How is vodka made?
For hundreds of years vodka has been the spirit of selection in nations corresponding to Russia, Poland and throughout Japanese Europe, the Baltic and Scandinavia – certainly, the place vodka was invented continues to be hotly contested between the primary two nations.
It’s usually distilled from fermented grains corresponding to rye and wheat, in addition to potatoes (though you can also make vodka from many elements – see beneath), often in a column nonetheless. Not like spirits corresponding to whisky, cognac and rum, vodka isn’t given time to relaxation and mature in casks, which accounts for its colourless, neutral-tasting character.
In locations corresponding to Russia and Poland, it’s a spirit often drunk neat, ice-cold and in pictures, and with two issues – firm, and meals (particularly pickles and salty snacks). It’s vodka’s versatility as a drinks base, nonetheless, that noticed it soar in recognition in nations together with the US within the 20th century, with vodka cocktails such because the moscow mule and cosmopolitan making certain that gross sales boomed.
Current years have seen vodka’s crown slip somewhat, with gross sales dented by the increase in ‘craft’ spirits, particularly gin (curiously, gin is successfully comprised of vodka, with further flavourings added). This established order is shifting, nonetheless, with the emergence of recent vodkas that champion their uncooked elements and place themselves as premium artisan merchandise. As a result of whereas it’s popularly seen as a ‘flavourless’ spirit, the most effective expressions could have delicate variations – potato vodkas could have a creamier texture, whereas a rye-based spirit can have nutty notes. This may be particularly appreciated in traditional, spirit-forward cocktails corresponding to a vodka martini.
The UK has witnessed its personal mini-boom in premium English vodkas, made with something from potato and grains (the standard base elements for vodka) to grapes and even milk. Listed below are a couple of of our favourites.
10 British vodkas to attempt…
Aval Dor Cornish Rosemary and Bay Vodka, £42, Colwith Farm Distillery
Colwith Farm Distillery have married their creamy potato vodka with botanicals of rosemary, bay and black pepper for a super-charged spirit brimming with savoury herbaceous character. It is so flavourful that somewhat goes a great distance – it is scrumptious in a reverse martini, made with two elements dry vermouth to at least one half vodka.
Discarded Grape Pores and skin Chardonnay Vodka, £29.25, The Whisky Trade
A usually progressive launch from this zero-waste spirit model, grape pomace (crushed skins, stems and seeds left-over from winemaking) is distilled to make a spirit and blended with the flavourful alcohol produced from making alcohol-free wine. The ensuing vodka is without doubt one of the most full-bodied we’ve tried, with a posh, lasting end. With fruity notes of apple, pear and guava, it’s scrumptious sipped neat over ice, or attempt in a easy highball with tonic or glowing water.
Wildjac Homegrown Distillery Contemporary Citrus Vodka, £29/70cl, wildjac.co.uk
This English vodka, distilled with Worcestershire Endeavour hops and lemon thyme, is price shopping for for the aroma alone. Vivid and sunny with overwhelming tangerine and grapefruit notes, it’s as daring as fragrance and can be the proper spirit selection on a summer time’s day.
A mix of 12 homegrown and regionally foraged botanicals (together with elderflower, pink grapefruit, eucalyptus and bergamot) makes Contemporary Citrus Vodka, which is batch-distilled at Wildjac’s eco-distillery in Worcestershire’s Wyre Forest. To style, it’s all lemon peel, lime and orange, with a delicate, sherbet-like sweetness. Intense by itself, it could be finest tempered with ice or tonic water.
Eight Lands Natural Speyside Vodka, £37/70cl, eight-lands.com
Speyside in Scotland is a area finest recognized for its fruity, mellow whiskies, but it surely seems it is also dwelling to some noteworthy clear spirits, too. This elegant natural vodka, comprised of barley and grain, is distilled and bottled on the foot of Ben Rinnes. It’s clear, {smooth} and nuanced, with vanilla and toasted coconut notes, buttery sweetness, a contact of creaminess and a whisper of spice on the end. Maintain it easy and take a look at in a highball with glowing water to understand these delicate flavours. We additionally appreciated their Natural Speyside Gin – its vibrant citrus and pine aromas, and warming spice, would make a cracking martini.
Chase Unique Potato Vodka, £37, waitrose.com
Voted the world’s finest vodka on the San Francisco World Spirits Competitors in 2010, this acclaimed field-to-bottle potato vodka is made utilizing spuds grown on the distillery’s household farm in Hertfordshire. It’s an aesthetic, super-smooth affair with a creamy, barely oily mouthfeel and peppery notes. A pure match for a vodka martini – attempt 60ml of vodka stirred in a cocktail shaker with 15ml of dry vermouth and ice. Pressure right into a frozen martini glass and garnish with lemon peel. You possibly can mess around with the ratio of vodka to vermouth, and we additionally assume a touch of orange bitters is a pleasant contact.
Chapel Down Chardonnay Vodka, £32, chapeldown.com
Vodka comprised of grapes isn’t new – French mega model Ciroc makes it with mauzac blanc and ugni blanc varieties – however this superbly packaged vodka, made by Kentish vineyard Chapel Down, impresses nonetheless. It makes use of distilled chardonnay grape skins left over from the winemaking course of and the tip result’s mild and delicate, with delicate citrus and creamy notes (we had been reminded of cream soda throughout tasting). Chapel Down suggests consuming it in a martini, or with apple cider and some grinds of black pepper. Do attempt the vineyard’s fairly pink pinot noir gin as nicely, which gained gold in our pink gin style take a look at.
Cove Vodka, £39.50, Grasp of Malt
This English vodka is made utilizing King Edwards potatoes grown on a household farm overlooking Hope Cove in Devon. Small-batch conventional copper pot distillation creates a super-smooth and tender vodka that captures the essence of the county, due to the usage of Devon spring water and the salty sea air during which the potatoes are grown. Excellent for sipping or creating a really English martini.
Ramsbury Single Property Vodka, £34.40, amazon.co.uk
Made utilizing Horatio wheat grown on the Ramsbury Property in Wiltshire (every bottle will be traced again to a single discipline), this elegant vodka has interesting vanilla and delicate cocoa notes. We expect it’d be a knockout in one other iconic vodka cocktail – an espresso martini (attempt our traditional recipe right here). Do try our evaluate of Ramsbury’s equally scrumptious gin in our finest British gins function – it’s made with homegrown quince and regionally picked juniper.
Black Cow Vodka, £25, blackcow.co.uk
The previous few years have seen drinks manufacturers get artistic in the case of utilizing waste and surplus produce, from gin comprised of surplus desk grapes to a vermouth that makes use of the discarded fruit of the espresso cherry (each, by the way, come extremely advisable by olive). Dorset farmer Jason Barber makes use of milk from his herd of dairy cows to make this distinctive vodka. Or, to be particular, left-over whey from the cheesemaking course of (the curds get was Jason’s award-winning cheddar). With distinct lactic notes, it has a lusciously silky texture and is tender and {smooth} sufficient to drink by itself at room temperature. At simply £25, it’s additionally a great-value vodka.
Edwards 1902, £39, edwards1902.co.uk
This premium vodka is made utilizing King Edward potatoes (therefore the identify) grown in Lincolnshire just some miles away from the distillery. Although a newish entrant to the British vodka scene, this potato vodka has already garnered a clutch of awards, and we are able to see why – it’s elegantly candy and creamy, with interesting vanilla-scented custard notes. The corporate additionally makes a single-origin cold-brew espresso liqueur, which is all of the excuse you should make a white russian with milk or double cream.
Sapling Vodka, £30, saplingspirits.com
There’s a beautiful story behind Sapling – billed because the world’s first climate-positive vodka: for each bottle bought a tree is planted to offset carbon output (a novel code on every bottle will let you know what tree was planted the place). That is occurring in forestry initiatives throughout the nation and past, from fruit bushes in London and oak bushes in Bristol to neighborhood planting tasks in Morocco. However how does the precise vodka style? Made solely from British wheat, it’s pleasingly tender and {smooth} whereas nonetheless being crisp, with a contact of delicate herbaceous and citrus perkiness. It’s an accessible, easy-drinking vodka that may lend itself nicely to most cocktails, or we expect it could be scrumptious with tonic, ice and a fruit or herb garnish.
Different vodkas to attempt…
Koskenkorva Vodka Local weather Motion, £22.75/70cl, The Whisky Trade
This sustainably minded Finnish spirit is made used regeneratively farmed barley, which removes CO2 from the ambiance and shops it within the floor, in addition to having different helpful environmental results, corresponding to enhancing biodiversity. The vodka itself is a fragile affair, {smooth} and candy with grassy hints, vanilla and lemon notes.
Dima’s Vodka, £35/70cl, dimasvodka.com
A Ukrainian vodka made with three completely different natural grains – barley, wheat and rye – this can be a layered spirit with creamy vanilla and anise notes, nuttiness and a touch of spice. Subtly candy, with a silky texture, sip neat and extremely chilled (attempt stashing the bottle within the freezer). A scrumptious match with pickles.
