It’s Friday, and on Friday it’s 5’o clock always. Ok, maybe not, but it’s still National Vodka Day tomorrow, which means you should start celebrating early. We called on some of the best bartenders in town – Steve Schneider, Jason Kosmas and Dushan Zaric from Employees Only (you know, the guys with those awesome twirly mustaches and tweed vests) – to make us three quintessential autumn cocktails whose based liquor was…of course…vodka. TGIF and Happy vodka-ing!
VESPER
2 oz Tito’s Vodka
1 oz Hendrick’s Gin
3/4 oz Cocchi Americano
Add ingredients to a mixing glass. Add ice, shake and strain in a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.
“Traditionally, James Bond’s Vesper cocktail is 2 parts gin and 1 part vodka, making it a gin martini mellowed with vodka. At EO, we flipped the script and enjoy making our Vespers more of a vodka martini that is ‘peppered’ with gin. Cocchi Americano is a fortified wine similar to Lillet Blanc but with hints of quinine, which was in the original Vesper recipe. If you can’t get your hands on Cocchi Americano, Lillet Blanc will do.” — Steve Schneider, Principal Bartender
AMELIA
From Jason Kosmas and Dushan Zaric
1 1/2 oz Aylesbury Duck Vodka
1/2 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
3/4 oz St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur
1 oz Blackberry Purée
Add ingredients to a mixing glass. Add ice, shake and strain in a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a mint top.
WEST SIDE
From Jason Kosmas and Dushan Zaric
2 oz Charbay Meyer Lemon Vodka
1/2 oz Simple Syrup
1 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
1 Pinch Mint
Add ingredients to a mixing glass. Add ice, shake and strain in a chilled cocktail glass. Add a splash of Club Soda
*Photos courtesy of Employees Only
