In the world? It is unlikely that an unambiguous answer can be given to this question. But you can call the most popular, focusing on the volume of its production and consumption.

The well-known industry magazine "Drinks International" annually presents its rating of the largest alcohol brands in terms of sales volume - Millionaires Club. According to the research conducted, the list of the fifteen most popular brands of vodka is as follows.

15. Finlandia

4. Green Mark

The fourth place in the ranking of the largest vodka brands is occupied by the Russian "Green Mark". Over the past year, more than 9.30 mln dal classic and flavored vodka "Green Mark".

It should be noted that almost the entire volume is sold out on the domestic market.

3. Bread gift

Ukrainian vodka "Khlebny Dar" entered the top three. In 2012, she also received the Best Organic Vodka prize at the Best Drink 2012 competition.

2. Absolut

Swedish vodka "Absolute" has achieved incredible popularity largely thanks to its creative advertising campaign. Over the past year, the volume of production of vodkas and liqueurs "Absolute" amounted to more than 11.21 mln dal.

1. Smirnoff

Almost twice ahead of its closest competitor in terms of the amount of vodka sold per year, Smirnoff has been leading the rating of the most popular vodkas in the world for many years.

Today the brand belongs to the Diageo company, which also owns Jonnie Walker, Baileys, Guinness and other well-known brands of alcohol.

The annual volume of production of vodka "Smirnoff" is constantly growing and in 2012 amounted to 24.7 mln dal.

Vodka from the company "Directive"

In our catalog you will find more than 160 brands of vodka of Russian and foreign production. All drinks can be bought wholesale and retail.

As you know, vodka in the world is one of the most consumed alcoholic beverages in almost all countries. Until relatively recently, such drinks were not evaluated internationally. Good or bad vodka - everyone determined for himself. But today you can see the official ratings of vodka, although some conclusions can be disagreed with.

How vodka is evaluated in international competitions

Probably not worth saying that today in the world you can find a huge number of products of this type. There are so many vodka products that no rating agency simply cannot count them.

Some people think that names like "Royal" or "Tsarskaya vodka" are already the key to success and popularity. Alas, this is not the case. First, aqua regia in the usual sense is a mixture of concentrated nitric and sulfuric acids in a 1: 3 ratio. And secondly, the name can be as simple as you like, and the quality is the highest. On the other hand, today you can find aqua regia intended for drinking. It is a cocktail and is prepared on the basis of ordinary vodka, dessert vermouth, pepper and orange liqueurs.

But now about the assessment. As a rule, in all international tasting competitions, vodka brands are evaluated according to several criteria: aroma, taste, transparency, aftertaste, bottle appearance, etc. Our person, frankly speaking, does not understand why the bottle is involved in the assessment, because the main thing is not what is outside, but what is inside.

It is this moment that raises great doubts, since today you can find expensive vodka brands such as "OVAL Swarovski Crystal" in a bottle of gold, trimmed with stones. It is clear that its cost is about 7 thousand dollars, and only because of the golden bottle.

What determines the quality of vodka and how to determine it

Vodka is a mixture of alcohol and water, and you can immediately notice these two components that affect its quality. As a rule, rectified water and pure artesian water are used in production, although low-quality products can be found anywhere.

In addition, the indicator of the content of fusel oils and other impurities is also directly related to quality. Many unscrupulous manufacturers even add sulfuric acid to increase the strength of the drink!

At home, by the way, it is quite simple to check the quality of alcohol or vodka. To do this, you can use ordinary potassium permanganate. The faster the alcohol or vodka turns into the color of potassium permanganate (much less than five minutes), the worse the product.

You can do it even easier. Just shake the vodka bottle. If large bubbles form in it, then the product is of poor quality. If the bubbles are small (barely noticeable) and rise upward like a snake, then the vodka is good. Finally, the easiest option is to put the vodka in the freezer for a couple of hours. If the appearance of ice is noticeable, then this is not vodka, and do not understand what. Water freezes, but low-quality alcohol remains. In addition, in modern production, double distillation is often used, and with such a technology, such an effect should not be observed.

World ranking (TOP-15): top five

Good vodka isn't always expensive. World ratings prove this. What is most interesting is that the positions of vodkas in the ratings of different countries can be very different.

For example, Smirnoff is recognized as the best-selling vodka in the world, followed by Absolute and, surprisingly, Nemiroff.

Of the Russian varieties in sales abroad, the leader is Stolichnaya vodka. Most interestingly, it is recognized by almost all the world's leading rating agencies in this area.

However, according to data from absolutely all sources on a comprehensive assessment, the best vodka today is the French brand "Gray Goose", which is made with five-fold distillation. According to analysts' forecasts, it has every chance of pushing out competitors in terms of sales.

The second place is taken by the Russian vodka "Crystall", followed by the Polish brand "Krolewska" almost without a break. Another Russian brand, Yuri Dolgoruki vodka, has firmly settled in fourth place, and the well-known Finnish vodka Finlandia closes the top five.

It is interesting that Kristall vodka uses not only high-quality alcohol and water, but also a special additive to soften the taste (regulate acidity) in the form of malic acid. In its production, a special carbohydrate module called "Alcosoft" is also used. Stolichnaya vodka is produced according to the classic technology, which has been worked out to a high degree, which allowed this brand to become one of the most popular in the world.

World ranking (TOP-15): second five

Less popular and good vodka is presented in the second five. In terms of downgrading, the places here are distributed as follows: Russian vodka Jewel of Russia, Dutch Vincent, Rain (USA), Ketel One of Dutch production and English brand 3 Olives.

Note that even good vodka from Holland and England is presented here, although these countries do not differ in special consumption of vodka products (except for whiskey in Great Britain), since here we are talking more about the consumption of beer and its varieties.

World ranking (TOP-15): third five

It is clear that one can disagree with such a rating, because good vodka that is not included in the "Top 15" is found in every country in the world. Nevertheless, based on these data, one can immediately see that Russian and Dutch manufacturers are leading in production and quality. True, it is worth noting here that Russia is more focused on the domestic market, while Holland is more focused on the foreign market.

The best vodka

As it is already clear, the French brand "Gray Goose" was recognized as the best vodka. But do not forget that if such a rating were compiled, say, in Russia, Ukraine or Belarus, then it could undergo significant changes.

In addition, if you look at the price difference, many people simply cannot afford a French drink. But Russian and Ukrainian varieties are relatively inexpensive (price for the same volume). Yes, and the taste can also be argued here, because our people prefer, so to speak, the classics, and they absolutely do not need all these inventions with a softening of taste.

The most unusual and expensive vodka

Now let's dwell on the most unusual varieties of vodka. One from Swarovski has already been said. Among the most expensive vodkas, it is worth mentioning the Belver Bears brand, which has become an official attribute of the 2014 Cannes Film Festival. Its price is about 7 thousand 250 US dollars.

But, perhaps, the most unusual are drinks like Russo-Baltique with a cost of 740 thousand dollars and DIVA, which is sold at a price of 1 million dollars. In the first case, the price is due to the fact that the bottle cork is made of yellow and white gold, and an SUV is attached to it when buying. In the second case, the price rises due to the fact that precious and semiprecious stones are added to the vodka when bottled.

But all the records will be broken by a more expensive version of Russo-Baltique vodka, a bottle of which is packed in 30-centimeter bullet-proof glass, the cork, as it should be, is made using white and yellow gold, and an SUV with gold wheels is included in the purchase package. The price of this product has not yet been announced, but one can imagine how much such a drink will cost.

Outcome

In general, the choice of vodka, of course, depends on the taste preferences of the buyer himself and his ability to pay. Nevertheless, many manufacturers in the post-Soviet space today offer a fairly high quality product at a relatively low price. Naturally, you shouldn't buy cheap artisanal vodka or a fake of some global brand. It is not known how the consumption of such a product may end. In addition, there is an unofficial system in the world in which it is clearly indicated that such and such vodka on the domestic or foreign market costs no less than so much and so much. That is why you should not take even a well-known vodka in a beautiful bottle at a deliberately low price.

The choice of a strong alcoholic drink is best carried out based on the fundamental characteristics of quality, as well as directly on the rating formed on the basis of statistical data. And in this post you will find out which vodka should be considered the best in quality, as well as which drinks in this segment are preferred by consumers around the world today. You will be offered an up-to-date rating and a lot of useful information, thanks to which you will subsequently be able to make an informed choice of alcohol.

Did you know? The heaviest medal in the world is the Drinking Award. It was introduced back in 1714 by Peter I. Together with a collar and chains, this symbolic award weighed 8 kg. Such a mark was awarded to those people who abused alcohol, and under the supervision of the executive bodies, they had to carry this "banner" without taking off for a week.

If you compare two or more premium products, then it is almost impossible to decide which vodka is better. Only individual preferences can reveal for you a product whose tasting characteristics are as close to ideal as possible. At the same time, you should be aware that modern experienced consumers identify several fundamental criteria, having familiarized yourself with which you can say for sure whether alcohol is of high quality in your hands or not. These criteria include:

• Water. When deciding which vodka is good and which is not, you should initially pay attention to the main liquid from which alcohol is made. The cleaner and softer it is, the higher the quality of the alcohol will be. Most premium products are made from artesian-sourced liquids, while mid-range and affordable products are usually based on in-plant water.
• Equipment. Try to choose drinks from renowned companies that monitor their production lines responsibly. Good vodka can only be bottled using modern high-precision equipment. Products of dubious and unfamiliar companies are best avoided.

• Alcohol. An important criterion that determines the quality is the degree of purification of alcohol. Today the best drinks are created on the basis of the alcoholic component of the class, Lux, Extra and Basis. Their difference lies in the degree and quality of cleaning.
• Supplements. Every year, drinks with various impurities in the composition are becoming more and more popular on the market. Their taste and aroma stands out with a special alluring charm, but at the same time, every consumer who finds joy in these products should know that any additives seriously affect the shelf life of the product and its structure. Poor quality ingredients lead to the formation of unpleasant organoleptic colors even in products based on good deluxe alcohols.

Did you know? In addition to the usual transparent strong alcoholic products on sale, you can find and. It is produced by Blavod and is mainly targeted at the UK market. The taste characteristics of this product are pampered with classic premium vodka trails.

Rating of brands of good vodka

Having familiarized yourself with what factors can affect the quality of a popular strong alcoholic beverage, you should also pay attention to the rating of these products, based on the popularity of various brands and their products. It looks like this:

Finlandia

It is considered to be one of the best vodkas in the world. It is appreciated and revered by consumers from different parts of our planet. Produced by Finlandia Vodka Worldwide LTD from glacial melt water and six-row barley. Initially, the base of the composition is distilled into a rectified material, and then crystal clear water is added to it. Today, the products of the renowned brand are actively supplied to more than 135 countries.

Stolichnaya

Premium vodka bottled by SPI Group professionals. It first appeared on the market at the beginning of the 20th century, and since then it has already managed to attend various international events with dignitaries, was noted for its quality by presidents of various countries and actors, and also visited space. The eminent alcoholic brand is based only on good alcohols of the Alpha class.

Count Ledoff

It is rightfully considered one of the best vodkas in Russia. produced by Tatspirtprom at the Kazan Distillery. In its manufacture, Alpha alcohols and a special principle of ice processing are used, which makes it possible to ideally clean the structure of any foreign and harmful impurities.

Talka

It is not the best vodka in the world, but it is also one of the most popular. A bottle of good, produced by the Russian Alcohol company, is created on the basis of Lux class alcohols, selected wheat and glacial melt water. The main highlight of the cooking process is the alcohol filtration through the silver.

Did you know? Until 1886, the standard for the strength of vodka was considered to be 38.3 degrees. It was raised to 40 just for the convenience of counting.

Saimaa

Alcoholic beverage, which is created by the Finnish company Saimaa Beverages from organic wheat of the highest category. Also in the composition you will find an infusion of oat flakes and water from the glacial moraine present in the vicinity of Lake Saimaa. A special feature of the manufacturing process is the 150-stage distillation.

Husky

Recognizable alcohol, which is created by the Alcoholic Siberian Group. The beverage production principle is based on the use of extremely low temperatures at the time of filtration. Thanks to this, all fusel oils and other impurities disappear from it. All that remains is a perfectly even and balanced palette of flavors.

Bulbash Special

Alcohol, produced by the Dionis company. The colorful products of the company are based on grain alcohol of the highest category, infusion on oatmeal, honey and raisins. Due to the presence of additional sweet components, alcohol acquires an amazing and fragrant taste, which allowed it to gain a large number of awards at international competitions in a relatively short period of its existence.

Five lakes

Created by the Alcoholic Siberian Group from the purest glacial water saturated with silver and oxygen. Also in the composition there is a luxury alcohol, which makes it possible to achieve phenomenal softness in organoleptic terms.

Firewood cleaned with birch charcoal

Alcohol of the Agat distillery, which, in addition to good alcohols, contains birch sap, honey and purified water. A special feature of the company's drinks is their environmentally friendly character. The drink is cleaned exclusively on birch charcoal.

Absolut

It has been created by the company of the same name since 1879. The main feature of alcohol is a multifaceted distillation, which allows you to achieve flawless tasting colors. Today the product is especially popular in 126 countries of the world.

ABOUT PRODUCTS

As part of a rolling study of strong alcoholic beverages, an examination of 49 brands of vodka from 34 manufacturers was carried out. The items sent for research are made on the basis of deluxe and alpha alcohols. The products have been tested for 22 quality and safety parameters. Most of the goods are Russian-made, but there are also foreign ones - from Finland, Sweden, Belarus and France. The cost of production ranged from 205 to 1554 rubles per bottle. The good news: there is no “fake” vodka among the samples studied. The drinks of 18 brands turned out to be of high quality, and 31 were of even higher quality. They meet not only the requirements of the current quality and safety standards, but also the requirements of the leading Roskachestvo standard. Basically, the goods of higher quality were drinks produced in Russia, one - in Finland, one - in Belarus. 29 Russian-made goods can qualify for the Russian Quality Mark.

Russian quality system standard

The standard of the Russian quality system combined the current GOST standards for vodkas and special vodkas, and also established increased requirements for the content of methyl alcohol, the concentration of fusel oils, aldehydes and esters for potential recipients of the Russian Quality Mark. Also, an alkalinity indicator has been introduced into the leading Roskachestvo standard. The required level of localization of production for the assignment of the Russian Quality Mark is at least 98% of the cost of goods.

STO “Russian quality system. Conformity assessment of vodkas "

• Alkalinity - no more than 2 cm3.
• Mass concentration of acetaldehyde in 1 dm3 of anhydrous alcohol - no more than 3 mg.
• Mass concentration of fusel oil - no more than 5 mg.
• Mass concentration of esters (methyl acetate, ethyl acetate) in 1 dm3 of anhydrous alcohol - no more than 5 mg.
• The volume fraction of methyl alcohol in terms of anhydrous alcohol is not more than 0.003%.
• The mass concentration of crotonaldehyde (denaturing additive) in 1 dm3 of anhydrous alcohol is not allowed.
• Organoleptic assessment - not less than 9.4 points.

Alcohol quality is at the forefront

Vodka - at first glance, the product is simple: alcohol and water. But the quality of vodka can be very different. Often, a product is falsified - when there is a complete or partial replacement of edible alcohol with a cheaper, technical one. Much depends on how well the alcohol is purified from extraneous, sometimes toxic impurities (for example, fusel oils, aldehydes). Of course, the abuse of strong drinks is harmful to health in any case. But if the vodka contains components that are unacceptable by GOST or technical regulations, or permitted by GOST, but contained in quantities exceeding the maximum allowable, it can become deadly even in small doses. Most of these components are removed from the drink during the purification of alcohol - rectification.

For reference

Rectified ethyl alcohol is produced from food and non-food raw materials. For the production of vodka, in accordance with the requirements of GOST 12712 “Special vodkas and vodkas. General technical conditions ", rectified ethyl alcohol from food raw materials of the highest purity," extra "," alpha "and" luxury "can be used.

To find out the nature of alcohol (food grade or technical), as well as to check how well it is purified, the experts looked in the vodka samples sent for examination:

• methanol - methyl alcohol, the use of which is deadly to humans;
• acetaldehyde, which is found, for example, in alcohol-containing non-food products, the so-called "hawthorn";
• toxic chemical elements such as lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic: they can get into vodka from raw materials (wheat, potatoes);
• fusel oils and esters;
• furfural is a by-product of fermentation; it is also removed during rectification; if the purification is poor, furfural is present.

The drinks were also tested for crotonaldehyde content. Its presence would indicate that denatured alcohol is present in the composition. Crotonaldehyde was not found in the vodka sent for research.

Denatured alcohol (denatured alcohol) is a non-food grade alcohol. A mixture of ethyl alcohol with a small amount of methanol, gasoline, kerosene or other denatured alcohol is used as a solvent for varnishes and polishes.

The nature of the alcohol was additionally determined by the spectral-luminescent method of alcohol identification. It turned out that only edible alcohol was used in the manufacture of the investigated vodka.

Comments Marina Medrish, head of the VNIIPBT laboratory, branch of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution "Federal Research Center of Nutrition and Biotechnology":

–Currently, vodka is most often produced on the basis of rectified ethyl alcohol "luxury" and "alpha". Lux alcohol is produced from various types of grains and their mixtures in various proportions. It can be wheat, rye, triticale, corn. Alcohol "alpha" is produced from wheat, rye or their mixture in various proportions. There is a risk to buy alcohol-based vodka from non-food raw materials. To identify counterfeit vodka, it is necessary to determine the nature of the origin of alcohol. In order to make sure that the product is made on the basis of alcohol from food raw materials, a spectral-luminescence analysis is carried out: the spectral characteristics of the studied sample of vodka are compared with the spectral characteristics of control reference samples prepared on the basis of alcohol from non-food raw materials.

And how likely is it to find “fake” vodka (a cheap, low-quality substitute) in retail? In the opinion Vadim Drobiza, Head of the Center for Research on Federal and Regional Alcohol Markets, the problem of vodka quality and safety concerns mostly illegal retail, where there is no control.

- In 2017, about a billion liters of vodka will be sold in licensed retail, which is under strict control. I am absolutely sure that there will be no claims either for safety or for the quality of vodka products in legal retail. But, unfortunately, there is also an illegal retail sector (for example, unlicensed shops, pavilions, kiosks, hand-held sales, etc.), where about 250 million liters of illegal vodka are sold annually. Such products are manufactured in semi-artisanal conditions using stolen illegal alcohol and often do not meet the mandatory requirements of technical regulations,- notes Vadim Drobiz.

How to check at home if there are fusel oils in vodka? Just put some vodka on your hands, rub and smell. A strong unpleasant odor signals the presence of fusel oils.

Honestly about cleaning

We mentioned that rectified ethyl alcohol from food raw materials of the highest purity, "extra", "luxury" or "alpha" is used for the preparation of vodka.

Among the vodkas sent for examination, the products of eight brands, according to the labeling, are made of alcohol "alpha": Graf Ledoff, "Honest", "Morosha", "Khortytsa", "Russian currency Platinum", "Solnechnaya Derevenka", "Ozero Great "," Belebeevskaya ").
One is from the highest purity alcohol (Absolut).
The rest are made of luxury alcohol.

As part of the study, the experts correlated the types of alcohol declared on the label and the actual characteristics of the product - in particular, the content of methyl alcohol in it.

In food alcohol of purification "alpha", the content of methyl alcohol is not more than 0.003%. In alcohol of cleaning "extra" - no more than 0.02%. In alcohol of the highest purity - 0.03%.

The study showed that all manufacturers are honest with consumers in this matter. The actual overstatement of the alcohol category, when instead of the declared "luxury", is used, for example, alcohol of the highest purity, was not found.

However, it turned out that the "modest" Absolut vodka had the characteristics not of the highest purity alcohol, as indicated on the label, but of the "alpha" alcohol. This may be due to the fact that Absolut vodka is produced in Sweden. In European countries, edible alcohol is not divided into varieties, as in Russia. There is no concept of "luxury" or "alpha" in relation to the purification of alcohol.

The question may arise, is it advisable in this case to evaluate the grade of alcohol from a foreign product? Nevertheless, since this vodka is sold in Russian retail, experts evaluated foreign goods according to the criteria adopted in the Russian Federation in order to characterize the quality of foreign vodka in categories that are understandable to the Russian consumer.

And Absolut showed its best side here.

Hard water requirements

The quality of vodka depends not only on alcohol, but also on water. Such water should contain the necessary set of micro- and macroelements, various salts (sodium + potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphates, nitrates, sulfates, chlorides). How many there should be - this range is determined by the technical regulations.

In production, water for an alcoholic beverage is specially softened, cations of "unsuitable" calcium and magnesium are replaced by cations of potassium and sodium. Then the water can be subjected to reverse osmosis. Sulfates are removed, which add bitterness to vodka.

For some vodkas, the production of which involves cleaning with milk, hard water is used in order to ensure the precipitation of the casein contained in the milk.

According to the results of the study, there are no comments for most of the products.

• Sodium and potassium are slightly more than the optimal amount - in Tomsk Standard vodka - 80.7 mg / dm3 (GOST recommends up to 60 mg / dm3). This can be explained by the use of an ion exchange unit for water preparation.
• Excess content of calcium, magnesium, chlorides and sulfates was recorded in the Parliament vodka. This may be due to the purification of vodka with milk.

Comments Marina Medrish:

- Prepared water is used for the production of vodka. Special preparation of water provides vodka with a mild taste, clean aroma and optimal salt composition. Therefore, in the technical regulations for the production of vodkas, the requirements for treated water are spelled out. One of the most important indicators affecting the stability of vodka during storage is hardness. Excessive content of calcium and magnesium ions leads to turbidity and sediment formation in the finished product, and, consequently, its rejection. In the production and technological regulations for the production of vodka, not only the maximum permissible, but also the optimal indicators are determined, which make it possible to obtain a finished product with high organoleptic properties. What kind of salt composition the vodka will have is up to the manufacturer, but it must be in strict accordance with the requirements of the current regulatory documentation.

With the right concentration of alcohol and a certain purification of water, the product must have an appropriate alkalinity. According to the increased requirements of Roskachestvo, the alkalinity of vodka should not exceed 2 cm3. There are no comments on this parameter for the examined goods: the alkalinity of the samples is from 0.5 to 1 cm3.

The taste of a bygone era

Organoleptic tests have confirmed the theory of the importance of water treatment. Vodkas, for which the water, apparently, was prepared in accordance with the technological instructions and recipe of the manufacturer, scored the minimum number of points during the tasting.

• The taste of Tomsk Standard was noted as sharp and pungent. The average tasting score is 9 points.
• The taste and aroma of "Parliament" is sharp, there is bitterness in the taste. The average tasting score is 9 points.

Also, goods of the Every Day, Graf Ledoff, Honest, Nemiroff, Kalina Krasnaya, Maikopskaya, Medoff, Platinum Currency, and Zhavoronki brands did not reach 9.4 points set by the leading Roskachestvo standard. , Veda, Staraya Kazan, Absolut, Milovka, Morozovskaya Gorka, Russian Steel, Lyuli-Lyuli.

Well, who scored the highest number of points (9.6) during the tasting?

These are vodkas of such brands as Green Mark, Winter Road, Gosudarev Zakaz, Five Lakes, Russian Standard, Beluga, Belebeevskaya.

However, it is worth considering that taste is a subjective concept. If the consumer prefers a harder drink, this is his own business.

- In Soviet times, no one in our country drank soft vodka,- notices Vadim Drobiz. – Soft vodka made from more refined alcohols was drunk only in the West. In Russia, vodka fashion was different - we loved tough, real male vodka. In the post-Soviet era, consumer habits began to form in favor of soft vodka. This is a female type of vodka. In my opinion, this does not mean that vodka is better or worse made from high-purity alcohol, "luxury" or from alcohol "alpha" - it is vodka with different tastes. Today the market is saturated and consumers can choose a variety based on their personal preference.

Degrees and volume

In addition to the above, the strength of the drink and the completeness of the filling were checked for the vodkas sent for research.

• The strength of ordinary vodka can be from 37.5 to 56%.
• The strength of the vodka is special - from 37.5 to 45%.

Counterfeit vodka often has a low strength. Therefore, during the study, the compliance with the labeling of the volume fraction of ethyl alcohol was also checked. It turned out that the strength of drinks varies within 39.9-40%. Only Parliament vodka is slightly stronger than the others, literally by a tenth of a degree - 40.1%.

The completeness of filling the bottle was also evaluated. It turned out that the bottles of vodka are not less than stated on the label, and sometimes a little more.

So, in vodkas "Honest", "Morosha", "Five Lakes" - 510 cm3 instead of 500 cm3; in vodka "Lake Velikoe" - 257 cm3 instead of 250 cm3.

Marketing moves or the truth?

Manufacturers often write on the labels that vodka is purified with milk or with a 13 meter long carbon filter. Or that the manufacturer uses special triple silver filtration. Consumers sometimes see this as a marketer's fantasy. Is it true or not?

- All of the above - existing cleaning technologies, - says our expert Marina Medrish. - The traditional classical method is filtration of a water-alcohol solution on carbon columns. During filtration on carbon columns, both adsorption and oxidation processes take place, which forms a special aroma and taste of vodkas. This technology for the purification of a water-alcohol mixture is typical only for Russian vodka production. Nowadays, silver and platinum filtration is often used at the enterprises of the industry. When cleaning with milk, powdered milk is added to the sorting system to precipitate impurities with milk protein; this method of cleaning has been known in Russia for a long time (for example, this applies to Parliament vodka - ed.).

Sometimes manufacturers write that they use water from Lake Baikal or glaciers or melt water to make vodka. Vadim Drobiz doubts that in this case the information is reliable enough:

- I think it's advertising and marketing. A consumer who is worried about such nuances can be advised to require confirmation from the manufacturer. If you don’t get one, notify the FAS... (If the label contains false information, this is the reason for the consumer's complaint to the supervisory authorities - ed.)

Alcohol with water is not vodka yet!

Many vodkas contain many ingredients on their labels besides alcohol and water. For example, alcoholic infusions of mountain ash, raisins, oatmeal, pine nuts ... Sugar, soda, honey, etc.

Marina Medrish explains what it is for:

- Currently, a huge number of recipes have been developed for special vodkas and vodkas with a unique aroma and taste. The included recipe ingredients determine the quality, toxic safety and stability of vodka during storage, as well as its organoleptic characteristics.

The cost and quality characteristics of the products were taken into account by the Russian state quality system when compiling a rating table, in which there are good quality vodkas that do not pose health hazards (but, again, in moderation!). So you can stop the "pseudo-scientific" arguments of tipsy men on the topic of "very-very" vodka. And it makes no sense to test it with our own liver, all that is necessary, in accordance with the requirements for this kind of research, has already been done for us by the specialists of Roskachestvo.

The research results are quite "fresh" - from December last year. And the results are very encouraging, because almost all samples taken for research (49 brands from 34 manufacturers) turned out to be in full compliance with the quality of this product.

For the production of "darling", as its admirers affectionately call vodka, only food-grade ethyl rectified alcohol is used. Moreover, its varieties must be produced from food raw materials and properly purified.

Alcohol "alpha" - from such cereals as rye, wheat, or a mixture of these cereals in different proportions. In this case, the presence of methyl is possible - no more than 0.003% of the total volume of alcohol.

Cereals are also used for the production of luxury alcohol. It is allowed to use one type, as well as mix with potatoes, the content of which in the mixture should not exceed 35%. Indicators for methanol content are similar - only an extremely small amount is allowed, the maximum rate is 0.003%.

For your information. In our country, for the production of vodka belonging to the premium and super-premium classes, rectified ethyl alcohol of "alpha" or "luxury" purification is used.

Alcohol "extra" also refers to grain alcohols. For its production, wheat or rye, corn, triticale are used. In "extra" there can be no more than 0.02% methanol.

"The highest purification". This alcohol is produced from a variety of raw materials of vegetable origin - all products of agricultural enterprises are used, such as grain, potatoes, sugar beets, etc., it is also allowed to use waste arising from the production of sugar. Methyl alcohol (methanol) is allowed up to 0.03%.

The quality of alcohols is most important

The experts paid high priority to the quality of the alcohols. They tried to find components in them that should not be present in alcohol. It was also investigated whether the amount necessarily present in alcohol (even in such an alcohol as food, with a high degree of purification) of various substances does not exceed the permissible limit.

The experts carried out chemical and spectral analyzes of alcohol, their results were compared with the standard. First of all, they tried to identify the elements most dangerous for the body in alcohol.

To determine the nature of alcohol (food, technical) and the degree of purification, the examination determined in the samples presented the presence of:

• methanol (methyl alcohol) - a substance that is deadly to humans, causing such serious damage to the body, internal organs that a lethal outcome is possible;
• acetaldehyde, which is contained in the largest quantities in industrial alcohol and various liquids such as "Hawthorn". When drunk, this aldehyde becomes acetic acid, which burns the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract. Not only drinking acetaldehyde, but even being in that room, which is saturated with its vapors, is fraught with blindness, lesions - sometimes irreversible - of the respiratory tract;
• fusel oils, which are complex essential compounds that cause not only a severe hangover, but also lead to cirrhosis of the liver;
• toxic elements from the chemical periodic table (lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury), which can get with low-quality grain or other plant raw materials. This poison should never be present in alcohol;
• furfural - a by-product of fermentation. Science has already proven that furfural is toxic and can cause mutations in rats. It has also been proven that this substance leads to irritation of the skin and mucous membranes of a person. The final product - alcohol - will not contain furfural when rectified correctly;
• crotonaldehyde, the detection of which will indicate the presence of denatured alcohol in the presented sample - a substance consisting of technical alcohol and gasoline. Used for the production of solvents.

As a result of the thorough analyzes carried out, it was found that none of the selected samples did not deviate from the requirements for quality indicators, and the degree of purification of the alcohols used for the preparation of vodka, which is indicated in the labeling, corresponds to the values.

GOST for vodka

GOST 12712-2013 ("Special vodkas and vodkas. General technical conditions") prescribes norms for vodka produced in the Russian Federation, as well as imported to Russia from abroad, guaranteeing its safety for consumption.

It is this GOST that regulates the indicators of the presence of various components in such spirits, which are called vodka. The quality of alcohol and its organoleptic properties (requirements for smell, taste, softness), the presence of permissible additives, for example, extracts of vegetable origin, and other indicators are regulated. The largest volumes of vodka are supplied to Russia by Finland, Belarus, Sweden and France.

I would like to pay special attention to the fact that in all these states alcohol is not divided, as is done in the Russian Federation, into varieties, depending on the degree of its purification. And the requirements for the quality of food alcohols are not so strict.

Vodka quality: product rating

The following parameters of the obtained vodka samples were determined by independent studies of attracted experts:

• how much alcohol corresponds to a certain GOST adopted for the group of food alcohols; and also whether the degree of purification of alcohol is marked correctly;
• to what extent the requirements for such indicators of water as its quality and hardness were met. At the same time, the presence of salts and micro-, macroelements was checked, which should not exceed the permissible amount. Sulfates, which give bitterness to vodka, should be completely absent.

It should be noted that not all of the presented samples were able to successfully pass this test. For example, vodka "Tomsk Standard" contained an increased amount of sodium and potassium, which is explained by the use of an ion-exchange unit in the production process. “Parliament” is purified with milk, which, most likely, leads to an increased content of such microelements as magnesium and calcium, chlorides and sulfates in this vodka.

• organoleptic test means that experts check the presented vodka samples for aroma and taste, as well as aftertaste. The result was not surprising - only the samples of those brands of vodka products that failed to cope with the "water test" were assessed by only 9 points in terms of taste. Thus, the vodka "Tomsk Standard" was called by the tasters too harsh and hot in taste. The taste of bitterness present in the "Parliament" vodka unpleasantly struck. In addition, this vodka was recognized as sharp in taste. Of course, we can talk about the subjectivity of sensations, making the excuse that someone likes "vodyara" with a sharper taste, "burning". However, the opinion of specialists in their field, experts cannot be ignored;
• the strength and bulk of the samples of vodka did not fail - all samples were with a strength of 39.9-40 degrees. As for the "Parliament", its fortress even exceeded the required 40 by one tenth of a degree. The filling also turned out to be in perfect order - each 0.5 liter bottle contained at least 500 ml of vodka, often even with a "campaign". So, bottles of vodka "Five Lakes" and "Honest", "Mirosha" contained not 500, but 510 ml each. "Great Lake" - 257 ml (instead of 250 ml) .;
• the veracity of marketers has also been confirmed by the realities of technological processes - vodka is purified, as indicated on the labels, with 13-meter carbon filters or milk. Also, the statements of enterprises about their use of silver and platinum filters in the purification of vodka are true.

However, experts were skeptical about the statements, which they attributed more to marketing moves - that vodka was produced on water from Lake Baikal, from glaciers.

Experts have identified the best vodka brands in Russia

The awarding of seven Russian-made vodkas with the domestic "Quality Mark" took place. According to the expert group, leadership in the country remains for:

• "Moroshey" from alcohol "alpha". Mineral water - from Karelia, from LLC “Russian North”, natural honey or tincture of flax seeds is added;
• Homemade Wheat Pervak ​​produced by Russian North. For the preparation of vodka "luxury" alcohol is used on wheat bread crumbs, alcohol tincture of sugar syrup and linden is added;
• "Perm Lux" produced by JSC "Permalko", on rye bread crumbs;
• "Russian North Traditional", for the production of which was used alcohol "luxury" and tincture of honey and glucose, oatmeal;
• “Solnechnaya Derevenka”, in the production of which (LLC “LVZ Saranskiy”) infusion of rye malt and apple juice, sugar syrup are used;
• "Absolute horticion" from LLC "Rodnik and K". For production, alcohol "alpha" is used, infusion of wheat flakes and sugar syrup are added;
• "Tsarskoy original" (LLC "Group LADOGA") - it contains not only purified water and luxury alcohol, but also additives - natural linden honey and linden blossom infusion.

Improved quality

Twenty-four titles were rated “high quality” by the experts. As it was revealed in the course of laboratory studies, all these 24 vodka brands not only meet the requirements of GOST, but also the requirements of the leading standard from Roskachestvo.

High quality vodkas:

• "Belebeevskaya classic" - JSC "Bashspirt", alcohol "alpha", mineral water "Belebeevskaya 2";
• "Belenkaya Lux" - LLC "Georgievsky",
• "Bulbash special" with infusions of raisins and natural honey, oatmeal,
• "Gosudarev order" of the same LLC. This vodka is flavored with sugar syrup and sesame seeds, raisins,
• "Good Bear" from the same manufacturer. This vodka contains infusions of sugar syrup and lime blossom.

18 brands have boldly given the name of quality vodka.

It is important to note that for testing, samples were purchased from various retail outlets that have the appropriate license. Full information about the purchase made and all the parameters that were investigated are presented on the official Internet resource of Roskachestvo.

Ranking table by cost

It is noteworthy that the best taste, color and smell of vodkas in price categories from 230 to 775 rubles. Therefore, no one undertakes to assert that the high cost of vodka is an indicator of quality. Even vodka at a reasonable price can be competitive.

For example, "Pervak" worth 310 rubles. for a 0.5 liter bottle it was awarded the “Quality Mark”, while the “Gray Goose” produced in France was not even included in any quality rating. This is despite the fact that the cost is 1554 rubles.

The head of CIRA (Center for Alcohol Market Research) in Russia, Vadim Drobiz, made a remark that could reassure not only all Russians, but also foreigners who prefer Russian-made vodka: studies of selected brands showed that they do not contain alcohols not according to GOST or other additives, which can be harmful to health.

In addition, he emphasized that the legal trade (which received a license to sell alcohol) does not sell "palenki" - a substitute, poor quality vodka. No such facts were found. Although, of course, it is quite possible to run into "fake" vodka, purchasing it in pavilions, kiosks or from hand.

If you buy Russian-made vodka from reliable, licensed sellers, and drink it in moderation, you can be sure of your health. Real domestic vodka again showed its impeccable properties.