The History & Origins of Vodka

The Story of Vodka: What is the History and Origin of Vodka? 

Vodka is one of the most popular spirits in the world and the top seller in the US. Clear and among the most neutral spirits, Vodka can be made from a wide variety of crops. Perhaps this is one of the reasons for its popularity and ubiquity. The most common, classic vodka ingredients are rye, wheat, corn, and potato. But vodka can also be made from fruit or crops like molasses, rice, barley, and soybeans. Meaning ‘little water’, Boake in Russian or Wodka in Polish, vodka consists of ethanol (a kind of alcohol) and water. In the US, vodka must be a minimum of 40% ethanol and in Europe a minimum of 37.5%  ethanol. 

When Was Vodka First Made?  

Vodka was probably first made in the Middle Ages between the twelfth and 13th centuries but its exact origins are unclear. Most theories trace it back to what is now Italy where aqua vitae was made from grapes and traded with what is now Eastern Europe. By the early 1500’s in both Poland and Russia, distilled spirits were accepted and consumed.

Where Are The Origins of Vodka?  

The origins of vodka are shrouded in mystery and hotly debated, particularly between Russia and Poland, both with strong cultural ties to their national drink. One scenario is that merchants and alchemists from Genoa brought their aqua vitae and knowledge of distilling to Moscow in the late 1200’s. The practice may have then been adopted by monks who used local crops, wheat and rye, in place of grapes. 

In Poland, references to ‘wodka’ appeared in court documents in 1405 but it is unclear whether it was referring to distilled medicines or drink. At that time, many Polish physicians would study alchemy in Salerno and then return to Poland to practice it. 

Distillation also came to Scandinavia in the 1400’s. Aquavit, which means ‘water of life’ in Latin, were medicinal infusions of botanicals in alcohol made in homes and on farms throughout the region.