4 Vodka Myths Debunked

4 Vodka Myths Debunked

Vodka is undeniably one of the world's most popular spirits. Vodka is a neutral spirit that pairs well with a number of cocktails and is an appropriate spirit to drink when socialising. Despite its popularity in today's market, vodka continues to be surrounded by myths, too. To separate fact from folklore, we debunked five widely-held vodka myths.

1. Vodka is distilled from potatoes.

Even though just 3% of the world's vodka is distilled from potatoes, this misconception exists among drinkers. You see, unlike most other alcohol categories, vodka can be made from any type of carbohydrate because there are no regulations dictating that it can only come from one particular ingredient. In fact, one famous Vodka brand is distilled from grapes while another comes from olives and yet another is distilled from made with honey.

2. Celiacs need to drink only gluten-free vodka.

Many drinkers on gluten-free diets may be under the impression that they can only enjoy vodka if it’s distilled from gluten-free products like corn or potatoes. However, while some are made with wheat or rye, all vodkas are gluten-free unless a distiller adds additional ingredients after distillation is complete.  Coeliac Australia states all alcohol is gluten-free with the exception of normal, barley-based beer.

3. The more times a vodka has been distilled, the higher the quality of the spirit.

While the number of times a vodka has been distilled will have an impact on the spirit's quality and flavour, it would be erroneous to assume that a more distilled spirit is invariably going to be of higher quality than those with fewer distillations. Most vodkas on the market are distilled twice or three times and any further distillations won't make a perceivable difference in effecting quality. Furthermore, many brands utilise crafty marketing techniques to trick consumers into believing their product is of higher quality than competitors. For example, one such technique is claimed to have been distilled hundreds or even thousands of times when this isn't technically accurate. What they're referencing is actually how many plates are inside the column stills used for distillation (hundreds).

4. Some people say vodka is tasteless.

That doesn’t mean individual brands do not have their own nuances and characteristics. Vodka can be made from a variety of different agricultural products, so the spirit often tastes like that crop. For example, Haku vodkas (made from rice) are great in Martinis because they offer a light, crisp flavour with a fruity finish. Ketel One vodkas (made from wheat) are popular for their black peppercorn notes on the nose and slightly floral finish when used in Bloody Marys.

Undoubtedly, here you will find the largest range of vodkas listed by vendors.