EU moves to cure vodka headache

[daily666]

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/v3/bbc_logo.gif
EU moves to cure vodka headache
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6314761.stm


The European Parliament has suggested a possible solution to a dispute between EU states over the definition of vodka.

Poland, Sweden and Finland say only spirits distilled from grain or potato are truly entitled to be called vodka.

Other countries, such as Hungary, Spain and the UK, say there is no reason to change current rules, which allow it to be made from any agricultural produce.

MEPs have now said vodka not made from grain, potato or molasses should simply have its ingredients clearly labelled.

Vodka made from more than one ingredient would have to be labelled as "blended vodka".

The proposal, adopted by the European Parliament's environment committee, still has to be agreed by the full parliament - and by the governments of the member states themselves.

Fruit vodka

The EU's German presidency must now attempt to broker an agreement among the member states, before the full parliament votes on the committee's report in March.

The countries most determined to enforce a strict definition - Finland, Poland and Sweden - are expected to object to the parliament's proposed compromise.

They had been seeking to prevent drinks made from molasses, grapes or other fruits being sold as vodka.

According to one estimate, this would have eliminated from the market more than two-thirds of EU production outside the Baltic region.

A spokesman for the European Vodka Alliance, which has been fighting attempts to restrict the definition of vodka, said the compromise was broadly acceptable.

However, he said questions about how the "blended" label would work in practice had still to be resolved.

A UK government spokesperson said: "We welcome the fact that today's decision by the European Parliament Committee would enable all products currently sold as vodka to continue to be sold as vodka in the EU."

Cultural patriotism

The vodka issue arose as part of a review of EU legislation on the legal definition of spirits.

The existing definitions date back to 1989, before Finland, Sweden or Poland - all countries with a long history of drinking clear spirits - had joined the EU.

The word "vodka" is derived from the word for water in Polish and Russian.

The UK, Europe's second biggest vodka exporter, uses sugar beet molasses as the raw ingredient for about one-third of its production.

The BBC's Alix Kroeger in Brussels says UK vodka factories are concentrated in Scotland.

While Scotland wants a liberal definition of vodka, she says, it wants a strict definition of whisky.

The Scotch Whisky Association said the changes to EU law proposed by the environment committee would better protect traditional practice within the whisky industry.

[koko]

I am sorry, but that west European "fruit vodka" is just pure sh!t. You can find real vodka only in Russia or Eastern Europe.

[Cedan]

I am sorry, but that west European "fruit vodka" is just pure sh!t. You can find real vodka only in Russia or Eastern Europe.

not true, there are good scandinavian vodka brands too

[Switek]

EU!!! Hands off our Vodka.


Vodka or die!

;)

[Freibier]

We had a similar situation a couple years ago regarding beer.
Of course this was a much more serious situation than this "vodka" farce!
All those foreign chemo beermakers insisted to call their hormone-corn-whatnot-pissbrew beer...
I mean everybody knows that beer is only hops, malt and water !!! ;)

[daily666]

While Scotland wants a liberal definition of vodka, she says, it wants a strict definition of whisky.

Why? Let's make fruitty single malt whisky than :D

[Switek]

Why? Let's make fruitty single malt whisky than :D

Do not mess with DW... ;)

[Doublethinker]

So is it whisky or whiskey??

[Switek]

So is it whisky or whiskey??

This is our expert statement:


http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b212/HighlandSniper58/pedant.gif

Whiskey comes from Ireland, Canada, The USA, Japan, India etc., etc.

WHISKY comes from Scotland - must be distilled in Scotland, matured for not less than three years in oak in Scotland, only than can it be called WHISKY!!!

If it's got an "e", it ain't from Scotland. p-)

http://www.btinternet.com/~robdw/rant.gif

Oh, and BTW - aparently the world's largest producer of Whiskey is India!!!

from this thread (http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?t=99389&page=5&highlight=thing+Scotland)

[Russian_dude]

EU!!! Hands off our Vodka.


Vodka or die!

;)

Wouldn't that be Wodka then?

[perdurabo]

We had a similar situation a couple years ago regarding beer.
Of course this was a much more serious situation than this "vodka" farce!
All those foreign chemo beermakers insisted to call their hormone-corn-whatnot-pissbrew beer...
I mean everybody knows that beer is only hops, malt and water !!! ;)
hey i agreewith you, beer should be pure. I'll back you up with beer rule and you back us with vodka ok? :hug:

And koko try some Finish vodka like Finlandia, or Polish Luksusowa (from potatoes man!)

[oldsoak]

The UK produces Vodka and exports it ?!?!
Why would we do that when we can get the real deal from countries that actually have produced it for ages ?
I fully agree with the Poles, Swedes and Finns on this - too much cr*p gets passed off as a "good" drink. We even manage to ruin lager....

[Flamming_Python]

not true, there are good scandinavian vodka brands too

Absolut is a good brand true.

[perdurabo]

The UK produces Vodka and exports it ?!?!
Why would we do that when we can get the real deal from countries that actually have produced it for ages ?
I fully agree with the Poles, Swedes and Finns on this - too much cr*p gets passed off as a "good" drink. We even manage to ruin lager....
I think we should fight for clear made alcochol from natural products, just like any other food, i hate plastic **** added to any drink, food, luckily i live in realy farmland region, the poorest region of EU - Lubelszczyzna, ppl here still produce food with old ways, you can buy ham produced like hundreds years ago, and it is cheap woot altough local beer is ****ty "Pearl" vodka is just perfect homemade moonshine :)

[oldsoak]

wherabouts is Lubelszczyzna in Poland ?
I suppose you get real, smoked bacon and real kabanos. Do they still - ahem - "accidentally" overheat fermented grain at home ? :-)

[Kaapeli]

The word "vodka" is derived from the word for water in Polish and Russian.

And vodka is drank like it also. :)

[Hydro]

If there are strict rules on Whisky, there should be strict rules on Vodka.

[perdurabo]

wherabouts is Lubelszczyzna in Poland ?
I suppose you get real, smoked bacon and real kabanos. Do they still - ahem - "accidentally" overheat fermented grain at home ? :-)
east part of the country:
http://www.rig.lublin.pl/grafika/mapka2.jpg
Lublin is capitol of region, duno what is this strange mark above, it is also moust forgoten place in Poland, and poorest region in EU before Romania and Bulgaria joining. Youp real food 100% pure nature, and here you can produce alcochol on your own like 50 liters a year without any taxation or regulations, so yeah we do have a lot of moonshine :)

[daily666]

http://www.uncrate.com/men/images/wyborowa-single-estate.jpg
Wyborowa FTW!

[Kap2406]

1.Stolichnaya
2.Finlandia










all the other vodka brands...

[Freibier]

hey i agreewith you, beer should be pure. I'll back you up with beer rule and you back us with vodka ok? :hug:

And koko try some Finish vodka like Finlandia, or Polish Luksusowa (from potatoes man!)
Of course I back you on the vodka issue, wouldn't touch "vodka" from Scotland or western europe anyway :hug:

[MonkeyLibFront]

I've always enjoyed the old bison grass vodka in Vodka Revolution/W'spoons in Manchester.

[Russian_dude]

Come on, we all know that Russian Standard Platinum is off teh huk! (When it is not counterfeited).

[Drako]

I've always enjoyed the old bison grass vodka in Vodka Revolution/W'spoons in Manchester.

It's called zubrowka and the only real one comes from Puszcza Bialowieska in Poland >:P

[daily666]

It's called zubrowka and the only real one comes from Puszcza Bialowieska in Poland >:P

It's called Bison Vodka abroad, Drako, so I guess you're talking about the same thing.

[Cedan]

Absolut is a good brand true.

Vikingfjord, Finlandia etc

[Drako]

It's called Bison Vodka abroad, Drako, so I guess you're talking about the same thing.

No no no, zubrowka is a registered trademark of Polmos :P

[Switek]

No no no, zubrowka is a registered trademark of Polmos :P

mate, becouse of its original name "Żubrówka (http://www.zubrowka.pl/eng/prod_17.php)" what is beyond possibility of proper spelling for non Polish speakers it's being sold abroad also as Bison Grass Vodka

http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/vodkaguide_1903_94380397...http://www.thedrinkshop.com/images/products/main/1183/1183.jpg...http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/randalls_1935_94206432

[Mastermind]

I happen to distill my own spirits...and I can honestly tell you, Ethanol is ethanol, is ethanol...regardless of what it is fermented from...added flavorings and artificial colorings and filterings aside...it is still just ethanol. MM

[Switek]

AFAIK we are not able to feel a taste of any alcohol above 25-30%. This why we do drinks.

Anyway ethanol is a part of alcoholic beverage... the rest makes a difference ;)

[daily666]

Yeah, sure, so this is just ethanol too?

http://www.singlemaltsdirect.com/acatalog/oban_14_b.jpg

[oldsoak]

I happen to distill my own spirits...and I can honestly tell you, Ethanol is ethanol, is ethanol...regardless of what it is fermented from...added flavorings and artificial colorings and filterings aside...it is still just ethanol. MM

- true to an extent, however the fermented mash does also contain various esthers, oils etc from whatever grains or herbs get chucked in. the art is not to attempt just to produce ethanol, but the combination of bits and bobs to produce an enjoyable tipple :-) - but you know this anyway.
- had some Cherry water that turned into brandy by a miracle once :-P -lovely drop. Whats your favourite ?

[Doublethinker]

hey i agreewith you, beer should be pure. I'll back you up with beer rule and you back us with vodka ok? :hug:

And koko try some Finish vodka like Finlandia, or Polish Luksusowa (from potatoes man!)

Finlandia rulezzz 4 life!

[Doublethinker]

1.Stolichnaya
2.Finlandia










all the other vodka brands...

Stolichnaya sucks as hell. I'd take Finlandia, Slavianskaya, Hortiza over sotlichnaya any day.

[Doublethinker]

I happen to distill my own spirits...and I can honestly tell you, Ethanol is ethanol, is ethanol...regardless of what it is fermented from...added flavorings and artificial colorings and filterings aside...it is still just ethanol. MM

Yeah right. Try chinese vodka for once - the amount of grain oil is SO huge that it stinks like crap and tastes like one.

[CHERK]

It's called zubrowka and the only real one comes from Puszcza Bialowieska in Poland >:P

True, the real Zubrovka is made from the grasses of this particular territory, but you are forgetting that part of БеловежскаяПуща/Puszcza Bialowieska also located in Belarus and the best one I tried was made in Belarus.

Regarding Vodka: Fuсk Off with this fruit piss.

The way I look at it, the liquor should be made only from the ingredients which you can find in the area where it originated. I didn’t see any freaking coconuts growing above latitude 50°N.

[Mastermind]

Yeah, sure, so this is just ethanol too?

http://www.singlemaltsdirect.com/acatalog/oban_14_b.jpg
NO..heavens NO! That is Oban! and Uzo is Uzo, and Jim Beam Is Jim Beam and so on. As I said, the filterings, flavorings and a host of other things make the booze...but, it still comes down to ethanol giving it the delightful kick...I make a serious "White Lightening" that retains a nasty degree of the fusil oil from the process of distillation...I leave it in as a reminder of how badly booze can destory the liver. :lol: MM

[oldsoak]

- must remember to bring large empty bottle when visiting mastermind....

[Mastermind]

Yes...and a designated driver, too. Both of you would be welcome. Most certainly, if I am off to the still, I will serve all four of you. MM

[oldsoak]

:-)
- the liver is evil and must be punished....

[Sevryn]

Vodka is Vodka, I will stick to the Polish stock we got here at home.

[daily666]

[FONT=Verdana]True, the real Zubrovka is made from the grasses of this particular territory, but you are forgetting that part of БеловежскаяПуща/Puszcza Bialowieska also located in Belarus and the best one I tried was made in Belarus.


Hmmm, never heard of Belarussian Zubrovka. Must be nice. We've got sh*tloads of Ukrainian stuff lately in shops as I see.

[Musashi]

Yeah right. Try chinese vodka for once - the amount of grain oil is SO huge that it stinks like crap and tastes like one.
I did not know you had tasted a crap :) It must have been a really new shocking experience.

[Doublethinker]

I did not know you had tasted a crap :) It must have been a really new shocking experience.

How witty of you...:roll:

[Musashi]

How witty of you...:roll:
OK mate, it was just a joke ;) I am apoligizing you now if you feel offended :petting:

[Thor]

Youp real food 100% pure nature
Hate to piss on your parade but continental Europe is all quite polluted.


I happen to distill my own spirits...and I can honestly tell you, Ethanol is ethanol, is ethanol...regardless of what it is fermented from...added flavorings and artificial colorings and filterings aside...it is still just ethanol. MM
Needless to say a lot of people would disagree with you.

[CHERK]

Hmmm, never heard of Belarussian Zubrovka. Must be nice. We've got sh*tloads of Ukrainian stuff lately in shops as I see.

Ukraine can’t claim the production of real Zubrovka.

Here is an example of Byelorussian Zubrovka.
http://www.brestvodka.com/en/products/bitterinfusion/brestskaya-zubrovka/

Although the one I liked the most was some exclusive stuff which my friends greeted me with in Minsk, I liked it so much that I can’t remember the name of it:)

[perdurabo]

Hate to piss on your parade but continental Europe is all quite polluted.

of course it is, but here you can find ham that is made from pure pork meat with old recipes without chemical **** added to it that is what i had in mind writing about 100% natural food.

[McNasty]

Needless to say a lot of people would disagree with you.Needless to say, they'd all be wrong. Ethanol is ethanol is ethanol, it's a simple chemical compound. But there is a lot more to vodka than just ethanol.

[exarmyguard]

Its an important issue to get squared away. Don't want the chinese selling knock-offs of genuine vodka.

[CHERK]

"The European Parliament has voted down a bid by MEPs from Poland, Finland, the Baltic states, Sweden and Denmark to tighten the legal definition of vodka.

The so-called "vodka belt" countries wanted to restrict the term to spirits made only from potatoes or grain.
But a majority of MEPs voted in favour of a looser definition.
Vodka made from anything other than potatoes or grain will have to say so on the label - but no minimum size for the declaration will be stipulated.
MEPs agreed on a looser definition taking in sugar beet, grapes and even citrus fruit, which are used as ingredients by producers in countries such as Britain, France and Germany. They account for nearly a third of EU vodka production.
The new definition is still tighter than the definition in use in the EU up to now.
The decision means that Britain will retain its position as the world's second-largest vodka maker, behind Russia.
The drive to tighten the definition was spearheaded by the national governments of Nordic and Baltic countries.
The European Vodka Alliance, which has been lobbying against the stricter definition, threatened to take its case to the World Trade Organization if necessary.
But its spokesman, Chris Scott-Wilson, believes the EU Council of Ministers will reject any moves to restrict the vodka label, sending the regulation back to the European Parliament for a second reading if necessary.
Labour MEP Linda McAvan said the new spirit labelling rules would protect regional product labelling, such as Scottish Whisky and London Gin. "This deal is vital for the Scottish Whisky industry to protect Scottish brands and distilleries worldwide against cheap imitations from overseas," she said."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6767193.stm


This world is going down real fast nothing is sacred anymore. This now and what’s next? Start to practice cannibalism again?
I think proud people of Poland and Finland having long and rich tradition of drinking VODKA should all get hammered and vote themselves out of EU.

[Switek]

Holy sh!t! Bad day... Even VODKA isn't vodka anymore... :(


Down with EU!

http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/1820/eunoplzz2.gif
;)

[Litti]

One more reason to hate this British, German and French based situation where smaller countries have no say over things.

If this was about Whisky...well you know.

[Sharp]

Well, it's like win and cheese.

[jamaKinson]

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/7623/3646725601g001sizedum0.jpg

There goes The Tradition. :-(

[valtrex]

One more reason to hate this British, German and French based situation where smaller countries have no say over things.

If this was about Whisky...well you know.

Nahh, it's nothing, the same thing happened to us with feta cheese..the Danes, the Brits, the Dutch, all wanted to name their "white cheese" made from cow's milk as feta cheese, when the whole world knows that feta is made from lamb's milk (70%) & goat's milk (30%). Eventually, we won the case. No big deal. The issue will rise again in due time & you'll probably win the case

[Musashi]

No big deal. The issue will rise again in due time & you'll probably win the case
Inshallah.

[perdurabo]

One more reason to hate this British, German and French based situation where smaller countries have no say over things.

If this was about Whisky...well you know.
thats why we need "polish" voting system i just looked how much vote power would have smaller countries and in "constitutional" system Germans have twice the power they have, also french, brits and italians while smaller antions would be deminished while in our proposal they would have higher power.