Vodka Day in the USA: a tribute to America's most popular spirit
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National Vodka Day is celebrated in the USA on October 4. This day is a tribute to the most popular spirit in the United States - a title vodka has held since the 1970s, when it replaced bourbon as the best-selling liquor.
The origins of vodka
Vodka has its origins in the early Middle Ages in Poland. From there, it quickly spread to the neighboring countries of Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Belarus and other states known today as the "Vodka Belt".
The clear spirit is distilled from various sugars and starches, including rye, wheat, potatoes, soybeans, rice and sugar beet. Unflavoured vodka is the most popular. Many premium brands advertise double, triple or even quadruple distilled varieties for a clean, smooth taste.
Vodka as a versatile base for cocktails
It is precisely this clear, neutral profile that makes vodka an excellent base for other flavors. Over the last ten years, countless flavored vodkas have been launched on the market - from hibiscus, vanilla and coriander to raspberry, cucumber, mandarin and chili pepper.
In the countries of the "Vodka Belt", vodka is usually enjoyed neat - and often ice cold from the freezer. In other parts of the world, vodka's neutral profile and numerous flavors make it a staple ingredient in many classic cocktails.
