Vodka

Contrary to popular belief, vodka is no longer made from potatoes (as it often was in the past) but from grains, which provide a simple, nearly limitless, and economical raw material for vodka production. This category of spirits can be made anywhere in the world from virtually any base ingredient—though if it's not made from grains or potatoes, the base ingredient must be specified on the label.

The hallmark of vodka is its neutrality—meaning that the production process aims to create a spirit that is as smooth, soft, and neutral as possible. This is achieved by distilling it through modern column stills, which can reach very high alcohol content, approximately 96% by volume. At such a high alcohol concentration, the spirit retains almost no flavor or aroma, which is further softened by active charcoal filtration. The neutral spirit is then diluted with exceptionally pure water to the standard bottling strength of around 40%.