|
By Rome Jorge, Lifestyle Editor
It is nothing more than ethanol and water. And
precisely for that reason, vodka makes the perfect mix.
This crystalline libation is the drink least
likely to give one hangovers or headaches. It leaves no telltale
scent of liquor on ones’ breath—truly a breathless experience.
For those who want to come clean with not a hint of guilt, it is the
clear choice. The reason is its purity.
Unlike wines, beers, liqueurs and spirits that
are colored by tannin, enlivened by sparkle and froth or flavored
and sweetened by the fruit or grain for which they were derived,
vodka is repeatedly distilled and filtered to absolute purity. One
simply can no longer tell its fermented origins, be it potatoes,
rye, wheat or sugar beet. And unlike gin, which is redistilled with
juniper and other botanicals, vodka is pure, readily imparting its
sensuously smooth crystalline fire to any number of concoctions.
Without vodka, one cannot make a Bloody Mary
(vodka, tomato juice, hot sauce), a Mudslide (vodka, coffee liqueur,
Irish cream liqueur), an RBV (Red Bull and vodka), James Bond’s
Martini (vodka and vermouth, shaken, not stirred) or, heaven forbid,
Sex on the Beach (vodka, peach schnapps, creme de cassis, orange
juice, cranberry juice). Clearly, vodka is essential to life as we
know it. (And if you haven’t tasted any of these, then clearly you
are not living the life.)
Now imagine what new creations one can serve if
one’s vodka is expertly infused with flavors.
From chili to citrus to cranberry—the most
recent addition being mango— vodka infusions are allow one to
imbibe one’s alcohol more creatively. Unlike schnapps and
liqueurs, vodka infusions do not contain added sugar. This allows
one to mix vodkas with other cocktail ingredients without creating
an overly syrupy drink.
Vodka is first filtered and allowed to mature
after being steeped in flavors. Determining the amount of time vodka
is steeped with flavor is an art as precise as the creation of vodka
itself. It’s only with the finest of ingredients that one can make
the best and most exciting cocktails.
Here are some of the newest cocktail concoctions
based on mango infused vodka:
- Mango Tonic: one part mango vodka and tonic
water. Build over ice in a rocks glass. Garnish with a lemon wedge.
- Frozen Mango: two parts mango vodka, one
part lemon juice, two parts sugar syrup and four large pieces of
peeled mango. Mix all ingredients in a blender together with ice.
Pour directly into a long drink glass. Garnish with a cocktail
cherry.
- Mango Relief: two parts mango vodka, one
part sugar syrupand two parts yoghurt. Shake all ingredients with
ice and pour directly over ice in a long drink glass. Garnish with
mango wedges.
- Apple Mango: one part mango vodka and
sweet apple juice. Build over ice in a long drink glass. Garnish
with a mango wedge.
|
