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Going purely on instinct, you likely wouldn’t think to use vodka, a decidedly un-Italian spirit, in a pasta dish. Yet somehow, these two seemingly disparate ingredients have been working hand-in-hand in penne alla vodka since it became popular in the 1970s and 1980s. However, if you too have wondered what role vodka plays when added to this popular pasta sauce, you are not alone.

It turns out, vodka is contributing something important to the sauce. Chef Stephen Cusato, who is a social media sensation, shares the reasoning on his popular YouTube channel. (Cusato cites Harold McGee, a well-known food science writer who covered the topic in his book “On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen”.)

“If you just add vodka to something, it’s going to overpower it,” Cusato explained. “But just like anything, when you reduce [the vodka] down, it’s going to enhance flavors that weren’t there to begin with” and will subsequently “work with the tomatoes to make them more ‘tomato-ey.'” Essentially, the vodka ensures the flavors from ingredients like tomato come out even stronger than they otherwise might have. Interesting. But there’s even more to know about the science behind penne alla vodka.

Read more: The Ultimate Vodka Brands, Ranked

There are two reasons why adding vodka can elevate your creamy tomato pasta sauce. First is that it acts as an emulsifier to smoothly combine the acidity of the tomatoes with the rich, fatty cream, which may otherwise separate when used together. Adding the spirit helps achieve the perfectly creamy texture of vodka sauce. At this point, you might be wondering whether other types of alcohol could be used for this purpose. While the answer is yes, vodka has a distinct advantage over other kinds when used in this application, as it has the least distinctive flavor profile.

The second reason is that when vodka is added in small amounts, the alcohol is known to unleash a bouquet of flavors in the tomatoes that often remain untapped. It is key to remember that smaller is better in this instance, as pointed out by Chef Stephen Cusato in his tutorial. So be sure not to overdo it with the vodka.

Chef and food writer J. Kenji López-Alt tested out various ways to incorporate vodka in vodka cream sauce to find the most delicious way possible. He tested versions of the sauce that ranged from 4% to 1% ABV (alcohol by volume), and he tried tasting the sauce at different points in the cooking process. He concluded in Serious Eats: “For the tastiest vodka sauce, add ¼ cup vodka per quart of sauce and let it simmer seven minutes.” Otherwise, the alcohol hasn’t dissipated and tastes too strong. Another tip recommended by chef Stephen Cusato in the YouTube video is to make sure you first reduce the tomatoes until they are highly concentrated (which takes about 30 minutes).

So while vodka does indeed add something to the sauce, keep in mind the most important rules: Don’t use too much, and let it cook long enough to develop the flavors and dissipate the alcohol.

Read the original article on Daily Meal.

Since its invention in the 1860s, the whiskey sour has remained popular for good reason. Its simple recipe combines alcohol, citrus, and sugar, sometimes with egg white, to create a refreshing drink with many nuances. It’s easy to showcase different whiskey traits while adjusting the acidity and sweetness for the best drinkability. While most whiskey sours only use lemon juice, the inclusion of freshly squeezed orange juice gives the drink a lighter, sweeter feel.

The addition of orange juice not only enhances the flavor by adding a touch of sweetness but also affects the texture of the cocktail. The result is a softer concoction that can be paired with a richly flavored whiskey. Meanwhile, lemon juice is still used to maintain an acidic balance, which can be tweaked according to taste. The unique character of this versatile cocktail can be further modified by altering the proportions of whiskey and simple syrup. Let’s explore a few remarkable variations.

Read more: The 25 Best Bourbon Brands, Ranked

Those who prefer a sweeter whiskey sour can use a bourbon base and increase the quantity of orange juice. Such versions can contain almost one-and-a-half-part orange to lemon, although some of the latter’s acidic sharpness is essential. After all, it’s a sour. When making this version, lower the amount of sugar syrup to balance the sweeter flavor of the orange.

Alternatively, imbue only a slight orange character by utilizing two-parts lemon to one-part orange juice. This is better aligned with a bolder whiskey, like rye, and is well-suited to incorporating an egg white topping for added fluffiness. The inclusion of rich, simple syrup further plays to a decadent mouthfeel since it gives the drink a thicker consistency. This would make it more of a classic whiskey sour.

If craving an even deeper orange flavor, consider integrating the citrus in other forms. You could craft a syrup with the orange — opting for a sweet flavorful fruit variety like cara cara — and also including the rind, for a powerful full-fruit flavor. Finally, you can rim the glass with a malty brown sugar, top the egg white foam with orange bitters and garnish with a dried orange slice or grated orange zest, for an impressive effect.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.

Stumbras Premium Organic Vodka takes home the top prize at this year’s New York World Spirits … [+] Competition

Earlier this year a panel of expert judges convened in a nondescript hotel convention hall in Brooklyn to assess merit across all major categories of spirit. It was part of the annual New York World Wine & Spirits Competition, which in just several iterations has already grown into one of the city’s premiere tasting events.

We’ve spent significant time covering the top-rated whiskies from that competition. It included several jaw-dropping surprises, all of which are worthy of exploration—if you fancy aged spirit. Now we’re going to venture into the realm of vodka. But first we must address the elephant in the room: how does one define greatness in a category that is flavorless by design?

Well, for starters, vodka isn’t flavorless, exactly. It is often conflated with neutral grain spirit, but that’s a vast oversimplification. And an outdated one. Vodka doesn’t even have to be made from grain at all. It can be distilled from vegetables, fruit, honey, starches—we’ve seen compelling examples come from all sorts of base ingredients. And it certainly doesn’t need to be neutral in flavor or aroma. If you have doubts, you ought to consider cracking open a bottle of the very expression that the New York Wine & Spirits Competition dubbed the best of 2023: Stumbras Premium Organic Vodka.

The first organic vodka to ever come out of Lithuania is crafted according to strict parameters of production. It begins its life as wheat grown on an organic farm, deep in the heart of the Baltic nation. After distillation, the liquid passes through a proprietary linen-based filtration. This process is said to imbue the vodka with its notable smoothness and subtle viscosity.

You can debate whether or not there’s some element of gimmick to be found there. But what’s certain is that the wheat at its core imparts a pleasing sweetness upon the palate. It carries through, into the aftertaste, where you’re left to ponder the lingering nuance of this flavor. Yes, flavor—in vodka.

And, to be clear, we’re not talking about flavored vodka. In fact, Stumbras specializes in one of those as well. Namely, a cranberry variant, which was also recognized by the judges in New York for its exceptional bitter notes. The company has the craft pretty well dialed-in after over 115 years of getting the job done.

You can find its award-winning organic expression on American shelves rather easily, priced at around $20 per bottle. The aforementioned subtleties of its tasting profile marks it as a natural fit against tonic or soda, served over rocks. Especially if you’re going to add lemon or lime into the mix, with the tart and bitter elements of citrus balancing out all things sweet from the wheat in the vodka.

Or do the unthinkable: try the 80-proof spirit neat. Maybe you’ll be able to call out some of the same grassy aromatics in the liquid that won over those contest judges back in Brooklyn. Perhaps you, too, will call it one of the more interesting vodka on shelves today. But what you won’t be able to do is call it flavorless.

LITHUANIA – NOVEMBER 25: Mill, Open air ethnographic museum, Rumsiskes, Dzukija, Lithuania. (Photo … [+]

Is anything more idyllic than taking a sunset stroll down the beach with a strawberry daiquiri? Even if you don’t find yourself on a beach getaway, you can easily make frozen strawberry daiquiris at home for that vacation vibe feeling year-round. To make our deliciously simple strawberry daiquiri recipe, you only need frozen strawberries, simple syrup, lime, ice, and white rum.

After everything gets blended, the result is a sweet drink that packs a tart punch. However, despite the simple recipe, one key to making the best frozen strawberry daiquiris you’ve ever tasted is choosing the correct type of rum. As far as we’re concerned, white rum is the only choice for alcohol in a daiquiri.

White rum is made from molasses or sugar cane that has not undergone a long aging process. While its flavor is more subtle than dark rum, it has an inherent sweetness that pairs well with strawberries. If you’re taking the time to make a blended drink, you want something easy to drink, light, and refreshing. Therefore, white rum is the best choice because it’s not as heavy as dark rum and has a touch of sweetness, unlike other clear liquors, like vodka. White rum also has a little bite, which cuts through the fruit sugars.

Read more: Popular Vodka Brands Ranked From Worst To Best

Mashed recipe developer Ting Dalton has a special place in her heart for this summertime cocktail. She says she loves the drink because “They bring a touch of summer and sea breezes at home. Sip [one] with friends at barbecues or summer parties and feel like you’re in the Caribbean sunshine.” If you happen to be whipping one up during peak strawberry season, feel free to freeze the fresh strawberries instead of buying pre-frozen strawberries.

As you would when cooking any recipe, you need to flavor your drink to suit your desired tastes. If the strawberries you bought or are using are extra sweet, dial back some of the simple syrup. If you like a bit of a sour note, feel free to add in more lime. If you’re making a daiquiri and cannot find strawberries, other tropical fruits, like mango or pineapple, make a great cocktail. If you’re feeling creative, combine your two favorite fruits to create a new daiquiri mashup.

Of course, for those under 21 — or those who do not drink — omitting the rum in a fantastic daiquiri recipe creates a delicious Virgin daiquiri that will still transport you to a warm tropical island. And, while rum white is superior for frozen strawberry daiquiris, dark or spiced rum can make a fantastic option for other tropical drinks, like a Mai Tai or a Dark ‘n Stormy.

Read the original article on Mashed.

What’s better than a hot and tasty drink to sip on near a warm fire? Apple cider, especially when it’s served nice and hot, is one of the best drinks to enjoy in the wintertime. The only thing that could make apple cider even better — at least, for all the adults in the house — is giving it a boozy kick.

The perfect liquor to add to apple cider? Salted caramel whiskey, which features the traditional whiskey flavor notes of vanilla and oak but with an infusion of creamy, sweet, and salty caramel. Many spiked apple ciders already include whiskey, such as Tasting Table’s boozy apple cider recipe, and the salted caramel version will kick it up a notch, adding more depth of flavor. The combo makes for a velvety sweet and indulgent treat to have at any time of the day. Once you’ve tried and loved apple cider spiked with salted caramel whiskey, you may be wondering if you can use the flavored whiskey to upgrade other whiskey-based drinks. Luckily, the answer is yes.

Read more: The 40 Absolute Best Cocktails That Feature Only 2 Ingredients

You can essentially swap out regular whiskey for the salted caramel version in any whiskey-based cocktail to transform it into a seasonal drink — just keep in mind that the switch-up will make the drink a little sweeter than usual. One whiskey-based drink that will thrive with the salted caramel flavor is a warm and cozy hot toddy. The hot toddy is already one of the coziest drinks out there and, by using salted caramel whiskey, it becomes even more of a holiday drink — one that you’ll be dying to have after dinner for a nightcap.

You can also use the salted caramel whiskey in a classic frothy whiskey sour. The sweetness of the caramel will perfectly balance out the sour notes in the cocktail. Moreover, there’s another holiday drink besides cider that craves a boozy addition: eggnog. The rich creaminess of the eggnog pairs well with the robustness of the whiskey. Plus, the salty sweetness of the whiskey will blend seamlessly into the sweetness of the eggnog, creating the ideal holiday treat.

For further reading, check the original article on Tasting Table.