The Vesper Martini is famously known as the ”James Bond Cocktail”. The drink appeared for the first (and only) time in Ian Fleming’s novel Casino Royale. It was published in 1953, and it marked the beginning of the first adventures of the famous spy with the codename 007. It is a powerful drink and should be enjoyed slowly, but not slow enough for it to get warm. The attractiveness and sobriety of this cocktail may be due to the translucent appearance and the curly lemon peel that adorns the cocktail glass. The cocktail differs from the classic Dry Martini. Not only does the lemon peel replace the olive, but it also contains both gin and vodka. On top of that, the vermouth has been replaced with Lillet Blanc.

How to Prepare a Vesper Martini

45 ml of gin

15 ml of vodka

15 ml of Lillet Blanc

A large thin slice of lemon peel

Ice

Preparation

1. Fill a cocktail glass with ice to cool while preparing the cocktail
2. Pour the gin, vodka, and Lillet Blanc in a shaker and fill with ice.
3. Shake for 10 to 15 seconds
4. Remove the ice from the cocktail glass
5. Pour the filtered drink from the shaker (without the ice)
6. Finally, garnish with the curly lemon peel

History

As mentioned, the Vesper Martini was born in the novel Casino Royale, but it only appears once in the entire series. James Bond named it Vesper in homage to the female main character of the novel, Vesper Lynd. In the following novels, James Bond used to order a Dry Martini (”shaken, not stirred”, of course). The cocktail was invented by a friend of the author, Ian Fleming. He incorporated it into the story because the cocktail was different and explosive.

The original cocktail is made with Kina Lillet which was a more bitter version of the Lillet Blanc sold today. The Kina Lillet no longer exists because Lillet’s formula changed in 1980 and this removed some of the original bitterness. If you want your Vesper Martini to resemble the original as much as possible there is a way to tweak the recipe. You can get close to the original flavour by adding a bit of Angostura bitter to the other ingredients in the shaker. However, this twist is not one that we would recommend.

It is important to use Lillet Blanc and not just any white vermouth. The flavours are vastly different. You might want to consider using Stolichnaya vodka that has a high alcohol content and resembles the drink from the 50s.

The cocktail Black Russian was invented in Brussels, Belgium. The name of the cocktail is owed to its colour and its main ingredient, Russian vodka. However, other versions of the story indicate that the word Black may stem from the period during the Cold War. The cocktail was created in 1949 by Gustave Tops who managed the bar at Hotel Metropole in Brussels.

Tops created the first Black Russian cocktail in honour of the US ambassador to Luxembourg, Perle Mesta. Since its creation this cocktail has continued to gain new fans, and it is considered one of the most attractive vodka cocktails for both men and women. Perhaps the popularity can be ascribed to the absence of fruits. Instead the strength and personality of the coffee liqueur shines through in every sip.

Ingredients

4 cl Vodka

2 cl Coffee Liqueur

Cola to top up

Preparation

This cocktail is a no-nonsense kind of drink which does not need to be mixed. Simply fill your glass with ice, pour the vodka and liqueur into your glass, and stir gently. Use the cola to top up if you prefer a longer drink.

At the beginning this drink was served in an Old Fashioned glass but over time it has become popular to serve it in a Collins glass which is taller and narrower. Many people drink the cocktail as a digestif.

Wine producers are not the only ones who have understood that a great label helps attract consumers. Many distillate brands, especially vodka brands, often embellish their bottles to impress the public.

The next time you go to a bar or a restaurant, take a look at the wall behind the bar. You will likely discover that vodka bottles have become decorative objects. Unfortunately, in some cases, the impressive bottles are more focused on appearance than the taste of the vodka itself.

Creating a Visual Memory

Today, you’ll find vodka bottles that have taken the strangest forms imaginable. Crystal Head Vodka, a brand founded by actor Dan Aykroyd and artist John Alexander, is sold in a skull-shaped bottle. This idea is based on the legend of the 13 crystal skulls. AnestasiA Vodka asked Canadian designer Karim Rashid to design a bottle that resembles their logo. The bottle represents the rock from which they get the water for the production and the volcanic stone which is used to filter the distillate. Frozen Ghost focuses on the feeling of anguish, with the silhouette of a man trapped in the bottle. Cîroc is an ultra-premium vodka that has its headquarters in Cognac. The brand presents its important origins by brandishing an elegant frosted glass bottle. Absolut Vodka, on the other hand, is inspired by the bottles of medicines used in the eighteenth century. In those times vodka was sold in Swedish pharmacies as a remedy for virtually any condition.

Many consumers consider vodka quite a neutral spirit and find it hard to capture all the nuances that differentiate one brand from another. Therefore, many consumers are inclined to choose the most beautiful bottle which will also look great in their homes.

The Importance of Colours

According to neuromarketing experts, the more people can imagine the taste of a product just by looking at it, the better. Therefore, predefined codes are used when decorating a bottle. The colours are a great tool as they already give an idea of ​​the flavour of flavoured vodkas: green for apple, orange for peach, red for strawberry, yellow for lemon, etc. Absolut is an example of a brand which is mastering the colour coding strategy.

A Matter of Fashion

The makers of vodka know that their products are mainly consumed on social occasions. Many brands rely on the image of a ”luxury product”, which can be proudly displayed in nightclubs or during a private event. Many brands have therefore entered into collaborations with the world of fashion. Victoria’s Secret, Moschino, Gareth Pugh, and Roberto Cavalli are some of the brands who can be associated with specific vodka brands. Collaborations like these turn the bottles into true accessories.

Vodka Limited Edition

Of course, we must also mention the numerous limit edition vodka series. These bottles become objects of worship, sometimes even true works of art. Over the years, these bottles have become the object of desire for many enthusiasts and collectors.

Several of the limited editions have become very famous, mainly thanks to the big names that signed the bottles. Andy Warhol decorated a legendary bottle of Absolut Vodka. Anyone who has seen this in a magazine, on posters, or at a friend’s house will understand the hype well.

Vodka brands have created bottles dedicated to specific events or situations, always based on the concepts of uniqueness and current issues. The vodka Absolut World is signed by the Swedish illustrator Kari Modén and can only be purchased at airports. The Absolut brand explains that it is a vodka dedicated exclusively to travellers. Absolut has also created another unforgettable classic: The legendary Colors, inspired by the LGBT flag.

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Vodka continues to be one of the most popular spirits. This is partly because vodka brands are focusing on reinvention and how to add value to their products. You’ll now find bottles shaped like lipsticks or crystal skulls among others. In general, the focus on the visual experience is almost as important as the taste itself. Read on to learn more about the current vodka trends.

The Vodka Bottles of Yesteryear

Those responsible for the most popular vodka brands explain in more detail about how marketing used to be done. Previously the bottles were all transparent and with a red and gold label. There were only a few variations and as time passed, they became objects of desire to the consumers.

Flexibility and Modernity

Luckily, and over time, the vodka bottles have been transformed. This reflects the fact that the vodka industry shows greater flexibility and are aware of the need for innovation. In comparison, the wine market does not show the same level of interest in trendiness.

Limited Editions

Limited editions are another trend in the world of vodka. These special bottles and varieties attract the attention of consumers who value premium quality. The limited editions are usually exclusive bottles, perhaps created by fashion designers, and a relatively low number of bottles are sold. They are unique, numbered, and collectors are the prime target audience.

Neuromarketing

Every day we are bombarded with impressions everywhere we go. A lot of these enter through our eyes. Visual impressions also play a big part when it comes to selling alcoholic beverages. Professionals working in the vodka industry know that the consumers are sensitive to what they see and that they can recognise certain codes. Colours might, therefore, be a determining factor; green represents apple, pink is watermelon or strawberry, etc.

From Victoria’s Secret to Moschino

For the design of their bottles, some brands collaborate with strongly established firms that influence the world. Some brands have chosen to work with well-known companies such as e.g. Victoria’s Secret and Moschino. Connections like these can evoke a sense of extreme luxury to the customer. It also sends a signal that a particular vodka is exclusive and of high quality.

This distilled beverage does not have a clear origin, although its name is Russian. Vodka is generally produced through the fermentation of grains and other starchy plants such as rye and wheat. The best way to enjoy it is very cold. It usually has a very high alcohol content, although this depends on the type.

We all know vodka as a drink, so it serves to combine with many other ingredients to get the best cocktails. But surely you did not know the different uses of vodka beyond drinking. Let’s know what vodka is for in the most everyday uses.

Preventing deterioration of the colour of the garments

Surely we have already used several tricks when washing clothes and colour continues to vanish. To avoid this, we will mix a part of vodka and another part of water, and sprinkle the mixture on the garments before washing them. In this way the colour will take longer to leave.

Window cleaning

There are many products to clean the windows. But maybe we will get better results if we apply this drink on the cloth to get rid, in a simple way, of the grease that usually accumulates in the kitchen windows.

Against the bite of insects

In summer, insect bites can cause several problems. On the one hand, the “tiger” mosquito damages our skin and produces really important bites, some of which end up in the emergency room. To avoid being bitten by bugs in general we can apply a mixture of vodka and water on our legs and arms. They surely will think it twice before biting us again.

Less smell of feet

If your feet tend to smell more than normal, there are some products to mitigate it, but you can always make a home-made mix and soak the feet in this drink and thus eliminate the smell of feet.

Lengthen the life of cut flowers

We already know that when we cut flowers to decorate our living room they tend to last rather little. Well, apparently if we add a few drops of vodka to the vase then we can make them last a little longer.

Get a brighter hair

If you usually have rather rough and dry hair, conditioner and mask are just fine, but another use of vodka is brightening hair. Just wash it with a little vodka, that you can apply with the shampoo.

More shine to silver

Not only the hair will be brighter. Vodka can also be an excellent remedy to polish the pieces of old silver that we have and seem spoiled when they are really not.

Smirnoff 1L

The Smirnoff Red Label Vodka is one of the world’s smoothest vodkas.

Buy Smirnoff 1L

Purity Vodka

Purity Vodka is the finest and purest Ultra Premium Vodka in the world. It illustrates the perfect combination of tradition and innovation.

Buy Purity Vodka

Do you want to lose some weight but without denying yourself the tasty drink after work? Don’t worry, we here at Uvinum are very familiar with this dilemma. That’s why we present 4 cocktails with a low-calorie count, so you can enjoy Saturday night with your friends and, at the same time, preserve your figure.

1. Spritzer – The Austrian National Drink

The Spritzer, also known as Weinschorle in Germany, is probably the most popular long drink in Austria and is enjoyed at any time of the year. It is a drink made from wine mixed with mineral water and decorated with a slice of lemon. You should use fairly young white wine from the Grüner Veltliner, Weißburgunder or Chardonnay grape varieties in this popular drink. The ratio of wine to mineral water should be 1:1. This refreshing drink contains just 58 calories per 100ml.

There is yet another advantage to this all-purpose drink: you will minimise the risk of a hangover the next day due to the high content of water in the drink. Enjoy this Austrian classic!

2. Vodka Soda – Simple and Low in Calories

Water + Vodka = Vodka Soda

Of course, it’s not that simple! This cocktail must be mixed properly. First, fill a glass with ice cubes and then add the ingredients. For this low-calorie drink, you need 3 parts of sparkling water and 1 part of vodka. Once it is mixed, decorate the glass with a lime. This cocktail contains only 22 calories per 100ml.

Are you not sure which vodka to use to make this cocktail? We offer you a unique selection on our blog.

3. Martini – Shaken or Stirred?

We all know this famous drink from the James Bond movies, but did you also know that this cocktail belongs in the category of low-calorie alcoholic beverages? The Martini cocktail is a short drink, often enjoyed as an aperitif, and it is usually prepared with vermouth and gin.

One of the best-known Martini cocktails is the Dry Martini. This cocktail is made with London Dry Gin and just a tiny splash of vermouth, as little as possible. And you should never forget the olive that decorates the glass.

Every 100 ml of a Martini Cocktail contains a mere 140 calories! Now you know why James Bond has such a perfect body.

4. Mojito – Greetings from Cuba

The mojito is a low-calorie alternative, unlike many other Cuban cocktails. The mojito was invented in Havana, and this cocktail consists of 5 basic ingredients: white rum, sugar (traditionally sugarcane juice), lemon juice, soda and mint. The most important element in the preparation of a mojito is undoubtedly the rum. Uvinum offers a selection of the best rums for your mojito.

The amount of mineral water in this Cuban drink makes it a low-calorie cocktail. ‘The green gold of Cuba’ has only 71 calories per 100ml.

You can find a unique selection of low-calorie options. So, you no longer need to worry about the temptations at the next party. We hope you have fun when trying and enjoying these low-calorie cocktails. And, remember, drink in moderation!

With the end of winter coming soon, it is time to say goodbye to all those winter cocktail recipes until next year. It is not summer yet, but spring is still a good time to welcome warmer weather with a few good cocktails that are simple and refreshing. Here are some spring cocktail recipes that you will want to try:

1. Fruity Lime Soda with Red Wine and Fresh Strawberries

Spring is a time when certain fruits start coming into season, and they are readily available in markets. You may want to try some of your first spring cocktails with strawberries which you will be able to get fresh as early as the first week of March. A simple cocktail to do with strawberries is lime soda with red wine. Mix 2 parts lime soda and 1-part red wine over a glass of fresh strawberries. Freeze the fruit to keep the cocktail cold in place of ice. 

2. Spiked and Spicy Sangria for Colder Spring Weather

Sangria is probably one of the most popular Spanish wine cocktails with hundreds of variations and recipes. While you are waiting for summer, there may still be some colder spring days. To warm up, you can try a spiked Sangria recipe. The ingredients you will need include:

• Red wine
• Kentucky Bourbon
• 1 Lemon
• 1 Orange
• 1 Stick of Cinnamon
• 1 Apple
• Syrup

Cut the fruit into slices and add it with the cinnamon stick to a glass pitcher. Fill the pitcher nearly 2/3 full of your favourite red wine and add approximately 2 tablespoons of sweet syrup. Now, add the bourbon to the sangria, which should be approximately 1 ounce per serving or too your taste.

3. Simple Classic White Wine Spritzer for A Refreshing Spring Cocktail

One of the simplest wine cocktails to make is a spritzer, but it is still a great choice for something refreshing as the weather starts to change. What you will need is white wine and club soda to make a spritzer. Add a touch of lime garnish to give your spritzer a little bitter bite. 

4. Vodka Martini with A Splash of Limon and Lime

Another classic cocktail that you may want to try giving twists to is the Martini. Use the same vermouth, but instead of using gin, replace it with vodka. To give it a little bitter kick and a nice garnish, use a slice of lime and a slice of lime to finish off your cocktail. 

With this simple wine cocktails, you will be ready to say goodbye to winter and get ready for warmer weather. Try some of our wines to add a special touch to some of your cocktail recipes this spring.

Pruno 2016

Pruno 2016: Based on 90% of Tinta Fina and 10% of Cabernet Sauvignon, one of the secrets of Pruno emerges precisely in the 64 hectares owned by Finca Villacreces in the “Golden Mile” of the Ribera del Duero. 

Marqués de Murrieta Reserva 2013

Marqués de Murrieta Reserva 2013 is an excellent taste of the classic Rioja. The red wine made by Marqués de Murrieta is already a set component of the Rioja list of Robert Parker.

This week, we officially survived the so-called Blue Monday, the infamous “most depressing day of the year”. However, winter is here to stay, and every one of us could use some comfort food after spending the day fighting off polar winds, enduring dark afternoons and surviving icy rains. This is where our “ameliorated” hot cup of chocolate come into play. 

The sweet-powered: Caramel Lush

To start this list, I suggest a delicious caramelised hot chocolate. Its sweet flavours will make you forget about the long day you just had. Just sit down and relax.  

Ingredients

• Achieving the caramel flavour is the tricky part. The easiest way is to use flavoured vodka, liquor or cream.
• Alternatively, combine dark rum and caramel syrup for a more intense taste. 
• Cocoa powder
• Milk
• Whipped cream

Preparation

After pouring the milk and cocoa powder into the pot, bring to a simmer. Make sure the ingredients are perfectly mixed. Add the syrup and the alcohol. Top it off with whipped cream.

Hot tip: add some toffee or hazelnut sprinkles on the whipped cream for a gourmet hot chocolate!

The fresh twist: Minty Bomb

This refreshing hot chocolate will make you want to live in winter for the whole year just to have the excuse of the cold to drink it again and again. This the perfect warm drink for your Sunday morning to enjoy on the sofa before starting the day. 

Ingredients

• For the peppermint taste, you can use fruit liquor, herbal liquor or cream.
• Cocoa powder
• Milk
• Whipped cream

Preparation

Place the milk and cocoa powder in the pot, then, bring to a simmer and mix. We recommend replacing the cocoa powder with melted bitter chocolate. Add the mint schnapps and whipped cream. Your hot chocolate is now waiting for you!

Hot tip: To boost the mint taste of your preparation use some crushed mint candy or fresh mint leaves.

The fruit-infused: Soothing Orange

Discover this yummy citrus-flavoured hot chocolate. Admittedly, you are not going to drink it for the vitamin C but savouring it is likely to be the perfect way to spend the evening on your couch while the rain is pouring outside.

Ingredients

• Typically, Cointreau and Grand Marnier are the recommended alcohol. But do not hesitate to be creative! There are many creams, liquors and bitters available. 
• Orange zest
• Cocoa powder
• milk
• Whipped cream

Preparation

Prepare your hot chocolate by warming and mixing together the milk and the cocoa powder or melted chocolate (go for a dark one!). You can also add some orange zest in the pot for a more intense taste. Once your chocolate is at the right temperature, add the orange liquor. Add some whipped cream and sprinkle the orange zest on top. 

Hot tip: use a small slice of candied orange or additional melted dark chocolate to top the whipped cream and create a stunning look.

The exotic-longing: Coco Delish

Bring back some of that exotic summer flavour in your dreary winter with this coconut-tasting hot chocolate! It will remind you of the great cocktails you drunk last summer.

Ingredients

• Again two possibilities exist, the first (and our favourite) consists of dark Rum and coconut milk.
• Another possibility is to use flavoured vodka, rum or liquor and milk.
• White chocolate
• Toasted coconut sprinkles
• Whipped cream

Preparation

Depending on the option you chose, put the melted white chocolate in the pot with the milk or coconut milk and bring to a simmer. When you reach the desired temperature, add the liquor and the whipped cream. Add coconut sprinkles generously to garnish. 

Hot tip: to make your cocoa even more savoury, add some cardamom or vanilla extract.

Santa Teresa 1796

Santa Teresa 1796, a Dark Rum with origins in Venezuela which is aged with the solera method. This allows it to acquire a unique maturity and quality.

Vodka Danzka

Vodka Danzka,  a vodka born in Copenhagen and the bottle is designed in the famous minimalist Nordic style.

The most iconic example of a brand harnessing the power of design to promote its product is undeniably Absolut Vodka. Indeed, the arrival of the Absolut Company shifted the focus away from the product to its container and it has been one of the uncontested leaders thanks to its minimalist bottle shape, appealing colours and various limited editions.

Nevertheless, the competition quickly adapted and over the years we have witnessed a growing care given to the bottle. In a market always more competitive, some companies did not hesitate to go all the way and to up the ante to new highs. At Uvinum, we selected some of the most creative vodka bottle designs currently available on the market. 

Precious Vodka

Easily recognisable thanks to its diamond shape, Precious Vodka was designed by Precious Vodka with the clear ambition to offer a Premium Luxury Vodka to its consumers. Besides its crystalline aspect, it also contains an actual gem such as sapphire, emerald, ruby, topaz, peridot and amber. 

Crystal Head Aurora Vodka

With multiple awards from prestigious international contests, Crystal Head Aurora Vodka can boast an excellent taste along with a unique design thanks to its bottle shaped like a skull. Moreover, you will appreciate the mesmerising colours reminding us of the northern lights. 

Outerspace Vodka

If we start talking about skull-shaped bottles, it becomes necessary to mention the Outerspace Vodka. This time, the source of inspiration is the extraterrestrials, an appropriate choice for a vodka filtered through meteorites. A great drink for a cosmic experience. 

Firestarter Vodka

The Firestarter Vodka produced by an eponymous company and ironically in the shape of a fire extinguisher will deliver what its name promises: firing up your parties. This eye-catching product from Moldova has all the advantages: a great taste (5 distillations), an original design and an affordable price.

Vodka Red Army Kalashnikov

This design is quite straightforward in what it is supposed to evoke, Russia, its army, and its vodka-making tradition. Vodka Red Army Kalashnikov is displayed in a box similar to the unfamous Ak 47 Kalashnikov and contains a gun-shaped vodka bottle, six shot glasses (no pun intended) and a grenade filled with herbal liquor. 

Vodka Bong Spirit Yosoh

A possible tribute to the relaxed approach to drugs of the Dutch, the Vodka Bong Spirit Yosoh combines the vices with its bong-shaped bottle filled with premium Dutch vodka. Not the most subtle design but it definitely belongs to current representations of what the country can offer. 

The Ladoga Imperial Collection

We kept the most impressive bottle for the end. With its Imperial Collection, the Ladoga company really created an exclusive product whose outrageous price can only be explained by the incredible design. This vodka honours Russia’s two most outstanding export successes: traditional vodka and the Fabergé eggs. 

Absolut Vodka 1L

Absolut Vodka 1L is distilled with natural resources such as pure Swedish spring water and winter wheat. Discover the Swedish vodka-making tradition.

Vodka Finlandia 1L

Vodka Finlandia 1L whose distillation requires six-row barley growing under the midnight sun and the icy spring waters. Uncover the Finnish soul with this unique vodka. 

The weekend is coming up and you’re just waiting to vent out the stress you’ve been accumulating during a hard week of work. So, nothing is better than a night’s out with friends for tasting some amazing cocktails to feel the groove of the party from the inside. Here you can find some recipes of the best cocktails with vodka on earth:

White Russian

A classic cocktail very easy to make

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Smirnoff No. 21
• 0.75 oz. Godiva Mocha Liqueur
• 2 oz. heavy cream

Preparation:

1. Mix the vodka and liqueur in an old-fashioned glass
2. Fill the glass with ice
3. Stir the mix
4. Top it off with the heavy cream
5. Serve 

Black Russian

The ‘dark’ version of the White Russian, is another classic one

Ingredients:

• 1.5 parts vodka
• 1 part coffee liqueur

To make it you just have to build it in a rocks glass, add ice cubes, and stir. You can even add some cherries to give more flavour to the cocktail.

Dirty Martini

The “dirty” in the name comes from the olive brine and muddled olives used to make it

Ingredients:

• 2 parts Grey Goose Original
• 2 parts Noilly Prat Original French Dry Vermouth
• 4 Mediterranean olives
• 2/3 part Mediterranean olive brine
• 2 garnish Mediterranean olives

Preparation:

1. Pit four olives and muddle them with olive brine in a Boston glass
2. Add the vodka and vermouth
3. Top with ice cubes
4. Stir
5. Drain the drink into a chilled cocktail glass
6. Garnish with Mediterranean olives

Caramel Spiced Tea

A nice choice for those who want something a bit different from usual drinks

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz. Smirnoff Kissed Caramel
• 2 oz. strong Chai tea (unsweetened)
• 1 oz. milk or half & half
• 0.5 oz. simple syrup

Preparation:

1. Shake all of the above ingredients with ice
2. Shake and pour the mixture into a double rocks glass
3. Drizzle with caramel
4. Serve

Light Pomegranate Berry Punch

The perfect combination of vodka and red fruits

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz. Smirnoff Sorbet Light Raspberry Pomegranate
• 2 oz. diet ginger ale
• 1 oz. cranberry juice
• 1 lime wedge for garnish

Preparation:

1. Combine the ingredients in a highball glass
2. Squeeze the lime
3. Stir
4. Serve

Grey Goose Vodka 1L

Grey Goose Vodka 1L

Smirnoff North

Smirnoff North