This earliest form of vodka was considered medicinal and dispensed like a prescription, in the belief that it would alleviate various ailments. Another belief was that vodka promoted longevity and youthfulness - so it seemed to offer the ultimate range of benefits! It wasn’t until the 16th century that vodka became established as a social drink, and the national spirit of Poland, Russia, Sweden and Finland.

As distillation techniques evolved, the quality of vodka continued to improve. The most important development was the advent of continuous distillation and rectification, in the mid-19th century. This enabled distillers to produce a pure vodka that was smooth enough to enjoy without having to add any extras. Consequently, un-flavoured vodka began to emerge as a separate style.

Going International

Having been an Eastern European and Scandinavian favourite for centuries, it’s only since the 1990s that vodka has developed into an international phenomenon. Over the past ten years the category has evolved to offer an incredible range of choice from various countries. This includes the recent launch of Reyka, hailing from Iceland’s first and only vodka distillery.

Vodka has also become increasingly specialised and has undergone a process of gentrification. The choice in Britain was essentially limited to standard domestic brands, until Absolut pioneered the ‘premium’ imported category in the 1990s. In the past few years another level in the hierarchy has emerged, with ‘super-premium’ brands such as Belvedere, Ivan The Terrible, Smirnoff Penka and Ultimat, retailing at £25-£70 a bottle. Consequently, vodka caters for every budget, from the ‘let’s go party’ gang, to the connoisseur crowd.

But despite _all these developments, vodka remains undervalued, as even regular vodka drinkers repeat those classic refrains: “all vodka tastes the same,” or “vodka doesn’t taste of anything.” They’re not entirely wrong. This view is based on neutral vodka, the traditional style in Britain (and _all of the West), which is a pure, neutral spirit without aroma or flavour.

There’s plenty to savour in Polish, Russian and Scandinavian vodkas, as distillers balance purity with character derived from the ingredients. The choice of ingredient, which is the most influential factor, depends on the country of origin. In Sweden and Russia this means wheat, as in brands such as Absolut, Stolichnaya and Flagship, while barley is behind the Finnish brand Finlandia. The Poles use rye to produce vodkas such as Wyborowa, Belvedere and Smirnoff Penka, with potatoes the basis for Luksusowa.

Moreover, the traditional definition of Western vodkas being neutral no longer applies. Innovative brands

delivering plenty of character are being produced throughout the West, including Ketel One (Netherlands), Citadelle and Grey Goose (both French), together with New World vodkas such as 42 Below from New Zealand.

There are clear differences between vodkas distilled from different ingredients, with wheat typically delivering creamy aniseed, and barley giving nutty, luscious light spice. Rye gives natural sweetness and nutty, rye bread notes, while potatoes serve up creamy, buttery, mashed potatoes.

But there’s also plenty of individuality among vodkas distilled from the same ingredient. This reflects various factors, including mouthfeel, which varies from delicate to rich and creamy, the degree of sweetness, and

whether the flavour delivery is pronounced or more subtle. Which brands offer the best package depends, of course, on personal preference.

Another recent trend is multi-ingredient vodka, such
as Ultimat, a Polish blend of potato, rye and wheat. And