Concoctions

Introduction

Alcohol is not just for numbness. The spirits we use to mix flavors together in perfect harmony are an art form.

Concoctions is a mixology bible that acquires a series of alcoholic drink recipes for many different spirits. The spirit present in this chapter is vodka. Here in this chapter, you will find twenty-three cocktail recipes of mixers that mix well with vodka. The chapter also provides some history of where vodka originated from, and how it is made.

History Of Vodka

If you are curious to know where and who produced vodka spirits first?. Keep on reading the article below.

Vodka is a neutral spirit, has no odour or colour and can be derived from any fermentable ingredient. It was traditionally made primarily from potatoes; some regions still use potatoes and corn to make vodka. However, cereal grains such as wheat are used to distil vodka in most of the United States.

Vodka was used as medicine in mediaeval times. It was marketed as a possible cure for a wide range of ailments and conditions, including infertility and toothaches. Even records indicate that vodka was thought to be a miracle cure for the plague. Vodka's popularity skyrocketed during the 1940s and remains one of the world's most popular spirits today. Every year, billions of gallons of vodka are consumed globally.

Historically, vodka production did not produce the pure forms of vodka we enjoy today. Many impurities were left in the alcohol due to antiquated manufacturing methods. To mask these impurities, vodka producers frequently used fruits and spices.

Step-by-Step Process of Creating Vodka

Image Source: Diageobaracademy

Talking about history, Russia and Poland have long-running disputes over who was the first to produce vodka spirits, claiming to have created and celebrated it as their national drink. However, the truth may be irrelevant because today's product is undeniably different from that of the 15th or 16th centuries.

The Russians did not have their first documentation of vodka until 1751. Taking advantage of the cold weather, Russian pioneers developed an early form of freeze distillation, freezing beer overnight to remove the water content. This resulted in a spirit with higher alcohol content but also concentrated levels of fusel oils and other impurities.

Many key characteristics of modern vodka can be attributed to Russia, like the invention of charcoal filtration to remove impurities from the final spirit, attributed to 18th-century chemist Theodore Lowitz. In 1780, the Russian Tsar commissioned him to make the national drink “more hygienic.”

However, a Russian peasant named Pyotr Smirnov created one of today’s most popular vodka brands. Rather than his Russian ancestry, he named his spirits brand after the French spelling of his name.

The Russian aristocracy became increasingly involved, eventually establishing a monopoly on vodka production at the expense of the working class. This was a major factor in the 1917 Bolshevik revolution, which forced leading distillers like Vladimir Smirnov (son of Pyotr Smirnov) to halt production and flee the country. Smirnov ended up in Poland, then France, before bringing his brand across the Atlantic and facilitating vodka's introduction to the western world.

Talking about Poland, according to the first written document, vodka was invented in Poland in 1405. The Polish word ‘wódka’ dates back to 1405 when it referred to alcohol-based medicines and cosmetics made from frozen wine. Later, in the 16th century, it was common for families to make their vodka at home, flvouring it with fruit and herbs to mask the harsh taste of the alcohol. Natural flavourings are still a tradition in Polish vodka production today.

Poland is well-known for its potato vodka. This began with a royal exchange at the beginning of the nineteenth century, when the Austrian Emperor gave the exotic item from the Americas to the Polish King. Later in the century, the introduction of new technologies enabled the production of more refined vodkas, with rectification close to today’s standards implemented in 1871.

There are over 1000 Polish vodka brands today, but the import with Russian roots, Smirnoff, is among the best-selling because many Poles consider it to be more premium.

Both Poland and Russia were distilling high-quality vodka during World War II, but almost all of it was consumed in the country where it was produced. It was not yet regarded as a global spirit in the same way that whiskey, rum, or brandy were.

In 1938, when the rights to Smirnoff were sold in the United States, the colourless, odourless liquid held little appeal to North American drinkers, who were accustomed to the whiskey that had flourished after Prohibition. The vodka invasion began thanks to the ingenuity of John G. Martin, an executive at the Heublein drinks company.

A clever marketing strategy, including the Smirnoff rebranding, resulted in the creation of the widely celebrated Moscow Mule a cocktail that embodied the spirit of vodka: fresh, dry, and spicy. This signalled the arrival of vodka in the West and aided in launching a cocktail revolution that would sweep the United States.

Smirnoff

Smirnoff No. 21 Vodka is known as the World's No. 1 Vodka. This awardwinning vodka has a bold flavor with a dry finish for ultimate smoothness and clarity. It is triple distilled and ten times filtered, which makes this vodka ideal to drink on the rocks or in your favorite cocktail, and it is Kosher Certified and gluten-free.

Absolut

Absolut Vodka is a well-liked vodka worldwide, distinguished by its recognisable apothecary bottle and mild wheat aroma. It is made in the Swedish town of Hus from locally produced wheat and is smooth enough to be consumed neat or enhance drinks' sweetness. Absolut contains no added sugar, along with its premium taste and commitment to using only the highest quality ingredients, making the brand stand out from overall vodka in the world. Even though Absolut has a wide range of flavour options, its basic, unflavored vodka ought to remain a mainstay in every bar. One of the purest vodkas on the market, it has a crisp, pure flavour that is both full-bodied and complex.

Grey Goose

Grey Goose Vodka is a French vodka made from winter wheat grown in France and Cognac area water and is one of the first ultra-premium vodkas ever to enter the market. It is an absolute favourite and is loved by customers. Why? Because of the toasted undertones, subtle spice notes, and creamy finish.

Stolichnaya

Stoli has raised the bar for premium vodka since 1938 by fusing modernity, and inventiveness, with centuries-old customs to produce a drink that is at once delightfully contemporary and unquestionably timeless. Stolichnaya Vodka is a traditionally fashioned, incredibly smooth vodka. A pleasant, elegant entry leads to a smooth, medium-bodied palate with pastry icing, talcum powder, and citrus rind tastes. The wine is crystal clear in colour and has aromas of marshmallow, mineral, and subtle fruit peel. It ends with a crisp, subtly sweet sugar dust, wet straw, and well-balanced pepper fade.

Ciroc

A truly modern vodka, CÎROC was inspired by more than a century's worth of winemaking expertise and artistry.

CÎROC has a particular flavour with an unusually fresh, smooth, and fruity taste thanks to the outstanding French grapes and the fifth distillation.

CÎROC's dedication to great taste, quality, and a fun-loving lifestyle can be seen in its lusciously smooth, playfully sophisticated products. Exceptionally smooth when consumed straight or on the rocks, CÎROC also blends flawlessly in some of your favourite mixed drinks.

Vodka Martini

Ingredients

2 1/2 ounces vodka

1/2 ounce dry vermouth

1 dash orange bitters

Garnish: lemon twist or olive

Steps

1. Add the vodka, dry vermouth and orange bitters into a mixing glass with ice and stir until very well-chilled, about 20 to 30 seconds.

2. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Garnish with a lemon twist, olive, or both.

Espresso Martini

Ingredients

2 ounces vodka

1/2 ounce coffee liqueur (usually Kahlúa)

1 ounce espresso, freshly brewed (or cold brew concentrate)

1/2 ounce simple syrup

Garnish: coffee beans

Steps

1. Add vodka, coffee liqueur, espresso and simple syrup to a shaker filled with ice and shake until well-chilled.

2. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Garnish with 3 coffee beans.

Dirty Olive Martini

Ingredients

2 1/2 ounces vodka

1/2 ounce dry vermouth

1/2 ounce olive brine

Garnish: 2 to 4 olives

Steps

1. Add the vodka, vermouth and olive brine to a shaker filled with ice.

2. Shake for 15–20 seconds until well chilled.

3. Double strain through fine mesh strainer into a chilled cocktail glass.

Garnish with a skewer of olives.

Chocolate Martini

Ingredients

Cocoa powder, to rim glass

1 ounce chocolate liqueur (such as Godiva), plus more for rimming glass

1 ounce creme de cacao (such as Giffard)

1 ounce vodka

1/2 ounce half-and-half

Steps

1. Add a small amount of chocolate liqueur into a small rimmed plate.

2. Add a small amount of cocoa powder to another plate.

3. Dip the rim of an inverted cocktail glass into the liqueur, then into the cocoa powder.

4. Set aside.

5. Add the chocolate liqueur, creme de cacao, vodka and halfand-half into a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled.

6. Strain into the prepared glass.

Dreamy Dorini Smoking Martini

Ingredients

2 ounces vodka (ex. Grey Goose)

1/2 ounce Laphroaig 10-year-old

single malt scotch

1 dash Pernod

Garnish: lemon twist

Steps

1. Add all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice and stir until well-chilled.

2. Strain into a cocktail glass.

3. Express the oils from the lemon twist over the drink, then garnish with the twist.

Very Sexy Martini

Ingredients

3 raspberries

5 mint leaves

1 ounce simple syrup

1 1/2 ounces citrus vodka

1 ounce lime juice

1 1/2 ounces Moët & Chandon Rosé Imperial Champagne, or another comparable sparkling rosé, to top

Garnish: mint sprig

Garnish: raspberry

Steps

1. In a shaker, muddle the raspberries and mint with the simple syrup.

2. Add the vodka and lime juice, fill with ice, and shake until well-chilled.

3. Strain into a cocktail glass.

4. Top with the Champagne and garnish with a mint spring and a raspberry.

Cajun Martini

Ingredients

1 (750 mL) bottle vodka

1 jalapeño pepper, slit open top-to-bottom, seeds remaining 3 to 4 ounces dry vermouth

Garnish: pickled vegetable

Steps

1. Pour out enough vodka (3 to 4 ounces) from the bottle of vodka so that the jalapeño can fit in the bottle without making it overflow.

2. Reserve excess vodka for another use.

3. Place the jalapeño in the bottle, seal the bottle, and refrigerate for 8 hours. (You may wish to tie some thread or twine to the stem of the jalapeño before adding it to the bottle to make it easier to remove.)

4. Remove the jalapeño from the bottle and refill to the top with dry vermouth.

5. Seal and shake lightly to combine. Store in the freezer.

6. To serve, pour 2 to 3 ounces of the mixture into a mixing glass, add ice, and stir to further chill and dilute.

7. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Garnish with your favorite pickled vegetable.

Vodka Tonic

Ingredients

2 ounces vodka

Tonic water, chilled, to top

1 squeeze lemon (optional)

Garnish: lemon peel

Steps

1. Add vodka to a Collins glass.

2. Fill the glass with ice, then top with the tonic water and add an optional squeeze of lemon.

Garnish with a lemon peel.

Anarchist’s Pop Shoppe

Ingredients

1 ounce vodka

1/2 ounce Cherry Heering

1/4 ounce Benedictine

1 teaspoon lemon zest

5 ounces soda water

Steps

1. Add the vodka, Cherry Heering, Benedictine and lemon zest into a mixing glass and lightly muddle the lemon zest.

2. Add ice and stir until it is well-chilled.

3. Fine-strain into a Collins glass with ice.

4. Top with the soda water.

Cabana Boy

Ingredients

1 ounce Reyka vodka

1/2 ounce oloroso sherry

1/2 ounce rhum agricole

1/2 ounce of coconut-lemongrass syrup*

1/2 ounce orange juice, better if freshly squeezed

Garnish: orange wheel

Garnish: brandied cherry

Steps

1. Add the vodka, sherry, rhum agricole, coconut-lemongrass syrup and orange juice into a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled.

2. Strain into a highball glass over fresh ice.

Garnish with an orange wheel and brandied cherry.

Harvey Wallbanger

Ingredients

1 1/4 ounces vodka

1/2 ounce of Galliano

L’Autentico liqueur

3 ounces orange juice, better if freshly squeezed

Garnish: orange slice

Garnish: maraschino cherry

Steps

1. Fill a tall glass with ice, then add the vodka and orange juice and stir.

2. Float the Galliano on top.

Garnish with a skewered orange slice and maraschino cherry.

Sea Breeze

Ingredients

1 1/2 ounces vodka

3 ounces cranberry juice

1 1/2 ounces grapefruit juice, freshly squeezed

Garnish: lime wheel

Steps

1. Add the vodka, cranberry juice and grapefruit juice into a highball glass with ice and stir.

Garnish with a lime wheel.

Jubilee

Ingredients

1 1/2 ounces vodka

1 1/2 ounces dry red wine

1/2 ounce St. George spiced pear liqueur

1/4 ounce lemon juice, better if freshly squeezed

1/4 ounce maple syrup

Seltzer, chilled, to top

Garnish: pear fan

Garnish: nutmeg, freshly grated

Steps

1. Add the vodka, red wine, pear liqueur, lemon juice and maple syrup to a stemless wine glass,

2. Then fill with ice.

3. Top with the seltzer and stir briefly and gently to combine.

Garnish with a pear fan and freshly grated nutmeg.

Banker’s Lunch

Ingredients

1 1/2 ounces vodka

1/2 ounce dry vermouth

1/2 ounce orange liqueur

1 1/2 ounces grapefruit juice, freshly squeezed

Garnish: grapefruit twist

Steps

1. Add all the ingredients into a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled.

2. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.

Garnish with a grapefruit twist.

White Russian

Ingredients

2 ounces vodka

1 ounce Kahlúa

1 splash heavy cream

Steps

1. Add the vodka and Kahlúa to a rocks glass filled with ice.

2. Top with the heavy cream and stir.

Caser

Ingredients

2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 ½ tablespoon BBQ sauce

1 tablespoon pickle juice

1 teaspoon soy sauce (low sodium)

½ teaspoon tabasco sauce

½ teaspoon horseradish

¼ teaspoon onion powder

½ teaspoon steak spice

2 cups ice

4 ounce vodka

4 cup Clamato juice ((tomato juice with spices and clam broth))

Steps - For Garnish

1. ¼ cup caesar rim seasoning

2. 4 extreme beans

3. 1 lime (cut into wedges)

4. 2 pickles (cut in half lengthwise)

Moscow Mule

Ingredients

2 ounces vodka

1/2 ounce lime juice, better if freshly squeezed

3 ounces ginger beer, chilled

Garnish: lime wheel

Steps

1. Fill a Moscow Mule mug (or highball glass) with ice, then add the vodka and lime juice. 2. Top with the ginger beer.

Garnish with a lime wheel.

Miss Elena

Ingredients

1 1/4 ounces Belvedere vodka

3/4 ounce Mr Black coffee liqueur

1/2 ounce Nonino amaro

1/4 ounce Pedro Ximénez sherry

1/4 ounce simple syrup

Garnish: edible viola flower

Steps

1. Add the vodka, coffee liqueur, amaro, sherry and simple syrup into a shaker with ice and hard-shake.

2. Fine-strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Garnish with an edible viola flower.

West Side

Ingredients

2 ounces Charbay Meyer lemon vodka

1 ounce lemon juice, better if freshly squeezed 1/2 ounce simple syrup

3 pinches fresh mint

Club soda (about 1 ounce)

Steps

1. Open the shaker and add a splash of club soda.

2. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

3. Add the Meyer lemon vodka, lemon juice, simple syrup and mint to a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled

Ruby

Ingredients

1 1/2 ounces vodka

3/4 ounce St-Germain

elderflower liqueur

1/2 ounce Aperol

3/4 ounce lemon juice, better if freshly squeezed

3/4 ounce ruby red grapefruit juice, freshly squeezed

1 tablespoon egg white

Garnish: expressed grapefruit twist

Steps

1. Add the vodka, St-Germain, Aperol, lemon juice, grapefruit juice and egg white into a cocktail shaker and dry-shake (without ice) vigorously.

2. Add ice and shake again until well-chilled.

3. Strain the mixture into a chilled coupe glass.

4. Express a grapefruit twist over the top and discard.

Cosmopolitan

Ingredients

1 1/2 ounces citron vodka

3/4 ounce Cointreau

3/4 ounce lime juice, better if freshly squeezed 1/2 ounce cranberry juice cocktail

Garnish: lime wedge

Steps

1. Add the vodka, Cointreau, lime juice, and cranberry juice cocktail into a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled.

2. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Garnish with a lime wedge.

Porn Star

Ingredients

1 1/2 ounces vanilla vodka

1/2 ounce passion fruit liqueur

(such as Passoã or De Kuyper)

1 ounce passion fruit puree

1/2 ounce lime juice, better if freshly squeezed

1/2 ounce vanilla simple syrup

2 ounces sparkling wine, chilled

Garnish: 1/2 passion fruit, fresh

Steps

1. Add all ingredients except sparkling wine into a shaker with ice and shake vigorously until well-chilled.

2. Strain the mixture into a chilled coupe glass.

Garnish with a passion fruit half. Serve with a sparkling wine sidecar (on the side).

Lemon Drop

Ingredients

2 ounces vodka 1/2 ounce triple sec

1 ounce lemon juice, better if freshly squeezed 1 ounce simple syrup

Garnish: sugar rim

Steps

1. Coat the rim of a cocktail glass with sugar and set aside (do this a few minutes ahead so the sugar can dry and adhere well to the glass).

2. Add the vodka, triple sec, lemon juice and simple syrup to a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled.

3. Strain mixture into the prepared glass.

Cismaru, Joanna. “Classic Canadian Caesar Recipe.” Jo Cooks, November 25, 2020.

https://www.jocooks.com/recipes/classic-canadian-caesar-recipe/.

“History of Vodka and How It Started?” Bartenders Business. Accessed November 23, 2023.

https://bartendersbusiness.com/en/articles/insights-1/history-ofvodka-and-how-it-started-341.htm.

“Search Results from Liquor.Com.” Liquor.com. Accessed November 23, 2023.

https://www.liquor.com/search?q=Espresso%2BMartini.

Alessia Magurno