To understand how influential vodka is in Russian culture, the history of the relationship between Russia and vodka must be examined. Physically, vodka is composed of ethyl alcohol (fermented grain, rye, wheat, potatoes, or sugar beet molasses) and water.
Russian Vodka is primarily a grain-based affair using corn, sorghum, rye and wheat, and leaves an impression. But don't take our word for it—try some the Russian Vodka brands from our selection.
Today, Russians use mostly grains for their vodka, as potatoes do not grow well in the frozen ground. And, thanks to their historical experience with the liquor, both Russia and Poland produce several brands of well-known vodka. You might assume the main ingredient in vodka is potato or grain, but you'd be wrong.
Before that, the drink was typically made from grains. To this day, most vodka is made from grains like corn, rice, and wheat, but potatoes are an option because according to Vinepair, vodka "can be distilled from any agricultural product containing sugar or starch." Potatoes, beets, and rice are all starchy options.
In Russia, vodka is traditionally drunk neat and not in cocktails.
Smirnoff has its roots in Russia. Its distillery was founded by Pyotr Arsenievich Smirnov in Moscow in 1864. But after the Russian Revolution the brand was sold and moved to the USA, as vodka production in the then Soviet Union was nationalised.
Smirnoff Vodka is distilled from corn, making it gluten-free. Smirnoff offers over 35 different flavored vodkas.
It's entirely wheat-based.
There are commercial vodkas made from potatoes, grapes, rye, and mixed grains that include barley. Grey Goose uses soft winter wheat sourced from Picardy, a grain-growing region in northern France that's often referred to as the nation's breadbasket.
Smirnoff vodka: Smirnoff is distilled from corn, and the company's plain vodka should be safe, even if you're sensitive to gluten-grain-based alcohol.
The main ingredients in Absolut Vodka are water and winter wheat. The water comes from a deep well in Åhus where it's protected from impurities. Winter wheat differs from other crops: it's sown in fall, and harvested the next one. Days in between it grows under the Swedish snow developing its hard grain.
Stolichnaya (Russian: Столичная) is a vodka made of wheat and rye grain. It is a well-known Soviet brand.
Russian Standard Vodka contains the highest quality ingredients and goes through the distillation process more than any other vodka. Its recipe and production methods result in a delicious, smooth vodka popular for sipping neat and in cocktails.
Absolut Vodka is a Swedish vodka made exclusively from natural ingredients, with no added sugar and made from water and winter wheat grown in the fields of Åhus, Sweden.
1. Smirnoff. Created by a Russian serf named Pytor Smirnov, the world's best-selling vodka has been sold since 1864. In 1886, Smirnov penned an exclusive contract to supply vodka to the Tsar of Russia.
Luksusowa Vodka
Poland- This award winning vodka's recipe remains unchanged since its beginnings in 1928, using pure, locally-sourced water, fresh potatoes from local family farms, and a proprietary distillation process for a rich, smooth finish. Luksusowa is the #1 selling potato vodka in the world.
Horilka is usually distilled from grain (usually wheat or rye), though it can, exceptionally, also be distilled from potatoes, honey, sugar beets etc. One type of horilka, called pertsivka (Ukrainian: перцівка), is horilka with chili peppers.
GREY GOOSE vodka is distilled in the gastronomy capital of the world, France, using the traditions of the Maître de Chai with only two ingredients – single-origin Picardie winter wheat and natural spring water.
Belvedere's production is regulated by the Polska Vodka legal regulation, one of the strictest in the world. As the appellation dictates, all production must take place on Polish soil, the spirit must be made of either grain or potato, and nothing else can be added.
That is, all vodka was made from potatoes, with one notable exception. Absolut vodka was a brand dating to 1879, named for being "absolutely pure." The brand was resurected by Vin & Sprit for its centennial anniversary, and in 1979 was made from grains rather than potatoes.
Potato vodka is known as the "healthiest" of vodkas because of its gluten- and sugar-free nature. The tuber might also remain the base that results in the best vodka served over ice and/or straight up.
Stolichnaya vodka is made from wheat and rye grain in Latvia.
Smirnoff (/ˈsmɪərnɒf/; Russian: [smʲɪrˈnof]) is a brand of vodka owned and produced by the British company Diageo. The Smirnoff brand began with a vodka distillery founded in Moscow by Pyotr Arsenievich Smirnov (1831–1898). It is distributed in 130 countries.
Smirnoff Vodka
It's one of the most reliable and inexpensive vodkas out there with several flavors to explore. The brand claims to be the world's most popular vodka and most awarded name in the category. Smirnoff is a grain-based vodka; the unflavored is available in 80-, 90-, and 100-proof bottles.
Most vodka isn't made from potatoes.
Potatoes have since proven a viable source in vodka production, but all you really need to make vodka is a sugar source (even just sugar). Most modern vodka is grain-based, though some—hey, Puff! —is made from grapes, even milk whey.