It's the most popular type of booze around. It's used in a laundry list of drinks and cocktails too long to mention. Vodka is a distilled spirit made from plant material left to ferment and usually holds a somewhat high alcohol content---40-percent, to be exact. But what else is there to know about Vodka?
Geography
As with any number of items created throughout the centuries, the actual origin of vodka is still up for debate. Yet, the one thing that most people can agree on is that it was created in either Poland or Russia.
Time Frame
Vodka was formulated sometime during The Middle Ages, most likely in the eighth century. Polish Vodka was originally used for medicinal purposes, and specifically to increase fertility and awaken lust. It wouldn't be until the tenth century that it was used recreationally.
Around the thirteenth or fourteenth centuries, vodka's distillation process began to advance, allowing for a better quality product with a higher alcohol content. The sixteenth century would usher in large-scale vodka production and then greater global distribution during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, with exportation to the Netherlands, Denmark, England, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Ukraine and even Russia.
Types
Because of the times, many producers of vodka encountered problems with their supplies, often finding issues with taste, scent and hue. These obstacles actually brought about great innovation. Since Poland was situated on an Asian trade route, the country, and the vodka producers alike, had access to herbs and spices not of the region, and so ushered in the age of flavored vodka. Surprisingly, by the end of the sixteenth century, there were around 72 different flavors of vodka, including ginger, pepper, citrus, currant, and mint.
Significance
In the eighteenth century, the vodka industry of Poland began to soar. It was at this time that the methods of distillation further advanced for the country, allowing Polish vodka to surpass the Russian version in strength, purity and flavor. It quickly began to be exported all over the world.
Identification
Today, you can still find many bottles of vodka from Poland at your local liquor store. Some of the more popular are Belvedere, Snow Leopard, Chopin, Bak's Zubrowka Bison and Luksusowa. You can also find some very good affordable bottles in the likes of Mor Vodka and Wodka Wyborowa.
Tags: Polish Vodka, sixteenth century