Ch 8 Vodka Flashcards
What can be used as a base for vodka production?
Anything agricultural.
What are the main ingredients typically used for vodka?
Grains like barley, wheat, and rye, or potatoes.
What is the role of malted barley in vodka production?
Used for enzymes, though most producers buy them in.
Where are potatoes traditionally used in vodka production?
Poland.
How are potatoes processed for vodka?
Cooked in water to create a cloudy, starchy liquid.
Why must a column still be used in vodka production?
It is the only way to achieve 95% ABV, using many plates to get a neutral spirit.
How are pot stills used in vodka production?
For initial low wine, mainly by small producers in batches.
What is an alternative method of vodka production using neutral spirit?
Buying neutral spirit, adding water, and running it through a hybrid pot still to improve smoothness.
How can vodka be refined after distillation?
Passing it through activated charcoal and adding additives (sometimes lightly aromatizing it).
What is the final stage of vodka production?
Dilution, where water quality is extremely important.
What are the main styles of vodka?
Neutral, characterful, and flavored.
What are considered the best vodka-producing regions?
Eastern Europe (Russia, Poland) and Scandinavia (Finland, Sweden).
