Vodka
Neutral grain or potato spirit distilled to near-flavorlessness.
Vodka is a neutral spirit distilled to a high proof and filtered aggressively, yielding a bottling with minimal flavor of its own. That neutrality is either a feature or a bug depending on the drink. In a Moscow Mule or Vodka Soda, vodka gets out of the way and lets citrus and ginger do the work. In a Martini it strips the drink of the gin's botanical character, which is why purists still demand gin — but the vodka martini has its own adherents. Quality vodkas (Grey Goose, Belvedere, Tito's, Reyka) differ in texture and mouthfeel more than in flavor.
History
Vodka was a Polish and Russian staple for centuries but barely existed in the Western cocktail canon before the 1950s, when aggressive US marketing (Smirnoff's 'it leaves you breathless' campaign) and the Moscow Mule built the category from scratch.
Common uses
Moscow Mule, Bloody Mary, Espresso Martini, Cosmopolitan.
Cocktails that use Vodka
- Moscow Mule — Vodka, ginger beer, and lime — served in an iconic copper mug
- Espresso Martini — Vodka, coffee liqueur, and fresh espresso — rich, frothy, and wired
- Vodka Soda — Simple, clean, and crushable — vodka with club soda and a citrus squeeze
- Bloody Mary — The ultimate brunch cocktail — vodka, tomato juice, and savory spices
- White Russian — Vodka and coffee liqueur topped with heavy cream — The Dude abides
- Black Russian — Two-ingredient perfection — vodka and Kahlúa on the rocks
Substitutes
- Citrus Vodka — Citrus-infused vodka for drinks that want extra lemon/orange lift.