Francys’ End of Summer Drink Series is an ongoing guest posting every Thursday by Francys Sandoval of La Cocina Kitchen. A professionally trained cook, she brings her passion for beverages every Thursday of September, sharing her favorite drinks, techniques and recipes. 

Are you excited? Well I am because it is Thirsty Thursday again and we are back with my end of summer drink series.

vk4This time we are getting into a more seasonal, fall-inspired cocktail but still not quite there yet. We’ll be preparing an exciting warm cocktail but this one is served over ice, but more on that later.

Today we are mixing and learning about one of the most popular spirits; one that doesn’t really have a lot of flavor or aroma but is quite popular and everybody likes it, Vodka. Vodka is my go-to spirit because it is easy to mix and goes with mostly everything.

First distilled in Russia for medicinal purposes, this spirits name means “little water”. Vodka can be made with any fruit or vegetable that contains sugar: Grains, grapes, potatoes, beets…you name it!  Any starchy produce can be used to make it as well, and no matter what it is, during the process it would lose all of the fruit or vegetable aromatics and flavors.  Another fact that makes vodka a profitable business for its producer is that there is no aging necessary or needed while making it. Because it’s such a straight flavored spirit, we are going to be making a spice infused vodka for our exciting earlyfall cocktail.

Vodka Tea
To infuse the Vodka you are going to need:

One 750 ml bottle of your favorite vodka
¼ cup diced fresh ginger
2 tablespoons allspice berries
1 tablespoon black peppercorns, lightly crushed
3 cardamom pods, lightly crushed
2 cinnamon sticks
2 halved vanilla beans and seeds
Orange zest

Pour the bottle of vodka into a jar or glass container with along with the spices. Stir well and cover.
You can refrigerate or keep outside for 7 to 10 days. After the 7 days strain the vodka and pour back into jar.You can refrigerate your now infused vodka up to a month.

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For the cocktail you will need:
2 parts vodka
¾ parts honey
½ hot water
Mint, lightly crushed by hand

  1. In a cocktail shaker or tall glass pour all the ingredients, pouring the  hot water last. Stir well.
  2. Serve in a short or rocks glass with ice.
  3. Garnish with an orange twist and enjoy.

You can have this particular drink over ice for warm days at the beginning of fall or hot to welcome the chilly winds.

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‘till next Thrusday
Fran

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10 Comments

  1. Spicy vodka is my kind of drink! And, as usual, I learned a little something new from you today-Vodka=Little Water. Seriously can’t wait to try this!

  2. Intriguing. A hot toddy (sort of) served over ice. My new cold medicine for this winter. 🙂