Drinks With Vodka or Gin
- Many vodka and gin drinks are cocktail classics.martini image by Jarek Miarka from Fotolia.com
Many of the most popular mixed drinks are made with either vodka or gin. Vodka, which was originally distilled from potatoes, is now made mostly from fermented grains such as wheat or barley. It has almost no flavor or aroma, and it is often judged according to its smoothness. Gin is also made with fermented grains, but it is flavored with juniper berries. - For many bartenders, the martini is the alpha cocktail, the ultimate of all mixed drinks. It is, no doubt, one of the strongest. The classic martini calls for 2 ½ oz. of gin and a splash of dry vermouth stirred with ice and then strained into a glass. Bartenders garnish martinis with an olive or a twist of lemon. There are some variations on the recipe. A dirty martini is made with a splash of olive brine while a bone-dry martini skips the vermouth and is essentially a big, cold glass of gin. Bartenders will often serve a martini with the ice used to mix it in a separate glass and a glass of cold water.
- Old-school bartenders scoff at the idea of a vodka martini. However, there is an entire family of extremely popular flavored-vodka drinks called martinis. Most start with 2 ½ oz. of flavored vodka, such as apple vodka, cherry vodka, lemon or chocolate. A majority of these drinks also call for a half-ounce of the corresponding flavored liqueur. An apple martini, or an appletini is made with 1/2 oz. of apple liqueur while a chocolate martini calls for 1/2 oz. crème de cacao. Recipes vary and some also call for slashes of juice.
- Two other classic gin and vodka drinks are simple mixes of the spirit with tonic water, a carbonated beverage that includes a dash of the bitter mineral, quinine. Bartenders load a highball glass, or 8-oz. tumbler, with ice and pour in 1 1/2 to 2 oz. of either gin or vodka. The spirit is topped off with tonic water and garnished with a wedge of lime.
- Another classic gin cocktail that has stood the test of time is the Tom Collins. Many bartending guides say the Tom Collins was first served during the early 1870s in New York City, but San Fransisco and Australia also claim it as their drink. Back then, bartenders would mix 2 oz. of gin and 1 oz. of lemon juice and a teaspoon of sugar and top it off with soda water. Today, a lot of people shake the gin with ice and a premade Collins mixer, top it off with a heavy splash of soda water and a cherry or orange garnish. Many people substitute vodka for gin, for a vodka Collins.
- Americans started drinking more vodka during the last quarter of the 20th century and that trend launched a family of popular drinks that are simple blends of vodka and iced fruit juices. Bartenders shake 1 ½ to 2 oz. of vodka with orange juice for a screwdriver, or with cranberry juice for a Cape Codder or with grapefruit juice for a greyhound. A Bloody Mary starts with vodka and tomato juice but bartenders also spice up the drink with Worcestershire and Tabasco sauce, horseradish, salt and pepper.
