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Welcome back to Mix It Mondays! If you don't know what Mix It Mondays are about, start here!
The first alcohol we're going to stock your bar with is vodka! Vodka is a great choice because it is the closest thing to water the booze world offers. As a matter of fact, the usual goal of a base vodka is to be as odorless and tasteless as possible. The difference between vodkas comes down more to the mouthfeel (exactly what it sounds like: how the liquor feels in your mouth, aftertastes, etc.). Vodka is a lower calorie alcohol, which will appeal to those of you who are checking the numbers. The other great thing about vodka is you can buy a great one and not spend an enormous amount of money. Deep Eddy, my favorite, will usually run me less than $15 for a standard 750ml. Tito's Handmade Vodka, another favorite, is rarely much more for that size. Even Grey Goose, rightfully lauded by many, will generally cost less than $25 (at least in my area of the country). I have even contentedly sipped these brands neat. Later, we will talk about flavored vodkas (and even make infusions of our own), but we're starting out here, so we want things that will be as universal as possible.
Now I personally am a decanter kind of person. I like to live my life like one of the glamorous stars of the 1940s (or at least how they lived in the movies). So you will see many things in decanters in my pictures, but I wouldn't actually argue that there is anything beyond a classy, bon vivant air when you store them that way. However, many purists will tell you that you should store your bottle of vodka in the freezer. I went through that phase, but I found I use my vodka for a variety of things and I don't actually want it freezer-chilled for all those applications. To be honest, there are times when I want it room temperature simply so I can continue to use the melting of the ice as an ingredient in my cocktail. So instead I just decant some into a freezer-safe container and store that amount. The rest remains viable for any other uses I wish.
Now that we've talked brands and storage, let's get started with a recipe! Our first one will be the vodka gimlet! For the gimlet, you will need:
1.5 oz. Vodka
1.5 oz. Rose's Sweetened Lime Juice
You will also need some basic bar equipment. You will need:
A shot glass (with actual markings for 1/2 oz., 1 oz., and 1.5 oz.)
A regular glass that you can mix in or a mixing glass from a set
A long handled spoon
A martini glass (preferred, but not necessary)
I will talk more about the equipment at the end of the post. For now, let's talk about this very simple recipe! First of all, I chose it because it is easy to mix, only really requires two ingredients, and is incredibly palatable if you are newer to cocktails. I actually find that this one tastes a lot like a Key Lime Pie! The reason for that is the sweetened lime juice. Please don't use fresh lime on this one or regular bottled lime juice. The sweetness makes all the difference! Another reason I chose it: this is a slightly uncommon little drink to order when you're out for a night on the town. Even if you are new to the cocktail world, this is one that makes you sound like you know your way around a drink menu. Bonus points: if they don't know how to make it, you can tell them easily enough!
Now: pour the vodka and lime juice into a mixing glass with ice and stir. Strain the ingredients into the martini glass. Imbibe! See how simple that was? And delicious!
You can also adjust the amounts because this recipe is one part vodka to one part sweetened lime juice. So that means whatever measurement you use, you are using that same amount of the other ingredient(s). Easy as (key lime) pie!
Now, about the barware.... I highly recommend just buying a full set of equipment like mine.
I've had this set for years now and it has survived the evolution of my mixing skills and is an incredibly inexpensive investment to get all the tools I actually need!
The only disadvantage with this set is the shot glass. I prefer one I already had that has the actual markings on it.
Much easier for measuring!
And finally, my glassware set of choice is:
I find it to be cheerful, sturdy, and comparatively inexpensive. I actually have this set in the various styles of glasses that I need!
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Cheers! Salud! Prost! Slainte! Soupy twist!