Vodka

[Darkness]

I need somebody's help in understanding Vodka. The thing is that I am allergic to a good number of things and Vodka seems like one of the purest sorts of Alcohol. I see that some Vodkas are flavored but I cannot find the list of ingredients. Does anybody know what goes in, let's say, Stolichnaya Red?

[Slatka]

Small traces of cocaine, Russian prostitutes, gun powder residue, and gasoline fumes.

[Booko]

I need somebody's help in understanding Vodka. The thing is that I am allergic to a good number of things and Vodka seems like one of the purest sorts of Alcohol. I see that some Vodkas are flavored but I cannot find the list of ingredients. Does anybody know what goes in, let's say, Stolichnaya Red?

I have food allergies and so does my best friend. And we have different allergies so I'm used to both sets.

What did you need to know?

I have to use potato vodka to make my own vanilla.

It says potato vodka on the label.

I would be shocked if Ol' Stoli put anything stupid in their vodka. That's a very good brand.

Anyway, since I only need the cheap stuff for extracts, I have Luksusowa and it says "100% neutral potato vodka" on the label.

Look for something like that and you should be fine. I don't have any reaction to it (corn allergy) and my friend doesn't react to the extract either (wheat/soy).

[Booko]

Small traces of cocaine, Russian prostitutes, gun powder residue, and gasoline fumes.

Oh, so that's why I got visions of boobs when made those brownies the other day? :D

[Ðanisty]

Small traces of cocaine, Russian prostitutes, gun powder residue, and gasoline fumes.ROFLMAO

This is the best information I was able to find about Stolichnaya (which by the way is my favorite Vodka...:))

Stolichnaya is made the traditional Russian way. Slowly and patiently double distilled according to methods crafted over 500 years ago for the fresh flavor. Then it is filtered four times through quartz, Siberian birch charcoal, quartz again, and finally through a tightly woven cloth. The outcome is an authentic Russian vodka with many complex layers of flavor and aroma to enjoy.

[Slatka]

If you use pure vodka, be sure to use very small amounts. You hear all the time about the tens of thousands of people who died in East Europe, especially in poorer countries like Ukraine and Russia, each year from drinking vodka. Western media tends to present this as a stereotype, as though they drink too much, but in reality its what they're drinking. Drinking even a mouthful of some of these pure vodkas they make in their basements is enough to kill any grown man. You really have to pay close attention to the alcohol content.

[Slatka]

As an aside, one of the local vodka companies here has a genius advertising campaign for a mostly Muslim country. The slogan is the same is all of their commercials but I'll describe my favorite one. There's a young man (presumably Muslim) walking down the street. He looks to his left at a shop and the old man behind the counter looking at him fades into a blurry demon, smoking cigarettes with each of his many hands. Then the scene becomes clear again and he keeps walking. he looks again into a butchery and the young man behind the counter blurs into a demon holding two pigs in each hand. Then he goes to the next shop and he looks in, and the young woman behind the counter reading a newspaper looks up and then morphs into a sexier version of herself, hair blowing in the wind, skimpy dress, she jumps up on the counter and starts crawling toward him and moving her finger like "Come here..."

And then the slogan is, "If you're going to sin... you might as well choose the best vodka."

[Booko]

If you use pure vodka, be sure to use very small amounts. You hear all the time about the tens of thousands of people who died in East Europe, especially in poorer countries like Ukraine and Russia, each year from drinking vodka. Western media tends to present this as a stereotype, as though they drink too much, but in reality its what they're drinking. Drinking even a mouthful of some of these pure vodkas they make in their basements is enough to kill any grown man. You really have to pay close attention to the alcohol content.

Good point. Hah...reason #5682 I only use it for extracts.

Reason #1 being I don't drink anyway.

Oh...btw, Darkness brandy is safe -- it's all grapes. Once in a blue moon I have to resort to a hot toddy if I have a very bad cold since OTC cold meds al have corn in them.

[Ayodhya]

If you use pure vodka, be sure to use very small amounts. You hear all the time about the tens of thousands of people who died in East Europe, especially in poorer countries like Ukraine and Russia, each year from drinking vodka. Western media tends to present this as a stereotype, as though they drink too much, but in reality its what they're drinking. Drinking even a mouthful of some of these pure vodkas they make in their basements is enough to kill any grown man. You really have to pay close attention to the alcohol content.

Moonshine, 200 Proof! :thumbsup:

[Booko]

If you use pure vodka, be sure to use very small amounts. You hear all the time about the tens of thousands of people who died in East Europe, especially in poorer countries like Ukraine and Russia, each year from drinking vodka. Western media tends to present this as a stereotype, as though they drink too much, but in reality its what they're drinking. Drinking even a mouthful of some of these pure vodkas they make in their basements is enough to kill any grown man. You really have to pay close attention to the alcohol content.

Moonshine, 200 Proof! :thumbsup:

Not so if it's food allergies you're trying to dodge.

Corn squeezins would put me in the hospital, I expect.

[Darkness]

If you use pure vodka, be sure to use very small amounts. You hear all the time about the tens of thousands of people who died in East Europe, especially in poorer countries like Ukraine and Russia, each year from drinking vodka. Western media tends to present this as a stereotype, as though they drink too much, but in reality its what they're drinking. Drinking even a mouthful of some of these pure vodkas they make in their basements is enough to kill any grown man. You really have to pay close attention to the alcohol content.

Are you sure you are not thinking of the methanol some people in poorer Eastern countries substitute for Ethanol?

Oh...btw, Darkness brandy is safe -- it's all grapes. Once in a blue moon I have to resort to a hot toddy if I have a very bad cold since OTC cold meds al have corn in them.

Well, I cannot drink most wines because of the sulfides that are in them.

I am mostly allergic to dairy, so Stolichnaya Red says it is "A classic Russian vodka; on the nose it is clean with delicate aromas of butter, white pepper, and sweet cream."

[Krashlocke]

If you use pure vodka, be sure to use very small amounts. You hear all the time about the tens of thousands of people who died in East Europe, especially in poorer countries like Ukraine and Russia, each year from drinking vodka. Western media tends to present this as a stereotype, as though they drink too much, but in reality its what they're drinking. Drinking even a mouthful of some of these pure vodkas they make in their basements is enough to kill any grown man. You really have to pay close attention to the alcohol content.

"pure vodka" is just moonshine - in order to carry the proper term, vodka, there must be some water in it to give it its character (the amount of water required usually varies by country - to be sold in America as vodka, it must be bottled at under 120 proof). That said, it's very common in the east for people to refer to all distilled spirits as vodka, hence the confusion. What makes these dangerous is the ethyl acetate and ethyl lactate (heads) as well as the fusel oils (tails) from a single distillation. A proper stillmaster is needed to remove these potentially dangerous impurities - hence why you hear the horror stories of going blind, &c.

As far as concerns over allergies go, almost everything in a liquor store is pretty safe unless it says "Liqueur" or "Cocktail." These will usually have at least sugar and often some other ingredients as well. You should probably be wary of flavored products, as some of them are liqueurs, while some of them use the method of steeping to gain their flavor - and they will still retain traces of the flavoring component. Unlike wine, there are no sulfites in liquor - they are a result of the alcohol, not the grapes, so brandy should be fine.

The only concern I've ever heard of with normal spirits have been issues with corn (steer clear of bourbon and Canadian whisky) and wheat (steer clear of almost everything except potato vodkas like Luksosawa, Chopin, or Spudka, or maybe a rye vodka like Bellvedere).

Stoli red label is a fine choice, but it's not all that's out there. Don't worry about what any label tells you regarding the liquor's character - these are just tasting notes, not ingredients lists. It doesn't actually have any butter in it. :)

[Booko]

Well, I cannot drink most wines because of the sulfides that are in them.

Sulfides are a preservative put in wine, but I'm not sure that they show up in brandy, as it has a higher alcohol content...and that itself is preservative enough. It would be worth looking into.

Also, rum might work for you.

I am mostly allergic to dairy, so Stolichnaya Red says it is "A classic Russian vodka; on the nose it is clean with delicate aromas of butter, white pepper, and sweet cream."

Hm, that may just be a description of the aroma though. Dairy may not be used in processing at all.

I have dairy allergy too so I'm used to dodging that, but really you can't be too paranoid. Creme de menthe and Bailey's are obviously things to stay away from, but I don't know of any issues with hard liquors. I think if it says it's 100% potato vodka you should be fine.

Obviously the corn allergy has to dodge more there since corn shows up in bourbons and even some scotches, but since I only need to make extract and the odd hot toddy once every 3 years it's not tough.

There are some good forums filled with people who have dairy allergy as well, and it would be worth looking up a good forum to ask. A lot of the discussion is "my kid has dairy allergy" but some forums are a bit more adult-oriented than that, and you could find out what the collective experience is on that. Besides, you might pick up some tips that would be helpful. If I were not a chemist I would never have noticed that most soy cheese is not dairy free (casein).

[Booko]

The only concern I've ever heard of with normal spirits have been issues with corn (steer clear of bourbon and Canadian whisky) and wheat (steer clear of almost everything except potato vodkas like Luksosawa, Chopin, or Spudka, or maybe a rye vodka like Bellvedere).

Scotch is a problem for corn allergy too, but as long as it's single malt you're safe. Honestly, I would probably only buy a scotch made in Scotland just because I've learned to be paranoid about anything made in North America.

With wheat and corn allergy steer clear from anything that's flavored (food or booze) unless you're sure it was flavored with the real thing and it is specific about names. If not, it could be made out of anything from coal tar to one of the grains you're allergic too.

Stoli red label is a fine choice, but it's not all that's out there. Don't worry about what any label tells you regarding the liquor's character - these are just tasting notes, not ingredients lists. It doesn't actually have any butter in it. :)

Yeah, I thought it was like the descriptions they put on wine (which is what I actually know about, having made some Chez Booko with the family recipe in the past).

Would that I could know the source of alcohol in non-food items, like lotions and such.

I get a bad reaction to Purel. I presume their ethanol comes from corn, though as these things go, next week they may decide to ferment rice instead. Ah...mystery ingredients.

[Krashlocke]

Scotch is a problem for corn allergy too, but as long as it's single malt you're safe. Honestly, I would probably only buy a scotch made in Scotland just because I've learned to be paranoid about anything made in North America.

Scotch sold in America by regulation must be distilled in Scotland, however many cheaper brands are shipped in bulk and bottled in America (or whichever country of origin). Single malts should be good as long as you don't have any issue with barley - I don't think that they use anything else on their mash bill. Blended scotches are usually aged scotches of various distillers mixed with some sort of neutral spirit (read: vodka) and water before bottling so they probably aren't a great idea, but they are probably safe as far as corn goes. Corn makes for really lousy-tasting neutral spirit so it's usually only used in products that will be aged, like bourbon.


Would that I could know the source of alcohol in non-food items, like lotions and such.

I get a bad reaction to Purel. I presume their ethanol comes from corn, though as these things go, next week they may decide to ferment rice instead. Ah...mystery ingredients.

I don't know about Purel by itself, but I know that a lot of cheaper vodkas are actually re-used mashes purchased from ethanol makers. Yes, after you distill a fermented mash, you can actually distill it again, but usually the later distillations won't be as productive or as pure - but they'll be cheap. That said, most vodkas are distilled from wheat, so I assume that at least a portion of our ethanol comes from wheat. You can distill ethanol from anything that has decent amount of carbohydrates in it.

[Booko]

Scotch is a problem for corn allergy too, but as long as it's single malt you're safe. Honestly, I would probably only buy a scotch made in Scotland just because I've learned to be paranoid about anything made in North America.

Scotch sold in America by regulation must be distilled in Scotland, however many cheaper brands are shipped in bulk and bottled in America (or whichever country of origin). Single malts should be good as long as you don't have any issue with barley - I don't think that they use anything else on their mash bill.

No, fortunately gluten is not an issue for me, so barley is fine.

Blended scotches are usually aged scotches of various distillers mixed with some sort of neutral spirit (read: vodka) and water before bottling so they probably aren't a great idea, but they are probably safe as far as corn goes. Corn makes for really lousy-tasting neutral spirit so it's usually only used in products that will be aged, like bourbon.

No, actually scotches can be blended with a corn spirit, which is why the corn allergy sufferers report to stay away from anything but single malt.

I don't know about Purel by itself, but I know that a lot of cheaper vodkas are actually re-used mashes purchased from ethanol makers.

Ah, that's probably why the dire warnings about only 100% potato vodka. Anything else is a mystery food and not safe.

Yes, after you distill a fermented mash, you can actually distill it again, but usually the later distillations won't be as productive or as pure - but they'll be cheap. That said, most vodkas are distilled from wheat, so I assume that at least a portion of our ethanol comes from wheat. You can distill ethanol from anything that has decent amount of carbohydrates in it.

Our ethanols in the US and Canada are mostly made from gluten bearing grains and corn, which presents a problem for anyone with food allergies. External use is a myth -- if you put it on it goes in through your pores and you'll still get a reaction.

There are special non-alcohol glycerin based flavor extracts which are good for those with gluten allergy, but since most glycerin is made from corn...ah, that's what the potato vodka is for. :D

However, now that wheat prices are skyrocketing and corn is on the rise as well, maybe they'll stop polluting our food with all manner of corn based additives for a change.

[Krashlocke]

However, now that wheat prices are skyrocketing and corn is on the rise as well, maybe they'll stop polluting our food with all manner of corn based additives for a change.

Dubious - it's too well subsidized in the U.S.