Vodka

Vodka

Smirnoff Red Label vodka
Type	Distilled alcoholic beverage
Country of origin	Poland, Russia, Sweden[1][2]
Region of origin	Central, Northern and Eastern Europe
Alcohol by volume	35–40%
Proof (US)	70–80°
Color	clear
Ingredients	Water, grains
Related products	Flavored vodka, nalewka

Vodka (Polish: wódka [ˈvutka]; Russian: водка [ˈvotkə]; Swedish: vodka [vɔdkɑː]) is a clear distilled alcoholic beverage. Different varieties originated in Poland, Russia, and Sweden.^[1][2] Vodka is composed mainly of water and ethanol but sometimes with traces of impurities and flavourings.^[3] Traditionally, it is made by distilling liquid from fermented cereal grains and potatoes since the latter was introduced in Europe in the 18th century. Some modern brands use corn, sugar cane, fruits, honey, and maple sap as the base.

Since the 1890s, standard vodkas have been 40% alcohol by volume (ABV) (80 U.S. proof).^[4] The European Union has established a minimum alcohol content of 37.5% for vodka.^[5][6] Vodka in the United States must have a minimum alcohol content of 40%.^[7]

Vodka is traditionally drunk "neat" (not mixed with water, ice, or other mixers), and it is often served freezer chilled in the vodka belt of Belarus, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden, and Ukraine.^[3] It is also used in cocktails and mixed drinks, such as the vodka martini, Cosmopolitan, vodka tonic, screwdriver, greyhound, Black or White Russian, Moscow mule, Bloody Mary, and Caesar.