VODKA

Question 1

What is vodka defined as in the EU?

Answer 1

A spirit distilled from agricultural ingredients

Question 2

Minimum required ABV?

Answer 2

rectified to at least 96% ABV, bottled at a minimum of 37.5% ABV,

Question 3

Production process of vodka?

Question 4

What ingredients are used to make vodka?

Answer 4

Agricultural origin ingredients such as grains (wheat, rye, barley, corn), potatoes, molasses, sugar beet, grapes, or fruits.

Question 5

Ingredients vodka

Answer 5

Grains: wheat, rye, barley, corn
Potatoes
Sugar beet molasses
Grapes or fruit (especially in France and Italy)

Question 6

What does ‘rectified to 96%’ mean in vodka production?

Answer 6

It means the spirit is purified through distillation to reach 96% alcohol by volume (ABV), removing most flavors and impurities.

Question 7

What stills are used to distill vodka?

Answer 7

Vodka can be distilled using both continuous stills (efficient, high-purity) and pot stills (used in premium, characterful vodkas).

Question 8

What happens to rectified spirit in vodka?

Answer 8

It is redistilled for further refinement and purity.

Question 9

What is the defining sensory characteristic of vodka in the USA?

Answer 9

Vodka must be neutral, odorless, tasteless, and without distinctive character.

Question 10

How is vodka filtered?

Answer 10

Most vodkas are filtered through activated charcoal to remove remaining impurities and smooth the final spirit.

Question 11

What is the legal minimum alcohol content for vodka in the EU?

Answer 11

37.5% ABV.

Question 12

What are the base ingredients for vodka by country or region: Russia, Ukraine, Belarus:

Answer 12

Mostly wheat and rye

Question 13

What are the base ingredients for vodka by country or region: Poland:

Answer 13

Rye and potatoes

Question 14

What are the base ingredients for vodka by country or region: Finland:

Answer 14

Barley (e.g., Finlandia)

Question 15

What are the base ingredients for vodka by country or region: Sweden:

Answer 15

Wheat

Question 16

What are the base ingredients for vodka by country or region: Western Europe:

Answer 16

Grains (UK, NL, Germany), grapes and fruit (France, Italy)

Question 17

What are the base ingredients for vodka by country or region: USA/Canada:

Answer 17

Grains (incl. corn), molasses

Question 18

What are the base ingredients for vodka by country or region: Caribbean:

Answer 18

Molasses

Question 19

What are the base ingredients for vodka by country or region: Australia:

Answer 19

Molasses

Question 20

What are the base ingredients for vodka by country or region: Asia:

Answer 20

Local grains and starches

Question 21

Q: What are the styles of vodka?

Answer 21

Neutral: Tasteless, odorless
Characterful: Subtle flavors from base material or process
Flavored: Infused with herbs, fruits, spices

Question 22

Smirnoff, Vladivar, SKYY

Question 23

Why is flavored vodka becoming more popular?

Answer 23

There has been a significant increase in flavored vodkas due to consumer demand for variety and mixability in cocktails.

Question 24

Smirnoff

Answer 24

Neutral vodka

Question 25

Vladivar

Answer 25

Neutral vodka

Question 26

SKYY

Answer 26

Neutral vodka

Question 27

Grey Goose

Answer 27

Characterful vodka

Question 28

Ketel One

Answer 28

Characterful vodka

Question 29

Ciroc

Answer 29

Characterful vodka

Question 30

42 Below

Answer 30

Characterful vodka

Question 31

Zubrowka, “Hunter’s Vodka”

Answer 31

Flavored vodka

Question 32

Which brand is the best-selling vodka worldwide?

Answer 32

Smirnoff, with 26 million 9-liter cases sold annually.

Question 33

What are other top-selling global vodka brands?

Answer 33

Absolut (11.3M cases) Khortytsa, Zubrowka, Hillbilly Dar, Five Lakes Stolichnaya, SKYY, Grey Goose, Finlandia Ketel One, Ciroc, Pinnacle, Russian Standard

Question 34

What is the global white spirits market trend (2015–2025)?

Answer 34

Vodka dominates and continues growing steadily. Other categories like rum and gin are rising, but vodka maintains the largest share.