New Amsterdam Mango

New Amsterdam Mango is a flavored vodka, so the main thing to know is that mango leads the profile rather than sitting in the background. Flavored vodkas in this style usually smell of ripe, juicy mango, with a soft tropical sweetness over a neutral spirit base. The label doesn't give a grain or potato base, so expect the clean, light-bodied texture typical of mainstream American flavored vodka. Neat, it tastes more fruit-forward than a plain vodka, and there is little of the peppery or mineral edge you would find in a heavier, more characterful spirit. That fruit character changes how you use it. In a Moscow Mule, the mango adds a tropical note that goes well with the sharpness of ginger beer and a squeeze of lime. It also works in a Cosmopolitan, where mango sits comfortably with cranberry and lime and softens the drink's tartness. A Martini built on a flavored vodka reads as a fruit cocktail rather than a classic dry Martini, so keep it small and add a lime or lemon twist to counter the sweetness. It would be an odd fit for a Bloody Mary or an Espresso Martini, where the mango would clash with savory spice or roasted coffee. Mango does suit citrus, pineapple, passion fruit, orange juice, coconut water and sparkling water, so a vodka soda with a lime wedge is the simplest way to use it. For serving, keep the bottle in the freezer or refrigerator and pour it well chilled, because cold mutes sweetness and keeps the flavor from turning syrupy. Serve it straight up in a chilled martini glass, or over ice in a rocks glass or highball with a mixer. Fresh lime is the most useful garnish, and a slice of mango or a chili-salt rim also works if you're making a spicier, tropical-leaning drink.