National Vodka Day

What the day is

National Vodka Day is observed on October 4. It marks the clear spirit that dominates global liquor sales and that is, by regulatory definition in the United States, supposed to be neutral: without distinctive character, aroma, taste or color.

That definition is the source of most arguments about vodka. Distillers insist that base ingredient, water and distillation method produce real differences in texture and finish; skeptics reply that a spirit defined by the absence of flavor cannot differ much. Blind tastings tend to support a middle position: differences exist and are subtler than the marketing claims.

Origin and background

The origin of the observance is not documented. The spirit's own origin is contested between Poland and Russia, both of which have long documented traditions of grain distillation, and the dispute has been argued in trade negotiations as well as in bars.

Vodka can be made from almost anything fermentable. Grain and potato are traditional, and grapes, sugar beet and whey all appear on shelves. Modern column stills strip the distillate to very high purity, after which it is cut with water to bottling strength, and filtration, often through charcoal, removes what remains.

Its commercial story in the West is recent. Vodka was barely sold in the United States before the mid-twentieth century and became dominant within a few decades, largely because its neutrality made it a blank base for mixed drinks and because it carried none of the acquired-taste barrier of whiskey or gin.

How to take part

• Taste two side by side at room temperature and then chilled. Cold masks almost everything, which is why cheap vodka is served ice cold.
• Try it the Polish or Russian way: very cold, in a small glass, with rich food rather than a mixer.
• Make something simple. A vodka martini, a well-balanced mule or a properly seasoned bloody mary reveal more than an elaborate build.
• Look at the base ingredient on the label. Rye, wheat and potato do give different mouthfeel, whatever the regulation says.
• Drink water alongside, and keep the evening shorter than the day suggests.