Description
Vodka is one of the most popular alcohols today. With its clear color and relative tastelessness when mixed with fruit juices and soda, it's the preferred drink for people who don't really like alcohol. There are other people, however, who love vodka for the taste. In drinks like the martini or vodka tonics, the taste of the vodka comes through.
Vodka is a distilled spirit with a high alcohol content that can be produced from a number of different materials and possesses different characteristics depending on the creator. Most vodka produced these days is made from a grain, though some is still made from potatoes. vodkas can be found made from grapes, soy, beets, potatoes, and corn, in addition to the more common wheat and rye varieties. Some vodka is even made from leftover material in the oil refining process. In many Eastern European countries, vodka is not heavily filtered as it is in the west, and so the flavors, smells, and colors from the source materials still shine through.
Vodka has also traditionally been flavored in many countries, either for pure enjoyment or for health reasons. Pepper vodka is perhaps the most widely known flavoring, favored in Russia, but fruit vodkas and vodkas flavored with spices such as cinnamon or vanilla are also not uncommon.
Apart from the alcoholic content, vodkas may be classified into two main groups: clear vodkas and flavoured vodkas.
How to Select
There are many types of vodka, so here's how to choose the one that's right for you. Vodkas range in price from the very cheap to the expensive. Most people will choose a mid-range vodka for parties and gatherings. Since vodka is by nature a neutral drink, when mixed with juice or soda, most people can't tell the difference between brands. Consider the alcohol content, Vodka can be made with anything from 30 to 60 percent alcohol. Select based on ingredients. Cheap vodka is made with a combination of cheap ingredients like sorgum or corn. Premium vodkas are made from a single ingredient like wheat or potatoes. Choose flavored for specialty cocktails. Vodkas come in all types of flavors, Absolut being the brand with the most to offer.
Culinary Uses
· While most vodkas are unflavoured, many flavoured vodkas have been produced in traditional vodka-drinking areas, often as home-made recipes to improve vodka's taste or for medicinal purposes.
· Flavourings include red pepper, ginger, fruit flavours, vanilla, chocolate (without sweetener) and cinnamon
· Vodka is a great drink for parties and gatherings.
· Since vodka is by nature a neutral drink, when mixed with juice or soda, most people can't tell the difference between brands.
· You can easily make specialty flavored martinis by using a flavored vodka. Use citron for a lemon drop or create your own with pear, peach, raspberry, pepper or grapefruit flavored vodkas.
How to Store
Store Wine in a cool, dark place. An underground basement is the ideal environment, hence wine cellars. Those who do not have basements do have other options to consider. Keep tabs on the temperature. Store wine in an area that consistently stays between 55 and 65 degrees F. Overheating will make the wine age too quickly, ruining its composition. Store wine bottles on their sides. Ideally, the wine should touch the cork. This prevents the cork from drying out. This also prevents air from sneaking into the bottle. A moist cork is an indicator of a properly stored wine.
Health Benefits
· Vodka is rich in calories. It contains about 228 calories every 100g serving. So if you are trying to lose weight, limit your intake of vodka
· Vodka is devoid of vitamins. It contains only traces of Vitamin B. It contains small quantities of phosphorus, potassium and sodium
· It is believed that vodka helps in treating heart problems and certain cancers.
· Remember - excessive drinking affects your liver and your health is best maintained when you abstain from excessive intake of alcohol.
· Vodka consumed in large amounts can be lethal as can any alcoholic beverage can cause dehydration, digestive irritation, and other symptoms associated with a hangover.