What are vodka liquors? You’ve likely seen both the words liquor and liqueur before, and some people even pronounce them the same way, so it’s not unusual for people to assume they’re referring to the same thing or that the latter is just a fancy or foreign way of spelling the former. There are some big differences though, and “vodka liquors” are very different from “vodka liqueurs.”
Vodka Liquors vs. Vodka Liqueurs: What’s the Difference?
Vodka Liquors
Vodka is a clear, distilled spirit made from grains or potatoes. It has a neutral taste and a high alcohol content, usually around 40%. Vodka is just one of many types of liquor, so in actuality, the term “vodka liquor” is redundant, though it’s important to remember that while all vodka is liquor, not all liquors are vodka.
Liquor, also known as spirits, is an alcoholic beverage made by distillation of grains, fruits, or vegetables. Other examples of liquors include whiskey, gin, and rum. The key thing that makes liquor different from other types of alcohol is that distillation.
Distillation: Making Liquor What It Is
Distillation is a method of separating and purifying the alcohol from a fermented mixture, such as grains, fruits, or vegetables. This process increases the alcohol content, typically to around 40%.
This contrasts with other types of alcohol, like beer and wine, which are made through fermentation. Fermentation is the process of converting sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide. This process generally results in lower alcohol content, typically around 5-15% for beer and 9-16% for wine.
Vodka Liqueurs
Vodka liqueur is a vodka (a type of liquor, remember) that has been flavored and sweetened. Liqueurs are made by infusing spirits with fruits, herbs, spices, cream, or nuts, then sweetening them with sugar or other sweeteners. Vodka liqueurs often have a lower alcohol content than regular vodka and are typically consumed as a sipping spirit or used in cocktails.
What’s the Difference Between a Vodka Liqueur and a Flavored Vodka?
A vodka liqueur is like the fancy distant cousin of regular vodka. It’s made by infusing the vodka with delicious flavors like fruits, herbs, spices, cream, or nuts and then adding a touch of sweetness. The result is a yummy, flavored spirit that’s a bit less strong than regular vodka, usually around 15-30% alcohol. They’re great for sipping or using in cocktails.
Flavored vodkas, on the other hand, are like the younger sibling of regular vodka. They’re made by infusing the vodka with flavors but without the added sweetness. So, they still have the same strong kick as regular vodka, usually around 40% alcohol, but they have a flavor of some kind added in. These are great to use as a mixer in cocktails to add a specific flavor without any added sweetness.
In short, a vodka liqueur is a fancy, flavored, and sweetened version of vodka, while a flavored vodka is a fun, flavored version of vodka that still retains the same neutral taste and alcohol content as regular vodka.
A Bit of History
When Was Distillation Invented?
Distillation is like the superhero of the alcohol world. It’s the process that turns regular old fermented juice into the strong stuff we all know and love. But it hasn’t always been that way. Ancient human civilizations would make crude versions of alcohol by fermenting fruits and honey, but it was pretty much like drinking a really sweet, really strong fruit punch. Not exactly what we would call a smooth sipping experience.
Fast forward a few centuries to the 12th century, where some clever monks and alchemists were like, “hey, what if we boiled this fermented juice and caught the steam? Maybe we can separate the water from the alcohol.” Thus, distillation was born!
How It Works
Distillation works by heating a liquid mixture to create vapor, then cooling and condensing that vapor to collect the desired components. During distillation, the mixture is heated in a still, and as the liquid mixture is heated, the components with lower boiling points vaporize first. These vapors then travel through a tube called a condenser, where they are cooled and condensed back into a liquid form. The condensed liquid, which is now separated from the original mixture, is collected in a container called the receiver.
In the case of alcoholic beverages, the goal of distillation is to increase the alcohol content by separating the alcohol from the other components of a fermented mixture. For example, when making whiskey, the fermented liquid made from grains is heated in a still, and the vapor that comes off the still is mostly composed of alcohol because alcohol vaporizes much more quickly than any of the other components of that fermented mixture. This vapor is then cooled and condensed back into a liquid form, which is then collected and aged in barrels to become whiskey.
Distillation can actually be done multiple times to purify the desired component further; this is known as double or triple distillation. This process is used in the production of high-proof spirits. Many people who have to eat gluten-free, for example, can drink double or triple-distilled liquors, even if those liquors come from a grain mash that contains gluten. The distillation process purifies the end product so much that no gluten remains.
When Did Liqueurs Become Popular?
The origins of liqueur can be traced back to ancient civilizations, where fermented fruits and honey were used to make primitive versions of liqueurs. However, the process of distillation, which is used to make modern liqueurs, was not developed until the 12th century, so these were not true liqueurs as we know them now.
Liqueurs as we know them today, sweetened and flavored, began to gain popularity in the 16th and 17th centuries in Europe, especially in Italy and France. Monks and alchemists began to experiment with infusing different herbs, fruits, and spices into distilled spirits, creating new flavors and aromas. They were used for medicinal purposes and as a way to improve the taste of harsh spirits.
By the 18th century, liqueurs had become a popular form of alcohol, and many commercial distilleries began to emerge. The production and consumption of liqueurs continued to grow throughout the 19th century and into the 20th century.
What’s the Origin of Vodka in Particular?
The origins of vodka can be traced back to ancient Eastern Europe, specifically the area that is now Poland and Russia, where it has been made for centuries. The earliest recorded mention of vodka production in Russia is from the 9th century when it was made by distilling fermented grains or potatoes.
The modern version of vodka that we know today, which is a clear, high-alcohol spirit, was not developed until the late 19th century. In the late 1800s, Polish and Russian scientists began to experiment with new distillation techniques to produce a more pure form of vodka. This led to the creation of the “continuous still,” which allowed for the production of a much higher-proof and clearer spirit.
Vodka Liqueur Cocktails
Most people are familiar with the standard vodka cocktails, but what can you do with some of these sweeter liqueurs? Here are a few recommendations to get you started.
Lemon Drop Martini
- 2 oz vodka
- 1 oz lemon vodka liqueur
- 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
- Sugar for rimming the glass
Shake all the ingredients with ice and strain into a sugar-rimmed martini glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.
Chocolate-Covered Cherry Martini
- 2 oz vodka
- 1 oz chocolate vodka liqueur
- 1 oz cherry vodka liqueur
- 1 oz chocolate syrup
- Ice
Shake all the ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a cherry.
Pineapple Upside Down Martini:
- 2 oz vodka
- 1 oz pineapple vodka liqueur
- 1/2 oz grenadine
- 1/2 oz orange juice
- Ice
Shake all the ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a cherry and a slice of pineapple.
Vodka Liqueur Spritz
- 2 oz vodka
- 1 oz of your favorite fruit liqueur (e.g. raspberry, cranberry, peach)
- 1/2 oz fresh lime juice
- 2 oz of sparkling water
- Ice
- Slice of lime or fruit of your choice for garnish
In a wine glass, add ice and pour the vodka, liqueur, and lime juice, and top it off with sparkling water. Give it a quick stir and add your garnish of choice. Also, you can experiment with different types of sparkling water (such as tonic water, soda water, or even champagne) to give it a different texture and taste.
Want to try something new and interesting? Come over to Town’s End Distillery & Stillhouse and look at our menu or ask for something new. We’re all about handcrafted liquors and unique cocktails, and our passion is to do things right from the very beginning. We want you to enjoy the very best drinks in a great environment. We’re always creating something new and trying to learn, so come join us!
