Nikita Vopdka

Nikita is a vodka sold under the Esplanda label. The listing doesn't state the base ingredient, proof, origin or filtration, so check the bottle for those details. Vodkas in this category are usually neutral, with a clean, lightly sweet grain character, a faint peppery or citrus edge on the finish, and a smooth, medium-weight texture. Grain bases tend to read crisp and dry. Potato bases feel creamier. Corn bases lean softer and sweeter. A vodka with no added flavoring, as this one appears to be, is meant to take on the character of whatever it's mixed with. That neutrality suits drinks where the other ingredients carry the flavor. In a Moscow Mule, 2 ounces over ice with lime juice and a spicy ginger beer lets the ginger and citrus lead, and a copper mug keeps it cold. A Bloody Mary needs a clean spirit that won't compete with tomato, horseradish, celery salt and hot sauce. A Cosmopolitan, with cranberry, lime and orange liqueur, depends on the vodka staying out of the way. An Espresso Martini combines vodka, fresh espresso and coffee liqueur. Shaking it hard builds the foam on top. For a classic Martini, stir about 2½ ounces of vodka with a splash of dry vermouth over ice until the glass frosts. Strain it into a chilled coupe or martini glass and finish with a lemon twist or olives. Vodka with a clean profile can also be sipped neat. Keep the bottle in the freezer, since the cold thickens the texture slightly and softens any alcohol bite. Pour it into a small chilled glass, or over a large cube in a rocks glass. Chilled vodka goes well with salty, rich or briny food: smoked salmon, pickled vegetables, salted nuts, cured meats and potato dishes. The cold, neutral spirit cleans the palate between bites.