Welcome to Drinkipedia! Each month I answer a real question that people search for on Google. This month’s question is: What Is Vodka Made Out Of?
Vodka is made by fermenting any sugar source such as wheat, barley, rye, rice, potatoes, sugar beet, molasses, or milk and then distilling the alcohol into a clear, colourless liquid. This is filtered several times to remove impurities.
Flavoured vodka is made by aromatising or infusing the spirit in fruit, herbs, spices, flowers, or even bacon!
Pure Water
In most vodkas pure water is added to reduce the alcohol level to around 40%. Some distillers make much of the provenance of the water in their products – glacier, alpine spring, artesian, deep wells - implying that the purity of the water makes their product superior.
Vodka requires no aging and is ready to drink as soon as it is bottled.
Hangover Proof?
Levels of those pesky hangover causing congeners (by products of fermentation and distillation) are lower. The amount of congeners in a drink depends on the original source of sugar, and the yeast strain that ferments it.
Lighter coloured alcoholic drinks such as vodka contain fewer congeners than darker coloured drinks and vodka drinkers often claim not to feel grotty after a big night out.
Cheers!
Jane
PS. Thank you to Nathan Powers for the use of the free photo on Unsplash
Books & Courses
At the School of Booze I encourage lifelong learning but you can do your homework at the pub! Textbooks (written by me) include titles about beer, cider, gin, cocktails, and a drinks miscellany. Signed Copies Here And if you are in the market for some inexpensive downloadable Beer, Cider, or Wine Knowledge courses click here.
I also write fiction and my series of novels is called Sole Brethren. I write under a pen-name, B.A. Summer. The novels are not about alcoholic drinks but they do appear frequently in the stories. One of the characters is the scion of a Champagne house, and it also contains the perfect pub. Here are some reviews.
