Rounding out my very necessary acknowledgment of National Vodka Day is a vodka that pulls from the land to give you a quality-crafted spirit. Koskenkorva Vodka is a delightful vodka whose clean and pure flavor comes through which mirrors the raw materials and hands that came together to assemble it. Pure Finnish water, good well-harvested barley and the tenured hands of a simple village collective conspired to give this vodka a refreshingly smooth taste. There's no new age technology or witchcraft in this process, just honest passionate hands that use what nature has wrought to bring you a notable vodka.
So if you haven't left work yet or left work early and are on your way to the pub, let me keep the celebration going by offering up a simple sweet cocktail made with the remarkable Koskenkorva Vodka that you may want to pick up a give a try to. I call this The Ginger-Rosemary Finnish.
The Ginger-Rosemary Finnish
3 ounces Koskenkorva Vodka1 ounce Simple Syrup (I used raw coconut sugar for mine, so its a bit darker)4 sprigs Fresh Rosemary3-4 slices Fresh cut Ginger RootJuice of 1/2 a fresh cut lemon
Put the rosemary and lemon juice into a cocktail shaker and muddle the ingredients. Make sure to muddle well as rosemary takes a bit more elbow grease to release the essence of the flavor. Next add the syrup and ginger and now muddle the contents again this time for only about 15-20 seconds. Then fill the shaker with 2/3 of ice cubes and the vodka. Cover and shake vigorously for 30-40 seconds. Strain contents into a martini glass and garnish with a sprig of rosemary and enjoy. (Note: You may want to double strain into the glass to avoid rosemary and ginger pieces that may have separated during muddling).
The purity of the vodka delivers its kick but also allows the slight pepper punch of the ginger together with the herbal essence of the rosemary to shine.This cocktail brings my salutes to National Vodka Day to a close but definitely try out Koskenkorva Vodka at your finer wine and spirit retailers and as always please remember to enjoy responsibly.
www.Koskenkorva.com
