4 Unique Vodka Flavours: Why the Spirit Matches Up with So Many Ingredients
Vodka is a versatile spirit that can be used in a variety of cocktails as a base. With growing consumer demands for different taste experiences and a continuous strife for culinary and mixological innovations, ingredients in recent years have almost assumed a life of their own, continually being experimented with across diverse food and drink categories.
For example, vodka is frequently paired with fruits, herbs, and spices as well as caramel and chocolate for its ability to showcase other flavour profiles without overpowering them.
Here is a selection of innovative recipes to make infused and flavoured vodka.
Citrus Basil Vodka
Ingredients:
750 ml vodka
1 orange, sliced
1 lemon, sliced
1 lime, sliced
10 fresh basil leaves
Method:
Drop the sliced citrus fruits and basil leaves into a wide-mouthed jar, and pour in the Vodka.
Seal the jar with an airtight lid and let it sit in the shade or inside a refrigerator (for hotter climates) for about a week. Shake the jar every couple of days to help with the infusion.
After a week, strain the vodka through a fine mesh sieve or muslin cheesecloth into a fresh bottle.
This concoction can now be used as a cocktail base for drinks mixed with tonic water and ice. Make sure to measure out 30 ml of the vodka for the cocktail recipe.
Spicy Jalapeño Vodka
Ingredients:
750 ml vodka
2-3 fresh jalapeños, sliced
1 clove garlic, smashed
Method:
Place the sliced jalapeños and garlic in an airtight glass jar and pour the vodka into it.
Once the lid is secured, let the flavours infuse for 3 to 5 days. One can adjust and temper the spice level basis their palate.
Once it reaches the desired heat, strain the liquid out into a clean bottle.
This Vodka is perfect for making a spicier version of Bloody Mary or Margarita.
Berry Vodka
Ingredients:
750 ml vodka
200 g assorted dried berries (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries)
50 g sugar
Method:
Much like the earlier recipes, take a glass jar and drop the dried berries and sugar into it, before adding the vodka and sealing the jar.
The sugar and berries will get infused into the vodka within a week, but make sure to stir the mixture from time to time to prevent the berries from settling at the bottom.
After a week, strain the berries out of the vodka using a fine mesh sieve, and store the infused vodka in a clean, airtight bottle.
Use this fruity vodka in cocktails like a Berry Vodka Lemonade or serve it with plain soda water. The sugar from the infusion makes this flavoured vodka much sweeter than usual.
Herb-Infused Vodka
Ingredients:
750 ml vodka
4-5 sprigs of dried rosemary
4-5 sprigs of dried thyme
Instructions:
Carefully place the rosemary and thyme in a glass jar and pour the vodka over the herbs. Fresh herbs can also be used in this recipe, but dried herbs impart the vodka with a stronger aroma.
Seal the jar and let it infuse for a week and a half, tasting periodically to gauge the herbal intensity.
Once infused to your liking, strain the vodka into a clean bottle.
This herbaceous vodka can be used to make Savory Vodka Martini or as a base for meat and herb sauce marinades.
Do remember: like everything, alcohol is best had in moderation. Drink responsibly!
