
Vodka, roughly translating to “little water” in Russian, is thought to have originated in Poland or Russia between the 14th and 16th centuries. Although this distilled spirit can be made with anything from beets to potatoes to corn, it is generally produced from wheat or rye, which is then heavily filtered.
By law, vodka produced for consumption in the United States or Western Europe traditionally could not have distinctive colors, smells, or flavors. In recent times, however, many flavored varieties have become available including pepper, fruit flavors, herbs & spices, cinnamon, vanilla vodkas and more. Although drunk straight in many countries where vodka has a long history, such as Eastern Europe, vodka’s popularity in the U.S. derives primarily from the fact that its high alcohol content, combined with little to no taste, makes it ideal to use as a base for creating mixed drinks.