Vodka producers keep the flavors coming

The history of vodka infusions dates long before the market was infiltrated with citrus and fruit flavors and buttered popcorn and marshmallow. The odorless and colorless spirit made originally from potatoes lends itself to adopt the profile of anything it’s paired with. It’s a favorite of those individuals who need or want to imbibe at lunch on a workday because it’s undetectable on the breath—so I hear.

A cucumber Lemon Tea
Belvedere Vodka cocktail
served at the Bon Appetit
Grub Crawl Media Party.

With nearly 300 bottles of booze in our home bar, flavored vodkas have found their place among the rums, gins, bourbons, whiskeys and liqueurs. Most recently, I came into a bottle of Lemon Tea Belvedere from the media event for the Bon Appetit Grub Crawl. As a sponsor of the event, Belvedere took the opportunity to promote its usage in a variety of cocktails created by local bartender Star.

At the recent Tales of the Cocktail, a trip through the media swag room resulted in scoring a bottle of the organic and sustainable 360 Vodka in the Glazed Donut flavor. Released in time of the annual National Donut Day in June, the health benefit of the new release was touted as an 80 calorie alternative to an actual glazed donut with 250 calories or more.

I decided that this morning was as good as any to open the bottle and Google a few recipe options. The easiest was the Chocolate Glazed. Possibly the easiest drink I’ve made in years.

Chocolate Glazed

1 ½ oz. Glazed Donut 360

3 oz. Chocolate Milk

Shake over ice, serve straight up in a martini glass. I served it over ice in a double old fashioned glass.

Other flavored varieties are of course the Absolut New Orleans, a mango and black pepper release following Hurricane Katrina, with proceeds benefiting the Louisiana Restaurant Association Education Foundation to the tune of $250,000. The Absolut Los Angeles, a blueberry and acai berry and Absolut Brooklyn, a green apple and ginger, also have shelf space in my home bars.  

My favorite of all the flavored vodkas is the Grey Goose La Poire.  Pear Flower is my favorite recipe. 

Are you a fan of flavored vodkas? Do you think it's a trend that needs to stay or GO?