Gin may be making waves with a bevy of botanicals, but the evergreen vodka never went out of style. With a subtle flavour and taste, it is a preferred option for bartenders who want to play around with cocktails. In fact, people in the business have been experimenting with several new terroirs and flavours such as whey. And according to dedicated international spirits magazinem Spirits Business, vodka sales are expected to reach $40 billion by 2030.
To celebrate International Vodka Day on October 4, we present some classic and unique cocktails that you can easily rustle up at home.
CHAU SPECIAL BY GAUTAM FROM SOUL MYKONOS
Ingredients
100 ml fresh watermelon juice
100 ml fresh orange juice
30 ml vodka
30 ml tequila
Method
Mix all ingredients and serve in a watermelon shell.
ANGREZI THARRA FROM SUSHIL DHANAI (MIXOLOGIST)
Ingredients
Vodka 60ml
Gulkand 15gm
Ice cube 8 to 10 cubes
Lemon juice 45ml
Anise syrup 15ml
Paan syrup 30ml
Fresh paan leaves 3
Sambucca 30ml
Top up with sparkling water
Glass: Mason jar (small)
Method
In a cocktail shaker, combine ice, paan leaves, and gulkand. Muddle them nicely using a pestle. Add lime juice, paan syrup, sambuca, sugar syrup, and vodka to the shaker. Shake the mixture vigorously. Pour the prepared mixture into a glass that's half-filled with ice. Top it up with Banta soda. Garnish with paan leaves, lemon slices, and a cherry.
GOLDEN GLORY FROM MAYFAIR, DWARKA
Ingredients
30 ml saffron-infused vodka
30 ml sandalwood-infused vodka
10 ml rose syrup lime juice
2 pieces green cardamom
5 pieces pistachio
6 cube ice cube
Method
Put ice cubes in a shaker. Add all the ingredients and shake. Pour into a bird glass and serve.
SAILOR FROM MIXOLOGIST MUKESH PATWAL OF MOLECULE
Ingredients
Vodka 60 ml
Citric Acid 10ml
Clarified grapefruit juice 30ml
Vetiver cordial 20ml
Method
Mix all the ingredients and shake them together. Garnish should be a molecule stamp with edible flower.
ILSA'S LAST SONG FROM ANUSHKA BAGCHI, RICK'S
50 ml lychee vodka
15 ml vetiver syrup
20 ml lemon juice
1 egg white
Method
Start infusing vodka with lychee overnight to make Ilsa's Last Song. Then, prepare homemade vetiver syrup. When ready to serve, shake the infused vodka and vetiver syrup in a cocktail shaker, first dry and then wet shaking. Strain the cocktail into a flat-bottom whiskey glass with a block of ice, garnish with vetiver root and a couple of dashes of Angostura bitters.
FIREWORK FROM ABSOLUT
Ingredients
Ice cubes
45 ml Absolut Vodka
60 ml lemonade
60 ml ice tea
1 wedge lime
Method
Fill a highball glass with ice cubes. Add all ingredients. Garnish with a lime wedge.
SEA BREEZE FROM ABSOLUT
Ingredients
Ice cubes
45 ml Absolut Vodka
80 ml grapefruit juice
45 ml cranberry juice
1 wheel lime
Method
Fill a highball glass with ice cubes. Measure and Add 1½ ounces of Absolut Vodka. Measure and add 2½ ounces of grapefruit juice. Add 1½ ounces of cranberry juice. Garnish with a lime wheel.
VODKA MOJITO FROM ABSOLUT
Ingredients
45 ml Absolut Vodka
20 ml simple syrup
6 whole mint leaf
4 quarters lime
Soda water
Mint leaf
Method
Add mint leaves, lime, and simple syrup in a highball glass. Fill with crushed ice. Add Absolut Vodka. Stir. Top up with soda water. Garnish with mint leaf.
COSMOPOLITAN FROM ABSOLUT
Ingredients
Ice cubes
40ml Absolut Citron
20ml Triple Sec
20ml lime Juice
20ml cranberry Juice
1 twist of orange zest
Method
Fill a shaker with ice cubes. Add all ingredients. Shake and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with an orange zest twist.
MOSCOW MULE FROM ABSOLUT
Ingredients
Ice cubes
40 ml Absolut Citron
15 ml lime juice
Ginger beer
1 lime wedge
Method
Fill a chilled stainless steel or copper mule mug with ice cubes. Add 1.5 parts Absolut Vodka and 0.5 parts lime juice. Top up with ginger beer. Garnish with a lime wedge.