Everything about vodka - recipes, varieties and more

This contribution will teach you everything that you need to know about Vodka. If you believe that you know it all, we ask you to still stick around. There's a lot to learn.

Where you can buy Vodka

Visit our food Index database and search for the Vodka of your choice. We have plenty of sellers listed. 

What vodka is and what it is made from

Vodka is by far the most popular drink among our fellow Russians. It usually has an alcohol content of 40% and is mostly tasteless, without fusel oil and contains no flavors. You can drink the drink either pure, as a cocktail, or as a long drink.

Vodka is basically made with grain, potatoes or molasses, as there are no restrictions there. The choice of raw material depends on the origin of production and the price. For example, many vodkas in the lower price range are made from molasses.

Grain for vodka production

Grain, especially rye, is considered the best starting material for vodka because of its lovely, smooth, mild and slightly sweet taste. Mostly produced in Russia.

Potatoes for vodka production

Potatoes have also been used since the 19th century, mainly in Poland and Ukraine. This vodka is much heavier and sweeter in comparison than with grain.

Molasses for vodka production

Molasses is a byproduct of sugar production and is usually sweeter than grain. A vodka with a high percentage of molasses is common in countries with sugar cane plantations and some European countries like Germany.

The most popular vodka brands

There are countless varieties of vodka. The most popular ones are also available in discount markets in Germany. Here are the 3 best ones at a glance:

Absolut Vodka

Absolut Vodka is a Swedish brand that has been produced in Ahus since 1879. It is made from winter wheat and has an alcohol content of 40%. The brand got its name starting from its supply of high quality vodka with highly efficient separation of fusel oil in its distillation process. The price level is between cheap to medium.

Vodka Gorbachev

Gorbatschow is a German brand that has been located in Berlin since 1921. It is one of the best-selling brands internationally and is characterized by its quadruple filtration process that guarantees clarity and purity. The alcohol volume is either 37.5% or 50%, best suited for cocktails. Moreover, the price level is in the affordable range.

Beluga

Beluga, also called the noble Russian vodka, has been produced since 2002. It is made from malt and distilled with water that comes from one of the purest artesian springs in Siberia. The alcohol content is 40%. The price level is in the middle range with about 37€.

Other popular vodka varieties

Other popular varieties include the following: Three Sixty, Crystal Head (Skull Vodka), Ciroc, Skyy, Russian, Martini, Grey Goose, Smirnoff, Pushkin, Parliament, Kabumm, Yeltsin, Green Mark, Viniq, Travis Fimmel, Russian Standart and Chopin.

Which vodka brands and varieties are considered expensive?

Often, a high price of a spirit is equated with high quality. This is not always the case. Nevertheless, a good vodka has multiple distillations, which increases the price as well. That is, multiple distillations increase the purity of the vodka. Furthermore, a vodka with a high degree of nobility is purified with milk.
Below are a few examples of the most expensive brands of vodka. Also listed is by far the most expensive vodka: Billionaire Vodka. Billionaire Vodka is made from grain, as is typical for Russian conditions. In addition, distillation takes place from crystal clear water. A special feature of Billionaire Vodka is the filtration with millions of expensive diamonds. Finally, the bottle itself is decorated with at least 3000 real diamonds.

Cheap vodka brands: What brands are considered cheap?

The cheap vodka varieties are usually made with the cheapest option, which is molasses (for example, Russian Standard is made from wheat). It should also be noted that among the cheap vodka varieties there are also quality grades.

Vodka from Poland vs Russia

Russian Vodka

The favorite drink of the Russians is by far vodka. Russian vodka uses wheat as its base ingredient, as potatoes are considered inferior to grains. There are many different Russian vodkas in many different price ranges. We list 5 Russian vodka brands here, both in the medium and lower price ranges.

Polish vodka

Polish vodka is mostly made from potatoes. The following six Polish brands are also from the low to medium price range.