Vodka Recipes and Facts

by Antonio on 15/10/09 at 8:23 am

We bet you've had a couple of these in your lifetime

First thing I think of when I hear “Vodka” is Boris Yeltsin without his pants walking around Foggy Bottoms looking for a cab to get to the nearest caviar bar…I’m assuming most of you don’t think of this first. Most likely you think about hookups, cocktails and sick hangovers. Even with the popularity of other spirits gaining market share; vodka is still the Tsar of the USA.

Vodka became the most popular spirit in the 1970’s when it beat out bourbon in consumption. It’s success was due to it’s neutrality (making it perfect for mixes) and it’s buzz factor. According to the Distilled Spirits Council, vodka sales were 23.6% of the entire US Spirits market. That means that Vodka accounts for almost a quarter of all alcoholic beverage sales in the US. That number is huge.

When thinking of vodka one must take into account that it goes beyond neutral vodka; there’s lemon, apple, peach, pomegranate, bubble gum, espresso and even bacon flavored vodka (yeah, you can make a blt martini). There’s cheap-ass-hangover vodka, ok vodka, premium vodka and ultra premium (over priced) vodka. There’s vodka made from potatoes, rye, and corn. There’s Russian Vodka, Ukranian Vodka, French Vodka and yes, there is even Long Island Vodka.

The industry is a gold mine. A 1 liter bottle of the most popular brands of vodka costs $30 per bottle to a retailer and sells for $38 at a store (not much of a profit). However, a vodka martini costs $16 in NYC, so bars make quite a margin off their spirits.

Price has not deterred us from ordering this powerful spirit. While premium vodka sales have declined with the economic downturn; brands such as Svedka (you know it, the one with the hideous she-robot) has exploded onto the scene. The health craze has also increased vodka sales, since at about 100 calories it beats out beer and wine in that department. Plus, quite frankly; vodka will get you buzzed. Take all those factors and the infinite cocktail possibilities and you’ve got a spirit that can’t be beat.

Got a bottle at home you need to know what to do with?

The Classics: Vodka Martini, Black Russian, White Russian, Polar Bear, Gibson, Kamikaze,

The teas: Iced Tea, Long Island Iced Tea, Georgia Iced Tea and yup, Papa Smurf Tea, French Iced Tea,

The Martinis: Cosmo, Purple mother, the Windex

Hair of the Dog: Bloody Mary

The Juices: Screwdriver

The Delicious: Screaming O, A Dreamsicle

Wanna check out more cocktails?