At the fancy grocery store they had a vodka of Armenian origin, and the label listed the following additives:
acetic acid
sodium bicarbonate
dried skim milk
honey
What’s this all about? Anyone know?
I found another vodka with similar recipe:
http://www.topliquor.com/Russian-Style-Emerald-Castle-Marani-Vodka-750-ml-p-67089.html
Yeah, Google bears no fruit.
For a ten-spot though it’s probably worth a sample.
Yes, I know
Acetic acid is vinegar, and sodium bicarbonate is baking soda. Therefore, the purpose is to MAKE A MILK AND HONEY VODKA VOLCANO like in the science fair.
And wasn’t it The Who who said, “Armenia / City in the Sky.”
Re: Yes, I know
They’re ingredients but doubtful that it’s in the final product. It’s probably there for pH buffering purposes.
Re: Yes, I know
“Bartender, one baking soda and vinegar Molitov cocktail, please.”
skim milk and honey in vodka sounds kinda good.
There is a “Fire of Unknown Origin” which contains heavy amounts of Blue Oyster and lots of Buck Dharma!
Distilling
Sodium bicarbonate can be used in distilling to prevent the formation of ethyl acetate. My notes say 60 ml per liter of pure alcohol in the 2nd and 3rd distillation. The first run will produce about 65% alcohol, so you’d do the math from there. I’ve lost the URL, but it went into more chemical detail then I could understand.
Re: Distilling
Fascinating – thanks!
They may be making the vodka at least partially from whey – http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4086366.html