Den Tredje Pinky Vodka

As the title states for those of you that speak Svenska, this is my third review of Pinky, the strawberry and rose petal-infused vodka from the land of the Vikings that I discovered via a sample last year. Each time I receive a new bottle, I try to think up some interesting cocktails to make with it. Previous reviews are here and here. I enjoy it for two very important reasons: it is actually a wonderful flavored vodka, not just something cheap and sweet thrown into a novelty bottle; and secondly, the ladies love it.

Here's two original cocktails using this vodka:

Benito's Last Gasp of Summer
1/3 cup Watermelon Cubes
1/2 oz. Limoncello
2 oz. Pinky Vodka

Combine the watermelon and Limoncello in the cocktail shaker, and use a muddler to thoroughly crush the watermelon. Add the Vodka, add ice, and shake and strain to serve.

Watermelon is available year-round these days, and you might find yourself with a fruit platter that has a few uneaten cubes of watermelon. This is a great way to use up a few leftovers for a single cocktail, or much more for a group. It's interesting because with different sips you get lemon, watermelon, or strawberry, all of which I associate with summer.

Alternate: If you don't have any Limoncello and also want a lighter cocktail, combine the Vodka and melon and then shake and strain. Top off with Sprite or 7-Up, or even lemon-flavored sparkling water.

In the late 18th Century, Thomas Lawrence painted Pinkie and Thomas Gainsborough painted The Blue Boy. A cocktail named after the former would be far too easy, but based on the common pairing of the two paintings together, I thought I could capture some of that steel blue color using Pinky Vodka. There are many cocktails out there called Blue Boy, so I will call this one...

Benito's Gainsborough Cocktail*
2 oz. Pinky Vodka
½ oz. White Vermouth
A few drops of Blue Curaçao

Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake thoroughly, and strain into a cocktail glass. This is an odd twist on the Vodka Martini. Normally I'm a gin purist, but sometimes you want room for other flavors to show through. It only takes a few drops of the blue liqueur to go from pink to lavender to blue, so go easy when you're mixing. The Curaçao gives a nice orange tang to the various strawberry/floral/grape flavors you get from the Vodka and the Vermouth.

*Note that "Gainsborough cocktail" crops up in some old references, where cocktail refers to a mixed breed racing horse. Out of all the competing etymologies for the word, I've always preferred this explanation. It makes more sense than a bunch of garnish sticking out of the glass like a rooster's tail.


Note: This vodka was received as a sample.