How to drink vodka correctly: tips and tricks

Let's make a reservation right away: this article is not about how to drink vodka without getting drunk, not about the harm or benefits of this well-deserved drink, not about the ability to choose vodka or distinguish a real product from a fake, but about how to drink vodka correctly, that is, directly about vodka culture...

In general terms, vodka is a forty-degree alcoholic beverage consisting of impurity-free grain or grain-potato alcohol mixed with unboiled, preferably spring water that has been specially treated. Unlike most spirits of Western European origin, vodka is not aged in wooden barrels, but is instead repeatedly purified and filtered, in some cases even with the use of precious metals.

This ancient, in a sense ritualistic drink requires a respectful attitude. Otherwise, you may face many very sad consequences of drinking it.

Preparatory measures

Speaking of respectful attitude, we should start with the issue of preparation for drinking the drink of interest. In this regard, it should be borne in mind that vodka in its classic pure form is mainly a table drink. As an aperitif, it can lead to rapid subsequent intoxication, and as a digestif, it is not generally accepted to use it as a snack, and a light drink at that. Accordingly, the use of vodka involves a long, plentiful meal associated with the above-mentioned thorough preparation.

The temperature of vodka

First of all, you should take care of the optimal temperature of the drink. It goes without saying that vodka should not be warm. This not only makes it taste unpleasant, but also guarantees inevitable intoxication in the shortest possible time. However, it is not recommended to put it in the freezer either. The problem is that at low temperatures, most of the water will simply freeze and settle on the walls of the bottle in the form of ice crystals, and you will get almost undiluted alcohol.

It is best to put the bottle (or bottles) in the refrigerator for a few hours. As a result, you will get a pleasantly foggy container with a temperature of 10-12 degrees. If you prefer colder vodka, you should not put a bottle in the freezer, but several empty glasses into which you can pour a moderately chilled drink if necessary.

Appetizer

Competent use of vodka is hard to imagine without a good and plentiful snack. Bar snacks are not only inappropriate in this situation, but even contraindicated.

The appetizer can be either cold or hot.

In the first case, pickled, sauerkraut, and pickled vegetables are perfect: cucumbers, cabbage, tomatoes, eggplant, etc.д.salted and pickled mushrooms, as well as soaked apples, stand out as a separate line. As a derivative of pickles, it is worth mentioning various salads that these same pickles contain, for example: vinaigrette or the good old Soviet Olivier salad. Suitable cold appetizers are also smoked meats, jelly and lard in all its forms. And, of course, you can't do without fatty smoked fish, caviar, and core herring. There are serious disagreements among experts about sandwiches. Some people consider them almost the perfect snack, while others strongly discourage eating bread pastries, and sausage, by the way, too.

If we talk about hot appetizers, it will be easier to list the things that do not go with vodka, since this drink goes well not only with most culinary creations of Eastern and Western Slavic cuisine, but also with many dishes originating from other regions of the Old and New World. So, according to experts, it is better not to eat vodka with boiled meat and fish, as well as lamb dishes.

As for desserts, in principle, vodka can be combined with some of them. First of all, we are talking about citrus fruits: oranges, tangerines, grapefruits. They not only create an interesting flavor contrast with vodka, but also partially neutralize the alcohol. Also, the drink tastes very good with chilled watermelon.

Accompanying drinks

During a feast with vodka, it is recommended to pay tribute to various refreshing soft drinks between toasts. Thus, we reduce the concentration of alcohol in our stomach. Therefore, when preparing for the event, do not forget to put some juices, fruit drinks or compotes on the table.

However, avoid carbonated drinks at all costs. They irritate the mucous membrane of the stomach walls, thereby accelerating the effect of vodka on the body.

Vodka in its pure form

There are many ways to drink vodka, which are very different from each other. We will talk about some of them below.

Most often, vodka is drunk in three steps: exhaling, tipping a 50-gram glass with a volley, accompanied by a slow inhalation and another sharp exhalation; after which the drink can be snacked on.

A more thoughtful way is as follows: briefly admiring the foggy 50-gram container, exhaling sharply, tipping the stack into your mouth while taking a slow breath, passing the drink over the entire surface of the tongue, listening to the pleasant cold spreading inside for a short time, another sharp exhalation, smelling a piece of fresh, ideally still warm rye bread, and finally joining the snack...

However, it is worth noting that 50-gram vessels are not acceptable for everyone. For example, one of the leaders of the former USSR, Leonid Brezhnev, recommended that you first drink 50, then 100, and finally 150 grams of the national product... Soviet composer Dmitry Shostakovich preferred to drink half a liter in two rounds. First, he would drink a glass of vodka, then have a very heavy bite, then repeat the procedure, eat some more, and, without losing his dignity, go to rest.

Vodka in mixes and cocktails

For a long time, the only mix using vodka was the well-known "Yorzh" - a mixture of the drink with beer.

When vodka burst onto the world stage in the middle of the last century, it inevitably became a part of Western cocktail culture. The almost neutral taste of vodka made it indispensable in mixes with other alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. They began to mix it with cola and soda, juices and liquors. The optimal proportion is 1 part of vodka to 2 or 3 parts of another drink. Of course, the goal of all these manipulations, as in the case of "Yorzh," is nothing less than the fastest, highest quality intoxication possible. Although, it is worth noting that in the end, the most popular mixes with vodka were its mixtures with sweet and sour and bitter juices, as well as with tomato juice.

Show cocktails with vodka

Update: 19.10.2015

Category: Vodka an Moonshine