The Magic of Making Your Own Vodka at Home with Fresh Potatoes

This video of how vodka is made now has almost 100,000 upvotes on Reddit!

Posted by u/MrFuzzybagels on Reddit’s r/Damnthatsinteresting, it seems that vodka has a very strong appeal to a lot of people. It has even inspired commenters to recall their favorite movies with unforgettable wine and merry-making scenes.

Many were also astonished that vodka can be made from the very source of French fries — potatoes!

Well, what makes vodka different from other drinks?

First, vodka is a clear liquor that’s stronger than wine and beer. It’s a distilled spirit just like gin, brandy, tequila, rum, and whiskey. It’s one of the main ingredients in mixed drinks and cocktails.

Like other liquors, vodka is commonly made from grains, fruits, and other ingredients that can be fermented. Even though it’s called a distilled spirit, vodka starts with fermentation. A single type of grain or combination of grains such as corn, rye, and wheat can be used in making vodka. After the fermentation of these grains, the product undergoes distillation. After distillation, the liquid will either be aged, flavored, or filtered.

And yes, you can make vodka from fermented potatoes. Vodka originated in Russia, but potato vodka is popular in Poland and other potato-growing parts of the world like Scandinavia and Idaho.

And when it comes to taste, vodka is judged more on what is called mouthfeel. You can identify a premium vodka by how smooth it feels on the tongue. Moreover, premium vodka does not cause a burning sensation in the mouth and throat as you drink it.

Today, like other spirits, vodka may come in different flavors like vanilla, citrus, berry, pomegranate, melon, pineapple, and other fruits. There are also vodkas that taste like espresso, chocolate, candies, and desserts. As people’s tastes and preferences continue to evolve, you can expect spirits like vodka to adapt to the times.

Here’s what Redditors are saying about this woman and her vodka-making skill:

One commenter wrote in the tone of The Lord of the Rings,
“One brew to rule them all.
One brew to find them.
One brew to bring them all,
And with Smirnoff, bind them.”

Another Redditor replied, “‘Smeagol has to take what’s given to him,’ answered Gollum, after being iced by Sam for the fifth time that evening.”

This commenter’s response is likewise reminiscent of the movie The Hobbit: “‘No0o0o, the fat hobitsiz is ruinings it! You stewpid fats hobistiz.’”

See the vodka-making video below and reminisce about whatever this recipe most reminds you of.