Tony Abou-Ganim is a renowned bartender who also wrote ” Vodka Distilled“. He has never been patient with people’s dislikes of vodka or flavoured vodka. He says that he has 40 years of experience in the bar industry, and the reason he became a champion of the spirit was because of the bitterness of the backlash.
Vodka’s reputation has been tarnished partly because of the many poorly-made, sometimes outrageously flavoured vodkas available decades ago. However, times have changed, and today’s flavoured vodkas are just as well-crafted as other spirits. Abou-Ganim says, “It’s nice to see smaller artisanal distillers bringing vodkas with character.” “There are beautifully flavoured vodkas, and they’re just a more colour on my palette of ingredients for cocktail preparation.”
Slava Borisov is a bartender at travelle in Chicago. He says that the secret to using flavoured vodka in cocktails is to add other flavours to enhance the main flavour. For example, a chile-flavoured vodka can be used to make Bloody Marys, or a berry-infused vodka can increase the cranberry juice of a Sea Breeze. These are the top flavoured vodkas you should try.
Absolut Citron is the Best Overall
Abou-Ganim says, “I place a lot of trust in something reliable and consistent.” This bottle contains flavoured vodka with grapefruit, lemon, lime and mandarin orange. It is the go-to for Cosmopolitan. It’s delicious when made well. He says he has yet to find a better-flavoured vodka.
Best for Collins: Ketel One Cucumber & Mint
Borisov says this Ketel One expression is made with natural mint and cucumber essences. It’s 60 proof, and it’s “smooth, friendly.” It’s the ideal spirit for summer, especially if it has a light, garden-fresh taste. This bottle can be used in a Collins-type cocktail, including vodka, simple syrup (equal amounts of dissolved sugar and water), lemon juice, and soda water. He says it’s refreshing and simple.
Hanson of Sonoma Habanero is the best for Bloody Mary
Abou-Ganim says Hanson of Sonoma is a family-owned distillery that produces “some beautiful, honest flavours.” The Habanero is both delicious and savoury. This vodka is made in Sonoma County and infused with organic chiles (habaneros, seven other varieties) for a spicy spirit with a little lemongrass. It is excellent in a Bloody Mary, where it enhances the tomato juice’s fruitiness and the heat from the Tabasco, horseradish. According to Abou-Ganim, you can also make a Bloody Bull by adding a shot of beef broth.
Best Citrus: Ketel One Citroen
Abou-Ganim says that not all citrus vodkas are the same. Abou-Ganim organized a blind tasting panel with bar professionals to compare citrus-based vodkas. This bottle won over all others when mixed with lemon juice and triple sec in a Lemon Drop. It’s clear why this Ketel One expression is so popular. This blends four types of lemons, mostly Sicilian, with two types of limes to create a sweet ruffle. It tastes equally good poured over ice or mixed into citrus-based cocktails.
Best Grapefruit: Finlandia Grapefruit
Abou-Ganim loves to tell the tale of how he and Dale DeGroff discovered this amazing vodka. “It was the summer solstice in Finland, and somebody handed us a glass. We asked, “What’s this?” It’s amazing. It’s not often that you find something that grabs your attention so quickly. This Finlandia expression won numerous awards for its “true and beautiful, honest grapefruit flavour.” Mixing it with fresh grapefruit juice in your Greyhound or Salty dog is a great way to go. The Luce del Sol cocktail can also be used, which Abou-Ganim created with Aperol and honey syrup.