VODKA - Versatile and Spirited

Vodka – водка - Wódka is made by a process called distillation. Wheat grain, rye, sugar cane or potatoes (other grains or sugar rich plants) are heated until the starch is extracted and converted to sugar. The resulting ‘mash’ is fermented, heated to a very high temperature and distilled many times until all of the spirit has been extracted. The more times distillation takes place; the higher the proof of spirit. Finally the vodka is filtered through charcoal and water is added to decrease the alcohol content. The spirit is then bottled and ready for sale

How did Vodka originate?

Legend has it that in the late 9^th Century, some Russian monks from the monastery of Chudov visited Constantinople and sampled a spirit made of grapes. They loved it so much that they made a similar drink distilled from grain as they had no grapes. This was aqua vitae which is believed to be the forerunner of the vodka of today. There are various versions of this story.

Poland also stakes a claim to being the first producers of the spirit in the 8^th Century.

Originally Vodka was used for medicinal purposes as it was believed to cure many illnesses including the ‘Plague’. Eventually it was concluded that there was not much value in it as a medicine and drinking it for social reasons took over.

COCKTAILS

Its lack of discernible taste (apart from the flavoured types) makes vodka an excellent base for a multitude of drinks and cocktails. Below are just a few recipes:

Apple Martini

2 oz vodka

1 oz apple schnapps

Apple slices

Mix in cocktail shaker with ice. Strain and pour into martini glasses, garnish with apple slices

Bloody Mary

3 fl oz tomato juice

1 ½ fl oz vodka

½ fl oz lemon juice

Dash Worcester sauce

Celery salt

Ground pepper

Chili sauce to taste

Celery stalk

Lemon or Lime Wedge

Put the liquid ingredients in a tall glass over ice cubes. Mix well. Add the seasonings to taste.Garnish with the lemon and/or lime wedge and celery stalk.

Blue Lagoon

1 fl oz Vodka

Lemonade

1 fl oz Blue Curaçao

Lemon Twist

Mix in shaker and serve over ice cubes in a tall glass garnished with a lemon twist

Cosmopolitan

1.25 fl oz Vodka
0.25 fl oz Triple Sec
1 fl oz Cranberry Juice
1 Twist of Lemon

Shake all liquid ingredients with ice and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with lemon twist

Harvey Wallbanger

1 measure vodka
3 measures orange juice
Galliano® herbal liqueur to float
Ice

Orange twist

Cherry

Shake the vodka and orange juice and pour over ice in a Collins glass. Carefully float a tablespoon, (or more, if you prefer) of Galliano Liqueur on top. Garnish with orange twist and cherry.

Moscow Mule

2 fl oz Vodka
2 fl oz Lime juice
8 fl oz Ginger ale

Lime wedge and mint leaves

Mix ingredients with ice. Serve in copper cup or glass garnished with lime wedge and mint leaves

Vodka Martini

1 ½ fl oz Vodka
¾ fl oz Dry Vermouth

Olives

Shake vodka and vermouth together with several ice cubes in a shaker. Strain into a cocktail glass, garnish with olives and serve.

Woo Woo

1 ½ fl oz Peach Schnapps
1 ½ fl oz Vodka
3 ½ fl oz Cranberry Juice

Peach, lime or lemon slice

Cherry

Pour all ingredients into a highball glass over ice cubes, stir, and serve garnished with a peach slice and cherry.

SMELLS

* Underarm odours?

Use a spritz of vodka to freshen underarms of stale clothing.

* Stinky Feet?

Bathe feet in vodka

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STAINS AND CLEANING

* Lipstick on your collar?

Dab with vodka before washing as normal

* Sticky label residue?

Rub with cloth soaked in vodka – Use only on non porous surfaces

*Dull Chrome?

Buff with soft cloth and a few drops of vodka. Also works on glass & porcelain

*Cat-sick on the carpet?

Clean up solids, spray stain with vodka and scrub. Blot with cloth

* Mould and Mildew?

Spray with vodka, leave for 5 minutes then scrub and rinse.

* Dull Jewellery?

For sparkly gemstones. Soak in vodka for 5 minutes then rinse

* Dull blunt razor?

Soak in a cup of vodka to prevent rust and sterilize the blades.

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BEAUTY

* Greasy Skin?

Use cotton wool soaked in vodka to blot oily areas.

* Stuck fast plaster?

Use vodka to soak off adhesive stuck to skin after removing plasters

* Insect Repellent?

Spray on liberally before going outside and keep re-applying

* Dull Hair?

Mix 2 fl oz vodka into 400ml bottle of shampoo for shiny lustrous hair

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FIRST AID AND MEDICAL

* Swimmers Ear?

Add a few drops of Vodka, allow to drain out after 30 seconds.

* Insect Bites/stings?

Dab with vodka to take out the itch and burn

* Sore Throat?

Gargle with warm water into which is mixed 1 tbsp of vodka

* Aches & Pains?

Soak lavender flowers in vodka for a couple of days in a warm place (sealed) then use the strained liquid (tincture) to treat strains and sprains.

* Jellyfish Sting?

Dab with neat vodka to alleviate the pain

* Nettle Sting?

Apply to the rash to lessen the prickling and itching

* Toothache?

Swish a mouthful of vodka around a painful tooth for a few minutes to numb the pain.

* Fever?

Bathe forehead, back and chest with a cloth soaked in vodka to reduce fever

© Susan Bailey 2013 All Rights Reserved