Gordons Vodka

Gordons Vodka is a straightforward, unflavored vodka, and that plainness is its main use. The details on file don't name a base ingredient, a proof or a country of origin, so treat the following as what unflavored vodkas in this style usually offer, not a measured profile of this bottle. Expect a neutral nose, a light, slightly oily texture at room temperature, and a short, clean finish. Grain-based vodkas tend to taste faintly sweet and a little peppery. Potato and corn bases usually come across rounder and creamier. Whichever base is used, a vodka like this is meant to stay out of the way of whatever it's mixed with. That neutrality suits a Martini, where the vodka supplies cold and structure and a dry vermouth and a lemon twist or olive supply most of the flavor. Stir it with plenty of ice and strain it into a chilled coupe or martini glass. Shaking dilutes more and adds a cloudy look that some drinkers dislike. The same quality helps in a Moscow Mule. Pour the vodka over ice in a copper mug or a tall glass, add fresh lime juice, and top with a spicy ginger beer. The ginger and lime come through undisturbed, and the vodka adds alcohol without muddying the taste. A Bloody Mary works on the same principle. A clean vodka lets the tomato, horseradish, Worcestershire and pepper lead, and it doesn't compete with a garnish of celery or pickled vegetables. Two other classics lean on how well a vodka blends. A Cosmopolitan (vodka, orange liqueur, cranberry and lime juice) should taste tart and balanced, with no harsh alcohol note at the end. An Espresso Martini wants a vodka that stays quiet behind fresh espresso and coffee liqueur, so the coffee's bitterness and the foam remain the focus. In both drinks, the quality of the juice or coffee affects the result far more than small differences between vodkas, so spend the effort there. For drinking it neat, store the bottle in the freezer. Cold thickens the texture and softens any alcohol bite. Serve it in a small chilled glass, or pour it over a large cube in a rocks glass so it dilutes slowly. It goes with salty, rich or briny foods such as smoked fish, pickles, cured meats and salted nuts, where the clean finish resets the palate between bites.