6 Drinks Vodka Has Hijacked From Gin… and We Love Them!

There are over 700 gin-based cocktail recipes, so it is appropriate they share some recipes with other spirits too! Most of the recipes below are known better as being made with gin, but they are just as delicious or even better when mixed with vodka (I can almost hear all the gin lovers gasp…).  The best thing about all these recipes is that these are super-easy to make at home!

Don’t forget to take part in the competition at the end of this post, you can win some stunning Finnish glassware and a bottle of VODKA!

1. Bloody Mary

When it comes to Bloody Mary, the history is slightly confusing, but as far as I understand it, a very basic variation of Bloody Mary was first made with vodka, then when the drink made its way to America over the years, it was made with gin as this was readily available. Eventually vodka took its drink back and still remains the most common base spirit for Bloody Mary.

Here’s my recipe:

50ml Korpimaan Kyynel Vodka
125ml Tomato juice
25ml Guinness
Fresh lemon juice
Fresh lime juice
Celery salt
Black pepper
4 Dashes of Worcestershire sauce
3 Dashes of Tabasco
Horseradish sauce (optional)
I also add some extra chilli sauce depending on what is available. I like it spicy!

Measure all ingredients into the glass part of a cocktail shaker and stir well with ice. Pour some celery salt and black pepper onto a small plate. Rub the lemon wedge along the rim of a highball glass. Roll the edge of the glass in the mix, avoiding getting salt inside the glass.

Fill the glass with ice and strain the mix in. It is up to you how much you want to impress with the garnish. Garnish ideas: celery stalk, mini gherkins, pickled onion, lemon slice, crispy bacon, cucumber slice, cherry tomatoes etc. etc. You can also make a larger batch into a jug an hour before you serve, just give it a stir before serving.

2. Martini

Vodkatini is pretty much as popular as gin-based Martini. How do you like yours?

Here’s my recipe:

50ml Korpimaan Kyynel Vodka
10ml Dry Vermouth
10ml Olive brine
Olives for garnish

Stir all three ingredients in the glass part of the cocktail shaker. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with three olives (I love olives!).

3. G&T – make mine a V&T

In the recent International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) Korpimaan Kyynel Vodka proved that V&T is a great alternative to a G&T! See their winning recipe below:

Kyynel VT

40ml Korpimaan Kyynel
100–120ml Fever-Tree Indian Tonic
The juice of one lime wedge, plus more wedges for garnish

Fill a glass with ice, add lime juice and lime wedges, pour in the vodka and top up with Fever-Tree tonic water

Also try this recipe (I stole this recipe from a friend – this is her perfect pour):

50ml Vodka
5 Dashes of Angostura bitters
Fever-Tree Tonic

Fill a glass with ice and add five or so dashes of Angostura bitters. Swirl the ice in the bitters and discard any excess Angostura when the ice is coated properly. Add vodka and top up with tonic water. No garnish needed. Delicious.

4. Vodka Sour

Vodka Sour is tasty on its own, but you can also make delicious variations to this recipe by adding different home-made syrups. Fresh ginger syrup is one of my all-time favourites, or try a cranberry-rosemary syrup to fit the season better.

Here’s my recipe:

50ml Korpimaan Kyynel Vodka
25ml Fresh lemon juice
15ml Sugar syrup
3 Dashes of Angostura bitters
Egg white

Dry shake all the ingredients except the Angostura in a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake well. Double strain into an old-fashioned glass filled with ice. Add a few dashes of Angostura and garnish with a lemon slice and a cherry.

5. Vodka Tom Collins, aka The Comrade Collins or Joe Collins

It is said that the original Tom Collins cocktail was made with Old Tom Gin, not London Dry as it is done nowadays. Over the years, many other variations came along using different base spirits, one being the Comrade Collins. 

Here’s my recipe: 

50ml Korpimaan Kyynel
25ml Fresh lemon juice
Dash of sugar syrup
Soda

Fill a tall glass with ice. Mix the vodka, lemon juice and sugar syrup in the glass and top up with soda. Garnish with a lemon slice and a cherry. Check Korpimaan Kyynel website for an alternative recipe with spruce sprout syrup!

6. Gimlet 

There are a few different variation to Vodka Gimlet. The original gimlet recipe was made with lime cordial, but I recommend using both fresh lime and lime cordial and cut out the sugar syrup. This recipe can be stirred or shaken in a cocktail shaker. 

Here’s my recipe: 

50ml Korpimaan Kyynel Vodka
15ml Lime cordial
15ml Fresh lime
(Soda optional)

Shake or stir, then pour into a cocktail glass or serve in an old-fashioned glass with ice. Top up with soda if you wish. Garnish with a lime wheel.

A competition for a Vodka lover!

As you have probably already guessed I have teamed up with a Finnish Vodka brand to bring this amazing competition to you! Winner will be able to make the award-winning Kyynel VT drink at home by using their new set of Iittala Ultima Thule On the Rocks glasses (I absolutely love this collection!), a bottle of Korpimaan Kyynel Vodka and Fever-Tree tonic! Only thing you will need is the lime and a friend to enjoy it with!

To enter follow these simple steps:

1. Follow On the Sauce Again on Twitter or Facebook (or both to double up your chances!) and Korpimaan Kyynel on Instagram.
2. Share this post on Twitter or Facebook.
3. Comment below to let us know just how much you’d LOVE to win!

Best of luck everyone! Competition closes 20^th September 2017. COMPETITION HAS CLOSED. 

If you’d like to know more about Korpimaan Kyynel Vodka, see my previous post here.

Do you like mixing with vodka? What is your favourite vodka cocktail?

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Korpimaan Kyynel Vodka, but, as always, all opinions are my own