drinks 101 | Cocktail and Spirits

Devotion Vodka | The First Protein Infused Spirit

2009-08-10T20:41:00.000-07:00

It’s what’s inside that counts.
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De-vo-tion Pronunciation [di-voh-shuhn] -noun Commitment Dedication and Determination

Devotion Vodka speaks to the masses. Its name “Devotion” shares many of the same attributes of the world’s greatest athletes and success stories: commitment, drive and success. The uniqueness of Devotion’s proprietary solution will distinguish the spirit from its competition. The initial design for the bottle will stand out while on the shelf. It is currently anticipated that the bottle will be tall and strong combined with bold, contemporary packaging.

The Company envisions “Devotion Vodka” inscribed in unique bold red font, with frosted wings on a clear background. The cap is also intended to be an eye catching red with a Devotion Spirits logo stamped on the top.The protein used in the Devotion Vodka blend is PeptoPro® and casein, PeptoPro® , which was developed by DSM Food Specialties with the Dutch Olympic Committee is a recovery ingredient for fast muscle refueling. The target was to give the Dutch Olympic athletes a competitive advantage at the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004. PeptoPro® is a casein hydrolysate (a protein cut into fragments), which is the same protein found in dairy products. PeptoPro® officially tested free and free of doping substances, and won the Health Ingredient Europe Award for the best health ingredient innovation in 2004.

Normal protein is a polypeptide with up to thousands of units of amino acids. Devotion’s proprietary solution contains only short chain peptides (average length is less than 4 amino acids) which are water soluble.The vodka used for making Devotion is triple distilled from corn and is free of congeners (methanol, aldehydes and amyl alcohols). Generally, the spirits with high congener content add to “hangover” symptoms. Devotion Vodka will be 80 proof, or 40% alcohol by volume.In order to develop a recipe that would embody his vision, Mr. Adelman turned to Frank Lin Distillery chemist, Dier Singh, and award-winning spirits chemist, Dr. Win Adler.
Devotion’s proprietary solution was selected by Mr. Singh for the following reasons:• Solubility: easily dissolves into vodka.

• Clarity: Once the powder has dissolved into the vodka, the vodka remains clear.
• Taste: Unlike many protein additives, the taste is barely discernible and actually lessens the “bite” in the vodka, resulting in a smoother taste.
• Feel: The solubility creates a smooth texture in Devotion Vodka.Refining the blend is Dr. Adler, who has achieved national and worldwide recognition for his spirits. The solution has received approval from the TTB (Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau), formula #429, without this approval you cannot sell alcohol in the United States.
The Company will introduce the vodka in a 750 milliliter bottle at a suggested retail price of $29.99. By entering the market at a similar price as Grey Goose, the brand will immediately position itself as an ultra-premium vodka at a premium price. Devotion will ultimately be sold in four sizes, 50 milliliter, 750 milliliter, 1 liter and 1.75 liter bottles with modest price fluctuation by state due to individual state alcohol control laws.

Devotion Vodka holds a trademark, as well as has the patent as the first ever protein-infused spirit. The trademark application for the mark DEVOTION, Serial No. 77/328,883 was filed in November and a Notice of Allowance was issued on July 15, 2008.

for more visit them @ http://www.devotionvodka.com

A fruit cocktail infusion

2009-08-02T17:36:00.000-07:00

Make what I think of

as the BEST of all infusions

a fruit cocktail infusion

www.cocktailsandwines.com

I went to a farmer's market and bought ripe

watermelon, honeydew melon, strawberries,

peaches and kiwi fruit

but you can add any fruit you want.

Peel the kiwi, peaches and melons and chop into 1/2-inch pieces. Slice the strawberries. Place all the fruit in a tall glass jar. It's nice if the jar has a spout, but not necessary. Don't pack the fruit, but fill the jar to the top. Pour good-quality vodka to the top of the jar. Screw the lid on tightly, give it a good shake and store in a dark place. Check your infusion 24 hours later and every 24 hours after that, tasting it until it reaches the flavor you desire. Give it a good shake every day, too.

I infused my fruit cocktail vodka for 48 hours - I couldn't wait any longer. If your jar has a spout, you can simply pour your vodka from it. I strained mine through a kitchen strainer. It wasn't entirely clear but that didn't bother me. For clear vodka, strain it through a double layer of cheesecloth.

The vodka drew out the color of the watermelon and strawberry and ended up a pretty pale pink. I poured it over ice in a shaker, then drank it straight. It was fresh, fruity, slightly sweet with a dominant flavor of the watermelon. You can store the leftover vodka in the refrigerator or the freezer to preserve the freshness.

How to infuse Vodka with Chocolate

2009-07-25T14:34:00.000-07:00

Chocolate Infusion

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Basic vodka can be turned into something more luscious even before adding a mixer. Try infusing some vodka with chocolate for a cheaper, tastier alternative to the more expensive flavored vodkas at the liquor store.

Choose your vodka. Inexpensive vodka like Smirnoff can be infused, but a more quality vodka like grey goose will make your final product go down more smoothly.
Pick your chocolate. Vodka can be infused successfully with unsweetened cocoa powder . The key to a good chocolate vodka is the quality of the chocolate you put into it. If you choose a cocoa powder, buy a quality product like Ghirardelli over Hershey's. If you prefer a milder chocolate flavor, choose Dutch-process cocoa, which is less acidic.

Decide on the kind of container in which to infuse your vodka. When you infuse vodka with cocoa powder, you can make your concoction right in the vodka bottle. However, if you're making a large batch, you may prefer to use a gallon-size glass jar with a screw-on lid. You can find jars like this at the Specialty Bottle website (see Resources below).

Measure out 1 cup of cocoa powder per 750 ml of vodka. Pour it into the bottle of vodka through a funnel, or simply pour it and the vodka into a wide-mouthed jar. Stir or shake to combine.

Place the container in a cool, dark area, such as a little-used closet. Each week, take out your infusion and shake or stir it.

Taste the vodka after 2 weeks has passed. It generally takes between 2 and 4 weeks to develop the flavor fully.

Pour the mixture through a coffee strainer and into another reusealable container.
Make a Simple Syrup

Combine one part sugar to two parts water in a small saucepan.

Place over medium heat and stir until all of the sugar has completely dissolved.

Cool to room temperature and place in an airtight container.
Sweeten Your Infusion

Pour the syrup into the vodka using a spoon, tasting until you reach the desired level of sweetness.

Pour the vodka into a decorative bottle and place it in a cool, dark place.

How to infuse Vodka with Cherry

2009-07-25T14:30:00.000-07:00

Infusing Vodka With Cherry
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Purchase your vodka. This recipe calls for a 750-ml bottle of vodka, so if you use a larger bottle, be sure to add more cherries during the infusion process.

Choose 4 pints of cherries. The best cherry-infused vodka is made with real, in-season cherries. In the United States, cherries are typically picked from May until August, with the peak season in June. If you are unable to buy your cherries from a farm, you can buy them in the grocery store at the same time for similarly delicious results.

Find a reusealable glass container in which to infuse your vodka. A wide-mouthed container, such as a jar for canning fruit, will work well. Whichever container you choose, make sure you have enough room to stir the mixture thoroughly.

Prepare your mixture. First, remove the stems and pits from the cherries. Pour the bottle of vodka and cherries into the container and mix. Allow the mixture to sit in a warm, dry place for several days. Stir the mixture three times a day.

Test your vodka after 2 days in the jar to get a feel for how much longer it needs to completely infuse. The best way to test the vodka is straight, without any mixers.

Pour the mixture through a coffee strainer to remove the cherries and serve your vodka. If you want to serve your cherry vodka in a mixed drink, visit Drinks Mixer for a few recipe ideas (see Resources below). If the cherries you used to infuse the vodka with still taste good, use them as drink garnishes

Tips & Warnings
Make sure to choose a quality vodka like Skyy or Belvedere so you create the smoothest infused vodka possible. If you only have a cheaper vodka available, run it through a Brita water filter first to remove some of the impurities.
Some of the best cherries to make infused vodka with are Rainiers, Bings and yellow-red Royal Anns.
Don't let air into your cherry vodka infusion except for when you're testing it. Extra air will hamper the infusion process.

How to Infuse your own Vodka

2009-07-25T14:24:00.000-07:00

How to infuse your own spirit

Getting Started

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Infusing is pretty simple process and has been used by distillers for centuries. It is the simple practice of steeping or macerating a flavor into a neutral spirit and letting it sit for a period of time. The time it takes for the spirit to absorb the that flavors is all determined on the product and the environmental factors.A good rule to go by when infusing is to start with your oil based flavors such as citrus, chillies and similar

fruits and vegetables. Using more succulent fruits such as strawberries could result in a mushy mess without careful supervision.

Phase One

Ingredients:

While vodka is the popular base to infusions, you can add flavor to any spirit. Stronger oil based ingredients can infuse in a shorter amount of time, sometinemes under a week, whereas softer more fibrous ingredients can take more than a week.

Infusion jare:

Tall or round glasss jars with tightly fitting lids, preferable complete with pouring spouts are the only initial outlay required for your new in house vodka infusion center.

Choosing your flavor:

The choice of flavors is all based on your imagination, why not try orange infused tequila or maybe a fig and cinnamon infused bourbon. Mellow flavors include cantaloupe, peach, strawberry, cherry, blueberry, raspberry, blackberry, pineapple, mango, and vanilla beans. Lemon, lime or grapefruit flavors offer a sharper bite to the palate.

Time to Infuse:

Everything should be washed thoroughly including fruit vegetables to ensure they are free of pesticides and any impurities that might contaminate the final product. Berries such as blueberries, raspberries and blackberries should be left whole while more fibrous fruitsl such as mango and pineapple should be chopped into small chunks. Citrus fruits and strawberries should be sliced thin. More obscure flavors such as vanilla beans and chillies should be sliced lengthways and herbs left on their stem.

When slicing up your ingredients keep in mind the vessel you will be placing them in . Is it a glass jar that will be on display on the back bar or will it be hidden away. Presentation is everything when infusing your latest creation in public.

The glass jar should be filled with the infusion ingredients and the remaining with your base spirit. Tighten the lid securely over the jar and place in the refrigerator or at room temperature, away from direct sunlight.

Infusion times will vary. Taste every few days to obtain the flavors that you are aiming. for. If you want to deepen the flavor and start foraying into liqueurs, add a little sugar and stir it in to dissolve.

Fresh Cocktails Recipes - Summer Sippers/Tailgate Outings

2009-07-25T14:00:00.000-07:00

Fresh Cocktails Recipes
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Sweet Peach

The perfect peachy recipe inspired by the Harry's bar in Venice, Italy. Home to the famous Bellini cocktail. Reimagined Cocktail as a summertime sipper without the Fizz.

2 fresh peaches, washed and halved

1 oz. brandy-based orange liqueur, such as Grand Marnier

1 fresh lime

3 tsp. raw sugar, such as turbinado or demerara

2 oz. vodka

Ice cubes

Tools: shaker, muddler, strainer

Glass: cocktail

In a shaker, muddle peaches, orange liqueur, lime juice and sugar. Add vodka and ice, shake gently. Strain into a cocktails glass.

Zanahorita

with freshed pressed Carrot Juice

Tequila and lime, with fresh carrot juice, adds a nice completxity and the the cumin ties in a Mexican theme. Essentially it's a carrot margarita. Refreshing and delicious.

2 oz. Tequila reposado
3/4 oz. Cointreau or triple sec

1 oz. fresh-pressed carrot juice (or high-quality, fresh store bought if necessary)

3/4 oz. fresh lime

1/2 oz. fresh orange juice

1/2 tsp. super fine sugar

Pinch of ground cumin

Cracked ice

Tools: shaker, strainer

Glass: double rocks

Garnish: salt rim and a small pinch of ground cumin

Shake ingredients with cracked ice and strain into a salt rimmed double rocks glass over fresh ice. Sprinkle a small pinch of ground cumin over the protruding ice in the glass.

Raspberry Spritz

This twist on the mojito is excellent for warm weather. Fresh fruit and mint make it crisp and rum makes it a great poolside cocktail. Plus, lime and little sugar go together like peanut butter and jelly.

5 - 6 raspberries
6 medium mint leaves

1/2 oz. fresh-squeezed lime juice

3/4 oz. simple syrup

1 1/4 oz. light rum

2 1/2 oz. chilled sparkling wine (extra dry or brut)

Ice cubes

Tools: muddler, bar spoon

Glass: Collins

Garnish: sprig or mint

In a collins glass, muddle raspberries, mint, lime juice and simple syrup. Add sparkling wine, then immediately pour rum into the drink's foamy head. Add enough ice cubes to fill the glass, then stir, Garnish.

Watermelon Basil Cooler

Using a muddler, juicer or blender, juice the watermelon and strain it into a mixing glass. Add basil, lime wheels and ginger syrup and muddle well. Strain into an ice filled wheels glass and top with sparkling water.

2 cups fresh, ripe watermelon, cubed
3 medium basil leaves

2 lime wheels (sliced 1/4 inch thick)

3/4 oz. ginger syrup

Splash of sparkling water

Ice cubes

Tools: muddler or long handled spoon, juicer or blender, fine strainer, mixing glass.

Glass: pint

Doc Holiday Huckleberry

Daiquiris are great summer drinks. The tea makes this an even more refreshing version that's perfect for summer and huckleberry season.

1 1/2 oz. light sugarcane rum (try Cabana Cachaca)
1/2 oz. fresh-squeezed lime juice

1/2 oz. macerated huckleberries

2 oz. huckleberry flavored black tea, chilled (find it at culinaryteas.com and well stocked tea shops)

Ice cubes

Tools: shaker

Glass: highball

Garnish: huckleberries

Combine the first three ingredients and shake with ice. Pour contents of shaker into a highball glasss. Add huckleberry tea. Add ice to fill glass. Garnish.

* Macerated Huckleberries: 1 cup fresh, ripe huckleberries

2 Tbsp. superfine sugar

Zest from 1 Lime

Stir ingredients together and refrigerate overnight

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