Black Infusionk Cherry Vodka

Black Infusionk Cherry Vodka from Esplanda is a flavored vodka, so it works differently from a neutral bottle. The listing doesn't state the base spirit, proof or flavoring method, so what follows describes how cherry-infused vodkas usually behave. Expect a dark-fruit aroma that leads the spirit, with a clean vodka body underneath. Styles like this tend to lean toward cherry-skin tartness or a candied cherry sweetness, and the label name suggests a deeper, darker fruit character than a bright red-cherry profile. Taste a small pour neat before you decide how much sweetener a recipe needs. Because the cherry already supplies fruit and some perceived sweetness, it suits drinks that need a bit of tartness or bitterness for balance. A Cosmopolitan is a natural fit: cherry sits well with cranberry and lime, and you can ease back on the orange liqueur or simple syrup. In a Moscow Mule, ginger beer and lime keep the cherry from turning cloying, and the result is a cherry-ginger mule that holds up over ice. For a Martini, stir or shake the vodka with a small amount of dry vermouth or a squeeze of lemon, and garnish with a cherry. It will read as a fruit-forward martini, not a classic dry one. In an Espresso Martini, cherry and coffee bitterness pair in the same way cherry and dark chocolate do, so a light touch of coffee liqueur is usually enough. This is probably not the best choice for a Bloody Mary. Cherry fruit works against tomato, horseradish and spice, so a plain or peppered vodka is the better pick there. For simple long drinks, try it with soda water and lemon, cola, or tart lemonade. For serving, keep the bottle in the freezer or refrigerator and pour it well chilled. Cold mutes the sweetness and keeps the fruit from tasting syrupy. Use a chilled martini glass for shaken or stirred drinks, or a rocks glass over a large cube when sipping it straight or in a highball-style mix. Dark chocolate, vanilla desserts and salty snacks such as roasted nuts are sensible pairings.