Building the Home Bar: Vodka
Dani Serrano
The quintessential cocktail companion, vodka’s subtle but potent presence makes for an always delicious harmony between discreteness and daring.
The name “vodka” is a diminutive of the Russian word “voda” or “water”. The colorless liquor was initially distilled and for medicinal purposes and once it gained popularity as a consumable beverage, widespread distillation began using basically anything from acorns to horseradish. Eventually, as manufacturing and distribution grew, potatoes became vodka’s main employee. While some records of vodka date back to 8th century Eastern Europe, the spirit did not reach popularity in Western Europe and the rest of the western hemisphere until after World War II. Vodka especially took off in the United States alongside the forward, free spirited perspective of the 1960s, as its “mixability” lended itself to a culture of experimentation. While there remains some disagreement on whether its origins belong to Russia or Poland, vodka’s versatility and reliability are not up for debate.
Whether you're crafting something sweet, sour, or even spicy, vodka is your right-hand man in providing those you host or share company with a dose of refreshment, comfort or anything in between. With an endless list of cocktails to choose from, vodka’s role in each is simply to set the foundation on which to build whatever is required. Seeking refuge after a tiresome commute home on a summer day? Craft yourself a bright and sharp lemon drop. Minding your calorie intake after finishing your entree, replace dessert with a smooth and nourishing espresso martini. Commemorating a reunion with an old friend? A high quality vodka shared by itself is sure to ignite a celebration. Vodka is no passive ingredient, however. As with any other liquor, the quality of your cocktail, no matter how basic or complex, is only as great as the quality of the liquor itself. Here is a variety of reliable options to take care of anything from a Moscow Mule to a simple vodka soda.
Tito’s Handmade Vodka
Distilled in Austin, Texas, Tito’s Handmade Vodka has been as easily accessible for your palette as it has for its customers’ wallets since 1995. Bert “Tito” Beveridge began his one-man distillery after obtaining the first legal distillation permit from the state of Texas after distilling and bottling vodka for friends as a hobby. Tito’s prides itself on its accessible price point, assuring customers they are not paying for the bottle. While some bottles of vodka are priced double that of Tito’s, their frosted-looking glass and bottleneck ornaments are all that showcase that reasoning. Unlike most vodka’s, Tito’s is distilled from corn, which makes it naturally gluten-free. Bert Beveridge accepted the challenge of a former coworker who wanted “a vodka so smooth you could drink it straight.” A quarter-century later, Tito’s remains just that. So smooth you can drink it straight and also the perfect accompaniment to any set of cocktail ingredients. A 750 mL bottle of Tito’s Handmade Vodka is available for $20.
Barr Hill Vodka by Caledonia Spirits
Vermont is a craft beer powerhouse, but the state also puts its high-quality raw materials to good use with this vodka. Caledonia Spirits was founded in 2011 by Ryan Christiansen, a fermentation enthusiast, and Todd Hardie, a lifelong beekeeper. Together, they distill Barr Hill Vodka entirely from pure raw honey. Each 750 mL bottle uses four pounds of raw honey, equivalent to the lifelong work of over 800 honeybees. This vodka has been granted numerous awards, including the Best In Category in the American Distilling Institute-Judging of Craft Spirits 2020 and the Consumer’s Choice Award in the SIP Awards International Spirits Competition 2020. Barr Hill Vodka is never heated prior to fermentation and is never distilled more than twice. This minimalist technique helps pack a punch of floral depth by preserving its wild yeast and the richness of its all-natural nectar. While the flavor of this vodka is certainly present, its modesty still welcomes a cocktail to be built around it, no matter how simple or complex. This vodka gets its name from Barr Hill in Greensboro, Vermont, atop which can be viewed as one of the thousands of beautiful landscapes earning the Green State its nickname. With direct access to some of the best natural resources on planet earth, it’s easy to understand Caledonia's straightforward approach. A 750 mL bottle of Caledonia’s Barr Hill Vodka is available for $60.
Beluga Gold Line Russian Vodka
In the search for high-end vodka, Russia is the most obvious destination. In 1999, a company called “Synergy Group” set out to dominate the Russian spirits market. Just 20 years later, it accomplished just that. Once the Beluga brand was acquired in 2007, Synergy Group changed its name accordingly. In 2017, Beluga Group became the leader of Russian spirit production and today distills and ferments dozens of different wines and spirits, but none as harmoniously simplistic and audacious as Beluga Gold Line. This vodka is brought to life in an untouched corner of Siberia, hundreds of miles from the nearest settlement of humankind. Like Beluga’s flagship vodka, Beluga Noble, Beluga Gold Line is distilled from malt spirit and the purest artesian water. After distillation, Beluga Noble is rested for thirty days, a technique proven over centuries of tradition to eliminate any harsh odors and pave the way for a hospitable flavor and supple aroma. Beluga Gold Line’s rest period, however, lasts 90 days, Beluga Gold Line’s prolonged resting culminates an avenue to luxury so accessible the only requirement needed to embark upon it is an empty glass. The cohesion of its strength and subtlety is a mark of the security and sophistication of its drinker. While vodka remains a staple mixology conductor, Beluga Gold Line’s angelic elegance is almost too precious not to consume as a solo act. A 750 mL bottle of Beluga Gold Line is available for $109.
