There are many reasons to keep vodka on hand at home. Perhaps you like hosting parties, or maybe you like making new and interesting cocktails regularly. Or, maybe you just like a good old-fashioned cosmo or bloody Mary from time to time. Regardless, vodka is a versatile spirit and it never hurts to have a bottle or two in the house.
If you do plan to keep a stock, you may be wondering where exactly you should store it. The best way to store vodka depends a little bit on the type of vodka you’ve got and what you plan to do with it, but vodka tends to last a long time no matter where it is.
Most people have heard at some point that you can keep vodka in the freezer for as long as you want and it’ll never freeze. This is true and it can be really convenient as well as kind of fun to see. But, is this truly the best place for your vodka long-term? In truth, there are some things many don’t consider when choosing where to store their vodka.
The Best Way to Store Vodka
1. Cupboard
If your thoughts have gone right to the freezer when it comes to storing vodka, you’re not alone. This seems to be the default for many, though it’s not always best! The biggest problem with keeping vodka at such low temperatures is the integrity of the flavors.
Vodka is indeed meant to be neutral most of the time, but that doesn’t mean it tastes like nothing. There are also many brands out there playing around with deeper, richer flavors for those that like a more potent cocktail or want to sip their vodka straight.
So, if you care at all about the flavor and texture of your vodka, it’s actually better to keep it in the cupboard at room temperature.
You should also keep it in the cupboard if you plan to use it for cooking. There are many things you can do with vodka in the kitchen, from a vodka pasta sauce or even in your baked goods. Adding vodka to your cake or cookie batter prevents certain ingredients like gluten from breaking down too much and creates a lighter, fluffier finished product. If you plan to add it to recipes like this, you don’t need it to be cold.
Skyy Vodka is a good bottle to keep in the cupboard if you plan on cooking or baking with the spirit. Skyy is right in the middle – not too expensive that it hurts to cook with, but it’s still a quality vodka. Even though you’re “just” cooking with it, quality still counts. Cheap vodka can add an unwanted burn and harshness to your dish.
Skyy Vodka is distilled four times and triple-filtered to ensure excellent taste and smoothness. It’s a popular choice for cocktails and it does just as well in the kitchen with its clean, fruity, grainy nose and clean, fresh palate. Skyy is also good for cooking because of the mostly neutral flavor profile – it’ll do its job without changing the taste of your dish.
The cupboard is also a good place for unopened bottles, regardless of your intentions with them. If you don’t plan to use it for a long time or have other bottles to finish up first, stick your bottle of vodka in the back of the cupboard. Here, it’ll retain its proper flavor and structure and when you are ready to use it, it’ll be in perfect shape.
2. Fridge
The fridge is right in-between the cupboard and the freezer in terms of temperature. It’s certainly below room temperature but it’s not freezing. This is the place to keep bottles like Nikka Coffey vodka that you plan to sip on.
While many vodkas are made for use in cocktails and hold very little flavor, there are plenty that do carry a taste. This is becoming more and more popular as people gain respect for vodka as a more premium spirit. Some of these more complex and flavorful bottles that are meant for sipping, taste better when chilled. You can chill them with some ice cubes, but you’ll soon be dealing with diluted flavors as the ice cubes melt and water it down.
You can stick the bottle in the fridge right before you plan to pour a glass, or you can opt to store the bottle in the fridge if you plan to drink it often.
Flavor Infusions
Another reason to keep vodka in the fridge is flavor infusions. This is when vodka is actually infused with other ingredients such as fruits or spices to create a strong and deliberate flavor. These are often used in cocktails to enhance and/or balance the taste of the other ingredients.
Effen Blood Orange is a fantastic pre-made flavor infusion.
Infused with fresh, juicy blood oranges it’s a fantastic addition to many fruity cocktails but also tastes amazing on its own. Properly chilled and crisp is the perfect way to experience this expression.
Homemade Infusions
If you’re craving a flavor you can’t find, or simply want to have some fun and experiment, infusing your own vodka at home is a great choice. You can play around with singular ingredients or mix and match to create new, custom flavors.
Any neutral, good-quality vodka works for infusing, such as Ketel One. The aroma has a hint of honey and citrus, but the palate is crisp, silky, and neutral. Perfect for adding your personal touch.
Even though you’ve used fresh ingredients, homemade infusions will keep indefinitely as the alcohol will preserve them. For this reason, you’re not required to keep it in the fridge, but you may choose to if you prefer to enjoy it cold.
3. Freezer
It’s perfectly fine to keep vodka stored at room temperature – it won’t go bad this way – so there’s no urgent reason to keep your vodka in the freezer, though knowing it won’t freeze is handy. However, there might be some instances where you want to keep it in the freezer.
For instance, if you have a cheaper vodka that you only plan to use for shots, and/or don’t plan to use very often. Because the lower temperatures kill some of the flavors, you might actually find this makes it easier to take cheaper, harsher vodkas as a shot.
Wodka Vodka is a fantastic choice if you’re looking for decent vodka super cheap. It’s made from Polish rye and distilled five times, and charcoal filtered twice. The result isn’t fancy or terribly complex, but it is crisp and smooth. It’s great in cocktails and makes for a great shooter, too.
Fun Vodka Accessories
If you love vodka and its many assorted cocktails enough to be keeping lots of it in storage – or you know someone who does – there are some other things you might like to keep on hand to enhance the vodka experience. These aren’t necessary by any means but could make for some extra fun!
Vaportini
This new novelty glass gives you a whole new way to experience your vodka – by inhaling the vapor instead of drinking it! Doing this saves you the calories and sugar (if applicable) but still delivers the same effect you want from your vodka. It also enhances the aromas even further, giving you a new perspective on your favorite expression.
One of a Kind Absolute Bottle
Absolut is well known and well-respected for its infamous vodka. At one point, they released a whopping four million special bottles, all of which are unique! This means there are millions of one-of-a-kind designs and color combinations out there. With how many were originally sold, you can still often find them available in local second-hand stores or other locations online.
Vodka Chess Board
Not only is this special chess board an aesthetically cool gift for a vodka-lover, but it’s a fun drinking game, too. Each shot glass in this set has a different chess piece printed on it. Fill the shot glasses with your chosen drink and play as usual… with one caveat – each time you lose a piece, you must drink!
It may be a good idea to brush up on your chess skills before inviting friends over to test out the fun new board – the pawns are especially quick to be knocked out!
You could even make the game family-friendly by filling each glass with (non-alcoholic) mystery substances instead, adding another layer of competition – see who can guess more of them correctly! When not in use, it’s a beautiful set with a cool look to keep on the side table.
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