Vodka is a distilled liquor that can be made from a wide variety of ingredients. As long as the ingredient contains starchy sugars, it can be converted into vodka. It is normally made of potatoes or grains like wheat, rye, or corn. It can even be made from grapes.
Today we compare two vodkas: Effen and Ciroc.
The main difference between Effen and Ciroc is as follows. Effen is a Dutch product made from premium French wheat. Ciroc, on the other hand, is a French product made from grapes. Both Effen and Ciroc advertise themselves as premium vodkas.
Both have plain vodka as well as several fruity variants. Both are about 40percent alcohol per volume (APV) or 80 proof. The Effen variants are 37.5percent APV (75 proof), and the Ciroc variants are 35percent APV (70 proof).
A Brief Introduction to Vodka
Vodka is a clear high-strength liquor that is a combination of ethanol and water. Voda is the Slavic word for water. Adding the k is converted to the diminutive form vodka, which means “small water.”
The ethanol comes when the base ingredient is fermented. The base ingredient can be anything with high starch content. Vodka is normally made from potatoes. But it is also made from grains like wheat, rye, or corn. Vodka has even been produced from old newspapers and fish, though we are not sure how that tastes!
After fermentation, the vodka goes through distillation that removes many of the undesirable by-products, leaving clear ethanol. This is then mixed with 70 percent water to produce the finished product.
The purity of the ethanol and the water determine the “mouth feel” of the vodka. Vodka is tasteless. That is why it is a popular ingredient in cocktails, as it takes on the flavor of the ingredients it is mixed with.
The Main Differences
Effen is a Dutch product that comes from the Netherlands. The name Effen means “smooth, even, balanced” in Dutch. Effen is advertised as a smooth vodka. According to the manufacturers, their product is distilled a hundred times to produce their smooth vodka.
Effen vodka is made from premium French wheat. As such, it is not gluten-free.
Effen vodka is 40 percent APV (80 proof). It also has several variants: Raspberry, Black Cherry, Cucumber, Blood Orange, and Green Apple, in addition to newcomers Yuzu Citrus and Rosé. The variants are 37.5 percent APV (75 proof).
Ciroc, on the other hand, is made in France using grapes as the base ingredient. According to the manufacturers, their product is distilled five times to produce the distinctive fresh citrus-flavored vodka.
Ciroc also has several variants: Apple, Red Berry, French Vanilla, Mango, Pineapple, Peach, and Coconut. Ciroc is advertised as 35% APV (70 proof).
Ciros is a gluten-free product, but please check before drinking. The products and favors added after distillation may not be gluten-free.
Final Verdict
Vodka is gaining popularity the world over. In this article, we compared two vodka brands: Effen and Ciroc. Here are the main differences:
- Effen is a Dutch product, while Ciroc is a French product
- Effen is made from premium French wheat; Ciroc is made from grapes
- Effen claims their product is distilled over a hundred times; Ciroc is distilled five times
- Both Effen and Ciroc come in several variants
- Effen may not be gluten-free, but Ciroc is. However, we suggest caution