Description
What Is Vodka Made From?
The primary raw materials for vodka production are grain or potato mash—ingredients rich in starch. Different countries have developed their own traditions: in Finland, vodka is commonly made from barley; Swedish vodka is typically produced from rye; and Polish vodka is traditionally distilled from potatoes. Vodka can also be made from grapes, rice, or sugar beet.
The quality of the water is just as important as the choice of raw materials. Premium vodkas are typically produced using exceptionally soft glacier or mountain spring water.
Preparing the Raw Materials for Fermentation
The vodka production process is relatively straightforward. The raw materials are milled or crushed into small pieces and prepared for fermentation. The key requirement is that they contain starches and sugars that yeast can convert into alcohol.
When using grains or potatoes, enzymes must be added to convert starch into fermentable sugars. Malted grains, such as malted barley or malted wheat, naturally contain the enzymes required for this conversion.
Vodka Distillation and Filtration
The fermented mash is then distilled in rectification columns, where alcohol is separated from water and other compounds. High-quality vodka is typically distilled several times to achieve exceptional purity.
To meet different production requirements, we offer custom-built multi-stage rectification columns with virtually any number of rectification stages. Our standard 5- to 8-stage columns produce an intermediate spirit with an alcohol content of 80–95% ABV, depending on the configuration and operating conditions.
Before bottling, the vodka is filtered and diluted to the desired bottling strength. We also supply complete filtration and dilution systems to ensure the highest product quality.
Spare parts catalogue for download here.