Vodka needs little by way of introduction, given how frequently it is used for making popular cocktails, such as Bloody Mary or Screwdriver.

Of course, it is also often drunk on its own, particularly in Eastern or Northern Europe. It can also be simply combined with juices (such as orange or cranberry juice), mixers (such as cola or tonic) or other spirits (such as martini).

Vodka is mostly made of water and ethanol, which has been purified by a process of distillation from a fermented ingredient. This can include grain (such as wheat, or rye) sugar beet or potatoes.

Vodka usually contains between 35% and 50% of alcohol, although Russian, Central and Eastern European vodkas typically feature an alcohol content of 40%. This is considered by many as a key threshold to help ensure a strong taste when drunk neat.

There are also plenty of flavoured vodkas on the market (such as vanilla or orange), designed to appeal to a wider audience and to be used for making cocktails in particular. However, if you are focusing on the essential ingredients for your bar, it is best to pick a classic vodka, which can be used for most types of cocktails.