Flavored Vodkas Dress Up Cocktails
Vodka Makers Create New Flavors and New Competition
Vodkas are the most popular distilled spirit in the world. With the creation of flavored Vodkas the market has been turned on its ear and competition has increased.
Vodka originated in Western Russian and the surrounding countries in the early 15th century. The earliest written record dates back to Russia in June of 1751 referencing ownership of vodka distilleries. These distilleries made vodka from birch charcoal, grain or potatoes. Not long after Vodka made its appearance it became popular in European and Scandinavian countries where distillers decided to change its water like look and taste. Europeans distillers flavored their vodkas with cinnamon, unsweetened chocolate, vanilla, ginger, berries, and red pepper. Scandinavian distillers also chose to flavor their vodka’s with fruits, herbs and spices.
Vodka soon became the most popular distilled spirit in the world. It quickly achieved fame in the United States based on the appearance of the Martini in the James Bond movies. This Martini skyrocketed the Smirnoff brand to the top for several years, as product placement clearly labeled Smirnoff as Bond’s brand of choice. Vodka further increased in popularity because of its clear color and nearly invisible odor. Leaving it virtually undetectable if it was consumed in public or on the job.
In the mid-eighties, flavored vodkas made their appearance on the market led by Absolut, the first spirit to market to the lucrative gay community. Absolut released Peppar Vodka, which was quickly followed up by Absolut Citron. When these flavors were well received by the public Absolut immediately set to work on new flavors and soon released Kurant, Mandarin, Raspberri, Vanilia, Apeach, Ruby Red, and Pears.
Absolut’s resounding success left the rest of the Vodka industry scrambling to keep up. Stolichnaya, Grey Goose, Skyy, and Smirnoff soon released flavored vodkas of their own. Flavors include Raspberry, Citrus, Strawberry, Peach, Vanilla, Green Apple, Black Cherry, Lime, Watermelon, Cranberry, and Blueberry. The UV Vodka line was created and entered the Vodka race with its own line of lower cost, flavored Vodkas.
Though the United States prefers these more traditional and generally fruity flavors other countries lean toward some decidedly differently flavors.
- In Poland and Belarus leaves of bison grass are added to flavor vodka. (The Poles are also fans of 95% Vodka, or 190 proof)
- In the Ukraine there are commercial vodkas produced flavored with St. John’s Wort. (Alcohol, a depressant, comes with St. John’s Wort, an Anti-Depressant. How convenient for the Ukrainians.)
- Ukraine and Russia both flavor their vodkas with honey and pepper.
The do-it-yourself trend that has hit the rest of the nation has also hit the flavored vodka market. One can find a multitude of websites and books on making your own flavored or infused vodkas. A popular site infused-vodka.com provides all information needed to craft your own infused vodka; the infused vodka recipe book, infusion jars, marbles for the base of the jar (to keep the spout from becoming clogged with fruit sediment), stemware for infused vodkas, and a brief guide to flavorings. If the recipes on the previous website aren’t challenging enough, Vodkaphiles provides flavored vodka recipes that could do double duty as desserts. Who says you can’t have your cake and eat it too?
