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 Aqua vitae. Water of life. Eau de Vie. All words mankind has employed to describe the water-like elixir that was produced by distillation. Dear little water or vodka, was word used by Russians and Eastern Europeans to describe this magical liquid.
Originally, vodka was produced using ingredients such as barley, wheat and potatoes; however, in the past decades we have seen sugar beets, grapes and rice to name a few different ingredients used to produce this clear spirit.
With so many different base ingredients, the world of vodkas is varied, all with diverse aromas and flavors. Unlike popular belief, Vodka is not odorless and flavorless. Potato Vodka will taste and smell completely different than one produced from, say, wheat.
Though most people would associate vodka as being a Russian, or at the very least an Eastern European spirit, it can be produced any where in the world. Hence the variety of ingredients used to make it. This is not to discount that some on the very best vodkas still come from Russia, Poland and the Scandinavian countries, though great vodkas are being made everywhere.
Perhaps its not so much the place of production or the ingredients used, but the skills of the distiller. And we’re not talking about how many times it was distilled.
One of the biggest myths surrounding this spirit was propagated by the very folks who make it: the more it is distilled, the better the final product. Not true at all. The truth is, yes the more it is distilled the cleaner and purer the alcohol is.
In fact, the closer it is to pure alcohol you get, the closer you get in neutrality of flavor and aroma. However, many of the components that give alcohols flavors aromas are stripped away during multiple distillations. Again, it is not the times it was distilled, but the skills of the distiller.
Tippling Tip: If you are sitting at a bar with a Russian and a Pole, never, ever bring up the subject of vodka or where it may first have been made or distilled.
Safe & Happy Tippling!
Paul & Tad
Cheeky Chicky Boom Boom Recipe
Ingredients
1/2 fluid ounce vodka
1/2 fluid ounce st. germain
1 fluid ounce lemon juice
1/4 fluid ounce simle syrup
Instructions
1. Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker
2. Add ice and shake for 10-15 seconds
3. Strain into a cocktail that is half rimmed with white sugar
4. Garnish with a lemon wheel
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