Friday, July 31, 2009

Upcoming Mixology Monday: Vodka Is Your Friend


After an intensive recovery period from the drunken debauchery at Tales of the Cocktail, August finds us back on track with Mixology Monday, carousing with our old friend, vodka.

The theme of August 10th’s Mixology Monday is “Vodka is Your Friend.” The recent high profile bashings of vodka interspersed with a few weak “yeah, buts…” left me wondering, is vodka the axis of evil, our most dangerous enemy? While it may not be the life of the party, experts agree: Vodka’s obituary does not have to be written just yet.

A lot of people have rules when it comes to drinking cocktails. Some (underprivileged, unfashionable, unconscious) folks don’t like bourbon. Others can’t handle gin. I can’t stomach rum, thanks to my Bacardi-Rum-151-meets-roller-skating incident when I was 14. Vodka can be a “safer” spirit for those who can’t be convinced to take risks.

Vodka also offers a Zen-like simplicity. Because it is relatively flavorless, using vodka as a base of a cocktail means you get to start with a blank chalkboard. Beginner’s mind. What flavor would you like to be today?

I just glanced at our Lounge cocktail menu and realized that more than – yikes - half of our house cocktails are based on vodka. You won’t find a lot of fancy pants drinks on our menu, but you will find concoctions on our specials boards bursting with fresh, local fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices. Vodka is an excellent neutral base for our locavore infusion experimentations.

The Wall Street Journal might say vodka is passé, but the New York times counters that it ain’t dead yet. Vodka is still your friend. So what do YOU like about vodka? Why do you keep that bottle of Grey Goose on your shelf? What do your customers beg you to make with vodka? What vodka-based drink has stayed in your personal book of beloved cocktails? ‘Fess up.

Here’s how Mixology Monday works:
  • Find or create a cocktail that contains vodka as one of its ingredients.
  • Post your recipe and reasonings on your blog along with a drink photo. Make sure to include a link to Felicia’s Speakeasy (this blog) and Mixology Monday, as well as the MxMo logo.
  • Email me a link to your post before midnight on Monday, August 10 (amelia AT atomicloungeithaca DOT com) –or- post a link to your blog as a comment on this post.
I will post a wrap up on my blog with all of the cocktails and photos on late Tuesday or Wednesday. Za Vas!

Editor's note: It is OK to use flavored vodka, as long as your final cocktail tastes good!

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33 comments:

  1. PaulAugust 1, 2009 at 3:14 AM

    A question from the crowd: is flavored vodka permitted? I'm a live-and-let-live, sure what the hell kind of person, but I thought I'd leave the answer up to you as our gracious host. You may have something in mind that requires sticking to the pure stuff, and in which case, we'll follow your lead.

    So -- flavored vodka, yea or nay?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Who is Felicia?August 1, 2009 at 10:26 AM

    Yes, you can use flavored vodka. I added that note to the post.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Chris W.August 6, 2009 at 9:56 PM

    And I've got my entry posted for MxMo XLI. You can find it at http://urbanenotcosmopolitan.blogspot.com/2009/08/mixology-monday-xli-vodka.html

    ReplyDelete
  4. fredericAugust 9, 2009 at 1:17 PM

    This is Frederic from Cocktail Virgin and here's our entry:

    http://cocktailvirgin.blogspot.com/2009/08/sputnik.html

    Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
  5. TiareAugust 9, 2009 at 10:09 PM

    Hi! my enytry is here:

    http://www.amountainofcrushedice.com/?p=6464

    Cheers!

    Tiaret

    ReplyDelete
  6. TiareAugust 9, 2009 at 10:09 PM

    Hi! my enytry is here:

    http://www.amountainofcrushedice.com/?p=6464

    Cheers!

    Tiare

    ReplyDelete
  7. JonAugust 9, 2009 at 10:10 PM

    Hi,

    The ednbrg effort is up at:

    http://ednbrg.wordpress.com/2009/08/10/mxmo-vodka-is-your-friend/

    Thanks for hosting!

    J

    ReplyDelete
  8. UnknownAugust 10, 2009 at 2:09 AM

    I've got the Japonais posted, over at Cocktailians:

    http://www.cocktailians.com/2009/08/mxmo-submission-the-japonais.html

    (Should I be worried that the CAPTCHA to post this comment was "palin"? I nearly spilled my drink.)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Christopher CarlssonAugust 10, 2009 at 2:32 AM

    Maybe not the best post but hopefully you may find it amusing : http://spiritsreviewblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/in-praise-of-vodka.html

    ReplyDelete
  10. AnonymousAugust 10, 2009 at 10:21 AM

    My highly informative and well-reasoned post is here:
    http://drinksnob.wordpress.com/2009/08/10/mxmo-xli-vodka-is-your-friend/

    ReplyDelete
  11. MichaelAugust 10, 2009 at 10:26 AM

    Hello ello.

    My post is here.

    http://myachinghead.net/2009/08/the-russian-pirate/

    I kinda took the vodka out. Feel free to poke fun at me (though I suspect I won't be the only person)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Maria HuntAugust 10, 2009 at 12:42 PM

    Hi there:

    Happy Mixology Monday. Please check out my blog The Bubbly Girl for my submission, the Rose Guava Pinky.
    Cheers,
    Maria
    http://preview.tinyurl.com/mebu97

    ReplyDelete
  13. Jeff JohnsonAugust 10, 2009 at 2:31 PM

    My post is here:



    http://undertakingthebar.wordpress.com/2009/08/10/mixology-monday-the-peppertini/

    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Herr GrauAugust 10, 2009 at 3:31 PM

    Uh, my first MxMo and already I'm late... Sorry.

    Here's the post:

    http://lookalivecontest.wordpress.com/2009/08/09/mixed-feelings-mixology-monday-xli/

    Greets,
    Herr Grau

    ReplyDelete
  15. scomorokhAugust 10, 2009 at 3:49 PM

    Hi! My name is scomorokh and I am owner of ScienceOfDrink Blog. I from Ukraine and Vodka (gorilka) is our traditional beverage. For this event I write aboutBlack and White Russian cocktails with somу Magic

    Nice to see all there! As we say - Bud`mo!

    ReplyDelete
  16. JessamynAugust 10, 2009 at 5:06 PM

    Well, it didn't work out very well, but I tried: http://www.foodonthebrain.net/2009/08/10/mixology-monday-vodka-is-not-your-friend/

    ReplyDelete
  17. PantagruelAugust 10, 2009 at 5:43 PM

    Thanks for hosting, here's my entry:

    http://www.wordsmithingpantagruel.com/2009/08/vilnius-nastavnic-and-surrender-monkey.html

    ReplyDelete
  18. DrinkapotamusAugust 10, 2009 at 8:27 PM

    http://www.alpha-cook.com/2009/08/mixology-monday-vodka-is-your-friend.html

    ...because i am classy and drink flavored vodka

    ReplyDelete
  19. Paul ZablockiAugust 10, 2009 at 8:37 PM

    Here is our post. Thanks for hosting!
    - Paul & Steve

    http://cocktailbuzz.blogspot.com/2009/08/mixology-monday-xli-vodka-is-your.html

    ReplyDelete
  20. ~Sonja~August 10, 2009 at 10:28 PM

    Here's my post, with a Cucumber Caipiroska. Thanks for hosting - cheers!

    http://thinkingofdrinking.blogspot.com/2009/08/mixology-monday-vodka-vodka-vodka.html

    ReplyDelete
  21. wolfieAugust 10, 2009 at 10:50 PM

    Vodka: here is my main use

    http://caskstrength.wordpress.com/2009/08/11/mixmo-vodka-and-one-of-vodkas-4-or-5-uses-channel-knife-training/

    ReplyDelete
  22. wolfieAugust 10, 2009 at 10:51 PM

    how i use vodka

    http://caskstrength.wordpress.com/2009/08/11/mixmo-vodka-and-one-of-vodkas-4-or-5-uses-channel-knife-training/

    ReplyDelete
  23. The Opinionated AlchemistAugust 10, 2009 at 10:53 PM

    Hi - first of all thank you for hosting another MxMo!

    You can find my post about vodka here:

    http://www.opinionated-alchemist.com/the_opinionated_alchemist/the_opinionated_bar-log/Entries/2009/8/10_MxMo_XLI_-_Vodka.html

    Or just head over to www.opinionated-alchemist.com to find your way to the blog...

    Hope I am not too late...

    Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Stevi DeterAugust 10, 2009 at 10:56 PM

    My post is up! Thanks for a fun topic!

    http://www.twoatthemost.com/mxmo-xli-vodka-is-your-friend-the-mike-romanoff-cocktail/

    ReplyDelete
  25. UnknownAugust 10, 2009 at 11:31 PM

    Here is another one we whipped up using a vodka just up the road from Ithaca:
    http://spiritsreviewblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/in-praise-of-vodka-ii.html

    ReplyDelete
  26. PaulAugust 10, 2009 at 11:39 PM

    Here's mine --

    MxMo Vodka -- Wait, what?

    Thanks for hosting -- and apologies for the lack of a photo, I'm blogging in from vacation away from the liquor cabinet.

    ReplyDelete
  27. RumDoodAugust 11, 2009 at 12:57 AM

    God, running so late, hope I made it!

    http://rumdood.com/archive/2009/08/10/mixology-monday-vodka.aspx

    ReplyDelete
  28. Christopher CarlssonAugust 11, 2009 at 1:15 AM

    Just correcting my earlier URL Mistake-

    ReplyDelete
  29. Lance J. MayhewAugust 11, 2009 at 1:44 AM

    Here is my post. Thanks for hosting this month!

    http://lancejmayhew.blogspot.com/2009/08/mxmo-xli-vodka-is-your-friend-kingyo-no.html

    ReplyDelete
  30. the barkeepAugust 11, 2009 at 2:22 AM

    The Acai Blackberry Cooler

    thanks for hosting

    ReplyDelete
  31. Chris AmiraultAugust 11, 2009 at 8:06 AM

    Quite a few ideas over in the eG Forums Spirits & Cocktails topic.

    http://bit.ly/iDZCg

    Lots of ideas, though no one seems to be feeling the Borscht Belt love....

    Cheers,

    Chris

    ReplyDelete
  32. ChristianAugust 11, 2009 at 8:35 AM

    no: vadka isn´t my friend but cosmopolitan is ok

    http://cocktailwelt.blogspot.com/2009/08/mixology-monday-vodka-is-your-friend.html

    greatings from germany :-)

    ReplyDelete
  33. AnonymousAugust 11, 2009 at 6:34 PM

    Its late, so if it doesn't make the roundup, no worries.

    http://bit.ly/MxMoVodka

    ReplyDelete