Introduction The purpose of this paper is to show the ability to distinguish between two types of vodka. The experiment will test the ability to distinguish grain vodka from potato vodka. A one-person independent trail was the basis for the experiment. The goal will be to see if the participant can identify and correctly label grain vodka from potato vodka. The importance of this study is to determine is one can discern purely by taste, the difference between grain and potato vodka. Many vodka drinkers believe they have a preference for grain over potato or vice-versa; the results of this study could be the basis for disproving the theory.
Hypotheses
Null Hypothesis, H0 The null hypothesis of this study is the subject will be able to distinguish potato vodka from grain vodka at least or more than 75% of the time.
Alternative Hypothesis, H1 The alternative hypothesis of this study is the subject will not be able to distinguish potato vodka from grain vodka at least 75% of the time.
Method
Experimental Design A blind independent, randomized experiment was the design chosen for the study. The samples will be sampled independently and the subject does not know the brand of the samples or if they are in a consistent order.
Participant
The participant, a 29 year old adult male, is a self-proclaimed expert on vodka. The participant, here after known as the subject, was born and raised in the Former Soviet Union. The subject has been drinking vodka for many years as a tradition within the subject’s heritage.
Materials
Two top-shelf vodkas were purchased on March 15th from a liqueur store in Ellicott City, Maryland. Chopin was chosen for the potato vodka and its import cousin Belvedere as the grain vodka. Chopin is made from potatoes in Poland’s Podlasie countryside, and Belvedere is made from Dankowskie Gold Rye, which is grown in Poland's Mazovia region. The vodkas were stored in the freezer overnight to assume the preferred chill of the subject. Plastic shot glasses were used to ensure all samples were poured at the same time and temperature. Paper was wrapped around the bottles to keep the subject from seeing the brand of vodka being tested. Twenty (20) shot glasses had a small dot on the bottom to signify grain vodka. Sparkling water with lemon was used the palate cleanser. It is important to note during a proper vodka sampling the vodka is not swallowed. A bowl was used for the subject to discard the vodka into, if the subject chose to. Two plastic placemats were used for the subject to place the empty shot glasses to mark the identification of which vodka was tasted. Purple denoted potato and green for grain.
Procedure
A trial run was conducted of the entire procedure excluding the actual tasting part. To ensure the data was valid forty (40) trials (twenty samples of each) were conducted with the subject over the course of ten evenings. The samples were randomized and the subject was not told if there were equal amounts of shots for the tasting session. The following is the actual procedure used to conduct one round of the taste test:
1) One tablespoon of the chilled vodkas was poured into plastic shot glasses.
2) The four (4) samples were placed on a tray in random order. Two (2) extra of each were prepared in the event one fell over, or was spilled during the tasting.
3) The participant was instructed to taste the shots in the order in which they were placed on the tray. The shots were randomized using RANDOM.ORG’s list randomizer. (G) was used for grain and (P) was used for potato.
4) The participant was asked to identify the samples by placing the empty shot glasses onto the appropriate placemat.
5) Sparkling water with lemon was used as a palate cleanser in-between each sample.
6) There was no time limit for the subject to decide.
7) The tasting continued in the same manner over the next nine (9) evening at the same time.
8) Additionally every evening the subject was asked to state his preference for one vodka over the other.
Data Collection The subject was asked to leave the room once the tasting was complete for the evening. The cups were flipped over on their placemats to check for the dot. The data was than recorded on the randomized list in Microsoft Excel. Zero (0) was used to record an incorrect answer and one (1) for correct answers. The series preference was also recorded to see if there was a relationship between which vodka was presented first and which one the subject had a preference for.