How to drink flavoured vodkas
With our new Esker Scottish Raspberry and Esker Orange and Pomegranate Vodka hitting the shelves in Sainsburys across Scotland in July, we thought it was time to give you a formal introduction to the newest members of the Esker Spirits Family!
Our Esker Vodka range has a smooth base, distilled with the silver birch sap that goes into all our spirits and we use real fruit to give the spirits their distinctive flavour colour.
The clean taste and versatility of the vodkas mean they can be drunk in a variety of ways and to suit a range of palates. So whether you are a gin fan looking to diversify or a die hard vodka drinker needing a change from your usual mixer we are sure there will be something in here for you!
These are our top five ways to drink the new Esker Vodka range.
1. Perfect serves
Swap out your classic mixer for something a bit more exciting. There are a huge range of unique, premium mixers out there at the moment. Give a smaller craft company a try and go local if you can and liven things up by using fresh fruits or herbs to garnish.
How we do It:
We like to use mixers that compliment rather than mirror or mask the flavours in our vodkas. Raspberry and lemon are great friends and Orange and Pomegranate go great with ginger or anything dry and spicy.
Try:
Esker Scottish Raspberry Vodka with Summer House Drinks “Misty Lemonade” and fresh lemon & raspberries to garnish
Esker Orange & Pomegranate Vodka, with Fever-Tree Ginger Ale and orange peel to garnish
Why we love it:
Using quality mixers enhances our vodkas perfectly and we love the variety in flavour you can achieve when you move away from the old-style spirit and mix combinations.
When to drink:
As we are using premium ingredients, this should be a treat to yourself, feet up with a box set on Friday night!
2. Punch Pitchers
Punch style cocktails are an easy way to serve drinks at picnics or parties (socially distanced ones at the moment of course) as you can batch make, serve in a big pitcher or pop in thermos to enjoy in the park or at the beach! Light and quenching, these are great drinks to sip on during the day.
How we do it:
Our flavoured Vodkas work really well in fruity punch cocktails. We simply balance the vodkas with a splash of citrus and a bit of sugar before lengthening with chilled tea. Combine ingredients, stir over ice then garnish with seasonal fruit and mint leaves.
Try:
100ml Esker Scottish Raspberry Vodka, 50ml freshly squeezed lemon juice, 25ml Peach Schnapps, 30ml sugar syrup, 200ml chilled tea (serves 2- 4)
100ml Esker Orange & Pomegranate Vodka, 50ml freshly squeezed lemon juice, 30ml grenadine, 200ml chilled tea (serves 2- 4)
Why we love it:
Light and low(ish!) on ABV. Great for sharing and easy to transport for a day out.
When to drink:
Perfect for BBQ or a picnic in the park.
3. The Hard Seltzer
Don’t let the name put you off … A “hard” or “spiked” Seltzer is simply a style of highball drink containing sparkling water, alcohol and usually a fruit flavouring.
Currently, super popular across the pond with 52% of Americans swapping beer for ready to drink versions of this drink. The trend is also starting to grow here in the UK and we can see why… this light refreshing drink not only tastes good but is also low in calories, sugar and uses all natural ingredients.
How we do it:
We like to make our own rather than going with a ready to drink option. As well as adding good quality soda water, we enhance our vodkas by using fresh fruit to garnish. Make sure to add plenty of ice to keep it super chilled and refreshing.
Try:
Esker Scottish Raspberry Vodka, soda water, lemon peel and fresh raspberries
Esker Orange & Pomegranate Vodka, soda water and fresh pomegranate seeds
Why we love it:
Refreshing, low cal, low sugar, low fuss and delicious!
When to drink:
A great session drink on a warm summer’s day!
4. Aperitivo
Aperitivo is an Italian tradition, a pre-meal drink designed to whet your appetite. Dry, bitter, refreshing drinks such as the Negroni, Aperol Spritz or a Gin & Tonic are particularly popular Aperitivos.
How we do it:
Try a twist on the classic spritz recipe of wine, bitter, soda and citrus by combining our Orange Vodka with Prosecco and fresh rosemary.
Alternatively, serve our Raspberry Vodka with a light tonic water and lemon to create the perfect palate cleanser.
Try:
Esker Scottish Raspberry Vodka, light tonic water and lemon peel.
Esker Orange & Pomegranate Vodka topped with Prosecco, soda water and served with orange peel and a sprig of fresh rosemary
Why we love it:
Stylish refined and grown up, the perfect drink to start to any evening
When to drink :
In Italy, an aperitivo is usually drunk between 7pm and 9 pm – when Italians meet to relax over a drink and a light and snack. So why not try pre- dinner with some olives, salted nuts or cheese… When in Rome and all that!?
5. Frosé (frozen rosé)
This is a fun one, a total crowd pleaser and party favourite!
One thing you need to do with this one is plan ahead! The night before you want to enjoy some Frosé, pour 1 bottle rosé wine into a zip-lock bag and freeze overnight (make sure it is properly sealed to avoid any leaking). P.S because of the alcohol in the wine, it will not freeze solid.
When you are ready to drink, simply combine Vodka with frozen rosé wine by chucking it all in your blender… and that’s Frosé!
How we do it:
Choose a decent rosé, not just the cheap stuff - increasing your usual spend by just a pound or two can get you a top-quality wine and will make all the difference to the final flavour. Measure your vodka! You still want to be standing at the end of the night... 20ml per person will do the trick. If you like drinks sweeter you may want to add a bit of sugar syrup or honey and if you like things a bit fruiter, throw in some frozen berries.
Pour into large wine glasses and garnish with some colourful (biodegradable) straws or cocktail umbrellas, this is a party drink after all!
Try:
Esker Scottish Raspberry Vodka with Sainsbury's Côtes De Provence Rosé, Taste the Difference. Combine with some frozen raspberries and a squeeze of honey!
Esker Orange & Pomegranate Vodka with Sainsbury's Bordeaux Rosé, Taste the Difference. Combine with a splash of grenadine or pomegranate juice.
Why we love it:
Dangerously drinkable and easy to make ahead of time so you can spend more valuable time with your guests.
When to drink:
Great for a garden party with friends, an Ibiza SunDowner soundtrack recommended!
*find the new Esker Spirits Vodka range in a Scottish Sainsburys or order online via our webshop. #EskerSpirirts