulated the ownership of vodka distilleries. By the 1860s, a government policy of promoting the consumption of state-manufactured vodka made it the drink of choice for many Russians. In 1863, the government monopoly on vodka production was repealed, causing prices to plummet and making vodka available even to low-income citizens. The taxes on vodka became a key element of government finances in Tsarist Russia, providing at times up to 40% of state revenue.[27] By 1911, vodka comprised 89% of all alcohol consumed in Russia. This level has fluctuated somewhat during the 20th century but remained quite high at all times. The most recent estimates put it at 70% (2001).
Post-Soviet Russia
Vodka remains a major source of state revenue and therefore of power. Seizing control of the state spirits monopoly Rosspirtprom and its Kristall distillery was instrumental for Vladimir Putin to consolidate his power as prime minister and president.[28] Under his rule, the "Putinka" ("little Putin") brand of vodka became a bestseller, partly to Putin's financial benefit.[28]
Other popular Russian vodka producers or brands include
William Pokhlebin's A History of Vodka
During the late 1970s, Russian culinary author
Pokhlebkin's sources were challenged by David Christian in the Slavic Review in 1994, who criticized the lack of valid references in Pokhlebkin's works and its pro-Russian bias. Pokhlebkin is also known for his Pan-Slavic sympathies under the leadership of Russia and sentiments that, in David Christian's opinion, discredit most of his work, especially his History of Vodka.[30]
Sweden
Up until the 1950s, vodka was not used as a designation for Swedish distilled beverages, which were instead called brännvin ("burn-wine"), the word having the same etymology as the Dutch Brandewijn, which is the base for the word brandy. This beverage has been produced in Sweden since the late 15th century, although the total production was still small in the 17th century.[31] From the early 18th century, production expanded, although production was prohibited several times, during grain shortages. Although initially a grain product, potatoes started to be used in production in the late 18th century and became dominant from the early 19th century.[32] From the early 1870s, distillery equipment was improved.
Progressively from the 1960s, unflavoured Swedish brännvin also came to be called vodka. The first Swedish product to use this term was Explorer Vodka, which was created in 1958 and initially was intended for the American export market. Although it ultimately failed to do so, it remains one of the most popular vodka brands in Sweden today.[33][34] In 1979, Absolut Vodka was launched, reusing the name of the old Absolut Rent Brännvin ("absolutely pure brännvin") created in 1879.
After Sweden joined the European Union in 1995, the regulations were changed so that privately owned companies could produce Vodka.[35]
Vodka has become popular among young people, with a flourishing black market.[36] In 2013, the organizers of the so-called "vodka car" were jailed for two and a half years for having illegally provided thousands of liters to young people, some as young as 13.[37]
Production
Vodka may be distilled from any
In the United States, many vodkas are made from 95% pure
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
A study conducted on
Distilling and filtering
A common property of the vodkas produced in the United States and Europe is the extensive use of filtration before any additional processing including the addition of
The master distiller is in charge of distilling the vodka and directing its filtration, which includes the removal of the "fore-shots", "heads" and "tails". These components of the distillate contain flavor compounds such as
allow portions of the "heads" and "tails" to remain, giving them their unique flavors.Repeated distillation of vodka will make its ethanol level much higher than is acceptable to most end users, whether legislation determines strength limits or not. Depending on the distillation method and the technique of the still master, the final filtered and distilled vodka may have as much as 95–96% ethanol. As such, most vodka is diluted with water before bottling.
Flavoring
While most vodkas are unflavored, many flavored vodkas have been produced in traditional vodka-drinking areas, often as home-made recipes to improve vodka's taste or for medicinal purposes. Flavorings include red pepper, ginger, fruit flavors, vanilla, chocolate (without sweetener), and cinnamon. In Russia, vodka flavored with honey and pepper, pertsovka in Russian, is also very popular. In Poland and Belarus, the leaves of the local
This tradition of flavoring is also prevalent in the Nordic countries, where vodka seasoned with herbs, fruits, and spices is the appropriate strong drink for several seasonal festivities. Sweden has forty-odd common varieties of herb-flavored vodka (kryddat brännvin). In Poland and Ukraine, a separate category (nalyvka in Ukraine and nalewka in Poland) is used for vodka-based spirits with fruit, root, flower, or herb extracts, which are often home-made or produced by small commercial distilleries. Their alcohol contents vary between 15 and 75%. In Estonia, vodkas are available with barberry, blackcurrant, cherry, green apple, lemon, vanilla, and watermelon flavors.[47]
In most cases, vodka flavoring comes from a post-distillation infusion of flavors. Through the fermentation process, grain mash is transformed into a neutral alcohol beverage that is unflavored. The process of flavoring vodka so that it tastes like fruits, chocolate, and other foods occurs after fermentation and distillation. Various chemicals that reproduce the flavor profiles of foods are added into vodka to give it a specific taste.
Today
Vodka is less likely than other spirits to produce the undesirable after-effects of heavy consumption (though no less likely to intoxicate) because of its low level of
Since the year 2000, because of evolving consumer tastes and regulatory changes, several 'artisanal vodka' or even 'ultra premium vodka' brands have appeared.
European Union regulation
The success of
Canadian regulations
Under Canadian regulations, vodka is a potable alcoholic distillate obtained from potatoes, cereal grain, or any other material of agricultural origin fermented by the action of yeast or a mixture of yeast and other microorganisms.[49]
United States regulations
In 1956, it was put into revenue ruling that sugar not more than 0.2% and trace amounts of citric acid are not considered flavoring agent. The meaning of "trace amounts" of citric acid was clarified as not more than 1,000ppm in 1995.[50]
It is no longer defined as "to be without distinctive character, aroma, taste, or color."[51] The law includes other requirements: Vodka cannot be aged in wood; it may or may not be charcoal filtered; and it must meet minimum distillation and bottling proofs.[52]
Boycotts
The examples and perspective in this section deal primarily with North America and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject. (January 2024) |
In summer 2013, American
In late February 2022, with the
One critic argued that boycotts of Russian-branded vodka may inadvertently affect U.S. vodka manufacturers and noted that only 1.2 percent of U.S. vodka imports come from Russia.[58]
Illegal production
In some countries,
Public health effects
Estimates of the annual death toll resulting from
Cooking
Vodka can also be used in cooking and various recipes are improved by the addition of vodka or rely on it as a key ingredient.
See also
- List of cocktails with vodka
- List of vodkas
- Vodka sauce
- Vodka war
References
- ^ a b "The History of Vodka". Proof.
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- ^ Evseev, Anton (21 November 2011). "Dmitry Mendeleev and 40 degrees of Russian vodka". Science. Moscow: English Pravda.Ru. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
- ^ a b "The Production of Vodka". Archived from the original on 22 January 2008. Retrieved 20 January 2007.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "United States Code of Federal Regulations Title 27, Section 5.22(a)(1)". United States Government Printing Office. Archived from the original on 23 November 2011. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
- ^ Vodka at the Encyclopædia Britannica
- ^ "vodka". Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved 22 November 2008.
- ^ Etymology of the word "vodka" in Черных П. Я.: Историко-этимологический словарь современного русского языка. Москва, Русский язык-Медиа, 2004.
- ^ Georgi, Johann Gottlieb (1780). Russia: or, a compleat historical account of all the nations which compose that Empire. printed for J. Nichols: T. Cadell; H. Payne; and N. Conant. p. 115.
- ^ Tooke, William (1799). View of the Russian empire during the reign of Catharine the Second, and to the close of the present century, Volume 1. Piccadilly: T.N. Longman and O. Rees, Pater-Noster-Row, and J. Debrett. p. 362.
- ^ Gautier, Théophile (1800). Voyage en Russie. G. Charpentier et cie. pp. 354, 406.
- ^ "The heritage of professor Juozas Balčikonis, the great educator of the native language". Archived from the original on 11 April 2008. Retrieved 11 March 2008.
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- ^ a b c "History of vodka production, at the official page of Polish Spirit Industry Association (KRPS), 2007" (in Polish). Archived from the original on 30 September 2007.
- ^ "Count Alfred Potocki Factory Museum of Liqueurs, Rosolios and Rum". Polmos Distillery. Archived from the original on 26 December 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
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- ^ ISBN 978-0-300-26510-1.
- ISBN 978-0-435-32718-7.
- ^ a b Schrad, Mark Lawrence (5 May 2023). "Russia Has a Vodka Addiction. So Does Vladimir Putin – But Not the Same Way". POLITICO. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- ^ "Some vodka manufacturers". onlinevodka.net. Archived from the original on 13 April 2009.
- ^ Slavic Review Vol. 53, no. 1 (1994), pp. 245–247.
- ^ Brännvinslagstiftning Archived 21 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine in Nordisk familjebok, volume 4 (1905)
- ^ Brännvinsbränning Archived 21 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine in Nordisk familjebok, volume 4 (1905)
- ^ "Conaxess Trade: Explorer Vodka". Conaxess Trade. Archived from the original on 5 December 2019. Retrieved 5 December 2019. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
- ^ "Sweden: sales volume of the leading spirits brands in Systembolaget stores 2018". Statista. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
- ^ "Översyn av vissa bestämmelser i alkohollagen samt av bestämmelserna om försäljning av teknisk sprit m.m. Kommittédirektiv 1998:19 - Riksdagen". www.riksdagen.se.
- ^ 'Vodka-mobile' selling booze to Swedish kids Archived 4 February 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Thelocal.se (10 February 2012). Retrieved on 19 July 2013.
- ^ Åtalade för vodkabilen dömda till fängelse Archived 6 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Expressen.se (3 May 2013). Retrieved on 19 July 2013.
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- ^ a b "EU Farm Chief Warns of Legal Action in Vodka Row". Archived from the original on 10 March 2007. Retrieved 10 March 2007.
- ^ Blue Wingsarticle
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- ^ Nasaw, Daniel (7 June 2012). "Why are there so many brands of vodka on sale?". BBC News. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
- ^ a b "Spirits in bulk". Akwawit-Polmos. Archived from the original on 5 August 2017. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
The agricultural ethyl alcohol we produce is the basic component of clear and fine vodkas. Our product is used for manufacturing vodkas of the best brand in Poland.
- ^ "Everclear Uses and Products FAQs". Make it Your Own with Everclear. Luxco. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
- ^ "Is There Really A Difference Between Expensive Vodka And Cheap Vodka?". NPR.org. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
- ^ "Estonian Vodka flavors". therealculture.com. Archived from the original on 1 April 2010.
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- ^ Branch, Legislative Services (3 June 2019). "Consolidated federal laws of canada, Food and Drug Regulations". laws.justice.gc.ca. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
- ^ "ATF Ruling 97-1". 29 December 1995.
- ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
- ^ "27 CFR § 5.22 – The standards of identity". LII / Legal Information Institute. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
- ^ "Vodka boycott in U.S. spreads on concerns over gay rights in Russia". Reuters. 1 August 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
- ^ Abad-Santos, Alexander (8 August 2013). "The Russian Vodka Boycott Is Working, Whether You Like It or Not". The Atlantic. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
- ^ "Stoli CEO Speaks Out On How Company Will Respond To Vodka Boycott". HuffPost. 31 July 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
- ^ "Canadian liquor stores remove Russian vodka from shelves after Ukraine invasion". Reuters. 26 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
- ^ "Boycotting Russian vodka brands: How big of an impact does it have and on who?". MSN. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
- ^ "Why Are You Boycotting American Vodka To Punish Russia?". 28 February 2022.
- ^ Eke, Steven (29 November 2006). "'People's vodka' urged for Russia". BBC News. Retrieved 22 November 2008.
- ^ Sweeney, John (10 March 2007). "When vodka is your poison". BBC News. Retrieved 22 November 2008.
- ^ See, e.g., Korotayev A., Khaltourina D. Russian Demographic Crisis in Cross-National Perspective. Russia and Globalization: Identity, Security, and Society in an Era of Change Archived 4 June 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Ed. by D. W. Blum. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2008. P. 37–78; Khaltourina, D. A., & Korotayev, A. V. 'Potential for alcohol policy to decrease the mortality crisis in Russia', Evaluation & the Health Professions, vol. 31, no. 3, Sep 2008. pp. 272–281 Archived 1 July 2018 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ Korotayev, A., Khaltourina, D., Meshcherina, K., & Zamiatnina, E. Distilled Spirits Overconsumption as the Most Important Factor of Excessive Adult Male Mortality in Europe. Alcohol and Alcoholism, 2018, 53(6), 742-752 Archived 8 January 2021 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ "The Boozy Ingredient Your Baked Goods Are Missing". Epicurious. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
- ^ "How to Cook with Vodka » Feast + West". Feast + West. 27 May 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
- ^ Chowhound. "10 Recipes Using Vodka". Chowhound. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
Further reading
- Begg, Desmond (1997). The Vodka Companion: A Connoisseur's Guide. Running. ISBN 0-7624-0252-0.
- Broom, Dave (1998). Complete Book of Spirits and Cocktails. Italy: Carlton Books Ltd. ISBN 1-85868-485-4.
- Delos, Gilbert (1998). Vodkas of the World. Edison, New Jersey: Wellfleet Press. ISBN 0-7858-1018-8.
- Elborn, Geoffrey (2013). The Dedalus Book of Vodka. Dedalus. ISBN 978-1-907650-04-8.
- Faith, Nicholas; Ian Wisniewski (1977). Classic Vodka. London: Prion Books Ltd. ISBN 1-85375-234-7.
- Lingwood, William; Ian Wisniewski (2003). Vodka: Discovering, Exploring, Enjoying. New York: Ryland Peters & Small. ISBN 1-84172-506-4.
- Rogala, Jan (2004). Gorzałka czyli historia i zasady wypalania mocnych trunków. Baobab. ISBN 83-89642-70-0.