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Among spirits vodka is clearly the most pleasant. Being transparent, smooth, cold and distinct, it can create a feeling of well-being which lasts long through the night. The choice of vodka as background music to a spiritual discussion is as important as the choice of wine for a dinner occation. Russian soil and spirit has fostered most of the finer brands, such as Kristall's Stolichnaya. Being a winter wheat vodka, this pleasure is best enjoyed at a temperature just below the freezing point of water. While it's prelude is soft, with a faint hint of citrus, the conclusion is distinct without any trace of higher alcohols. Beware that "Stolichnaya" vodka is a recipy rather than a brand, and is manufactured everywhere in Russia. The quality is thus highly variable, and one should take care to not to drink Stolichnaya from elsewhere than the Moscow region. The place of manufacture can be identified by the serial number on the inside of the lable. Rye vodkas should be consumed at significantly lower temperatures, and are today quite rare. The nestor of rye vodkas is Polish Wyborowa, easily recognisable by its oily character. A vodka suitable for people who are curious about the drink, but who have been deterred by the terrible hang overs caused by inferior brands, is Finlandia. It is beyond competition when it comes to clarity, being smoother than silk on a baby's cheek. The ending is however completely absent. Additional reflections on the qualities of vodka can be found on the following pages: |
Last update 2006-01-15 by Janne Wallenius |
