where does Wodka originate from ? Poland or Russia or somewhere else???

the other day some one told me that Wodka was invented in Poland... I thought it originated from Russia... does anyone know?

from Poland. the case is closed

My neighbour's bathroom

That's not very democratic - can we not put it to the vote?

I personally think it is Poland...

The first documented production of vodka in Russia was at the end of the 9th century, but the first known distillery at, Khylnovsk, was about two hundred years later as reported in the Vyatka Chronicle of 1174. Poland lays claim to having distilled vodka even earlier in the 8th century, but as this was a distillation of wine it might be more appropriate to consider it a crude brandy. The first identifiable Polish vodkas appeared in the 11th century when they were called 'gorzalka', originally used as medicines.

Let's call it a draw then

er

ok then

(shurely shum mishtake - ed)

hmmmm i see....

Thread attached on merging:
Is wodka polish or russian invention?

Vodka Stalin anyone?

I always thought it was Polish but 95% of people I talk to seem to think it's Russian so I'm not sure.

lol!

"The origins of vodka cannot be traced definitively, but it is believed to have originated in the grain-growing region that now embraces western Russia, Belarus, Lithuania, Ukraine, and Poland. It also has a long tradition in Scandinavia."-taken from wikipedia.

Poland is far less known (in US, especially) than Russia. Vodka is forever ingrained in the Russian stereotype. Add the two together and most will associate Vodka as a (purely) Russian invention.

As far as my dad goes (avid vodka connoisseur) as long as it is well made and tasty (ex: not US, French, in plastic bottle, etc...) and Slovic in origin, it's all good. He's usually got the house stocked with Pasterniak (sp?), Putynka, Sobieski, Gvori and one other one that I forget, plus good ol' spirytus for cooking/making his own wiśniówka or lemon vodka thing. Oh, and he's always stocked on imported Żubrówka, with grass in case he runs out (the US imported crap is terrible at best >_<)

As suprising as this sounds, vodka migrated from the Middle East. Then, it would have been closer to spiritus and used for medical purposes. As far as I'm aware, the first mention of vodka, as vodka is in Polish court documents.

WTF? Wooot? Hey I hope they don't mix Finland with this we like beer here!

this wodka debate...talkk about opening a can of worms, my hubby gets quite passionate talking about this....so i will go with Poland over Russia from the pure passion of his argument!

I read in a book once (green it was!), vodka was invented by some Arab, presumably before the advent of Islam. Though what possible use (s)he could have had for it is beyond me. You can also make bimber from lard or anything else. Sounds weird but this is true; in India they make hooch from rubber tyres, no kidding.

Maybe. The word alcohol comes from the Arabic and it might well have been an adventurous Arab homebrew enthusiast who first isolated it.


Jeezis. I bet that hurts. Apparently men in prison make alcoholic drinks from orange juice kept under a radiator

Distillation had been performed by Arabs (yes, Islamic ones) to produce medicines and perfumes.
Ancestors of vodka were produced in Europe before superior Arabic distillation technology arrived. But what really sets vodka as we know it apart from other spirits is that Arabic technology which is used to produce almost pure alcohol, which is then watered down. Proto-vodka was merely distilled using more primitive technology, from rye grain.