What are the different ways to drink vodka?
- Straight
- Chilled
- Infused
- As a cocktail
- With food
A fairly neutral yet strong and versatile spirit, vodka can be savored in a wide variety of ways! Whether you decide to sip your vodka straight, pair it with food, or use it to create your favorite cocktails, this drink is highly enjoyable! This is why vodka in the Philippines is a crowd favorite. Learn all about the different ways to drink vodka here to expand your drinking experience!
Straight
Vodka, as we mentioned, tastes fairly neutral compared to other spirits. It also has a full-bodied mouthfeel. These two qualities make it a very good spirit to enjoy on its own — also called drinking it straight.
One common way to drink this spirit straight is to take shots of vodka from shot glasses, at room temperature. This is great if you’re having this drink at a dinner party, as it allows you to toast and drink more frequently without drinking too much.
However, we highly recommend drinking high-quality vodka, such as our Belvedere Vodka, by sipping it slowly from a tumbler glass.
Chilled
You can also have this spirit chilled. Cooling your vodka down before drinking it helps it have less of a bite, can highlight some of the more elusive flavors of the vodka, and even change its viscosity to be slightly thicker and heavier.
To chill your vodka, you can place a large ice cube in your tumbler glass, and pour vodka on top. Or, you could place your bottle of vodka in the freezer until it is ice-cold, then leave it in your refrigerator in between servings or glass refills.
However, more flavorful or delicate vodkas have a tendency of becoming muted if you leave them in the freezer too long. So, we recommend keeping these bottles chilled in your fridge before serving.
Infused
There are many infused vodkas that you can try. These are made from popular ingredients, such as cucumber, mango, mint, and blueberries. Included in our vodka selection are infused vodkas, like our Stoli Razberi, Stoli Citros, Elit Voda, Absolut Pear, and Absolut Mango. These bottles are flavorful and can be enjoyed on the rocks as a sweet and refreshing alcohol-infused treat.
As a cocktail
You can also use vodka in cocktails, which can enhance its inherent flavor while diluting its strong alcoholic bite.
Some of the most popular vodka cocktails are very easy to make at home. Take, for example, the vodka tonic, which is just vodka and tonic water in a 1:2-3 ratio. There are a few cocktails though, such as the Commonwealth, that are more complicated and take several ingredients to make.
If you’re looking for a vodka cocktail, then you’re in luck — there’s a wide variety of juices and other ingredients that this spirit goes well with! These include:
Soda Water
Any kind of soda water, including seltzer or sparkling water, is a great base for vodka. You can use this pairing whether you’re drinking a premium or standard bottle. Using this ingredient will help you avoid drowning out the great taste of your chosen spirit. If you’re not too into punchy, sweet, or citrusy cocktails, then this is the right combination for you!
Cranberry Juice
Adding this to your drink will make a classic: Vodka Cranberry. And it’s a classic for a reason — it’s tart and highlights the more subtle creamy and citrusy notes of vodka very well.
Orange Juice
Vodka with some freshly squeezed orange juice makes another widely popular drink: a Screwdriver. The blend of sweetness and citrus helps cut the bite out of your vodka and creates a combination that is very easy to drink.
With food
In Russia — where this spirit hails from — they often enjoy a glass of vodka with appetizers called “zakuski.” Similar to tapas, these foods allow you to drink vodka in a more social setting, with lots of toasting and interesting pairings. Here, you drink communally, then have a bite to eat, and repeat.
That said, you don’t have to stick to the traditional fare of cold hors d'oeuvres, entrées, and snacks if you want some food with your vodka. Instead, try pairing with complementary flavors. Some foods that tend to go great with vodka include sausages, cucumbers, olives, salmon, ricotta, smoked meats, and the like.
If you’re looking to pair your vodka with food, then we recommend selecting something clean, crisp, and light — such as our Absolut Blue or Stoli Elit vodka.
Key Takeaway
Vodka, as you can see, is a very versatile drink. There is a wide variety of ways to drink vodka. And, whether you decide to take it neat, or lean towards infused or cocktail versions of the spirit, you’re sure to enjoy it!
Looking for top-shelf vodka in the Philippines? Take a look at Ralph’s Wines & Spirits’ complete collection of vodkas here. We have several flavors and options for you to try, and expand your vodka-drinking experience!
