New Amsterdam Tangerine

New Amsterdam Tangerine is a flavored vodka from New Amsterdam, made in the United States and listed here under Massachusetts. The listing gives no ABV, base ingredient or tasting notes, so what follows about character is what flavored vodkas in this style usually deliver. Expect a clean, neutral spirit carrying a citrus-forward tangerine flavor. In this category that usually means a sweet, juicy mandarin-orange aroma and a rounder, softer feel than an unflavored vodka, with the citrus doing most of the work. The tangerine flavor makes this a better fit for citrus-driven drinks than for a dry, spirit-forward Martini. A Cosmopolitan is the most natural use. Swap it in for plain or citron vodka and the orange note comes through alongside the cranberry and lime, so you can usually cut back on triple sec and keep the drink from turning sweet. A Moscow Mule also works. The tangerine sits well with ginger beer and lime, and a copper mug packed with ice keeps it sharp. For a simple highball, vodka over ice topped with soda or tonic and a wedge of orange or lime lets the fruit show without much else competing. Some classics need adjusting. In a Bloody Mary, a citrus vodka adds a bright lift. It suits versions heavy on lemon, horseradish and black pepper, but it can fight a very smoky or Worcestershire-heavy mix, so try a small batch first. In an Espresso Martini the orange note reads as a chocolate-orange twist. Use a little less coffee liqueur than usual so the fruit isn't buried, and garnish with an orange peel instead of coffee beans. For sipping or mixing, keep the bottle in the freezer or shake it hard over ice. Cold tightens the sweetness and brings out the peel-like brightness. Serve it neat and chilled in a small glass, or over a large cube in a rocks glass with a twist of orange. A coupe or martini glass suits shaken cocktails such as the Cosmopolitan. Citrus-flavored vodka also pairs well with seafood, light salads and spicy dishes, where the fruit offsets heat and salt.