Home Topics VodkasInfused Flavored Vodkas

Flavored Vodka

Sponsored Results for Sparkling Cider

Sparkling Wines & ChampagnesGrand Wine Cellar, purveyors of fine wines and spirits at exceptional prices.
www.grandwinecellar.com

Gourmet BeveragesHuge Variety Of Gourmet Products To Pick From. Shop igourmet Now.
www.igourmet.com

Martinelli Apple Cider ? up to 75% LessAttention Bargain Hunters. Find martinelli apple cider at incredibly low prices - up to 75% less are possible.
www.Best-Price.com

Vodkas infused with a wide variety of vibrant, exciting flavors have been around almost as long as vodka itself. Each year seems to introduce new flavors and preferences among consumers.

At least 115 different flavored vodkas are sold in the United States, according to the U.S.'s Distilled Spirits Council. These infused vodkas account for roughly 12 percent of vodka sales in the U.S.

Types of Infused Vodkas

A rise in the "cocktail culture" has led to increased popularity of flavored spirits and premium brands, especially for vodka. Continued growth in the vodka category encourages the introduction of more flavored options. Similarly, flavored vodka's persisting popularity has led to many popular name brand flavored vodkas, including Smirnoff® flavored vodka and flavored Grey Goose® vodka.

Citrus vodkas, such as lemon and orange, are among the most popular flavors. Other flavored vodka favorites include:

apple
cherry
citrus
lemon
melon
raspberry
vanilla.

Vodka can be infused with nearly anything. In fact, while recipes exist for bacon-flavored vodka, for centuries, Russian and Polish vodka makers have added ginger, cloves and other spices to vodka (this combination yields "hunter’s vodka" or okhotnichya).

List of Russian Flavored Vodka

Originally, flavors were added to vodkas to cover up the harsh taste of some crude, early vodkas. Later, a flavor infusion indicated the distiller’s skill. Today, dozens of flavors exist, especially among Russian vodkas. In Russian, some of the most popular include:

kubanskaya:vodka infused with dried lemon and orange peels
limonnaya: vodka flavored with lemon and a dash of sugar
okhotnichya: vodka flavored with ginger, cloves, lemon peel, coffee, anise and other herbs. A touch of sugar and wine is then added.
pertsovka: vodka infused with black peppercorns and red chili peppers
starka: vodka flavored with anything from fruit tree leaves to brandy and dried fruit. This is an older type of flavored vodka that stems from the earliest centuries of vodka-making.
zubrovka: This vodka is infused with an aromatic grass called buffalo or bison grass.

How to Make Flavored Vodka

Learning how to make flavored vodka is quite simple and allows for creativity. Of all alcohols, vodka serves as one of the best for flavor infusions because its neutral nature easily carries the flavors with which it's infused.

Because your final product will only be as good as the ingredients you use, start with a moderate to high quality vodka as a base for your flavored vodka recipe. Although low-quality vodkas may hold flavor, they won't be as smooth or tasty as premium brands. Keep in mind, however, that top-shelf vodkas are best enjoyed on their own. A good rule of thumb is to simply choose a middle-of-the-road vodka that you would also enjoy straight.

To get started, choose the flavor you want to make. Common choices include:

apple
lemon
mango
peach
raspberry
strawberry.

Vegetables and spices (such as mint, ginger and lavender) can also be used for infusion. The key is freshness – you will get the best flavor with fresh ingredients, not frozen or canned varieties.

Also, for this process, you will need a sealable container. A true infusion jar will have a spigot at the bottom and a secure lid, however most commercial sun tea containers will also work well.

To make flavored vodkas, follow these steps:

Cut the produce so that the flesh is exposed. Don’t puree it, just cut it into chunks.
Remove any rind, seeds or pits. If you use a citrus fruit, keep and use the zest.
In a sealable container, add vodka to the cut produce. The ingredients should be covered by the vodka, if not completely submerged.
Cover the container tightly and store it in a cool, dark, dry place.
Shake the container gently every couple of days.

The ingredients you use to infuse vodka with flavor need one to two weeks to flavor the vodka appropriately. Ingredients, such as almonds, that are dense or have subtle flavors may require more time to impart their flavor.

The final step is straining the infused vodka into clean bottles through a strainer lined with cheesecloth. Coffee filters also work well. Once this mixture is strained, the infused vodka can sometimes taste better after some aging, usually two to four weeks.

Infused vodkas make a nice gift, especially when you reveal that the infusion is homemade. If you give infused vodkas as a gift, a nice bottle can really complement it. Bottles with cork stoppers can be ordered online at low cost, and don’t forget to label them!

How to Make Bacon Flavored Vodka

Anyone interested in bacon-flavored vodka can try this recipe.

Ingredients

3 strips of bacon
handful of peppercorns (optional)
unflavored, quality vodka.

Directions

Fry the three strips of bacon.
Add the cooked bacon to a clean container, trimming the ends of the bacon strips if they are too long to fit.
Add crushed peppercorns, if you wish.
Fill the container with vodka, cover and place in a cool, dark place. Refrigeration is unnecessary.
After three weeks, put the mixture in a freezer so the fat congeals.
Strain the fat through a coffee filter.

For more adventurous tasters, try using a New Zealand honey vodka (made from honey and the nectar of the native manuka tree) or Zubrowka (vodka flavored by an herbal grass preferred by grazing bison).

Flavored Vodka Recipes

Because of the addition of flavor, more and more people are drinking flavored vodkas straight. For those who find even flavored-vodkas too strong, lemon-lime sodas make for a nice mixer, especially citrus vodka.

Similarly, flavored vodkas can add a nice kick to many traditional vodka cocktails. Here are some popular and tasty flavored vodka drink recipes.

Creamsicle

Ingredients

1 oz. vanilla vodka
1 oz. orange vodka (or other citrus vodka)
soda water, to taste.

Directions

Pour the flavored vodkas into a rocks glass filled with ice.
Add soda water to taste.

For variety, you can also add a splash of fruit juice to this recipe. Orange, pineapple and cranberry juices will all add a tasty twist to this creamsicle recipe.

Ice Bomb

Ingredients

1 oz. raspberry vodka
1 oz. orange vodka
1 oz. regular vodka
2 oz. lemon-lime soda.

Directions

Pour all ingredients (in the order listed above) into a rocks glass filled with ice and enjoy!

Pomegranate Martini

Ingredients

2 oz. citrus vodka
3/4 oz. lemon juice
1/4 oz. pomegranate juice
splash of lemon-lime soda.

Directions

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add all ingredients.
Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass.

Strawberry Ice

Ingredients

1 ½ oz. strawberry vodka
1 ½ oz. triple sec
1 oz. cranberry juice
cherry for garnish.

Directions

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine all ingredients (except the cherry).
Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass.
Garnish with a cherry, if desired.

Resources

Brownie Points Blog (2008). Homemade Bacon Vodka. Retrieved April 5, 2008, from the Brownie Points Web site: http://www.browniepointsblog.com/2008/01/20/homemade-bacon-vodka/.

Gough, Dabney (2006). Do-it-yourself flavored vodkas. Retrieved April 5, 2008, from the SF Gate Web site: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/11/24/WIGLBMHNAA1.DTL.

Russell, Terrence (2008). Infuse Vodkas. Retrieved April 5, 2008, from the Wired.com Web site: http://howto.wired.com/wiki/Infuse_Vodka.

Zegler, Jennifer (2008). State of the Industry - Beverage Blockbusters 2007. Retrieved April 5, 2008, from the Beverage Industry Web site: http://www.bevindustry.com/CDA/

Articles/Special_Reports/BNP_GUID_9-5-2006_A_10000

000000000253961.