Vodka can be called the most popular drink at every feast and celebration. It consists of ethyl alcohol, which is purified from impurities diluted with water. Vodka, the composition of which should contain 40 percent alcohol, may be with additives. Usually these are fruits, berries, spices and other components. A high degree of purification allows you to make a product that, unlike analogues, does not cause a hangover. But this is only vodka, the composition of which can truly be called high-quality.
A bit of history
There is no exact date of origin of this drink. But the approximate time of birth can be considered the 14-15th century. It happened on the territory of the Russian state. Therefore, all claims of other countries are not valid. In 1982, international arbitration recognized this drink as a native Russian. In the 14th century, Genoese ambassadors brought wine alcohol to Russia. It was the basis of all the famous drinks with a high strength. And in Russia, based on wine alcohol, a drink was obtained, which was called "vodka".
In the middle of the 15th century, the grain harvest reached unprecedented heights. The export of grape wines from Byzantium stopped. It is time for a change in the production of spirits. As history testifies and legends say that in about 1430 a monk from Chudov created a recipe for real Russian vodka. To do this, he had all the possibilities: knowledge and equipment. Well, Mendeleev introduced the concept and designation on the bottle - 40% vol. He does not own the invention of vodka. He made it high-quality and obtained a patent.
The properties of good vodka
Not all vodka that can be found on the shelves can be called quality. It all depends on the manufacturer and the ingredients used. What features should a quality product have? Firstly, it is a delicate, unique flavor. A good product does not have a pungent odor. Secondly, it is a mild flavor. The composition of vodka and its production must meet all modern requirements. The quality of the product is also indicated by its packaging. The cork and cap should fit snugly to the bottle, and stamps with the date of bottling should be clearly readable. There should be no sediment at the bottom of the bottle.
The correct composition of vodka allows you to make a clean, transparent drink. The cloudy contents of the bottle indicate the use of poor-quality water or the presence of impurities. The label must contain information about the manufacturer, his contact information and a code consisting of 7-10 digits. Be sure to have information about certification and production licenses.
The composition of vodka
When determining quality, the components used for production are very important. The composition of vodka, if you do not go into the basics of chemistry, is water and alcohol. Usually use three types of alcohol. The first type is made from potato or grain and has the highest degree of purification. Next are extra and luxury varieties made from selected grains. The last two species are considered the best.
A major role is played by water quality. Good manufacturers pre-clean it from salts and impurities. If the package contains silver cleaning information, this indicates the quality of the water. If the label says "milk cleansed", then this is more related to the final product.
The degree of purification of alcohol
Good quality alcohol is produced from a mixture of potatoes and grains, or from each ingredient individually. Also, molasses, sugar beets and raw sugar are used for this. There is a scale for the degree of purification of alcohol. The first grade product has 96 percent strength. Higher cleaning provides an indicator of 96.2% percent. The best types of alcohol - extra and luxury - have, respectively, 96.5 and 69.3 percent. They also distinguish between medical and anhydrous alcohol.
Water purification
The composition of vodka without fail includes water. But this is not an ordinary liquid from a tap, but a special one, purified from impurities. So that water is ideally suited for the production of vodka, salts must be removed from it. This procedure will make it softer. Sometimes it is required to completely clear the water of all elements. After that, it is saturated with trace elements. This technology is also used for the production of drinking and mineral water. Therefore, information on silver purification indicates the enrichment of water with ions of this metal.
Additives
Many manufacturers introduce additional components or additives to Russian vodka. This happens for a variety of reasons. Firstly, it is the desire to highlight your product and make it unusual. The competition in the liquor market is serious and all methods are used in the struggle for the consumer. Secondly, many additional ingredients purify vodka, making its taste softer. This improves the quality of the product. Well, the last factor, but not the most pleasant one, is attempts to hide the flaws of vodka, its poor taste and quality.
Therefore, to focus on these indicators or not, this is a private matter for everyone. The main components that are used as additives are citric acid, honey, milk powder, sugar, baking soda, acetic acid and potassium permanganate. Some manufacturers use sodium acetate and sodium bicarbonate. The choice of additives depends on the type of vodka or brand. Very often they use honey. It is introduced into the composition of vodka, diluting with pure water. This component makes the product softer.
Vodka Classification
Depending on the number of "turns" vodka is divided into four categories. This is 40, 45, 50 and 56 percent. Specialists in the production of alcoholic beverages divide it into four classes: economy, standard, premium and super premium. The last two classes are elite drinks. They are of excellent quality and higher cost.
For their preparation use only the best types of alcohol and carefully purified water. During the assessment of the quality of vodka, two categories of indicators are used. The first is organoleptic factors, which include smell, transparency and taste. The second group is analytical indicators. Here, laboratory tests are carried out and alkalinity, the presence of impurities and the percentage of alcohol content are determined.
Tsarist vodka: history
The first description of aqua regia appeared in the 14th century. Hydrochloric acid was not yet known to people. The method of obtaining the beverage involved the distillation of a mixture of alum, copper sulfate, ammonia and nitrate. The second method is the mixing of nitric and hydrochloric acid, which was described in 1597 by the alchemist Andreas Libavia. Thanks to aqua regia, many discoveries in alchemy were made, and there was an increase in knowledge of chemical reactions and substances.
Properties of aqua regia
What is aqua regia? The composition of acids in this drink gives it certain properties. Imperial vodka is a mixture of two acids, nitric and hydrochloric, in a proportion of one to three. This is one of the strongest oxidizing agents. This quality is manifested due to nitrosyl chloride. Freshly made "vodka" is colorless.
After a short time, it acquires an orange tint. A distinctive feature of this liquid is the strong smell of chlorine and
nitrogen dioxide. This mixture is prepared immediately before use. Imperial vodka, the acid composition of which we examined above, eventually loses its oxidizing properties and decomposes.
The use of aqua regia
Where is this drink used? Imperial vodka, the composition of which differs from the use of ordinary alcoholic beverages, is used in laboratories as a reagent. It is used to clean laboratory glassware of organic substances. It is also used for the analysis of noble metals, the production of metal chlorides, and in other experiments. The chemical composition of royal vodka allows you to dissolve inactive metals, platinum, gold and palladium, even at room temperature. Gold dissolves in aqua regia at a speed of 10 microns / min. Ruthenium etching requires oxygen. These two components form hexachloro-ruthenic acid. Silver cannot be dissolved in aqua regia. This is due to the formation of silver chloride on the surface of the film. Also resistant to acids are metals such as titanium, tantalum, zirconium, chromium, niobium and hafnium.
Tsarist vodka, the composition of which we have examined, is not used for oral administration!
Bolotov Balm
Very many people are interested in information about Bolotov's balm. It is known that a mixture of concentrated acids - nitric and hydrochloric - is aqua regia. The composition according to Bolotov is a weaker solution. The balm, which is prepared in pharmacies, corresponds to a 3 percent solution of hydrochloric acid. Therefore, it does not have a destructive effect on the human stomach and is taken orally. What effect does this tool have on the human body?
Sulfuric acid dissolves connective tissue due to the conversion of sugar into mucopolysaccharides. In other words, it dissolves old cells and helps improve digestion. Nitric acid improves adrenal function and increases adrenaline. There is also an improvement in cell nutrition, where pyruvic acid plays an important role . Bolotov Balm promotes the formation of vitamins and amino acids in the body and restores protein molecules. It has a beneficial effect on all processes occurring in the body, and prevents inflammation. Balm performs several functions. The first is an increase in the number of new cells. Secondly, this is a decrease in slagging of the body, that is, the conversion of toxins into salts and their removal from the body. The third is the fight against microbes and the restoration of organs.
"Russian standard"
Founded in 1998, the company for the production of alcoholic beverages is the largest producer in this area. Russian Standard Vodka is a drink that is produced in several versions at a factory in St. Petersburg. Today the lineup consists of several types: "Empire", "Original", "Platinum" and "Russian Standard Gold". All varieties have characteristics characteristic of this type and unique properties. This product can be called truly the best. The composition of Russian Standard vodka includes only high-quality ingredients. Production technology meets all modern requirements. For production, they take the best varieties of wheat grown in the Chernozem region, and water - from an underground source that is connected to Lake Ladoga. This is a soft, palatable drink worthy of aristocrats.
Vodka "Beluga"
Beluga is premium vodka. This drink can be called one of the best on our shelves. Vodka "Beluga", the composition of which can be called ideal, contains natural honey, milk thistle extract and oatmeal. It is made from the best luxury alcohol and water from artesian springs. This drink is bottled in bottles made in France. Each instance is decorated with a fish emblem and covered with a sealed, environmentally friendly cork.
Preferring strong alcoholic drinks, choose only high-quality products. And remember that excessive consumption of vodka leads to irreversible consequences.