Back in July, Manhattan with a Twist covered a new, gluten-free vodka. AnestasiA Vodka is an American-made ultra-premium spirit created by Ukranian born Yuliya Mamontova. Not only is this vodka super smooth, but it comes packaged unlike any other spirit. The award-winning bottle was designed by Karim Rashid, who welcomed us to his New York City studio earlier this week. Using the ‘A’ from AnestasiA Vodka as inspiration, Karim created a beautiful bottle from recycled glass. As Rashid spoke at the event you could tell how proud he was of this accomplishment – many people said a bottle like this was not practical and could not be done, but he sure proved them wrong!
At the studio, guests sampled four distinct cocktails which showcased the versatility of the vodka. Each cocktail was paired with an hors d’oeuvre, making for a wonderful evening. First on the menu was the Birch and Brook, made with vodka, lime juice, simple syrup, whiskey bitters, muddled cucumber and topped with club soda and a mint leaf. This drink was light and fun and was paired with smoked avocado mousse.
Next we tried the Sassy Fraise, which was comprised of vodka, strawberry puree, muddled basil, peach bitters, club soda and a leaf garnish. This was very refreshing and fruity and was paired with tuna tartar.
We also tried El Piquante, a cocktail made with vodka, apricot perserves, peach bitters, muddled chili pepper and cinnamon agave. This was our personal favorite, and had just the slightest kick. It was paired with melted vegetable napoleon.
Unfortunately, we did not have the opportunity to try the last cocktail, Halo Effect, but it looked and sounded great! It was made with vodka, orange bitters, dry vermouth and lemon zest garnish. This was paired with miso glazed steak tataki. We really missed out on this one!
Overall, this event was really well done because it allowed party-goers to learn more about the unique vodka, its design and distilling process, as well as sample how it can be used in various cocktails. It even pairs great with food! Amazingly, a bottle of AnestasiA only costs $34.99, which is a steal considering once you are done drinking it, you can use it as a gorgeous vase!
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