By WENDY LEIGH
What Is Potato Vodka And What Makes It Different From Standard?
The defining characteristics of a bottle of vodka come from the ingredients used to distill them. Vodka can be distilled with potatoes or grains like barley, wheat, or rye.
Grain-based vodkas have a more neutral taste to them, but ones made from potatoes get praise for deeper flavor complexity with a creamy, full mouthfeel.
Additional variations in potato and grain vodkas depend on the types of potatoes and how many times the spirits go through the distillation process.
Potato vodkas typically go through fewer distillations than their grainy counterparts, meaning they keep more of the earthy elements that otherwise get filtered out.
Distillers often choose smaller potatoes with more concentrated starch and less water. It also helps to use thin-skinned spuds that are easier to peel before fermentation.
Starchy potatoes like Stobrawa aid in fermentation and are commonly used in countries like Poland, which has a high output of potato vodkas.
Since potato vodkas have more flavor and depth, they're a good choice for drinking neat or over ice. They also pair well with savory bites like borscht.