Vodka is the quiet friend of the bar: it gets along with everybody and rarely steals the spotlight. That is exactly why it is the most popular mixing spirit in America.
What is it?
Vodka is a spirit distilled to a very high strength and often filtered, so most of the flavor of its starting ingredient is removed. It can be made from almost anything that ferments: wheat, rye, corn, potatoes, even grapes. In the U.S. it is bottled at a minimum of 40% ABV (80 proof).
How is it made?
Vodka is made by fermenting its base ingredient, then distilling it to a very high strength, which strips away most of the original flavor. Many producers filter it, often through charcoal, then add water to bring it down to bottling strength. Vodka is rarely aged in barrels, which is why it stays crystal clear.
What does it taste like?
Clean and fairly neutral, with a little warmth. Side by side, you may notice small differences: wheat vodkas tend to taste soft and slightly sweet, rye vodkas a bit peppery, and potato vodkas a little creamier.
What are the main styles?
- Unflavored vodka. The standard bottle, and the most useful one.
- Flavored vodka. Citrus (often labeled “citron”), vanilla, berry, whipped cream, and many more. Flavored vodkas are sometimes bottled at a lower strength, around 30% to 35% ABV. Check the label.
When would you use each style?
Use unflavored vodka whenever you want the other ingredients to shine: juices, liqueurs, coffee, tomato. Use flavored vodka when its flavor is the point of the drink, like citron vodka in a Lemon Drop or Cosmopolitan.
Which mixers work well, and why?
Nearly all of them, because vodka adds alcohol without competing for flavor. Favorites include soda water with lime (light and dry), cranberry juice (tart), orange juice (the Screwdriver), ginger beer with lime (the Moscow Mule), tomato juice (the Bloody Mary), and coffee liqueur (the Black Russian).
What can you substitute?
- No citron vodka? Use plain vodka and add a strip of lemon peel to the shaker. The peel adds lemon oil without adding sourness.
- No vodka at all? White rum or blanco tequila will work in most fruity drinks, but each brings its own flavor. Gin works too if you like its piney taste.
Did you know?
Vodka is traditionally linked to Poland and Russia, and both countries claim to have invented it. Today it is made all over the world. And no, it does not have to come from potatoes. Most vodka is made from grain.