Since the year 2000, because of evolving consumer tastes and regulatory changes, several 'artisanal vodka' or even 'ultra premium vodka' brands have appeared.

a b Schrad, Mark Lawrence (5 May 2023). "Russia Has a Vodka Addiction. So Does Vladimir Putin – But Not the Same Way". POLITICO . Retrieved 7 May 2023.

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And while rum is often associated with sunnier climates (such as the Caribbean), and tequila coming strictly from Mexico, vodka is a much more global spirit. We tested bottles from here in the UK and across Europe, with our winning bottle surprisingly coming from South Africa. How we test vodka A type of distilled liquor designated by the Russian word vodka came to Russia in the late 14th century. In 1386, the Genoese ambassadors brought the first aqua vitae ("the water of life") to Moscow and presented it to Grand Duke Dmitry Donskoy. The liquid obtained by distillation of grape must was thought to be a concentrate and a "spirit" of wine ( spiritus vini in Latin), whence came to the name of this substance in many European languages (like English spirit, or Russian спирт, spirt).

Until the mid-18th century, the drink remained relatively low in alcohol content, not exceeding 40% ABV. Multiple terms for the drink were recorded, sometimes reflecting different levels of quality, alcohol concentration, filtering, and the number of distillations; most commonly, it was referred to as "burning wine", "bread wine", or even in some locations simply "wine". In some locations, grape wine may have been so expensive that it was a drink only for aristocrats. Burning wine was usually diluted with water to 24% ABV or less before drinking. It was mostly sold in taverns and was quite expensive. At the same time, the word vodka was already in use, but it described herbal tinctures (similar to Nalewka), containing up to 75% ABV, and made for medicinal purposes. Scholars debate the beginnings of vodka [15] because there is little historical material available. [16] [17] For many centuries, beverages differed significantly compared to the vodka of today, as the spirit at that time had a different flavor, color, and smell, and was originally used as medicine. It contained little alcohol, an estimated maximum of about 14%. Tooke, William (1799). "View of the Russian empire during the reign of Catharine the Second, and to the close of the present century, Volume 1". Piccadilly: T.N. Longman and O. Rees, Pater-Noster-Row, and J. Debrett: 362. {{ cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= ( help) Canadian liquor stores remove Russian vodka from shelves after Ukraine invasion". Reuters. 26 February 2022 . Retrieved 26 February 2022. Since the 1890s, standard vodkas have been 40% alcohol by volume (ABV) (80 U.S. proof). [4] The European Union has established a minimum alcohol content of 37.5% for vodka. [5] [6] Vodka in the United States must have a minimum alcohol content of 40%. [7]This cookie is set by Rubicon Project to control synchronization of user identification and exchange of user data between various ad services. a b The Art of Distilling, Revised and Expanded: An Enthusiast's Guide to the Artisan Distilling of Whiskey, Vodka, Gin and other Potent Potables. Quarry Books. January 2019. ISBN 9781631595554.