Vodka
Clear and neutral in flavor, vodka is the 2nd most popular spirit in the U.S. today, after whisky. Though the origins of vodka are up for debate, the earliest documented mention of the spirit was in 9th century Russia. The word vodka is a diminutive of the Slavic word voda, and can be interpreted as “little water.”
Vodka was traditionally composed of water and ethanol made from fermented cereal grains and/or potatoes. Modern variations of vodka can use a wide range of other ingredients, such as corn, sugar cane, fruits, honey, and maple sap. Vodka is usually between 40-55% alcohol by volume. Traditionally drunk neat (without any ice or mixers), vodka can still be enjoyed neat but is also a very popular cocktail ingredient, thanks to its neutral flavor.
Flavored Vodka
Vodka was originally quite harsh tasting, due to its early, primitive distillation methods. The practice of infusing vodka in order to make the drink more palatable goes back centuries in Eastern Europe, with natural ingredients like indigenous herbs, fruits and spices.
The first mass-marketed flavored vodka was Absolut Peppar, which launched in 1986. Today, flavored vodkas today account for about 21% of all vodkas sold. Most flavored vodkas can be said to be built for cocktails; they can be fantastic for adding spice, sweetness, or savoriness to different types of cocktails.