# How Do You Make Vodka From Potatoes?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-vodka-from-potatoes/605843>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 11, 2011, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-vodka-from-potatoes/605843 "2011-12-11T20:09:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\
**Post date:** [December 11, 2011, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-vodka-from-potatoes/605843/1 "2011-12-11T20:09:55Z")

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I have heard that some of the vodkas, which are distilled from potatoes, have a unique flavor.  
How are they made?  
As I understand it, most (grain based vodkas) are made by producing a sugary liquid (wort) from malt. Yeast is then introduced, and the yeast cells convert the sugars into alcohol-you then distill it, and the result is vodka.  
In the case of potatoes, what you have is concentrated starches-how do you convert the starch to sugar?  
And why would such potatoe vodka taste different?

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [December 11, 2011, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-vodka-from-potatoes/605843/2 "2011-12-11T20:17:45Z")

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[http://www.squidoo.com/How-To-Make-Potato-Vodka](http://www.squidoo.com/How-To-Make-Potato-Vodka)

Oddly, they leave out the step where you introduce the yeast to actually make alcohol. 😕

AFAIK, you need a permit to make distilled alcohol in the U.S.

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**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\
**Post date:** [December 11, 2011, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-vodka-from-potatoes/605843/3 "2011-12-11T20:38:59Z")

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Grain is mostly starch as well. The malting process allows the grain to sprout introducing enzymes that convert the starch in the grain to sugar. I have seen recopies for potato vodka that introduce a small amount of malted grain for the enzymes that convert the starch to vodka. I would think that if you let the potatoes sprout like you do when malting grain you will get the enzymes you need.

[http://www.homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=7974&start=0&st=0&sk=t&sd=a](http://www.homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=7974&start=0&st=0&sk=t&sd=a)