A Beginner’s Guide To Using Flavoured Vodkas In Cocktails
Crafting cocktails using vodka at your home bar can be an interesting activity for an amateur home mixologist. This is because vodka is a quite crisp and neutral spirit, which creates a canvas for the beginner to get creative with different mixers and ingredient combinations.
And when vodka comes laced with flavours like raw mango or lime or even the tangy jamun, it can actually be an intriguing starting point to build flavours into myriad cocktails. Smirnoff’s range of flavoured vodkas which take inspiration from local, regional Indian ingredients can be some of the go-to variations during such mixology moments.
Here’s a handy breakdown of the concept of flavoured vodkas for beginners and how they can be put to use in different cocktail recipes:
Why can amateur mixologists opt for flavoured vodka?
Flavoured vodka presents itself as a beginner-friendly option for blending cocktails because its profile guides eventual flavour pairings. For instance, a mango-flavoured vodka can be paired with lime soda to craft a straightforward but very distinctive blend. So, flavoured vodkas can become interesting alternatives that offer a range of creative combinations without the need to crowd the bar with too many ingredients.
Which are some of the regional Indian ingredient-flavoured vodkas that can be used in cocktails?
Interestingly, contemporary mixologists are experimenting with a lot of regional, Indian flavours to make cocktails that carry a desi touch. Smirnoff's range of flavoured vodkas inspired by these ingredients can be a creative take-off point for beginners to craft cocktails that deliver similar trendy and local flavour infusions. These regional flavours include:
– Smirnoff Minty Jamun, a tangy, sweet, fruity flavour well-suited for monsoon cocktails
– Smirnoff Mirchi Mango, a sweet and spicy pairing with ripe mango and a chili spice
– Smirnoff Zesty Lime, a citrusy zingy combination that is excellent for starter cocktails
How can these flavoured vodkas be used in cocktails?
There are numerous creative alternatives involved in blending cocktails using flavoured vodkas and their complementary ingredient pairings. Here are some ways to go about it:
– use citrusy vodkas like 30 ml Smirnoff Zesty Lemon in spritz-style cocktails containing soda and herbs like mint or basil.
– about 30 ml Smirnoff Mirchi Mango can be combined with ginger ale or lime for interesting flavour pairings, coupled with a salted rim garnish
– around 30 ml Smirnoff Minty Jamun can be accentuated with sodas, tonic water or lemonade in a fruity or sparkly flavour combination
Also Read: 5 Autumn-Flavoured Drinks To Complement The Festive Fall Season
What cocktail equipment would be required to craft these cocktails?
For an amateur, basic cocktail apparatus is a good enough starting point to craft some of these flavoured vodka mixes. Simple highballs can be built directly in a tall cocktail glass by combining 30 ml flavoured vodka with a sparkly mixer and lots of ice.
Stirred classics can be given a flavourful twist in the form of a jamun cosmopolitan or a mirchi martini cocktail, simply by using a handy cocktail stirrer. A basic cocktail shaker will be useful for blending punch drinks containing flavoured vodkas and accompanying fruit juices like orange, cranberry or pineapple.
What are 3 easy beginner cocktails that can be made with flavoured vodka?
– Jamun Vodka Spritz: 30 ml Smirnoff Minty Jamun, 45 ml soda water and 1 tablespoon lime juice served in a tall highball glass with a jamun slice garnish.
– Mirchi Mango Mule: 30 ml Smirnoff Mirchi Mango, 50 ml ginger ale and 1 tablespoon lime juice can be built in a broad glass with a sliced chilli for garnish.
– Lime And Cranberry Twist: 30 ml Smirnoff Zesty Lime, 60 ml cranberry juice and 1 tablespoon ginger juice can be shaken with ice before serving with a lime wheel garnish.
What could be a couple of hosting tips for using flavoured vodka in cocktails?
Two interesting tips for the cocktail amateur and home host could be:
– Keep one or two flavoured vodkas as the theme for the evening, so all cocktails can be crafted using these as their base.
– Curate a DIY vodka soda station with flavoured vodkas, mixers, and ices so guests can get inventive with cocktail concoctions.
Drink Responsibly. This communication is for audiences above the age of 25.
