Vodka is a distilled spirit comprised of water, ethanol, and in some cases, various flavorings, such as citrus.  It was only in the 1960s, with the aggressive advertising campaign of the Smirnoff company that Vodka emerged from behind the iron curtain in any quantity to be drunk with regularity in the West. Before World War II, the spirit, while known, enjoyed little popularity outside Nordic and Eastern Europe and Russia. Famously used in Vodka Martinis, Vodka was first made in Russia and Poland for medicinal purposes as an anesthetic and as a disinfectant for cleaning wounds. For this reason, possibly, impurities needed to be removed.  

Vodka is Russian for water, and vodka, like eau-de-vie and aquavit, and even whisky in Gaelic, means 'water of life'. Unaged, it is highly filtered through coal and in some cases, industrial diamonds to remove impurities and the filtering process yields a crystal clear liquid that is nearly flavorless and odorless.  After the first step in its process, Vodka is only 16% alcohol by volume or ABV, but by the end of production, the alcohol content is as great as 180 proof and water is added to reduce it to 80 proof or 40% ABV.

It is generally distilled in a high-volume, continuous column still from grains, including rice and sorghum (the grain used in the Chinese spirit, baiju), grapes, milk whey liquid, beets, molasses, or simply from sugar, water and yeast as is some Vodka in Poland, in short, it is made from almost anything that ferments.  Throughout the multiple distillations, the remains of previous filterings is not allowed to remain or be reintroduced.

The First recorded mention of Vodka occurred in the early 1400s in Poland where it was categorized as a medicinal product, and predates the importation of potatoes from South America in the 1500s which seems to suggest that Vodka was not distilled from potatoes nor are potatoes the basis of most Vodka as is often reported.  By the 16th century, Russian documents suggest that Vodka was brought from Poland to Russia.  This is a matter of strong debate since there are also records which suggest Russians were already distilling a spirit akin to Vodka before these periods, as far back as the European "middle ages."

Traditionally, Vodka is chilled and served as a straight pour or is served "neat," that is, without water, ice, or other additions.  However, its use in cocktails such as the Bloody Mary, Vodka Martinis, Screwdriver, and Black Russian and White Russian, and the Cosmopolitan is part and parcel of mid-20th century culture.

Though there are discernible differences in flavor between premium Vodka and the Russian, French, and other national/regional versions, crystal clear and fairly neutral flavored vodka is the norm. Yet, there are many traditional and regional flavored Vodkas.  In Poland and Belarus, bison grass flavors the regional Zubrovka Vodka producing a lightly sweet flavor.  In Norway, Finland, and Sweden, flowers, herbs, and fruits are added and the Vodka is consumed during seasonal and personal celebrations.  In Russia, pepper and honey are sometimes added and in Poland and Lithuania, the addition of honey yields Krupnik.  Other traditional flavorings are melon, apple, lemon, blackcurrant, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, and cocoa.