Vodka is the most infused of spirits. Berries, orange peel, citron, black pepper, chili peppers and vanilla beans all meet their ends in its clear depths, and drinkers never seem to tire of these infusions. Until now, though, no one (as far as I can tell) has thought to blend the clear spirit with apple cider and … vinegar?
Yes. Vodka infused with vinegar may sound gross, but it actually echoes a drink that harks back hundreds of years. During the long haying days of the 1600s and 1700s, New England farmers often supped on blends of ginger, apple cider, spices and vinegar. This drink was known as “switchel,” and it’s undergoing something of a revival.
Boggy Meadow‘s cloudy, ochre-colored “Switchel” cider vodka is definitely unorthodox, but may not be so unusual two or three years from now. I’ve tried it in myriad vodka-cocktail ways — in a traditional martini with a twist; in a sherry martini; in a bracing Black Magic, with coffee liqueur and a spritz of lemon juice. All were delicious.
Its smoothest incarnation, though, may be a locavore riff on the Cosmopolitan. Switchel cider vodka lends a tangy twist to this blend of vodka, Triple Sec, cranberry and fresh-squeezed lime juice. It’s a softer, brighter and more distinctive version of the original Cosmo — especially when blended with local cranberry liqueur. I’ve dubbed it the Country-politan.
Recipe below.
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