Vodka

=**Vodka **=

**General Knowledge** “Vodka usually has an alcohol content of 35% to 50% by volume. The classic Russian, Lithuanian and Polish vodka is 40% (80 proof). This can be attributed to the Russian standards for vodka production introduced in 1894 by Alexander III.”1 “According to the Vodka Museum in Moscow, Dmitri Mendeleev, a Russian chemist, found the perfect percentage to be 38. However, since spirits in his time were taxed on their strength, the percentage was rounded up to 40 to simplify the tax computation. At strengths less than this, vodka drunk neat (without ice and not mixed with other liquids) can taste "watery", while strengths above 40% may give the taste of vodka more "burn". Some governments set a minimum alcohol content for a spirit to be called "vodka". For example, the European Union sets a minimum of 37.5% alcohol by volume.”2

The above information was extracted from the Wikipedia page on vodka at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vodka 1. from research undertaken by the Russian chemist Dmitri Mendeleev 2. Gin and Vodka Association, http://www.ginvodka.org/history/vodkaproduction.html

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