From what I understand, Vodka is basically a plain, dilute solution of ethanol, however they range considerably in price and the difference is usually in the smoothness.
Visiting Skyy site, they describe that their vodka has the lowest impurities among the leading vodka brands.
Copied from their site,
"Vinquiry, an independent certified lab, concluded that SKYY has the fewest impurities among leading vodkas. Samples of SKYY, Absolut, Stolichnaya, Grey Goose, Smirnoff, Belvedere, and Ketel One were gathered in October 2002 from six major U.S. metropolitan areas. Using a precise Gas Chromatograph, the lab tested for the following impurities found in spirits: Methanol, Acetaldehyde, Ethyl Acetate and Fusel Oils. To view the comparison chart that graphs the results, launch the Flash version of the site."
They implicate that more impurities will deliver a less smooth final product.
Copied from Skyy FAQ page:
"Do traditional pot stills produce better vodka?
-Using antiquated pot stills may create vodka with more impurities than the innovative methods pioneered by Skyy Vodka, thus delivering a less smooth final product."
I got this from the internet:
"Vodka, produced on a mulitcolumn distillation system from a fermented mash of grain at or above 190o proof, must be further treated with charcoal or activated carbon or further refined by distillation in such a manner as to be without character, aroma, or taste. If any flavoring material is added to the distillate, the vodka is characterized with the name of the flavoring material used."
I diluted some Everclear(95%) with distilled water to yield a final product that is around ~70 proof and compraed the smoothness side by side with some Skyy. Skyy was definitely smoother than the diluted Everclear. Is this so because of the impurities within the 5% balance of Everclear?
These are what I would like to know:
Is smoothness the result of absolute purity or is it a presence of certain impurities in right concentrations that masks the burning sensation? What are the impurities responsible for smoothness/burning sensation?
What impurities does activated charcoal remove and how does it select what to remove? As far as I know, it doesn't do something like removing methanol(something Skyy included in a list of impurities) from ethanol?
Would mixing HPLC grade undenatured pure ethanol with distilled water yield the smoothest vodka ever?
Visiting Skyy site, they describe that their vodka has the lowest impurities among the leading vodka brands.
Copied from their site,
"Vinquiry, an independent certified lab, concluded that SKYY has the fewest impurities among leading vodkas. Samples of SKYY, Absolut, Stolichnaya, Grey Goose, Smirnoff, Belvedere, and Ketel One were gathered in October 2002 from six major U.S. metropolitan areas. Using a precise Gas Chromatograph, the lab tested for the following impurities found in spirits: Methanol, Acetaldehyde, Ethyl Acetate and Fusel Oils. To view the comparison chart that graphs the results, launch the Flash version of the site."
They implicate that more impurities will deliver a less smooth final product.
Copied from Skyy FAQ page:
"Do traditional pot stills produce better vodka?
-Using antiquated pot stills may create vodka with more impurities than the innovative methods pioneered by Skyy Vodka, thus delivering a less smooth final product."
I got this from the internet:
"Vodka, produced on a mulitcolumn distillation system from a fermented mash of grain at or above 190o proof, must be further treated with charcoal or activated carbon or further refined by distillation in such a manner as to be without character, aroma, or taste. If any flavoring material is added to the distillate, the vodka is characterized with the name of the flavoring material used."
I diluted some Everclear(95%) with distilled water to yield a final product that is around ~70 proof and compraed the smoothness side by side with some Skyy. Skyy was definitely smoother than the diluted Everclear. Is this so because of the impurities within the 5% balance of Everclear?
These are what I would like to know:
Is smoothness the result of absolute purity or is it a presence of certain impurities in right concentrations that masks the burning sensation? What are the impurities responsible for smoothness/burning sensation?
What impurities does activated charcoal remove and how does it select what to remove? As far as I know, it doesn't do something like removing methanol(something Skyy included in a list of impurities) from ethanol?
Would mixing HPLC grade undenatured pure ethanol with distilled water yield the smoothest vodka ever?