Small History about VODKA· Originated from Poland.
· First made in the 8th Century. Made from fermented distilled grape, (This gives brandy). Vodka then was not like vodka today.
· In the 11th - 12th Century made as a medicine with low alcoholic strength called GORZALKA. Was only allowed to be made by the noble man and monks.
· Became a popular beverage in Poland in 15th Century called OKOWITA, delivered from aqua vitae. At this stage the raw ingredient changed from grape to rye.
· In 1546 was named the official drink of Poland.
· In the 18th Century was called WODKA from WODA.
· At the end of the Ist world wad WODKA becomes a serious business, moves out from the hands of the noblemen and monks and becomes a state monoply.
· The controlling body was called - Patrstwowy Monopol Spirytosowy also called POLMOS governs it till today.
· It is an unaged distilled spirit made from a mash of rye or maize or barley or wheat or beet or potatoes or molasses.
· The produce distillate is passed through activated vegetable charcoal. (Activated means burning charcoal a 2nd time by using steam) Veg Charcoal means vegetables which are burnt.
· Potatoes are used only for specialist Wodka.
· Double distilled in a pot still, so they have low alcohol % and distinct character.
· Polish Wodkas have a special flavour, the bouquet from the polish wodka are apirity and when swirled in glass would give oiliness.
· Most Polish wodkas are consumed in Poland only. Very little is exported.
· Natural Wodkas : Have clear colour. There are only two plain wodka’s that are legally exported - wodka wyborowa, red and blue available at 37.5 GL (red) and 42 GL (blue). Both are controlled by POLMOS. Plain wodkas for local consumption are LUKSUSOWA ( potatoes, triple distilled) AND KRAKUS
· Polish wodka is sipped neat in a long glass with a bulb at the base and is had chilled. Generally served with meals.
· Flavoured wodka : Generally called Nalevka - it is lightly aromatised, richly flavoured and strong tasting. eg. wodka flavoured with bison grass is called ZUBROWKA. The bottle comes with a blade of yellow grass in it. Wodka is light gree. Sold at 40 and 50 GL.
· The wodkas are also flavoured with fruits and herbs, and is done by steeping fruit in wodka in a neutral container so that wodka does not age. Normally done for a year. Only fruit flavoured are called SLIVOVITE traditionally plums, orange, limes and cherries are used.
· Polish pure spirit : Bottled at 168 deg sykes 96% alcohol. Sold only in the Artic circle, produce is controlled by POLMOS. It is strongest pure spirit in the world and does not freeze at those temp. It is odourless and tasteless and is produced by the potent still.
· No Polish wodka is ever diluted, they are sipped chilled. Plain wodkas with meals flavoured ones as aperitifs and digestives.
· In Poland wodka is sipped , in Russia it is knocked down.
· Glycerine is added to wodka as it prevents from burning the throat.
GENERAL DEFINATION FOR VODKAS :
Vodka is basically unaged distilled spirit made from a fermented mash filtered through the activated veg. charcoal diluted to a strength with distilled water.
-Bouquet is spirity and oilyness provided by addition of Glycerine.
-Russian and Polish Vodkas are not neutral but have flavour, aroma and character unlike Western Vodkas that are tasteless and odourless.
Examples : NALEVKA’S Green walnut, Almonds, Brandy and apple
(Flavoured spirit, rectified Juniper distillate, plums,
wodka’s) cherries, honey, black currant.
RUSSIAN VODKAS
· Came to Russia in 12th - 13th century from Poland
· Considered the national drink of Russia
· Prepared in Russia from any grain depending upon the availability in the area.
· Byelo Russia - Potatoes are abundant.
· Production of vodka is controlled by the state. PRODINTORG is the government body which controls the manufactures export and marketing.
· Russian vodkas are of two types -Natural
-Flavoured
· Vodka is double distilled in a pot still.
· STOLICHNAYA : Brand came from Poland went to Russia, now made in USA and UK. As per the US Law, vodka has to be flavourless and tasteless. Stolichnaya is now neutral in nature, even import is not allowed as Russian vodka’s are flavourful.
Ist Cocktail made form Vodka - Moscow mule
Most Popular Vodka cocktail - Bloody Mary
Natural Vodkas
1. Moskovsaya - 40 GL (exp) and 50 GL (local)
2. Stolichnaya - Also included as it comes from Russia traditionally.
40 GL (exp) and 50 GL (import)
Flavoured Vodka’s are called Nastoika
1. Zubrowka - Same as Polish
2. Limonaya - Flavoured with lemon peel
3. Starka - (totally different from Polish starka). It is flavoured with leaves of fruit trees (apple and pear), also has brandy and Russian port.
4. Pertsovka - Spicy vodka, flavoured with Cayenne pepper, capsicum and an Indonesian spice. It makes a bloody mary which requires no further seasoning.
· Absolut - Sweden
· Finlandia - Finland
· Borzoi - UK
· Silhouette – Canada
· Smirnoff – America
