Vodka

Vodka has long been the go-to cocktail spirit since the 1970s and helped power the modern cocktail revival that’s been going strong since the 1990s. During this heyday of the cocktail boom, Grey Goose Vodka was launched in the USA and instantly became the benchmark brand in super premium vodka.

For a while now bartenders have been enamoured with more ‘flavourful’ spirits like gin, tequila and mezcal in creative cocktails, however vodka is still the biggest selling spirit in most bars because of its subtlety of flavours and clean, crisp finish.

“In my opinion, the best vodkas are made from a grain-based origin, especially wheat, barley or rye. They have an excellent texture, mouthfeel and pleasant grainy flavours” mentions Ben. “The challenge is to produce a finished spirit that is well balanced between character and smoothness. Vodka is a blank canvas upon which you can paint with either subtle or vibrant flavours.”

Whether it’s a trailblazing supper premium vodka like Grey Goose, a classic Russian vodka like Beluga or a new world like the Cape Grim 666 Vodka from Tasmania, vodka continues to be the most versatile cocktail spirit.

GREY GOOSE VODKA

Expressed in every bottle is the essence of the finest ingredients from France. Soft winter wheat from Picardy and surrounding regions, plus pure spring water from Gensac in the Cognac region. The exclusive process is nurtured, isolated and captured from the field to bottle and is designed and controlled by the extraordinary skills and passionate commitment of the brand’s Maître de Chai, Françios Thibault. Le Grand Fizz

LE GRAND FIZZ

INGREDIENTS: 45ml Grey Goose Vodka 20ml St. Germain Liqueur 15ml Fresh lime juice 75ml Fever-Tree Soda Water

METHOD: Add ingredients to a large stemless wine glass, add a large cube of ice and gently stir

GARNISH: Slice of lime

GLASSWARE: Stemless wine glass

P-STAR MARTINI

INGREDIENTS 40ml Grey Goose Vodka 30ml MONIN Vanilla Syrup 15ml De Kuyper Passionfruit Liqueur 15ml Fresh lime juice 30ml Fresh passionfruit pulp 60ml Champagne

METHOD: Shake, double strain and top with chilled Champagne

GARNISH: A spoon of fresh passionfruit

GLASSWARE: Coupette

Solstice Sour

SOLSTICE SOUR

INGREDIENTS: 45ml Grey Goose Vodka 20ml Fresh lemon juice 20ml Fresh orange juice 20ml MONIN Mandarin Syrup 10ml Egg white METHOD: Add ingredients to a cocktail shaker and add a scoop of ice. Shake well and fine strain into a double old fashioned glass with a large cube of ice P-Star Martini

GARNISH: Edible flowers

BELUGA NOBLE RUSSIAN VODKA

The most famous super premium vodka in Russia. Beluga Noble Russian Vodka is created using a malted grain spirit from the Mariinsk Distillery. Combined with Siberian artesian well water, it undergoes a triple filtration process to ensure the highest level of purity. The vodka is then rested to allow for a mellowing process to take place.

BELUGA RICKEY

INGREDIENTS: 45ml Beluga Noble Russian Vodka 20ml Fresh lime juice 15ml Sugar syrup 90ml Fever-Tree Soda Water

METHOD: Add ingredients to an old fashioned glass, add ice and gently stir

GARNISH: A slice of lime

GLASSWARE: Old fashioned

CAPE GRIM 666

Tasmania is an environmental wilderness famous for its clean air and natural beauty. Hidden away in this sanctuary of wild forests, windswept hills and rugged coastline is the aptly named Cape Grim. Scientists have proven the air here is the cleanest in the world. The wind blows Antarctic rains uninhibited to the Cape. This is where the water is sourced.

It is also where the vodka is produced. Working with the finest Tasmanian ingredients, Cape Grim 666 use a slow, small batch distillation process before mellowing the spirit with the highest-grade activated charcoal. Finally, they blend with Cape Grim Water, the world’s purest rainwater which allows the vodka to capture and share the distinctive character of Tasmania’s raw terroir.

LEMON BUTTER MARTINI

INGREDIENTS: 40ml Cape Grim 666 Butter Vodka 20ml Lemoncello 10ml Fresh lemon juice

METHOD: Shake ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled martini glass

GARNISH: Lemon peel twist

GLASSWARE: Martini

CAPE GRIMLET

INGREDIENTS 45ml Cape Grim 666 Lemon Myrtle Honey Vodka 15ml AHD Rosé Vermouth 15ml Fresh lime juice 10ml Honey water

METHOD: Stir ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass

GARNISH: Lime leaf

GLASSWARE: Cocktail