Autumn is in the air! Here in Phoenix, the temperature has dipped below 100 degrees, which means it’s “cooler”. It’s time for dressing your cactus for Halloween, carving prick ly-pear fruits, and being able to go outside for more than five minutes.
Autumn also means pumpkin pie and cookies and other foods that are flavored with ginger. But this article isn’t about those things. This is about decadence, so forget the cookies. This is about alcohol: Skyy Vodka’s Ginger Infusion. Released in 2010, this is one of their all-natural infusions, and with the unusual flavor of ginger.
When I first heard about Skyy's ginger vodka I wasn't sure what to expect for two reasons. First, it sounded…well….weird. Ginger isn’t the first flavor I think of when I think of vodka. Second, ginger is a flavor that can be difficult to work with because it’s spicy, so it requires a delicate balance of ingredients. But since I’m a brave guy I gave it a try. And…it’s great!
To begin with, Skyy vodka is good vodka anyway. They boast that their vodka has no impurities and that shows in the flavor. Infusing the ginger added a remarkable dimension to it. The ginger and the vodka flavor are balanced together very well; neither is overpowering, and both are equally prominent. There isn’t the spicy burn that ginger has, but all of the flavor is there. This is a vodka that quietly lures you into wanting more. In fact, if you like candied ginger you’re going to love Skyy Ginger.
The simplest way to enjoy it is to chill a shotglass and drink it straight. It also makes interesting and unique cocktails. I read an article where Adam Wilson of Beretta in San Francisco created a Ginger Sour using Skyy Ginger, so I gave it a try at home. It's really good. This cocktail shows off the vodka's flavor very well; the maple syrup adds a nice smoky flavor and the ginger brightens up the drink by adding a spicy note in the background.
Ingredients:
* 2 oz SKYY Infusions Ginger Vodka
* 1 oz Lemon Juice
* 1/2 oz Egg White
* 1/2 oz Maple Syrup
* Lemon twist for garnish
Preparation:
1. Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Shake vigorously and strain into a cocktail glass.
3. Garnish with twist of lemon.
So if you’re looking for an interesting way to jazz up your autumn cocktail hour, give Skyy Ginger a try. You’ll find that it’s a lot more fun than pie.
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