Vodka Valley
Another simple, classic vodka cocktail – and one that many find palatable due to it’s sweetness. A Black Russian derives it’s name from it’s principal two ingredients – vodka (the Russian), and coffee liquor (the black.) This combination first appeared in 1949, and is ascribed to a Belgian mixologist by the name of Gustave Tops. […]
Welcome to another Vodka Valley vodka tasting write-up. This week revisited a few of our favorites, as we thought it would be a good idea to put together a few of the vodkas we find when hitting the town up against each other. Let’s face it, a lot of vodka companies market themselves as ‘premium’ […]
Originally considered as a “poor man’s” caviar, Eggplant caviar has actually outgrown it’s namesake in popularity, mainly because it’s delicious and it’s much more affordable. This is a great dip with strong hints of garlic and vinegar – and very simple to make at that. Ingredients 1 large eggplant 1 medium onion – finely chopped […]
Tovaritch means comrade in Russian, and so we find Tovaritch Vodka to actually befit it’s name. It’s a wonderful companion for any vodka enthusiast, and is warm and welcoming to all. We recently had the pleasure of receiving two bottles from Ralph’s Wines & Spirits courtesy of Tovaritch & Spirits. Tovaritch hails from St. Petersburg, and is […]
For a drink with such an odd name this is actually a very simple cocktail, practically only a step up from a Screwdriver (vodka and orange juice.) The story goes that the drink was created by a Los Angeles bartender named Donato “Duke” Antone in the 1950’s, who at one point had a regular customer […]
This week’s vodka tasting was unique to say the least. Not only did we have three fine Russian vodkas to try, but we had our tasting at the wonderful 121 Grille & Restaurant, where they host some of the best jazz musicians in Manila every Thursday night. Their food helped us get through the night […]
We figured you guys might be wanting a little bit…more from just the regular cocktails, vodka tastings and reviews. So after a little brainstorming we are very happy to present the first of a new kind of article here on Vodka Valley: Zakuskis! We’ll be showing you some quick, simple recipes to create some delicious hors […]
The 2006 James Bond film Casino Royale threw this cocktail back into the spotlight – after what seemed like an eternity of vodka martinis “shaken, not stirred.” Make no mistake, the Vesper is a different beast all together, and is the epitome of a Bond cocktail. Named after Bond’s love interest at the time, the […]
What do you do when you got some new bottles of vodka lying around and no one to drink them with? Easy – you call your friends over and you have a tasting session. Which is exactly what we decided to do. Ready to taste! We didn’t really have a theme in mind for […]
A relatively new cocktail dating from the late 80’s, the Sex on the Beach is one of those drinks that actually reflects the era it was created in quite well. It’s colorful, fruity, and has a decent kick to it. The drink has many, many variations and most bars will either stick to the original […]