Out Here in the Fields

Cocktails with American-made premium Vodka’s

Even though Russia and Poland are considered the native lands of vodka, there are now over 50 countries that produce this spirit, with the United States being the largest marketer of vodka in the world. Produced since the fourteenth century, vodka is a shortened name for what was originally known as zhizennia voda (“water of life”). Our own homeland is hot, serious, and creative with some special V blends that hold their own in an ever competitive market. Here’s some Martini ideas beyond the norm.

Alpine Martini
1 ½ oz Charbay Meyer Lemon vodka (Grains – Corn, Wheat, and Rye – out of California) 1oz scoop of Douglas Fir Sorbet, and garnish with 1 small cedar frond Sorbet – house-made using syrup made from the sap and needles of fir trees. Stick the cedar frond straight up in the sorbet, and placed in chilled martini glass, prepared in advance and stored in freezer. To serve – Shake & strain the vodka over the sorbet and sip as the sorbet melts.

Naked Glacier
Rim a chilled martini glass with superfine sugar. Shake & strain 2 ½ oz Teton Glacier vodka (Grain – Potato – out of Idaho) and ¾ oz Dekuyper peppermint schnapps. Garnish, especially in December, with a small candy cane.

Organic Cherry Pie
Pour 2 oz Rain organic vodka (Grain – organic Sweet White Corn – out of Kentucky) and 2 oz Santa Cruz organic cherry nectar in a shaker and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish – real cherry with the pit, and let your customer know.

Pepperontini
Chill together in a shaker the following: 2 ½ oz Shakers vodka (Grain – Rye – out of Minnesota) and ¾ oz pepperoncini brine. Strain in chilled martini glass and garnish with 1 medium-sized pepperoncini and a small slice of warm garlic bread.

Melange
Rim half the chilled martini glass with cinnamon sugar. Then pour the following in a
shaker: 1 ½ oz Hampton’s vodka (Grain – Yellow Corn – out of New York), ½ oz of Goldschlager, ¼ oz Hiram Walker triple sec, the juice of ½ lime, and a dash of Bols blue curacao to achieve the topaz blue color. Strain in, and no garn necessary.

Meloncholy Baby
In a chilled martini glass, shake & strain 3 oz of 3 vodka (Grain – Soy – out of Florida) infused with cantaloupe, honeydew, and watermelon. Garnish with very small bits of these fresh melons placed in the bottom of the glass, fresh or frozen together beforehand.

Petit Zinc
Pour 1 ½ oz Hangar One Mandarin Blossom vodka (Grain – Wheat – out of California), ½ oz Cointreau, ½ oz Cinzano sweet vermouth, and ½ oz fresh orange juice in a shaker. Chill and strain in glass. Garnish with a slice of mandarin orange and a maraschino cherry.

Eden
2 ½ oz of Liquid Ice vodka (Grains – Barley, Oat, Rye, Wheat, and Corn – out of Idaho) and ¾ oz Berentzen apple liqueur goes in a shaker to chill and strain in a martini glass. Garnish – small pieces of different apples floating on top.

Robin’s Nest
Shake & strain 2 oz Tito’s Handmade vodka (Grain – Corn – out of Texas), 1oz Ocean Spray cranberry juice, and ¼ oz Bols white creme de cacao in a chilled martini glass. Garnish with 1 cranberry and a small piece of chocolate just out of the fridge.