While the name vodka is a diminutive of the Russian voda (“water”), the origins of the liquor are a matter of debate. Some claim that it originated as early as the 8th or 9th century in either Poland or Russia.
The word Vodka comes from the translation of water in Russian: “Voda”. On the other hand, the Polish used the term to refer to any white distilled drink. Its birth brings us to the Middle Age, when it started becoming popular. This liquor was produced from potatoes and had medicinal purposes.
The earliest commercial distillers were Polish and Russian aristocrats. Vodka is the diminutive of voda, meaning water, so vodka means "little water". When the term was coined, using the diminutive form meant that it was a refined or improved version of the original.
You might assume the main ingredient in vodka is potato or grain, but you'd be wrong. The main ingredient in vodka is actually water. In its originating Slavic countries, vodka is known as voda. This translates to “little water” or simply “water.”
In Russia, you often drink to your own health and say "Будем здоровы!" [bóo-deem zda-ró-vye"], which can be translated as "To our health!" On special occasions the Russians often hold a long or a short speech giving a good reason for drinking.
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.
Russia and Poland were the first countries to produce vodka. The first recipe was made in Russia toward the end of the 9th century.
Vodka is composed mainly of water and ethanol but sometimes with traces of impurities and flavourings. Traditionally, it is made by distilling liquid from fermented cereal grains, and potatoes since introduced in Europe in the 1700's. Some modern brands use fruits, honey, or maple sap as the base.
Aqua Vitae, or 'the water of life' is the earliest known form of vodka. It originated in Poland where it was first used medicinally, and then migrated to Russia in the 14th century.
The national drink is an inseparable part of Russian social life. Vodka is drunk everywhere, with the intention of breaking down inhibitions and producing a state of conviviality Russians refer to as dusha-dushe (soul-to-soul).
It literally means 'little water,' or something close to that, in Polish, Ukrainian, and several other Slavic languages in addition to Russian. The word comes from the ancient description of distilled alcohol as “water of life.” The word 'whiskey' has a similar etymology, based on that same phrase in Gaelic.
A Russian name doesn't mean a vodka is Russian-made. Smirnoff is named after Vladimir Smirnoff who fled from Russia during the country's revolution, but it's owned by British company Diageo (ticker: DEO) and is made in the U.S., Canada, and many other countries—but not Russia.
A fan favourite, this vodka is carefully crafted in the heart of France and distilled five times for purity.
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.
Stolichnaya (Russian: Столичная) is a vodka made of wheat and rye grain. It is a well-known Soviet brand.
Smirnoff Vodka is distilled from corn, making it gluten-free. Smirnoff offers over 35 different flavored vodkas.
Horilka (Ukrainian: горілка, Belarusian: гарэлка, Romanian: horincă) is a Ukrainian alcoholic beverage. The word horilka may also be used in a generic sense in the Ukrainian language to mean vodka or other strong spirits and etymologically is similar to the Ukrainian word for burning - hority.
Hugs, backslapping, kisses on the cheeks and other expansive gestures are common among friends or acquaintances and between members of the same sex. Russians stand close when talking. Putting your thumb through your index and middle fingers or making the "OK" sign are considered very rude gestures in Russia.
Я тебя люблю
This phrase is the most common way to say "I love you" in the Russian language, and it's used in the same way as the English expression. You can swap the words around in different ways without losing the meaning, such as Я люблю тебя (I love you), Люблю тебя (love you), and Тебя люблю (love you).