Know Your Favourite Drink Vodka

The word vodka is a diminutive of the Russian voda, meaning ‘water’ (an analogue of the word whisky which means ‘water of life’ in Gaelic). The Polish call it gorzalka (horilka in Ukrainian) from the verb goret’ (to burn). It is not known who invented vodka, although some claim it was first made in the X century by a Persian physician, Al-Razi. However, as the Persian Arabs were forbidden to drink alcohol, it was used only for medicinal purposes or in chemistry. At around the same time Valentinus, a monk and alchemist from Italy, was also distilling a beverage from plant matter which came to be known as aqua vitae, the ‘water of life’. The word spirit then came about, from the name of the liquid obtained from grape must, spiritusvini, meaning ‘spirit of the wine’.



History of Vodka
The history of vodka in Russia dates back to 1386 when Genoese merchants first brought aqua vitae (‘the water of life’ – fermented grape wine) to Moscow. However, instead of grapes, the Russians used rye to produce ethanol and vodka originally went by the name of ‘bread wine’.

How to Drink Vodka
Vodka is drunk chilled, but not iced, and it goes well with both hot and cold food. Hors d’oeuvres are of vital importance in evaluating the real significance of vodka as a drink. A vodka’s true character only comes out if it is followed with a satisfying, salty bite. It should not be chased with any drink. Vodka is the quintessential Russian drink and is perfect for dinner parties. One of its main functions is as an accompaniment to the subtle nuances of Russian cuisine. A second, equally important function is as a means of cleansing the palette between courses, as it neutralizes fat, washes away the taste of previous dishes and dulls the feeling of fullness in the stomach. The third function of vodka is physiological – as an aid to digestion.




How Vodka is Made
Vodka is an alcoholic drink with an alcohol content of between 20% and 60%, although 40% is the classic strength. It is made from rectified water, which is mixed with rectified ethyl alcohol distilled from plant matter. This mixture is filtered through activated charcoal, after which more ingredients may be added, and is then mixed. Special vodkas of 40 to 45% strength, with specific bouquets and smooth flavors, are made by adding ingredients and chemical aromas according to special recipes.