Beginner’s Guide: How To Drink Vodka

Drinking vodka can be a lot of fun when done in moderation. Traditionally, vodka (and gin) has been considered a neutral spirit, designed to be flavorless, odorless, and colorless.

Neutral spirits can be made from grains, grapes, molasses, potatoes, and other agricultural origins, then infused with herbs and flavors. Vodka is following gin by creating more expressions from grain to glass, utilizing the addition of botanical herbs, and developing terroir (environmental personality).

While it has no nutritional value, vodka is a low-calorie spirit with no carbs, fats, or sugar, making it an ideal alcoholic beverage for those on a diet (hello soda water) or wanting to drink without going overboard on calories and carbohydrates.

A more complicated, informed, and competitive spirits market – just check out the Vodka Belt of Europe, for example – means contemporary vodka now displays more personality, which means more fun for those drinking vodka at home or on a night out.

The following article will describe how to drink vodka by breaking down features, identifying variations to tradition, and listing my favorite vodka cocktail recipes and hangover cure.

Vodka Doesn’t Freeze (Usually)

Vodka has a high ethanol content which contributes to its neutrality in taste and make up. Plain vodka can be stored in the freezer up until approximately -17 degrees Fahrenheit before it starts solidifying.

If you have a cheap plain vodka brand – which often tastes a bit meh and has a noticeable ethanol afterburn – putting it in the freezer for a couple of hours and then drinking it straight up from shot glasses is a fantastic way to get your night started (or ended if you do it foolishly). The colder vodka is, the easier it is to knock down, eliminating the yucky aftertaste.

This is the traditional Russian vodka method. BUT, unless you’re having a bit of fun or drinking the cheapest brands of vodka, I do not recommend freezing it at all.

The increase of flavored vodka, botanical infusions, and different methods of individually personalizing the spirit to make a premium expression – potato vodka, grape vodka, rye vodka, grain to glass – are best explored when the spirit is at room temperature. Even Russian vodka is developing some kick-ass top shelf expressions.

Personality Goes a Long Way

Much like quality Scotch, whiskey, or bourbon; premium vodka has something to offer in and of itself when drinking it straight. You’ve paid more to drink the liquor, so learning about the spirit you’re drinking and figuring out its features and idiosyncrasies is often where the fun is (but that’s partly because I’m old).

Many brands in the Vodka Belt of Europe (Poland and Russia to France and Scandinavia) have taken the same approach as Scotch and American Whiskey, making where and how the spirit is distilled a key feature of it’s worth.

These days, the method and number of distillations, quality of water used in filtration, and terroir (environment characteristics) of the grain, grape, or vegetable are more important than at any time before. Naturally, the personality of your premium vodka will now affect how much it costs, and how you consume the product.

Drinking Flavored Vodka

Credit: Roman Tiraspolsky / Shutterstock.com

Leading brands like Absolut Vodka, Skyy, and Cîroc have figured out flavored vodka is where the action is. Some brands now feature up to 10 base flavors, special editions, and collaborations. It’s the easiest way to alleviate the natural neutrality of the spirit but adds an extra layer of versatility and individual taste to drinking vodka.

The most popular ways to indulge in flavored vodka are cocktails, however, simple shots and mixed drink options have developed more personality too. Adding a watermelon or pineapple vodka to fresh ice is tasty and interesting, as is a shot of differently textured potato vodka, or one with a tang of pepper, herbs, and grasses in it.

Even the traditional lime wedge or lemon twist in a club soda or vodka tonic can be improved and made more interesting by a measure of blackcurrant, vanilla, or simple citrus flavor from the vodka you’re using. Your flavored vodka taste might be lost in a classic vodka cranberry juice, vodka soda, and lime, or vodka and orange juice, but in general, there are many more low-calorie options to enjoy that taste more interesting yet remain refreshing.

Vodka Cocktail Recipes

The popularity of vodka cocktails is unassailable; they’re versatile when used with other liquor or great in a standalone alcoholic beverage. These are my favorite classic cocktail recipe ideas with vodka you can create using ingredients from your home bar or refrigerator.

From personal experience, there is no shame in using concentrates or infusions, but for the best result in making a brilliantly kick-ass vodka drink, go for fresh ingredients. Your tastebuds and body will appreciate the difference.

RELATED: The 10 best smoothest vodkas to try in 2021

1. Moscow Mule Cocktail

For a sweeter and/or tangier flavor, utilize a grain to glass premium vodka or flavored vodka combined with syrup and bitters and a spicy ginger beer with great carbonation to suit your personal taste.

Ingredients

• 1 ounce vodka
• 2/3 ounce fresh lime juice
• Dash of bitters
• Ginger beer
• Crushed Ice

Optional: Simple syrup, ginger syrup

Garnish: Lime wedge, fresh mint

Method

Add fresh lime juice, bitters, simple syrup/ginger syrup (if needed), and vodka to a classical cocktail shaker or mixing glass and stir thoroughly.

Strain mix into a copper mug or highball glass filled with crushed ice. Top with ginger beer, add mint, and stir. Garnish with lime wedge and serve straight away.

2. The Classic Vodka Martini

There is more than one interpretation of this classic cocktail, but it’s best to start with the simple version unless you’re a huge fan of olive brine; then you can get dirty.

Ingredients

• 1 ounce vodka
• 1/3 ounce vermouth
• Ice

Garnish: Lemon peel, olives

Optional: Dill pickle

Method

Add vodka, vermouth, and ice to a tall mixing glass or cocktail shaker and stir or shake thoroughly. I’m not interested in the continuing arguments between the value of using a martini shaker or stirring alcohol only cocktails (it seems to get punchy), I’m happy to drink them either way.

Strain drink into a chilled martini glass. Zest with lemon peel and garnish with a lemon twist or olive before serving. Many people do not like olives, so the optional dill pickle works a treat because it’s all about the salt!

3. The Premium Cosmopolitan

Resuscitated by Sex in the City, the Cosmo is an elegant, top quality cocktail experience.

Ingredients

• 2 Ounces vodka (I recommend a top shelf vodka)
• 1 Ounce Cointreau
• 1 squeeze fresh lime juice
• 4 ounces cranberry juice
• Crushed Ice

Garnish: Lime wedge

Method

Add vodka, Cointreau, lime, and cranberry juice to a cocktail shaker and mix thoroughly. Strain into a chilled Martini glass with crushed ice, then serve immediately.

4. Classic Bloody Mary

The classic Bloody Mary has been putting people right for over a century. It is a go to for anyone needing some hair of the dog after a big night out. These days, people can put a full meal garnish with the drink, but I prefer to keep things simple.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 ounces vodka (Cheap vodka is okay for this)
• 1/2 cup tomato juice
• 2 teaspoons of fresh lemon juice
• 1-3 dashes Tabasco sauce (more for spicier taste)
• 4-6 dashes Worcestershire sauce (more for savory taste)
• Salt and pepper pinch
• 1 tsp celery salt
• Ice

Garnish: Celery stick, lemon slice

Instructions

Combine all ingredients into a cocktail shaker and mix thoroughly with some ice. Strain the mixture into a highball glass. Garnish with a celery stick and lemon slice and add a crack salt and pepper to taste.