From Sodas To Syrups To Tonics These Top Mixers Will Up Your Vodka Game
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Vodka was until recently, by legal definition, a flavorless, odorless spirit . Of course, fans of this clear spirit would disagree, arguing that each brand has different flavors depending on the grains used in the mash bill, how many times its been distilled, and what country it comes from. And vodka enthusiasts also know how well it works in a variety of cocktails, from the Moscow Mule to a Screwdriver to the humble Vodka & Tonic.
There are many different vodka mixers to choose from, ranging from simple flavored seltzer to a one-step Cosmopolitan combination of cranberry and lime juice. We spoke to some bar industry experts and gathered our own picks of the best vodka mixers that you can buy now.
Does Titos Make A Flavored Vodka
Titos Vodka has a variety of flavors. Apple & amp, Cinnamon This drink is made with 750 ml Titos Handmade Vodka, 1 Granny Smith apple, 1 Red Delicious apple, and 2 cinnamon sticks. Pear- Add an extra burst of flavor to your autumn cocktails by infusing Titos Handmade Vodka with fresh slices of juicy pear.
Because You Really Don’t Want To Drink It Straight
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Have you ever thought you’ve found your favorite chaser just to realize that it doesn’t mask the awful taste of vodka anymore? Not to worry, there are plenty more drinks out there that you might not know about. Some vodka mixers aren’t as well known, but they’re ones you have to try nonetheless.
It doesn’t matter if you need a quick chaser or if you’re making a mixed drink, all of these vodka mixers will do the trick. Just find what you like and stick with it. Who knows, maybe you’ll even switch it up a bit.
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Best Budget: Ch Vodka
Region: Illinois | ABV: 40% | Tasting notes: Vanilla, Pepper, Wheat
Joly likes the low-priced, CH vodka so much that he uses it in the Moscow Mule in line with his bottled mixed-drink, Crafthouse Cocktails.
Made in Chicagos Pilsen District, its a small-batch, artisan product from sourcing to bottling. It starts with certified-organic Illinois winter wheat and rye, and, in a rarity for the vodka category, its milled, mashed, fermented, and column-distilled entirely in-house. Flavorful but approachable, this spirit delivers alluring, complementary notes: a big, soft serving of vanilla followed by a spicy, peppery kick.
Region: New York | ABV: 40% | Tasting notes: Clean, Crisp, Smooth
You pretty much cant get any more virtuous with your vodka drinking than this scientific breakthrough: Vodka made from nothing other than carbon dioxide, water, and sunshine. Its Brooklyn-based producer uses a special, solar-powered technology to convert carbon emissions into ethyl alcohol, removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere as it amps up our Moscow Mules. No farming, no irrigation, no resource extraction. No wonder its a NASA prize winner. It tastes pretty good, too: smooth and light.
Substitutions In Classic Cocktails
Try substituting vegetal, herbal, or fruit flavored vodkas in the following classic cocktails.
- These vodkas work well with the tang of lime and the bite of ginger in a Moscow mule.
- They can add zest to the intense lime flavor of a kamikaze.
- They blend well with the tart cranberry flavor in a sea breeze.
- Add these types of flavored vodkas to Jell-O shots for added interest.
- Spice up a or a daiquiri by replacing the tequila or rum with a flavored vodka.
- Use them as your vodka in a trash can punch, such as jungle juice.
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More Cocktails From Fine Dining Lovers
Why be satisfied with just vodka when you can mix up a drink with gin and vodka. You might want to say your evening prayers before tossing back one of the vesper, in which the two spirits mentioned above are shaken vigorously with lillet blanc and garnished with candied lemon zest.
Then there are cocktails where the base is a wild card. Enter the gimlet, an explosion of lime that can be mixed with vodka, gin, or even mezcal, tequilas smoke-shrouded cousin. This simple drink with a strong literary pedigree can be embellished with different herbs like rosemary, basil, or mint.
Speaking of mint, to conjure up swirls of Southern nostalgia and the rowdy revelries of the Kentucky Derby, slurp a mint julep. The elements: bourbon whiskey, sugar, crushed ice, and, of course, mint.
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Mango: Eat Drink And Loveyour Browser Indicates If You’ve Visited This Link
I love mango in many savoury dishes like stir fried pepper beef, duck curry and teriyaki chicken but to truly enjoy its natural flavour, drink it. Slushies, milkshakes, smoothies or juice all you need is a food processor or blender to puree the mango’s deep orange flesh with your desired milk and ice cream.
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+ Amazing Vodka Cocktails
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Get inspired with some of the best vodka cocktails on the internet. From classic vodka cocktail recipes like a Lemon Drop Martini to Sex on the Beach Slushies, with are more fun, we have tons of cocktail ideas for everyone.
Dont let making vodka cocktails at home scare you. Most of them are actually super simple to make! Take our Honey Greyhound Cocktail or Blackberry Moscow Mules. Both of these are fun, refreshing, and ready in less than 10 minutes.
Sometimes after a long week of work all you need is a stiff drink. Or, if youre a lightweight, something more fruity and less pungent might be the right drink for you. Either way, weve got tons of vodka cocktails for you to choose from that will fit any palette.
Infuse Your Vodka With Fresh Or Dried Botanicals
One of the best ways to upgrade your vodka soda is to simply infuse your vodka with a fruit, herb, or other botanical.
Some of my favorites are hibiscus, strawberry, chamomile, coconut the list goes on! Fruits or herbs can take hours or days to infuse, but teas like hibiscus can take just minutes, meaning you dont have to do a whole lot of planning ahead either.
Ive included instructions below for creating a Strawberry Hibiscus vodka infusion, but if you leave out the strawberries, you can have infused hibiscus vodka in about 10-15 minutes!
Strawberry Hibiscus Vodka Soda
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East London Liquor Company Vodka
Made using 100% British wheat, this hidden gem is made a short walk from Mile End station in the very heart of Londons East End. Their distillery is also a restaurant, bottle shop, bar and a place where you can even distill spirits yourself. It really is a playground for the adventurous drinker, and their vodka doesnt disappoint. Its as good over ice as it is with tonic.
Put It In The Freezer
If you insist on buying a particular brand of vodka, which does not have a lot of taste but leaves a burning feeling, then consider mellowing out the edge. Put it in the freezer for a few hours. It will dull the sharp edges, and you will get a much creamier drink.
But be cautious, this is for cheaper, common vodkas that are not premium quality. Putting quality vodka is going to do the same thing, dull the edges. This means, with cheaper vodkas, you get a smoother drink. With good quality vodkas, you lose flavor. Here is why you should never put good quality vodkas in freezer.
If you think your drink is too sharp for your taste, that is a prime candidate to be put in the freezer. Vodka freezes at -15 degrees C, which is way beyond normal freezers, so you dont have to worry about the bottle cracking or freezing.
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Best Organic: Ocean Organic
Region: Hawaii | ABV: 40% | Tasting notes: Crisp, Fruity, Mineral
Organic sugar cane grown on a family estate in Maui combines with desalinated water pulled from 3,000 feet below the depths of the Pacific Ocean for a flavor that’s clean, easy, and long-lasting. In its round, blue bottle, Ocean Vodka exemplifies the beauty of organic spirits. Its pure, light taste, with a muted sweetness, works well with fresh fruit juices including coconut, mango, and pineapple.
Easy Flavored Vodka Drinks With Recipes
Flavored vodkas have been growing in popularity with most brands introducing an array of new flavors. From vegetal flavors like cucumber or jalapeno to fruit flavors such as raspberry or grapefruit to sweet flavors like vanilla, caramel, and chocolate, flavored vodkas can add variety to your cocktail repertoire.
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Lemonade And Iced Tea
You could go with one or the other, or you can shake things up and make a John Daly. Use an ounce or two of vodka and equal parts lemonade and iced tea for a perfect porch sipper. The refreshing nature of the tea, the sweet and citrusy lemonade, the punch of a nice helping of vodka there is little better when its 100 degrees and you have to be outside.
Pineapple Guava And Mango
Vodka is not your usual tropical cocktail drink, but when it works, it works. The flavorless drink goes really well with fruits, and pineapple is no different. Although you might be more comfortable and familiar with pineapple and rum, it is perfect for vodka too. The juice is a strong concoction that will blend out the strong flavor of the vodka if you dont want to taste the liquor and focus on the buzz.
With guava, the best way to drink vodka would be to infuse it with the juice. But dont forget the chili and salt rim icing, which is the best part of the drink. The spicy and salty touch will enhance the taste of guava and drown out any burning notes in the vodka.
Lastly, we have little to say about mango. Pour pretty much anything in mango, and you have a divine drink. Enhance your vodka cooler style.
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How Is Vodka Made
As a relatively straightforward spirit, vodka can be distilled from virtually anything. Its mostly produced by fermenting potatoes or cereal grains like wheat or rye. The majority of plain vodkas and almost all Russian vodkas are created with wheat, while Polish vodka favours rye and Finnish vodka goes for barley. When vodka is produced using something other than potato or cereal grain, like Ciroc, which is made using grapes, it must legally be declared on the bottle.
To make vodka, the potato or grain is heated to form a mash before being mixed with yeast to produce ethanol. This fermentation process can take anything from one day to two weeks before the liquid is purified to remove any odours or off notes. Then, its distilled in column stills or pot stills to reach its desired purity.
The vodka, at 95.6 percent, is then diluted to around 50% with purified or spring water before being distilled again, at which point infusions can be added. The spirit is finished in the pot before common additives like honey or sugar are added. Before the final step, every bottle of vodka goes through a particle filter before its chilled and sold.
What Can You Mix With Vodka
I feel that Vodka is the most forgiving of all spirits when one thinks about what types of flavors will go well with it, says Park. In the simplest forms, citrus-flavored sodas, other sodas, and fruit juices orange, pineapple, lime, cranberry, etc. Here’s our recipe guide to essential and popular vodka cocktails.
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What The Vodka Cranberry Drink Tastes Like
The Vodka Cranberry is sometimes thought of as a beginners drink because its not very strong and you dont really taste the alcohol. But its a delicious drink for anyone.
The great thing about this drink is how refreshing it is without being strong. The lime and cranberry are both tart, which really wakes up your taste buds.
But you also get some sweetness from the dash of orange juice, and that makes it delicious.
Note that some bartenders do make this drink much stronger. The classic recipe only calls for an ounce of vodka, but some put in a good bit more.
When its mixed according to this recipe, the only reason youll know the vodka is in there is that slight burn you feel as it goes down. And it is really slight.
If you want a regular strength drink, you certainly can bump the vodka up to the standard 1 1/2 ounces without changing the flavor noticeably.
If you want your drink on the strong side, bump it up to two ounces of vodka and just reduce the cranberry juice accordingly.
The Drink Recipes Every Vodka Drinker Needs
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Vodka may be the most mixable and useful liquor in the bar. The spirit’s clear, clean taste pairs well with any flavor, from sweet to savory and dry to spicy. Featured in thousands of cocktail recipes that vary in character, ingredients, and style, there is a vodka cocktail for every drinker and occasion.
Within that extensive list of vodka drinks, some standouts are considered essential. These are the most popular of those recipes and the drinks that everyone should taste at least once.
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Best For Dirty Martini: Dirty Sue Premium Olive Juice
Courtesy of Total Wine
While The Chart Room isnt what youd typically consider a Martini bar, the regulars who come in know exactly what they want and expect the best version of whatever their drink of choice is, says Lisa Zumpe of New Orleans’ The Chart Room.
I can think of one guy who comes in every Wednesday at 8 p.m.you can set your watch by itdrinks exactly two dirty Martinis, and goes home. I wouldnt even think of sticking my fingers in the garnish tray to add juice to his drink or pouring brine out of a jar of olives. Hed never speak to me again! Dirty Sue makes my customers happy, so it makes me happy.
The Best Vodka : 10 Vodkas We Recommend
From Grey Goose Martinis to Russian Standard weve rounded up the top 10 vodkas on the market right now to wet your whistle
BySarah-Jane ButcherLast updated 2019-01-01T13:20:31Z
Vodka. We doubt you saw in the New Year with it, and its not everyones first choice of spirit for sipping straight, but it makes a cracking cocktail or mixer. Right now there are a million and one different types and flavours to choose from, so how do you find the best vodka?
Read on
We have brought together our top 10 picks for the best vodkas you should be drinking right now. Whether you are simply buying a bottle for after-dinner drinks at home or want to find a unique gift for someone, weve found a fantastic range of local and international brands that are changing the way we view vodka.
For many, vodka is either tasteless or the ultimate taste of regret wed rather forget, but these days you can get a wide variety of different vodkas to cater to your palate and even dietary requirements. With the rise of food intolerances and health trends, gluten-free vodkas and even vodkas made from milk are now available quite widely, so if you have any special requirements, keep your eyes peeled for these options.
Below, we guide you through our top picks of the best vodkas 2018.
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The Healthiest Mixers For Vodka
Vodkas versatility and relatively low calorie count make it a favourite drink of weight watchers. To call it healthy is probably a step too far, but paired with the right mixer, it can certainly be better for your waistline than most boozy alternatives. If youre looking to keep the pounds at bay then you could do a lot worse than stocking your fridge with these refreshing choices.
Best Vodka For No Hangover
Vodka is a spirit that is said to give the least hangover. Thats if you drink exactly the same amount and strength compared to something like bourbon.
Theres a lot of debate around whether more premium vodkas gives less severe hangovers. And a lot of it comes down to how many times the vodka has been distilled or filtered.
Youll often see certain brands of vodka that are 5x filtered or triple distilled. This essentially means that more impurities have been removed from the vodka. These impurities are also known as congeners.
In the grand scheme of things, the difference is probably marginal. And the effect it has on hangover severity may be even less.
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Best Russian: Beluga Noble
Region: Russia | ABV: 40% | Tasting notes: Flowers, Cream, Alpine herbs
This vodka is the greatest combination of old traditions and contemporary chic, says Borisov. He notes the superiority of both the water source and the filtration processtwo key contributors to the vodkas bouquet and flavor profile. Beluga uses pure artesian well water from Siberia, and it triple filters its vodka through birch charcoal, a silver filter, and quartz sand. Then, the spirit is left to rest for a month to relax its aroma. After all that,” Borisov says, “the final product is clean like a tear, a common expression used to describe the highest quality vodka in Russia.”
Borisov also recommends keeping this bottle in the fridge and drinking it cold and neat, complemented in true Russian fashion with a small piece of rye bread and a pickled cornichon.