Vodka is a clear distilled alcoholic beverage that can be made from a variety of ingredients including grains, potatoes, fruits or even sugar. The most common vodkas are made from grains like wheat, rye or corn. However, vodka can also be made from other starch or sugar-rich ingredients like potatoes, beets, molasses, grapes, and even apples.
So the short answer is yes, vodka can be made from apples. But how exactly is vodka made and what does using apples do to the final product compared to more traditional grain vodkas? Let’s take a deeper look.
What is Vodka and How is it Made?
Vodka is a distilled spirit that is defined as having a minimum alcohol content of 40% ABV (80 proof) in the United States. The name “vodka” comes from the Russian word “voda” meaning water, as vodka was originally meant to be a clear, tasteless alcoholic beverage.
Traditionally, vodka is made by fermenting starch or sugar-rich plant material into alcohol. Common bases include cereal grains like wheat, rye, corn, or barley. The grain is ground down and mixed with hot water to convert the starches to sugars. Yeast is then added to begin fermentation, converting the sugars into alcohol.
This fermented mash, known as the distiller’s “wash”, typically contains about 10-15% alcohol. It is then distilled to further purify and strengthen the alcohol content. Vodka is distilled at least three times, sometimes more, to reach 96% alcohol. The final steps are dilution with water to reach 40% ABV and filtration to remove any remaining impurities and flavors.
So in summary, authentic vodka production involves:
1. Milling/Mashing – Cereal grains or other starchy material is milled and mashed with hot water to extract fermentable sugars.
2. Fermentation – Yeast is added and ferments the sugars into alcohol.
3. Distillation – The fermented wash is distilled multiple times to purify and increase the alcohol percentage.
4. Dilution/Filtration – The distillate is diluted to 40% ABV and filtered for clarity.
This process can be followed using any starch or sugar-rich starting ingredient, including potatoes, beets, grapes, sugar cane, and even apples.
Making Vodka from Apples
Apple vodka follows the same basic production process, but uses apples or apple juice as the sugar source instead of grains. Here are the steps:
1. Apples are washed, cored, and chopped into small pieces. They can be left with the skins on for more flavor.
2. The chopped apples are mashed into a pulp to release the juices and sugars inside. Enzymes may be added to help break down pectins and starches.
3. The apple mash is mixed with water and heated to extract more sugars and flavor compounds.
4. Yeast is added once the apple liquid has cooled and fermentation begins, converting the natural sugars in the apples into alcohol just like grapes are fermented into wine.
5. After sufficient fermentation time, the apple wash contains around 5-10% alcohol. It is then distilled to over 95% alcohol.
6. The raw apple spirit is diluted with water to the desired ABV of 40% or more. It is charcoal filtered to remove impurities and make it crystal clear.
So the basic steps are the same as making grain vodka, except apples provide the sugar for fermentation instead of cereal grains.
Differences Between Apple Vodka and Grain Vodka
While apple vodka follows the same fundamental production process, using apples instead of grains does create some subtle differences in the final product:
– Flavor – Apple vodka has a fruitier flavor than grain vodkas, often described as gentle apple aroma and light fruity sweetness. It lacks the malty, cereal notes from grains.
– Smoothness – The fruit sugars make apple vodka slightly smoother and mellower on the palate versus the sharper burn of grain spirits.
– Sweetness – With residual natural apple sugars, apple vodka is a touch sweeter in taste compared to conventional grain vodkas.
– Mouthfeel – The juice-based production gives apple vodka a rounder, fuller body and viscosity.
– Potency – While still reaching 40% ABV or more, apple vodkas are often bottled at lower ABV levels than grain vodkas, resulting in a lighter spirit.
– Color – Crystal clear like conventional vodkas, but apple vodka can sometimes have a very pale golden hue.
So in summary, vodka made from apples tends to be fruitier, smoother, sweeter, and lighter than traditional grain-based vodkas. The apple character comes through, while grain vodkas are deliberately neutral in flavor.
Popular Brands of Apple Vodka
Some well-known brands producing apple vodka include:
Prairie Organic Vodka – Made from a blend of grain neutral spirit and Midwestern apple juice. Smooth, subtle apple aroma and flavor.
Orchard Apple Vodka – Crafted by Coppercraft Distillery featuring Michigan apples. Full apple nose and bright, crisp apple taste.
Square One Organic Apple Vodka – Made entirely from organically grown apples. Rich apple fragrance and balanced fruit flavor.
Cîroc Apple – Blend of French grain vodka and apple flavors, part of Cîroc’s extensive vodka flavor range. Bold fresh apple and soft vanilla.
Shine Apple Vodka – Uses vine-ripened apples from Sebastopol, California. Light and refreshing apple profile with nice fruit sweetness.
Belvedere Smogóry Forest – Polish rye vodka infused with essence of rare smogóry apples. Notes of apple, honey, vanilla and oak.
So there are lots of options from small craft distilleries as well as major brands when it comes to apple flavored and apple based vodkas. The fruit infuses a refreshing apple taste and aromas into this versatile clear spirit.
Should You Make Your Own Apple Vodka?
With the proliferation of commercial brands, is it worth making your own homemade apple vodka? Here are some pros and cons:
Pros:
– Full control over the flavor profile and ingredients used
– Ability to customize strength and sweetness to taste
– Satisfaction of drinking a homemade spirit
– Fun hobby and learning experience in fermentation/distillation
Cons:
– Requires significant time and effort compared to buying
– Need distilling equipment and skills which can have a learning curve
– Yield and quality is not guaranteed compared to commercial production
– No ability to age vodka for added complexity like other spirits
Overall, while it’s certainly possible to DIY apple vodka at home, it realistically makes more sense for most people to purchase a quality pre-made apple vodka instead. However, someone passionate about craft distilling and already equipped with the necessary skills and gear may find the project rewarding.
Common Apple Vodka Cocktail Recipes
The natural apple flavor profile of apple vodka makes it very mixable in a range of classic and creative cocktails. Here are some popular apple vodka drinks:
Apple Martini
– 2 oz apple vodka
– 1 oz dry vermouth
– 0.5 oz triple sec
– Apple slice garnish
Spiced Apple Toddy
– 1.5 oz apple vodka
– 0.75 oz apple cider
– 0.5 oz honey syrup
– Cinnamon stick
– Lemon wedge
Sparkling Apple Spritzer
– 1.5 oz apple vodka
– 4 oz sparkling apple cider
– Apple wedge
Caramel Apple Mule
– 1.5 oz apple vodka
– 4 oz ginger beer
– 1 oz caramel syrup
– Lime wedge
Apple Pie Sangria
– 1.5 oz apple vodka
– 4 oz apple cider
– 1 oz cinnamon schnapps
– Orange slice
– Cinnamon stick
The natural fruitiness of the apple vodka complements the other apple ingredients in these cocktails. It adds a punch of spirit along with delicious apple aroma and flavor.
Nutritional Content of Apple Vodka
As a distilled spirit, apple vodka has minimal nutritional value. The fermentation and distillation process removes the majority of any nutrients from the original apples:
Calories – Around 100 calories per 1.5oz serving of 40% alcohol apple vodka. Equivalent to other distilled spirits.
Carbs – Less than 0.5g carbs per serving as most sugars are fermented out.
Protein – Trace amounts, if any. Proteins coagulated and removed during distillation.
Fat – No fat, as with all distilled spirits.
Vitamins/Minerals – None remaining after distillation. Only trace amounts possibly retained from apples.
So apple vodka has negligible nutritional benefits beyond the carbohydrate energy from alcohol. It lacks the fiber, vitamins, and minerals of whole apples themselves. Vodka is purely alcohol, water, with subtle apple flavor and aroma compounds.
Potential Health Benefits and Risks
Like any alcoholic beverage, drinking apple vodka comes with both health risks and potential benefits depending on level of consumption:
Potential Benefits
– Antioxidants – Trace levels of polyphenols may remain from apples
– Stress reduction – Moderate consumption may relieve anxiety
– Heart health – Moderate intake linked to improved cholesterol and blood flow
Potential Risks
– Addiction – Alcohol dependence and abuse disorders
– Liver damage – Excess alcohol strains the liver over time
– Dehydration – Alcohol acts as a diuretic, causing water loss
– Cancer risk – Links between alcohol overconsumption and certain cancers
As with any alcohol, responsible and moderate drinking confers more benefits versus heavy excessive consumption. Moderation is defined as 1 drink or less per day for women and 2 or less for men.
Cost Analysis of Producing Apple Vodka
Here is a look at the potential costs involved in producing homemade apple vodka:
Ingredients:
– Apples – $1-$2 per lb, need 10+ lbs for 1 bottle
– Yeast – $1-$5 per packet
– Sugar/honey – Optional, $0.10-$0.30 per oz
– Water – $0.002 per gallon (negligible)
Equipment:
– Masher/press – $30-$150 for manual crusher
– Fermentation vessel – $50-$500+ for glass or steel
– Distiller – $150-$2000+ depending on type/capacity
– Filter – $10-$100+ depending on quality
Operating costs:
– Electricity/fuel for heating elements
– Water for dilution/cooling
– Sanitizers and cleaners
– Bottles/closures
At minimum, it could cost $30+ to produce a basic homemade apple vodka. However, with top-end gear and ingredients, costs can easily exceed $500+ per batch. Commercial production achieves much greater efficiency.
How to Drink Apple Vodka (Neat, Mixers, Cocktails)
Apple vodka’s versatility makes it equally enjoyable neat, with mixers, or in cocktails:
– Neat – Many premium apple vodkas like Prairie and Orchard Apple are smooth enough to sip neat from a chilled shot glass or rocks glass. Allows you to taste the pure apple flavors.
– On the rocks – Pouring over ice dilutes the apple vodka slightly while chilling it for a refreshing cooled spirit. Mellower than taking shots.
– With mixers – Apple vodka mixes cleanly with club soda, lemon-lime soda, ginger ale, tonic or juices like apple, cranberry, or orange.
– In shooters – Apple vodka’s mild fruitiness works nicely in shooters with equal parts amaretto, cinnamon schnapps, melon liqueur, or vanilla schnapps.
– In cocktails – As seen above, apple martinis, mules, sangria, toddies and more make tasty use of this versatile fruit vodka.
The natural apple flavor profile suits everything from sipping neat to simple mixing to complex craft cocktails. It brings a lighter fruitiness compared to harsher unflavored vodkas.
Interesting Facts About Apple Vodka
Here are some fun trivia facts about apple vodka:
– The first apple vodka is credited to Vincent Van Gogh’s brother Cornelis who debuted it in 1880.
– Poland produces over 1.5 million gallons annually of broad category “fruit vodka”, primarily apple.
– Top imported apple vodka brands include Åhus Akvavit from Sweden and Royal Gold Apple Vodka from Holland.
– Prairie Organic Vodka uses locally sourced apples from within 200 miles of the Minnesota distillery.
– Appleton Estate rum in Jamaica makes Old Wray & Nephew vodka infused with Wray & Nephew Overproof rum and Jamaican apple juice.
– The experts at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition annually judge the best apple vodkas on criteria of aroma, taste, finish and balance.
– In cocktails, apple vodka is considered a suitable lower-calorie swap for regular vodka or gin when mixed with low calorie tonics or diet soda.
– Adding a small amount of cloudy apple juice or apple cider to vodka cocktails boosts apple flavor while diluting the alcohol bite.
So while not yet as ubiquitous as classic grain vodkas, apple vodka has developed an enthusiastic following thanks to its smooth fruit-forward flavor and mixability. Distillers are constantly innovating with new artisanal infused apple spirits as the category continues growing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make vodka from store bought apple juice?
Yes, you can make homemade apple vodka from store-bought apple juice. Simply add yeast and ferment the juice, then distill the wash. Juice with no preservatives is ideal.
What is the best kind of apple to use?
Apples with high acidity and balanced sweetness produce the best results, like Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, Fuji, Jonathan, and McIntosh. Avoid mealy varieties.
How long does apple vodka take to make?
A full homemade apple vodka recipe takes 4-6 weeks total – 1-2 weeks of fermenting then 2-3 weeks of distilling and resting. Commercially it can be made in under a week.
Why is some apple vodka clear while some is golden?
Vodka by definition is clear. Golden color comes from infusing vodka with apple juice post-distillation rather than fermenting actual apples.
Does apple vodka go bad or expire?
Properly stored apple vodka has an indefinite shelf life. Over time it may slowly lose aroma and flavor but it does not spoil or become unsafe to drink.
Conclusion
While most vodka is made from grain, potato or sugar cane, it is indeed possible to craft delicious vodka using apples as well. Apple vodka follows the same basic fermentation and distillation process but results in a fruitier, smoother spirit compared to conventional grain vodkas. Leading apple vodka brands like Prairie Organic showcase how apple’s sugars and flavors integrate seamlessly into vodka’s typical neutral profile. With the popularity of flavored vodkas continuing to rise, apple vodka has carved out a spot as an enjoyable and versatile clear spirit in its own right.