National Vodka Day

Yes, it’s time for another alcohol celebration date! (“Oh no!” we hear you cry, as you reluctantly reach for another glass to top yourself up)…

On this occasion it’s the turn of vodka to tempt you to celebrate as it’s National Vodka Day on the 4th October!

With its high alcohol content and versatility when it comes to being mixed into cocktails, vodka is one of the world’s most popular spirits. In Europe in particular, it is also often enjoyed neat or ‘straight up’.

Made from distilled water ethanol and fermented potatoes or grains, vodka contains much less fusel oils than other alcoholic beverages. As a result, and due to it also being carbon filtered, vodka is one of the purest drinks in the world.

After distillation, it is often flavoured with fruit extract, herbs or spices.

(Image courtesy of www.absolut.com)

Vodka first originated in Eastern Europe at the end of the 9th century – although the first known distillery came about two hundred years later. The name derived from the Russian word for water, which is ‘voda’.

Awareness of vodka spread throughout the 19th century, due partly to the presence of Russian soldiers in Europe during the Napleonic wars.

Vodka was originally used for medicinal purposes, and it is even reported that Polish vodka was scented and used as aftershave. The vodka of that time was different in scent, flavour and colour, and contained little alcohol.

Some historic accounts even report vodka to have been used to make gunpowder in Sweden in the 15th century!

At drinkstuff we have some specific vodka related products including the Skyy Vodka Flair Bottle, Vodka Zinger, 18th and 21st Birthday Vodka Luge – plus various glasses specific for vodka drinking such as LSA Haze Vodka Glasses or the LSA Lulu Vodka Glass Set.

Skyy Vodka Flair Bottle

21st Birthday Vodka Luge

LSA Lulu Vodka Glass Set

With vodka having such a clear taste and being the most mixable liquor available, it features in numerous cocktails – including the following!:

Cosmopolitan

• 2 ounces (1/4 cup) vodka
• 1/2 ounce (1 tablespoon) triple sec
• 3/4 ounce (1 tablespoon 1 1/2 teaspoons) cranberry juice
• 1/4 to 1/2 ounce (1 1/2 teaspoons to 3 teaspoons) fresh lime juice
• 1 2-inch orange peel/twist
• Ice

1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice then add vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice and lime juice.
2. Shake the cocktail shaker for about 30 seconds until well chilled. Strain into an Enoteca Martini Glass.
3. Garnish with orange peel/twist. For an extra burst of flavor, peel the orange twist over the filled cocktail glass.

Vodka Martini

• 1½ shots vodka
• ¾ shot dry vermouth

1. Place vodka and vermouth in an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Shake well.
2. Strain into a martini glass.
3. Serve with an olive.

Moscow Mule

• 2 ounces vodka
• 1 ounce lime juice
• Ginger beer
• Lime wedge for garnish

1. Pour the vodka and lime juice into a Moscow Mule Copper Mug with ice cubes.
2. Top off with the ginger beer.
3. Garnish with the lime wedge.

Black Russian

• 1 3/4 ounces vodka
• 3/4 ounce coffee liqueur

1. Build the ingredients in an old-fashioned tumbler glass filled with ice.
2. Stir well.

French Martini

• 50ml/2fl oz vodka
• 15ml/½fl oz raspberry liqueur
• 35ml/1½fl oz fresh pineapple juice

1. Place the vodka, raspberry liqueur, pineapple juice into a cocktail shaker with some ice and shake vigorously.
2. Strain the mixture into a martini glass and serve.

Sea Breeze

• 1 1/2 fluid ounces vodka
• 4 fluid ounces cranberry juice
• 1 fluid ounce grapefruit juice
• 1 1/2 cups ice cubes
• 1 lime wedge

1. Combine vodka, cranberry juice, and grapefruit juice in a highball glass and stir to combine. Add ice.
2. Garnish with a wedge of lime.

Happy National Vodka Day!