COCKTAIL HOUR: Pear Ginger Cobbler
William Morse • The Fish House
• July 29, 2010
Vodka is one of the most popular and versatile spirits there is. It has been around for hundreds of years, possibly as far back as the 14th century. One account of its origins suggests it was first distilled in Russia from potatoes and was used for medicinal purposes. Accounts of its first uses from other countries suggest medicinal uses as well. In fact, the widely recognizable Absolut Vodka bottle is actually based on an antique Swedish medicine bottle.A 16th century Polish medical text suggested vodka as an aftershave lotion. It was also thought to help lengthen lives, which is how it earned its original Polish name okowita, derived from the Latin aqua vitae (water of life). In addition to potatoes, vodka can also be made from barley, wheat, rye, grapes and a variety of other plant materials.Since vodka is normally a neutral spirit, it can be blended with relative ease with a wide array of flavors and can be used in fortifying other beverages. Being a neutral spirit, it also blends well with an assortment of mixers such as tomato juice and other fruit juices, sodas, tonic water, etc.Since most vodka is not aged in wooden casks or barrels, it will usually have much lower levels of fusel oils and congeners (impurities derived from fermentation thought to contribute to a hangover) than other spirits. Though normally colorless, odorless and tasteless, flavored vodkas have been around since its inception, originally to mask the lower quality of the early vodkas. These days, however, you can find a multitude of flavored vodkas, now seen as a mark of the distiller's skills.Here at The Fish House, we have every imaginable flavor of vodka one could hope for. My personal favorite is the Three Olives brand from England and their 16 different flavors. In addition to the flavors you expect, such as orange, grape and citrus, they offer tomato, root beer, chocolate and yes, even bubble gum-flavored vodka. Using these products, we make a wide assortment of cocktails and flavored martinis. Some of the more popular drinks here at the Fish House are the Electric Lemonade, Twisted Blue Hawaiian, Java Shock Martini and the Dreamy Blue-Tini, to name a few.My personal favorite, and a favorite of many of our guests, is the Pear Ginger Cobbler.To make a Pear Ginger Cobbler cocktail, combine the following in a collins glass of ice:1 ounce Three Olives Vanilla Vodka12 ounce Canton Ginger Liqueur3 ounces organic pear nectar (I get mine from Ever'man Natural Foods)2 ounces sour mixTop off with a splash of sparkling wine. Then sit back and enjoy!The Fish House, 600 S. Barracks St., Pensacola. 470-0003, or visit www.goodgrits.com.
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