The word "vodka" is a diminutive of the Slavic voda which means water.

Vodka can be produced from grain, potatoes, molasses, soybeans, grapes, sugar beets, with rye and wheat vodkas being considered superior.

The alcohol content in vodka usually ranges from 35 to 60 percent by volume. In 1893 the Russian chemist Dmitri Mendeleev established that the perfect percentage was 38%, but since back then the spirits were taxed depending on their strength, the percentage was rounded up to 40 to simplify the calculation of tax. Since then the classic Russian vodka is 40%. In the European Union today, the minimum alcohol content in vodka is set at 37.5%.

Popularity of vodka in Slavic and Scandinavian cultures may be explained by the cold winters that prevented the transportation of wines and beers as these drinks were freezing due to their low alcohol content.

The so called Vodka Belt countries include Scandinavian and Baltic states, Poland, Belarus, Ukraine and Russia. The vodka belt countries produce 70% of the EU's vodka.

Under the US law vodka must not have any distinctive aroma, character, colour or flavour, which makes it a perfect ingredient for the cocktails. The first popular vodka-based cocktail in the US invented in 1941 was a combination of vodka and ginger ale called the "Moscow Mule".

In addition to its main purpose vodka can be used as used as an astringent, cleaning agent or local anesthetic.

Gallery of Absolute Vodka bottle designs