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Vodka
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"Wodka" redirects here. For other uses, see wódka and
vodka (disambiguation).
Vodka (Polish: wódka [ˈvutka]; Russian: водĸа
[ˈvotkǝ]; 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
Smirnoff Red Label vodka
Type Alcoholic beverage
Place of origin Poland, Russia,
Sweden[1][2]
Region or state Central, Northern and
Eastern Europe
Main ingredients Water, alcohol
Variations Flavored vodka, nalewka
Food energy 100ml contains 231 kcal
(per serving)
Other information Made from grains such
as wheat and corn or
potatoes
Media: Vodka
Since the 1890s, standard vodkas have been 40%
alcohol by volume (ABV) (80 U.S. proof).[4] The
European Union has established a minimum alcohol
content of 37.5% for vodka.[5][6] Vodka in the United
States must have a minimum alcohol content of
40%.[7]
Vodka is traditionally drunk "neat" (not mixed with
water, ice, or other mixers), and it is often served
freezer chilled in the vodka belt of Belarus, Estonia,
Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland,
Russia, Sweden, and Ukraine.[3] It is also used in
cocktails and mixed drinks, such as the vodka
martini, Cosmopolitan, vodka tonic, screwdriver,
greyhound, Black or White Russian, Moscow mule,
Bloody Mary, and Caesar.
Etymology
The name vodka is a diminutive form of the Slavic
word voda (water), interpreted as "waterkin": root
vod- [water] + -k- (diminutive suffix, among other
functions) + -a (ending of feminine gender).[8][9][10]
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]
William Tooke in 1799 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 French, Théophile Gautier in 1800 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 aqua
vitae (Latin, literally, "water of life"), which is
reflected in Polish okowita, Ukrainian оĸовита,
Belarusian аĸавіта, and Scandinavian akvavit.
Whiskey has a similar etymology, from the Irish and
Scottish Gaelic uisce beatha/uisge-beatha.
People in the area of vodka's probable origin have
names for vodka with roots meaning "to burn":
Polish: gorzała; Ukrainian: горілĸа,
romanized: horílka; Belarusian: гарэлĸа,
romanized: harelka; Lithuanian: degtinė; Samogitian:
degtėnė is also in use, colloquially and in proverbs;
[14] Latvian: degvīns; Finnish: paloviina. In Russian
during the 17th and 18th centuries, горящѣе вино or
горячее вино (goryashchee vino, "burning wine" or
"hot wine") was widely used. Others languages
include the German Branntwein, Danish brændevin,
Dutch: brandewijn, Swedish: brännvin, and
Norwegian: brennevin (although the latter terms
refer to any strong alcoholic beverage).
History
Production
Today
Boycotts
Illegal production
Public health effects
Cooking
See also
References
Further reading
External links
Last edited 3 days ago by Citation bot
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