VODKA WITH A STORY

Prized for its pristine, neutral profile, some might suspect that vodka has little to say. That would be a mistake. This spirit speaks volumes.

It’s also seen plenty of innovation.

To understand its roots, look to Russia, the spiritual home of vodka. Even the word is rooted in Russian. It’s a diminutive, affectionate term for “water.”

“Vodkas vary wildly depending on their base ingredient and how each variety is crafted,” writes Darra Goldstein in Beyond the North Wind (Ten Speed Press, 2020), a cookbook about Russia’s food and culture.

“The spirit can be distilled from any fermentable ingredient,”