Monday, January 23, 2012

Cocktail Recipes With Vodka

Transparent and nearly as odorless as spa water, vodka has little recognizable flavor of its own — putting it as the most suitable ingredient for composing a variety of cocktail recipes with vodka. When you blend vodka into cocktails, it exaggerates the flavors of other constituents. Vodka can also come infused with other lovely ingredients like strawberries, spices, and even chocolate.
First found from Eastern Europe, vodka was originally discovered in the 9th century, but the esteem of vodka was not seen in the west until the 20th century. Vodka can be stirred or shaken, and vodka cocktails are as easy to prepare as they are to quaff. No wonder that 25% of alcohol sold contains vodka. With just a few constituents, vodka can be used to make many of distinctive cocktails.
Nevertheless, the grade of your cocktails is in relation to the grade of the vodka you are using. A cocktail that was made with a low grade bottle of vodka will be a stark contrast from a cocktail made with a $20 bottle of vodka. You don’t have to spend a vast amount, but try to find a good compromise. Usually, vodka found on the cheap shelves of the off license is the worst and least flavorsome when it comes to making cocktails. Instead of reaching for the bottom bottles, why not try being adventurous with the bottles from the pricier shelves?
An important part of producing cocktails recipes with vodka is understanding all the other elements. Creating cocktail recipes would not be the same without the other elements. If the cocktail lacks the correct taste or kick, you can improve its interest by putting in flavorings. You can utilize fresh elements like chili peppers, strawberries, apples, lemons, limes, or even herbs. Although the whole process takes a month, it is absolutely worth it. Readily add the desired elements to the vodka bottle and leave it to stand in a dark corner for about four weeks — or even longer, if you desire. The longer the drink sits with the elements, the more potent the aroma and the character will be.
Finally, one last aspect that is extremely useful in making cocktails recipes with vodka, is to always check that the cocktail glass is the same in temperature to the vodka itself. When serving cold cocktails, your shot glasses need to be iced. In the same issue, warm cocktails must be issued in warm glasses. If you wish to chill a glass, empty a bag or two of ice cubes in a portable chiller and insert the glasses inside of it. Perhaps, place the glass inside of a freezer for sixty to eighty seconds prior to delivering the ready cocktail. If you require warm glass, just pour warm water over the receptacle before emptying the warm cocktail inside.
Whether you’re a newbie to mixing cocktails or an expert, it is relatively simple to create tasty cocktails using vodka. All you need to do is use your imagination and you will be able to make a beautiful drink that everyone will enjoy.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Enjoy Cocktail Recipes With Vodka

Transparent and nearly as odorless as spa water, vodka has little recognizable flavor of its own — putting it as the most suitable ingredient for composing a variety of cocktail recipes with vodka. When you blend vodka into cocktails, it exaggerates the flavors of other constituents. Vodka can also come infused with other lovely ingredients like strawberries, spices, and even chocolate
First found from Eastern Europe, vodka was originally discovered in the 9th century, but the esteem of vodka was not seen in the west until the 20th century. Vodka can be stirred or shaken, and vodka cocktails are as easy to prepare as they are to quaff. No wonder that 25% of alcohol sold contains vodka. With just a few constituents, vodka can be used to make many of distinctive cocktails.
Nevertheless, the grade of your cocktails is in relation to the grade of the vodka you are using. A cocktail that was made with a low grade bottle of vodka will be a stark contrast from a cocktail made with a $20 bottle of vodka. You don’t have to spend a vast amount, but try to find a good compromise. Usually, vodka found on the cheap shelves of the off license is the worst and least flavorsome when it comes to making cocktails. Instead of reaching for the bottom bottles, why not try being adventurous with the bottles from the pricier shelves?
An important part of producing cocktails recipes with vodka is understanding all the other elements. Creating cocktail recipes would not be the same without the other elements. If the cocktail lacks the correct taste or kick, you can improve its interest by putting in flavorings. You can utilize fresh elements like chili peppers, strawberries, apples, lemons, limes, or even herbs. Although the whole process takes a month, it is absolutely worth it. Readily add the desired elements to the vodka bottle and leave it to stand in a dark corner for about four weeks — or even longer, if you desire. The longer the drink sits with the elements, the more potent the aroma and the character will be.
Finally, one last aspect that is extremely useful in making cocktails recipes with vodka, is to always check that the cocktail glass is the same in temperature to the vodka itself. When serving cold cocktails, your shot glasses need to be iced. In the same issue, warm cocktails must be issued in warm glasses. If you wish to chill a glass, empty a bag or two of ice cubes in a portable chiller and insert the glasses inside of it. Perhaps, place the glass inside of a freezer for sixty to eighty seconds prior to delivering the ready cocktail. If you require warm glass, just pour warm water over the receptacle before emptying the warm cocktail inside.
Whether you’re a newbie to mixing cocktails or an expert, it is relatively simple to create tasty cocktails using vodka. All you need to do is use your imagination and you will be able to make a beautiful drink that everyone will enjoy.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Special Vodka Cocktail Recipes

Vodka is like the actor that never steals the spotlight, but always makes the other actors shine. Because of its almost non-existent taste, vodka goes perfectly with almost any ingredient that you can imagine. If you’re looking to create a sweet, sour, or spicy cocktail, vodka can fill the bill and be the perfect matching spirit.
Although there are plenty of cocktails that have vodka as a main ingredient — such as the Screwdriver, which calls for orange juice and vodka — some of the more interesting cocktail recipes containing vodka are the ones that will really make your party memorable. Most people have had vodka before to some extent, and are not adverse to trying something new with it as the main ingredient.
One recipe worth trying out is a cocktail known as a Minty Chocolate Vodka. First, mix 22 mls each of vodka, white cream of chocolate, and green cream of mint. Shake the combination well, strain, and pour the liquid into a single shot glass that has already been chilled. The Minty Chocolate Vodka is a cocktail that will have your guests coming back for more.
Everyone’s heard of a Bloody Mary, so why not try this unique variation at your next cocktail party? It’s called the Fresh N’ Fruity Bloody Mary. First, use a muddler to crush six to eight fresh raspberries in a cocktail shaker. Add 88 mls of vodka with orange zest, 66 mls of fresh orange juice, 55 mls of cranberry juice, and 22 mls each of raspberry-flavored liqueur and fresh lime juice, then shake. Add in three or four ice cubes and pour into a tall cocktail glass. Garnish your Fresh N’ Fruity Bloody Mary cocktail with a fresh raspberry.
The Melon Coconut Sensation is the perfect drink to serve when you’re relaxing by the pool, sunning at the beach, or just hanging out with a couple of friends. This tropical drink is made by adding 88 mls of vodka to 132 mls of fresh pineapple juice. Then add 22 mls each of melon-flavored liqueur and coconut rum liqueur. Serve it in a tall Collin’s glass and garnish the cocktail with a wedge of fresh lime. Your guests are sure to love this drink!
Try this next cocktail recipe on a beautiful autumn day. It’s called the Sweet Apple Vodka. First, press about 4 fresh ginger slices on the bottom of a cocktail shaker with a muddler or a pestle. Then add 176 mls of fresh apple juice, 66 mls of bison vodka, and 22 mls each of sugar syrup and apple schnapps liqueur. Strain the liquid and pour it into a Collin’s glass over crushed ice. Finish off the cocktail by grating nutmeg over the surface and garnishing it with a slice of fresh apple.
It’s possible to come up with a completely original cocktail recipe that contains vodka all on your own. Learn as much as you can about popular ingredients for cocktails such as flavored alcoholic spirits and flavored syrups in order to experiment with combinations that will be all your own.

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Top 6 Favorite Retro Cocktails

The retro-drink culture is officially in vogue, from the TV show Mad Men to the speakeasy-style cocktail bar. Many of today's popular cocktails originated 100, 200, even 300 years ago, but each of the following drinks has enjoyed a resurgence in our lifetimes. Read all about the fabled and oft-debated origins of your favorite retro cocktails, including the Sidecar, PiƱa Colada, and Gin Rickey.

Tom Collins
Basically gin with sparkling lemonade, the Tom Collins cocktail was born of the Great Tom Collins Hoax of 1874. The hoax began as a game, in which someone would ask another if he'd seen Tom Collins, asserting that this character (who didn't really exist) had been spreading rumors about him. A flurry of urgent searching would ensue, and the supposedly maligned searcher would end up feeling foolish. The original Punk'd! Who knew?Sidecar
This version of the World War I-era cocktail incorporates light citrus flavors and Crown Royal, a blended Canadian whiskey. The original recipe was reportedly invented for an American army captain who was feeling under the weather, so his bartender invented a drink with body-warming brandy and vitamin C-rich lemon juice. Oh, and he was known for riding around town in the sidecar of a motorcycle, hence ...
Bourbon Hot Toddy
Bourbon, spiced and sugared, takes center stage in this cold-weather cocktail. Traditionally imbibed for relaxation or to cure a cold, Hot Toddies were reputedly born in Scotland in the early 1700s. (Talk about retro!).

Manhattan
Also known as the "Drinking Man's Cocktail," the Manhattan has a much-debated history, but everyone agrees the drink was indeed invented in New York City in the second half of the 1800s. Whiskey, sweet vermouth, and maraschino cherries are the unwavering ingredient list.

White Russian
If you're feeling political, the White Russian cocktail could refer to the right-wing Bolsheviks of the Russian Civil War during the early 1900s, who were known as the "whites." If not, this drink could simply refer to the vodka (which was associated with Russia during the 1950s) in this dessert-worthy coffee liqueur cocktail. Either way, this drink is both simple and delicious.

Sunday, December 25, 2011

How To Drink Cocktails?

Drinking in
The top 10 essential spirits and liqueurs for your drinks cupboard are: vodka, gin, light rum, tequila, Cointreau, Kahlua, Grand Marnier, dry and rosso vermouth and brandy liqueur. Essential juices and mixers are: cranberry, orange, pressed apple, grapefruit and pineapple juice; soda water, Coca-Cola, ginger ale, bitter lemon and tonic water. Not forgetting ice - the most important cocktail ingredient.
Many cocktails benefit from sweetening but granulated sugar does not dissolve easily in cold drinks. To make pre-dissolved "sugar syrup", gradually pour in and stir two cups of granulated sugar into a saucepan containing one cup of hot water and simmer (don't boil) until the sugar is dissolved. Allow to cool and place in a bottle in the fridge.
You need to understand the various techniques employed in mixing cocktails. Shaking chills and dilutes the drink. This dilution is as important as using the right proportions of each ingredient. If you use too little ice it will melt in the shaker and the result will be an over-diluted cocktail - so always fill your shaker at least two-thirds full of fresh ice.
Place the ingredients in your shaker, add the ice and shake briskly for 20 seconds. The ice should crash against each end of the shaker as you shake. Then strain the liquid into the glass, leaving the ice behind in the shaker. Always hold the shaker with one hand on the top and the other at the base and never shake fizzy ingredients.
If a cocktail recipe calls for you to "stir with ice and strain", use a bar spoon and a mixing glass. Place the ice and the ingredients into the mixing glass (or base of shaker) and stir for 20 seconds. Strain the drink into a glass using a Hawthorne strainer - or the top of a standard shaker if you are stirring in a shaker.
When a cocktail recipe calls for you to "blend with ice", place the ingredients and then the ice into a blender and blend until a smooth, even consistency is achieved. Ideally you should use crushed ice, as this lessens wear on the blender's blades.
Drinking out
London is home to some of the best cocktail bars in the world. Notable bars outside the capital include Opal Lounge (George Street, Edinburgh), Opium bar (Skipper Street, Belfast), Sugar Lounge(Deansgate Locks, Manchester) and Oloroso (4th Floor, 33 Castle Street, Edinburgh).
Lonsdale House 48 Lonsdale Road, Notting Hill, London W11 . It is not just the cocktails here that have a wow factor; the interior, inspired by a photograph of Lenny Kravitz's Miami residence, is covered in bubbles - hemispheres that line the walls.
Loungelover 1 Whitby Street, Shoreditch, E1. Loungelover's location in a former butcher's store on a grungy Shoreditch back street sets the scene for what resembles a designer Steptoe & Son yard. The cocktails are also suitably eclectic.
Townhouse 31, Beauchamp Place, Knightsbridge, SW3. This ivy-covered Georgian townhouse is owned by the team from Lab bar in Soho. They have poshed their act up somewhat to suit the locality but retained their superb trademark cocktail list and DJ booth.
Atlantic Bar & Grill 20 Glasshouse St, Piccadilly, W1. Back in April 1994, when Oliver Peyton restored this splendid art-deco ballroom beneath the Regent Palace Hotel to its former glory, it became London's foremost lounge bar. Years later, lesser ventures have come and gone.
Detroit 35 Earlham Street, Covent Garden, WC2. Detroit consists of a rabbit warren of rooms in a basement close to Covent Garden's Seven Dials. The interior - and come to that, some of the drinkers - look like something out of a Star Wars movie.
Eclipse 113 Walton Street, Chelsea, SW3. The first of what is now a chain of five. Other Eclipse bars can be found in Fulham, Wimbledon Village and Notting Hill. All are rarely empty and have a fun atmosphere with some great drinks.
Hush 8 Lancashire Court, Mayfair, W1. Hush is owned by Jamie Barber and Geoffrey Moore (son of Roger) and sits serenely in its Georgian townhouse in a cobbled courtyard that lies off Mayfair's Brook Street. It caters for ladies who lunch and suited young gentry who gather to enjoy a superb array of cocktails.
Match 45-47 Clerkenwell Road, EC1. The first of the Match bar chain with its interior details and menu repeated in the newer Match bars in Shoreditch and Oxford Circus. This empire now also encompasses Milk & Honey and The Player clubs, all of which offer cocktails of the very highest standard.
Tips
· Fresh ice is essential. Buy bags from an off-licence or supermarket. If you make your own in ice cube trays, use bottled or filtered water to avoid the taste of chlorine often found in tap water.
· Before cutting fruit such as limes or lemons for juice, roll it on a surface under the palm of your hand. Surprisingly, this will enable you to squeeze more juice from it.
· One indication as to the quality of a cocktail bar is whether the menu mentions 'Sour Mix', a powder replacing lemon or lime juice. The best bars use fresh citrus juice which makes better drinks.