vodka to prepare

vodka to prepare
Vodka is one of America's most popular liquors. In the past few years high-end vodkas, like Belvedere, Absolut, Ketel One, and Chopin have seen their sales skyrocket. Vodka is a key ingredient in many of the most popular mixed drinks: Bloody Marys, greyhounds, screwdrivers, Cape Cods and Moscow Mules.


Vodka is made from food items containing starches: sugar beet, molasses, rye, potatoes, wheat and other grains. Smoother vodka is made from grains, such as rye or wheat. Rougher variants are made from potato, molasses or sugar beets. As is true in any recipe, quality ingredients going into the mix when combined with proper technique will ensure a quality end-product.


Few vodka drinkers, however, do not realize that they can make this potent potable right in their own homes. All it takes is some patience, equipment and proper distilling skills.


I should warn the reader that the process of making homemade vodka correctly is time consuming and intensive. There is a further warning that the improper preparation of vodka could be harmful to the drinker's health - even resulting in blindness. The making of homemade vodka is not for the beginning distiller. Rather, it is suggested for those who are already experienced in making other alcoholic beverages in their home. For example, vodka distilling is an exciting departure for those already experienced in brewing their own beers, lagers and ales and for the home winemaking enthusiast.


It is recommended that the beginning vodka producer consult with one who has distilled

olympic 2008

"Olympism is a philosophy of life, exalting and combining in a balanced whole the qualities of body, will and mind. Blending sport with culture and education, Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy found in effort, the educational value of good example and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles."(Olympic Charter 2004, Fundamental Principles, paragraph 1)
Pierre de Coubertin regarded himself first and foremost as an educator. As he saw it, sport should form part of every young person’s education, in the same way as science, literature and art. His aim was thereby to offer a harmonious education of the body and mind. The Olympic Games enabled Coubertin to give his educational concept the international visibility and scope it needed. Highlighted by the Games, the concept could become permanent, independent of the holding of the Games. The Olympic Movement upholds Coubertin’s principles. Today, education through Olympism is therefore universal, essentially based on the fundamental human values. Education linked to Olympism involves two orientations:1) Research on Olympism (the academic world)2) Teaching through Olympism (children, adolescents and athletes) - Academic programmes - Youth programmes

The Environment: A TOP Priority

© GE and Coca-Cola

26 October 2007

At the 7th World Conference on Sport and the Environment in Beijing (25th to the 27th October) two of the Olympic Movement’s TOP partners, Coca-Cola and GE will share their expertise with the delegates.

Coca-Cola has been a worldwide Olympic Partner since 1928—longer than any other. Coca-Cola was also one of the first sponsors to support the IOC’s environmental agenda.

At the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, Coca-Cola will once again serve the Olympic community with its HFC-free refrigeration equipment, resource-efficient packaging, biodegradable cups and recycling programmes. The company also plans to unveil the expansion of its hybrid diesel fleet of trucks in China and highlight its efforts to reduce travel miles for product deliveries in the country.

In addition, Coca-Cola is focusing a great deal of attention on raising environmental awareness in Beijing and across China. In advance of the Games, the company has launched an ambitious “Save a Barrel of Water” programme in Beijing to help young people understand the value of water conservation in their daily routines. Developed in partnership with the Beijing Organising Committee of the Olympic Games, China’s Ministry of Education and a number of local community organisations, the programme encourages students to work with their families to save fresh water and recycle waste water.

Another strong proponent of water conservation—and, for that matter, renewable energies, desalination, cleaner coal and greenhouse gas reductions—is GE. The company, which became a Worldwide TOP Partner in 2005, offers an array of solutions aimed at addressing the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.

For the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, GE is providing a number of cutting-edge energy, lighting and water treatment solutions based on ecomagination technologies. In addition to helping the Beijing Organising Committee deliver “green Games” that promote long-term environmental sustainability, these solutions are allowing GE to showcase its business and technology expertise to potential customers in China. According to Peter Foss, GE’s president of Olympic sponsorship, the company’s relationship with the Olympic Movement is helping them achieve that goal. “Our potential customers in China understand the need for green solutions, especially in the areas of water purification and renewable energies. What we are doing with the organising committee in Beijing certainly gets their attention.”

Indeed, it does. GE is currently delivering several large non-Olympic-related ecomagination projects across China. One involves providing water-processing solutions for the Nanpu Waste Water Plant in Tangshan, which allows recycled water to be used to cool equipment at nearby electricity plants. Another involves supplying wind turbines for the Zhangbei and Shangyi power plants north of Beijing, which will generate nearly 80 megawatts of power and eliminate up to 18.3 million tonnes of greenhouse gases.







The TOP Partner programme provides a win-win scenario for all involved. The Olympic Movement benefits from access to cutting-edge technologies, practises and solutions that promote great Games and environmental sustainability. As GE’s Foss explains, “Our association with the Olympic Games provides great opportunities for us to create connections with other companies committed to environmental causes. The IOC is facilitating conversations and providing a great platform for new collaborations.”