Vodka is a distilled beverage composed primarily of water and ethanol, sometimes with traces of impurities and flavorings. Vodka is made by the distillation of fermented substances such as grains, potatoes, or sometimes fruits or sugar. The classic preparation is performed using grain or potatoes, The grains or potatoes based vodka has a neutral flavor profile
Alcohol Content
Types of vodka often stand apart based on their alcohol content and percentage, that varies from one region or country to the next. The most popular is percentage and content is 40% (80 proof) with 37.5% being a close second. There are plenty of types of Vodka that reach higher than this however. Home-made vodka for example can reach as high as 70-80%. The reason 40% is such a favorite is because it’s the “golden middle” between how easy it is to drink and how quickly it will get you drunk. Any lower is to easy to drink in big quantities and higher makes it tough to get down. Customers also prefer the 40% ration because they can drink a good amount without getting drunk right away.
Flavored: These types of vodka have a special flavor and aroma added to them. The most popular aromas and flavors are fruits (cherries, peaches, berries, etc), honey, chocolate, and coffee. Flavored vodkas are a favorite for many people because of their pleasantly smooth flavor. In fact customers have come to expect their vodka to have a strong aroma and scent which is why flavored types have become so popular recently.
Non-Flavored: These types of vodka have a neutral taste with no strong aroma but can still have a base of fruit, honey, or anything else. While the main ingredients don’t come out in a strong aroma or smell they can still be felt in the drink. Customers have to pay closer attention to feel out the flavors. These types of vodka work best for mixed drinks like the screwdriver.
Regional Vodka
Many countries around the world have accepted vodka as their national drinks (especially in Eastern Europe) and started changing the recipe of this drink to better suit their region. Poland likes to use potato and grain based vodkas, Russia, Belarus and Ukraine focus mostly on wheat and rye. Other Eastern European countries focus on other grains (same as UK and Germany), while France, Italy and Balkan region like to produce vodkas form fermented grapes and fruits (most notably Serbian plum based vodka "šljivovica", which is famous in entire Europe). Non-European countries also like to make their vodkas from molasses (that is case for US, Canada, Caribbean and Australia).
Famous Brands
During the last several centuries, great number of famous vodka brands has managed to fight their way to the top of popularity chain. Consumers all around the world can chose between thousands of vodka brands, and some of the most popular are:
Absolut (Sweden), Belvedere (Poland), Finlandia (Finland), Gray Goose (France), Ketel One (Netherlands)
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