Five 5-Star Vodka Cocktails

According to the Bartender's Bible by Gary Regan, "Vodka can almost be made from whatever happens to be lying around - beets are used in Turkey, while Britain tends to favor molasses - though most vodka is produced from potatoes, corn, and wheat."

Vodka is unique - it has almost no aroma, taste, or color. The word "vodka" comes from the Russian word for water. Consequently, it's a great vehicle for enhancing the flavor of other ingredients.

My favorite flavors in the world are chocolate and coffee - which is reflected in my choice of favorite Vodka cocktails!

The only coffee in this recipe is the beans used as garnish. Go figure.

Ingredients:

2 oz. Vanilla Vodka

1/2 oz. Sambuca

3 coffee beans

Instructions: Combine Vanilla Vodka and Sambuca in a cocktail shaker 1/2 full of ice. Shake vigorously, strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with coffee beans.

Note: The original Coffee Bean Martini recipe I found used unflavored vodka, but we've found that we prefer this with the aroma and slight sweetness of the Vanilla Vodka instead. Of course - it's up to you!

If any drink is my "signature" drink - it's this one. I developed this recipe after much trial-and-error, and it took quite a while, since I only have one drink per day. I wanted a Mocha Martini that wasn't too sweet - I find that most recipes are excessively sweet for my taste.

Ingredients:

3 parts brewed Coffee, cold

2 parts unflavored Vodka

1 part Creme de Cacao

Instructions: Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker half-full of ice. Shake vigorously. Strain into a cocktail glass. There should be a "head" of foam on top.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 ounces vodka

1/2 ounce Kahlua

Instructions: Pour ingredients into an old-fashioned glass almost full of ice cubes. Stir.

The Harvey Wallbanger was popular in the 1970s and I think many people have forgotten how delicious it truly is!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 ounces vodka

4 ounces orange juice

1/2 ounce Galliano

Combine the vodka and orange juice in a highball glass almost full of ice. Stir. Float the Galliano on top.

Photo courtesy of mauitimeweekly on Flickr.com via Creative Commons.

Ingredients:

2 ounces fresh-squeezed lemon juice

3 ounces vodka

1 tablespoon superfine sugar

3-4 mint leaves

Instructions: Muddle (squish together repeatedly) the mint leaves and sugar in the bottom of a highball glass. Add ice until the glass is almost full. Add the vodka and lemon juice. Stir.

Photo courtesy of Yellow.Cat on Flickr.com via Creative Commons.