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I have heard many times from friends, and even on TV, that in stores people often stumble upon the so-called singed vodka. Under this term, a product that was made clandestinely fits. This prospect frightens me personally, I do not want to buy such vodka.
The fear no longer lies in the fact that it was produced illegally, but in the fact that none of the state services controlled the cooking process.
That is, it can be prepared from anything, and poisoning it is easier than a lung. So I decided to think about how to choose the right vodka in a simple store around the corner.
Vodka production technology
I will explain in simple language, without special terminology, so that everyone can understand the production process. For the manufacture of alcohol for vodka, only vegetable raw materials are used. Namely cereals, beets and potatoes.
The resulting alcohol is then simply diluted with water until the resulting liquid is the desired degree. Water is used as soft as possible, spring water is best.
It also goes through several stages of purification. The finished mixture of alcohol and water is also filtered, for example, through activated carbon.
Vodka production.
This product in Russia has GOST and TU. The rules in them periodically changed and supplemented, however, the main elements remained unchanged. For example, that for the preparation of vodka only ethyl alcohol from vegetable raw materials is required.
The percentage of alcohol content should vary from 37% to 56%. Water must undergo the above treatment.
If flavorings or other additives are added to ordinary vodka, then it will already qualify as “special vodka”. I think these rules are quite enough to get a really high-quality product.
Interestingly, the word “vodka” was mentioned in Polish scriptures. XV century.
Which country to prefer when choosing vodka
To be honest, many countries produce good vodka. But what upset me the most was the absence of the Russian brand in the list of the best manufacturers. Although I can’t say that in Russia they don’t know how to do it. There are several manufacturers to be commended.
With regard to specific countries, we can say the following. Vodka from Finland and Sweden has gained great popularity. They are not inferior to the countries of Eastern Europe, for example, Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania. I want to note that despite the difference in prices, the quality is often about the same good.
I think the price can be influenced by different criteria. For example, manufacturers carry out a different number of filtrations of different types. The more there are, the higher the price can be. Also, probably, the price is affected by raw materials. For example, Ukraine grows its own crops, but the Finns and Swedes have to buy from others, which, of course, is more expensive.
Important! If we take producers from the same country (that is, they are in the same conditions), then the more expensive the vodka is, the more likely it will be of better quality.
What to look for when choosing vodka in a store
There are a few rules that I keep in mind when choosing vodka. I do a detailed visual inspection, which, by the way, will not take much time. The first thing to look at is the expiration date. For real vodka, it should not be more than 1 year old.
The cap on the bottle should be well screwed, not loose. Naturally, it must have an excise stamp with all the necessary seals. Labels on the bottle should be glued evenly, without bevels.
Normal manufacturers do not save on labels and seals, so if the label is made of bad paper, and the print is dull and crooked, then it is better not to take such vodka. The label itself should contain all the necessary information: expiration date, bottling date, GOST, place of production.
Excise stamp in Russia.
There is one more tip: you can turn the bottle upside down and shake it. If small bubbles are formed that quickly disappear, then this is good. If the bubbles are voluminous, do not disappear for a long time, foam appears, then this is bad.
Important! A fake can even seep into specialized stores.
The best brands of vodka that you can buy in modern city stores
I will offer my three options, which will relate to different price categories. Let’s start with the most expensive. This, without a doubt, must be Smirnoff vodka. The brand was originally created in the Russian Empire, but now it belongs to a British company.
They know a lot about the production of elite alcohol. This is probably the softest tasting vodka. This has led to its widespread use as an ingredient in alcoholic cocktails. A bottle costs about 1500 rubles.
Smirnoff.
In the middle price category, I would include Finlandia for 700-1000 rubles. This is an excellent Finnish manufacturer. They have many varieties of vodka with a variety of additives. The same goes for Absolut from Sweden. Although their production technologies are different, they taste equally good.
Finland.
Absolut
The budget option includes “Khortitsa”. This Ukrainian company produces relatively cheap but high-quality vodka. 300 rubles is enough for you to buy a bottle. But do not think that this is the only option, there are many other brands that also deserve attention.
Khortytsya.
By the way, I recently learned that “vodka” is a non-Russian word, or, more precisely, not only Russian. I would be very interested to know as many facts about this as possible. How did it happen that this particular term is used? If you have anything to share, please let us all know.
Dear readers, remember that alcohol abuse harms your body. Take care of yourself!