What is "vodka"

Vodka \Vod"ka\, n. [Russ.] A Russian drink distilled from rye.

1802, from Russian vodka, literally "little water," diminutive of voda "water" (from PIE *wod-a-, from root *wed- (1) "water, wet;" see water (n.1)) + diminutive suffix -ka.

n. A clear distilled alcoholic liquor made from grain mash

n. unaged colorless liquor originating in Russia

Vodka ( , ) is a distilled beverage composed primarily of water and ethanol, sometimes with traces of impurities and flavorings. Traditionally, vodka is made by the distillation of fermented cereal grains or potatoes, though some modern brands use other substances, such as fruits or sugar.

Since the 1890s, the standard Polish, Russian, Belarusian, Ukrainian, Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian and Czech vodkas are 40% alcohol by volume ABV (80 US proof), a percentage that is widely misattributed to Dmitri Mendeleev. The European Union has established a minimum of 37.5% ABV for any "European vodka" to be named as such. Products sold as "vodka" in the United States must have a minimum alcohol content of 40%. Even with these loose restrictions, most vodka sold contains 40% ABV. For homemade vodkas and distilled beverages referred to as "moonshine", see moonshine by country.

Vodka is traditionally drunk neat (not mixed with any water, ice, or other mixer), though it is often served chilled in the vodka belt countries (Belarus, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden, Ukraine). It is also commonly used in cocktails and mixed drinks, such as the vodka martini, Cosmopolitan, vodka tonic, Screwdriver, Greyhound, Black or White Russian, Moscow Mule, and Bloody Mary.

(4 April 2004 - ) is a Japanese Thoroughbred racemare that won the 2007 Group One (GI) Tokyo Yūshun (Japanese Derby), the first filly to win this race in 64 years, as well as winning the 2009 Japan Cup. She won seven G1 races in Japan and is the highest earning racemare in Thoroughbred history.

Vodka is a distilled alcoholic beverage.

Vodka may also refer to:

• VoDKa, a cyber alias of Columbine school shooter Dylan Klebold
• Vodka (horse), a Japanese racehorse
• Vodka (Case Closed), a character in Case Closed
• "Vodka" (song), a 2008 song by Morena
• "Vodka", a song by Korpiklaani from their 2009 album Karkelo
• Vodkaa, komisario Palmu, a 1969 film by Matti Kassila

"Vodka" was the song that represented Malta at Eurovision Song Contest 2008, in Belgrade, Serbia. It was sung by Gozitan singer Morena.

The authors of the song, Gerard James Borg (lyrics) and Philip Vella (music) have had songs in Eurovision five times (2000, 2002, 2004, 2007 & 2008).

"Vodka" won the Malta Song for Europe 2008 with total 78 points (49 votes from the jury and 16,979 from the public). The jury gave the same (not maximal) number of points to two other songs, but public sympathies were on the side of "Vodka" to beat the runner-up by a wide margin.

The song speaks of a spy in Gorky Park in Moscow, "in a danger zone" where everywhere is "pitch dark". She is being chased because she deciphered the code which everyone wants so badly, and the word is " Vodka".

"Vodka" is sung in English, but starts with the word Na Zdarovye, a supposedly Russian word for "Cheers!" toast.

The song sparked comments that it was crafted to attract Eastern Europeans' votes, but the authors denied the accusations saying that the song was not even intended to enter the competition.

The song title is a source of numerous puns in newspaper titles, but Morena in her interview says she does not like vodka and in fact rarely drinks alcohol.

In the Eurovision Song Contest 2008, "Vodka" was sung in the 2nd semifinal on Thursday 22 May 2008, where it received 38 points and placed 14th in the semifinal, with Malta failing to qualify for the final for the second time.

The song was succeeded as Maltese representative at the 2009 contest by Chiara with " What If We".