[imagesource: Facebook / Albatross Vodka]

Vodka is a misunderstood spirit.

South Africa has seen a craft gin rebirth, and brandies and rums have also been given the hipster makeover these past five or so years.

I’m a big fan, and long may it continue, but let’s not forget about the clear spirit made from potatoes.

Oh, vodka isn’t just made from potatoes? Don’t worry, we’re here to learn together.

Some vodkas are made from potatoes but others are made from a wide-ranging assortment of ingredients. The brief list below comes from Mashed:

Some vodkas are made from grains such as wheat, rye, and barley…

Some vodkas, meanwhile, are made from milk or corn, while others are made from grapes or sugar cane. Across all vodkas, though, the overall consensus is that the main ingredient is water.

Today’s useless fact, which is perfect for breaking out at the next braai, is that the word vodka is derived from “voda”, which means water in Russian.

With that wide range of starting ingredients, we can also dispel the common misconception that all vodkas taste the same. In April 2020, the US government finally came to its senses and agreed with a new ruling by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB):

Prior to this ruling, the United States defined vodka, for legal identification purposes, as a spirit “without distinctive character, aroma, taste or color” — essentially calling it flavorless spirit and rendering all vodkas the same.

…the evolution of the spirit has resulted in a wide array of distinctive-tasting vodkas, all of which get their flavor from various distillation methods, filters, base ingredients, and more.

South Africans are slowly cottoning onto this revolution, thanks in part to local distillers upping their game.

Albatross Cape Grape Vodka, inspired by the majestic birds’ independent spirit, is distilled from a selection of the finest Cape Grapes and the purified water of the Table Mountain aquifer.

This results in a pure, classy vodka with brilliant character and depth. A more refined palate should pick up subtle fruit aromas with complex, round flavours, and a silky-smooth finish that makes it perfect for being served ice cold on the rocks.

It also performs well in cocktails like the Cosmopolitan, Moscow Mule, martinis, and so on.

Speaking of martinis, let’s bust that ‘shaken, not stirred’ myth. James Bond wouldn’t lead you astray, would he? Yup:

According to bartenders, “James Bond destroyed drinks.”

Experts note that alcohol-heavy drinks, such as martinis, Manhattans, and old fashioneds (and vodka martinis, for that matter) should always be stirred.

Shaking changes the overall texture of the drink and just doesn’t blend the ingredients in the same way. Stirring is always the way to go if you want to retain the quality of your favorite boozy beverage.

Finally, I have saved the biggest myth for last.

Vodka may be derived from a Russian word but that doesn’t mean they can lay claim to having invented the spirit:

Russians first came across distilled spirits in the 1300s. By around 1430, a monk is credited with fine-tuning the Russian vodka-making process… But prior to that, other nearby countries, such as Poland, were making their own version of vodka — first for medicinal purposes and then later as an aphrodisiac.

In the late 1400s, vodka production was also already taking place in Sweden as well. However, in 1472, Tsar Ivan III [above] instituted the first state monopoly on vodka in Russia, paving the way for an economic and cultural transformation that is probably part of the reason we still associate the spirit with the country today.

Whenever I bring a vodka shot to my lips, I can’t help but shout ‘Nostrovia’.

I just learnt I should be shouting ‘Na Zdorovie!’, which is Russian for ‘cheers’, but pronunciation when imbibing alcohol is not a strong suit.

Feel free to continue your education with a bottle of Albatross Cape Grape Vodka at hand.

Na Zdorovie!

[source:mashed]