Things You Need To Know About Ketel One Vodka
Cocktail-friendly Ketel One Vodka is a proudly Dutch operation. Made in the Netherlands for 11 generations, the distillery even has its own windmill!
Its a cocktail-friendly spirit, and placed in the the top three when VinePair blind-tasted the best vodkas for Moscow Mules.
Curious to learn more? Here are 10 more facts you should know about Ketel One Vodka.
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How Do You Make It
Like all spirits, you need to distill the base ingredient. When you are making something like whiskey, you want to retain these flavors. Whiskey is often distilled to a lower proof With vodka, you distill to a high proof to reduce unwanted flavors with the goal being 95% ABV. Vodka will use multiple column stills or continuous stills to get the job done.
Hangar One Distillery / Photo Credit: Niall Kennedy
Many producers purchase an already distilled spirit, usually a grain neutral spirit . Some will add their own distilled product and others still will redistill, or rectify this GNS.
One other crucial ingredient is water, since it is 60% of your volume. This makes the source of your water, if you are a vodka maker, very important. Other spirits require this as well, but neutrality isnt what those spirits are after.
How Vodka Is Made
The name vodka comes from the Slavic word voda or woda, meaning water. Vodka can be made from a variety of ingredients, and every distillery has its own way of ensuring a unique product, whether it is distilled four times or filtered twice, or maybe the base ingredient is different from the traditional vodkas. Some people say vodka is flavourless or that every vodka tastes the same, but they could not be more wrong. If you are one of those people, I recommend you read this post and try to take part in some vodka tasting hopefully, you will then understand the differences between the many brands and learn to appreciate the spirit.
Ingredients
There are five components when making vodka: vegetables or grain , water, malt meal, yeast and flavourings .
Most commonly, vodka is made from potatoes, corn, rye, barley or wheat. There are a few exceptions, such as Black Cow Vodka, which is made from cows milk. The whey is fermented into a beer using a special yeast that converts the milk sugar into alcohol. Or there is also Ciroc Vodka, which is made from grapes by distilling wine five times.
Water. Pure demineralised water is added at the end of the distillation process to lower the alcohol levels. The legal EU minimum ABV strength is 37.5%, but it is not unusual to have vodkas of up to 50% ABV. In the USA, the minimum for vodka is 40% ABV.
Yeast. It contains enzymes that allow food cells to extract oxygen from starches or sugars, producing alcohol.
Distillation
Filtration
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Which Vodkas Are Made With Potatoes
Popular Potato Vodka
- Chopin Potato Vodka. 4.9 out of 5 stars.
- Leopold Bros Silver Tree Vodka. 5 out of 5 stars.
- Luksusowa Vodka. 4.6 out of 5 stars.
- Blue Ice Potato Vodka. 4.7 out of 5 stars.
- Monopolowa Vodka. 4.7 out of 5 stars.
- Vesica Vodka. 4.8 out of 5 stars.
- Bakon Vodka. 4.3 out of 5 stars.
- Boyd & Blair Potato Vodka.
Best For The Beach: Neft
Courtesy of Caskers
Region: Austria | ABV: 40% | Tasting notes: Lemon, Spice, Vanilla
Four strains of ancient, non-GMO rye and pure Alpine spring water go into this award-winning Austrian vodka. Its light, lemony, and sweet.
Its smoothness, a product of triple distilling and carbon layer filtration makes it great for sipping neat, but its just as good mixed into cocktails. But the best thing about it is its packaging. Inspired by the producers grandfather, a Russian wildcatter, its packaged in a mock oil can, making it lightweight and unbreakable for outdoor imbibing.
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The Nolet Family Is Really Fond Of Windmills
During the 18th century, Schiedam was home to nearly 400 working distilleries, so the enterprising, fifth-generation distiller Jacobus Nolet built a large windmill to process the towns grain. The huge construction was named the Whale. In 2005, the Nolet family constructed another windmill, this time at its distillery site. De Nolet was designed to look exactly like a traditional Dutch windmill, but it wasnt just erected for aesthetic purposes. De Nolet houses a wind turbine and supplies roughly 20 percent of the distillerys electricity.
Best Potato Vodka: Woody Creek Distillers
Region: Colorado | ABV: 40% | Tasting notes: Potato, Earth, Pepper
While potato vodkas only used to come from Russia, the U.S. now produces outstanding versions of its own. Abou-Ganims top choice is this bottle from Colorado-based Woody Creek Distillers.
Its distilled only once from Rio Grande spuds grown on the distillers own farm at alpine altitudes. The process leaves in a lot of the character of the potatoes, says Abou-Ganim. Its earthy, funky, and vegetal with a rich character.” He says its the vodka to reach for if you like your martinis big, bold, and garnished with a blue cheesestuffed olive.
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What Is The Main Ingredient In Vodka
Water is the main ingredient in most brands of vodka. After all, vodka comes from the old Slavic word voda, which translates to little water. The typical ABV for vodka is 40%, making the water content around 60% and resulting in an 80-proof spirit. While the United States ABV minimum is 40%, the European Unions is 37.5%, allowing the water content to be slightly higher. Either way, itll stay liquid in your freezer.
While some brands of vodka, like Devil Spring and Balkan 176°, have an ABV of up to 88%, theyre intended to be diluted by the consumer before ingesting, like Everclear and other rectified spirits.
Now that you know all about this unassuming spirit, its time to mix up one of these choice cocktails.
What Is Vodka Made From
Vodka is a vast and varied category of liquor and unlike some other spirits, there are no set regulations governing its production. Vodka has a Russian origin and is often because the standard method for making it is by fermenting and distilling grain. This can be corn, rye, wheat, or any other grain that the distiller chooses to use. Potato vodka has long been a popular product of Poland and other potato growing regions, such as Idaho and Scandinavian countries. Vodka can be distilled from nearly anything, though and you will find vodkas made from things like beets and grapes.
Vodka is a rectified spirit, meaning that it is often distilled at least three times. Some are distilled five or more times. It has become common practice for a vodka brand to broadcast that their vodka has been distilled X number of times. The assumption is that the more times it is distilled, the cleaner and smoother it is. Generally, this is true. As vodka takes each trip through the still, the “heads” and “tails” are often removed. These are the parts of the distillate found on the top and bottom of a finished batch. By taking only the “heart” of the distillate, the vodka becomes cleaner and has fewer impurities.
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Peaches And Cream Corn
Believe it or not, two Canadian vodkas are distilled from a combination of peaches and cream corn: Crystal Head, which was developed in part by actor Dan Aykroyd and is distinguished by its unique skull-like bottle shape and Iceberg, which is made with water harvested from icebergs off the coast of Newfoundland.
Where Is It Made
Vodka can be made anywhere. The most notable countries include Russia, the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, as well as Eastern European countries such as Poland and the Ukraine. Generally speaking, these countries usually make old world or traditional vodkas, which are more robust and flavorful. The base ingredient is more noticeable here.
Ketel One Vodka / Photo Credit: scott feldstein
Scandinavian countries like Finland and Sweden produce more neutral, modern style vodkas. Larger brands, such as Smirnoff and Skyy in the United States, also fall under this umbrella. While American craft distilling has taken off with whiskey production, many brands have tried their hands at vodka. Producing an unaged spirit is a great way for these producers to make some money while they wait for their whiskey to age. All this is to say that you shouldnt assume that all American vodkas are in the modern family.
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What Is Vodka Made From And How Is It Made
Vodka can be distilled from any agricultural product with fermentable sugars, andbecause its production is relatively unregulated compared to other spiritsyou can find vodkas made from a wide variety of grains and vegetables. Most vodkas are made from barley, rye, and wheat ethanol.
Vodka ingredients can be distilled from any agricultural product with fermentable sugars, andbecause its production is relatively unregulated compared to other spiritsyou can find vodkas made from a wide variety of grains and vegetables. Most vodkas are made from barley, rye, and wheat ethanol..
That vodka ingredient is distilled a number of times. The more a batch of vodka is run through a still, the more impurities are removed, so some producers advertise the number of times their vodka has been distilled as a mark of purity. The alcohol is mixed with water until it is 40% alcohol and bottled unaged..
Law Enforcement And Emergency Services
Law enforcement in Poland is performed by several agencies which are subordinate to the the , assigned to investigate crimes or transgression the , which maintains public order and several specialized agencies, such as the . Private security firms are also common, although they possess no legal authority to arrest or detain a suspect. Municipal guards are primarily headed by provincial, regional or city councils individual guards are not permitted to carry unless instructed by their superior commanding officer or commandant.
The is the chief safeguarding Poland’s internal security, along with which identifies threats and collects secret information abroad. The and the are responsible for countering organized crime and corruption in state and private institutions.
Emergency services in Poland consist of the , units of the and . Emergency medical services in Poland are operated by local and regional governments, but are a part of the centralized national agency – the .
All emergency services personnel are uniformed and security services can be easily recognized during regular patrols in both large urban areas or smaller suburban localities.
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World War I And World War Ii
Sweden was officially neutral during , although, under German pressure, they did take steps which were detrimental to the including mining the channel, thus closing it to Allied shipping, and allowing the Germans to use Swedish facilities and the Swedish cipher to transmit secret messages to their overseas embassies. Sweden also allowed volunteers to fight for the alongside the Germans against the and Russians in the , and briefly occupied the in co-operation with Germany.
As in the First World War, Sweden remained officially neutral during , although its neutrality during World War II has been disputed. Sweden was under German influence for much of the war, as ties to the rest of the world were cut off through blockades. The Swedish government felt that it was in no position to openly contest Germany, and therefore made some concessions. Sweden also supplied steel and machined parts to Germany throughout the war. The Swedish government unofficially supported Finland in the and the by allowing volunteers and to be shipped to Finland. However, Sweden supported Norwegian resistance against Germany, and in 1943 helped from deportation to .
The Difference Between Potato And Grain Vodka
Experts believe that grain vodka winds up with less of a flavor than potato vodka, which tends to have a distinctive taste to it. Therefore, if you’re looking for a vodka with a little more character, you’d be better off looking for one made with potatoes. If you’re looking for one to blend in cocktails without imparting a taste of its own, grain vodkas are the better choice. Popular grain vodkas include big names like Grey Goose, Smirnoff, Stolichnaya, and Ketel One. While many people think that Russian vodka is often potato-based, this is actually incorrect as the number of Russian potato vodkas on the market is close to zero. Potato vodka brands include Boyd & Blair and Woody Creek.
While there isn’t any gluten in potato vodka, it might be surprising to find out that vodkas made from grains even wheat are gluten-free as well . This is because the distillation process removes the gluten from the finished product.
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Ketel One Undergoes An Unconventional Distillation
Distillers traditionally favor column distillation for vodka production, and pot stills for darker, richer spirits like single-malt Scotch or navy rum. The Nolet distillery utilizes both column and pot stills for Ketel One Vodka, a combination that Carolus Nolet Sr. believes produces a smoother flavor profile. .
Habanero & Jalapeo Vodka
Our Habanero & Jalapeno Vodka is made with the finest 2 row barley malt and fresh peppers. The same barley malt we use in our precision crafted beers. We use a house yeast to create the exact flavor profile we want. The result is a stunningly smooth Habanero & Jalapeno flavored spirit that balances earthy and sweet pepper notes without the spicy heat.
Awards
- 2020 SF World Spirits Competition Gold Medal
VACUUM DISTILLED
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Habanero & Jalapeno Vodka
Our Habanero & Jalapeno Vodka is made with the finest 2 row barely malt and fresh peppers. The same barley malt we use in our precision crafted beers. We use a house yeast to create the exact flavor profile we want. The result is a stunningly smooth Habanero & Jalapeno flavored spirit that balances earthy and sweet pepper notes without the spicy heat.
Awards
- 2020 SF World Spirits Competition Gold Medal
Best For Moscow Mules: Titos
Region: Texas | ABV: 40% | Tasting notes: Roasted corn, White pepper, Smoke
Americas first craft vodka, Tito’s from Austin, Texas, has been the choice for trendy cocktailians since it hit the market in 1997. Its made from corn for a deep, rich flavor, and Abou-Ganim is a long-time fan.
Theres a grainy sweetness to it, he says. Thanks to Titos corn-based earthiness, this gluten-free spirit pairs perfectly with the spicy profile of the ginger beer or ginger ale in a classic Moscow Mule.
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Best Overall: Hangar 1
Region: California | ABV: 40% | Tasting notes: Orange, White pepper, Cinnamon
In 2002, St. George Spirits birthed this small-batch vodka in an old aircraft hangar in California. Proximo Spirits, which bought the brand back in 2010, still produces it at the old Naval Air Station Alameda on San Francisco Bay, albeit in a new distillery.
There, a wheat-based, column-distilled vodka gets blended with vodka made from viognier grapes that have been run through copper pot stills. The result boasts a layered flavor profile that spans the divide between syrupy and savory, between subtlety and burns. Hangar 1 is a vodka that will please everyone at the party, from newbies wanting a slightly fruity touch to their Cosmopolitans to seasoned imbibers looking for a rounded floral perfume in their Gibson.
Human Rights And Corruption
Russia’s management has been increasingly criticised by leading democracy and human rights watchdogs. In particular, such organisations as and consider Russia to have not enough democratic attributes and to allow few political rights and civil liberties to its citizens. Since 2004, has ranked Russia as “not free” in its survey. Since 2011, the has ranked Russia as an “authoritarian regime” in its , ranking it 124th out of 167 countries for 2020. In regards to , Russia was ranked 149th out of 180 countries in ‘ for 2020.
Russia was the lowest rated European country in ‘s for 2020 ranking 129th out of 180 countries. Corruption is perceived as a significant problem in Russia, impacting various aspects of life, including the economy, business,,,, and . The phenomenon of corruption is strongly established in the historical model of public governance, and attributed to general weakness of in the country.
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Ok But Whats Vodka Made From
Vodka is made from alcohol that is created by fermenting some sort or high starch or sugar plant matter with yeast. The most common types of plant matter used are cereal grains, like wheat, corn, rye or potatoes. Some brands that use these products for their mash are Ketel One, Titos, Belvedere and Luksusowa, respectively.
Vodka can also be made from fruit, like grapes, and sugar cane. Milk whey can even be used for the mash, like the English brand Black Cow does. Grain- and potato-based vodkas tend to have a more neutral profile than fruit- and sugar-based vodkas and are the traditional way to produce the spirit.
The yeast strain used to convert the sugar molecules into alcohol is specific to each brand, and is considered a closely guarded secret. If the plant matter used is heavy in starch, enzymes are also added to first convert the starch into sugar for the yeast to eat.
Once the alcohol is created, the raw spirit is distilled, diluted and filtered to make vodka.