Vodka is classified as a "neutral spirit” by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, meaning it has no distinctive character, aroma, taste, or color. People might enjoy this kind of alcohol because it's so easy to mix with others, but it also means they may not know the kind of ingredients that are in the spirit.

The first record of something resembling vodka was a substance used as a way of cleaning wounds, and an agent used in gunpowder. The vodka-making process was refined after a charcoal filtering method for alcohol was discovered, and potatoes began to replace wheat since they were cheaper.

While vodka can come from any fermented material, it is typically made from grain like wheat, corn, or — as is commonly heard — potatoes. However, in modern times, potatoes are generally more expensive and labor-intensive to use than other grains, so most vodkas do not use them.