You're My Best Friend: Tom of Finland Vodka

Prior to seeing Bohemian Rhapsody, I would describe my interest in Queen as “robust.”

After? I became freaking obsessed, and specifically, and predictably so, with Freddie Mercury for a thousand reasons I may outline in a forthcoming tome which include but are not limited to the fact that he loved cats.

So, yes my extreme bias toward all things Queen highly influenced this latest pick for The Pandemic Pantry.

Tom of Finland Organic Vodka is so named for the creator of the 1950s gay male iconography that inspired Freddie Mercury, Jean-Paul Gaultier, and others. In return for use of the license and imagery, the vodka manufacturer donates 5% of sales to the Tom of Finland Foundation, which is dedicated to preserving free use of the erotic arts. Cheers to chainmail, and, um, chained males!

Why Tom of Finland Vodka Deserves A Place In Your Pandemic Pantry

This vodka boasts a fresh, clean taste and has a finish that is just as tight and silky as one of Mercury’s form-fitting jumpsuits. It’s pleasant to sip on its own with a slice of lime but also unsurprisingly works terrifically in cocktails (see recipe below).

2020 is a particularly fitting time to indulge in this spirit as Tom of Finland would have celebrated his 100th birthday and this year also marks the 50th anniversary of Queen. I can’t think of a more appropriate gift for LGTBQ friends and allies as well as the die-hard fans of Brit rock.

A vodka tonic was Mercury’s post-prandial beverage of choice (he also enjoyed champagne and Swiss wine), so in accordance to his preference and in honor of his Parsi-Indian heritage, I give you this recipe for a vodka tonic with a twist (but not the olive kind). Because rosewater features prominently in many Parsi beverages and desserts, I have added a sweet floral element to the traditional vodka tonic via the addition of rose-flavored syrup. It’s called Mercury in Prograde because no matter what life challenges he faced, my dear Freddie looked forward, never back.

Ooh, you make me live, now honey!

Mercury in Prograde

• 2 ounces Tom of Finland vodka

• 1/2 ounce Rose syrup (I prefer Ahmed)

• 5 ounces tonic water

• Lime wedge

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, vodka, and rose syrup; shake vigorously. Drop approximately 5-6 ice cubes into highball glass and strain contents of shaker over the ice. Top with tonic water and garnish with lime wedge.

Sip slowly. This drink may become the love of your life.

Happy National Vodka Day!

Today (October 4th) is National Vodka Day and if you're looking to raise a glass, consider this delicious recipe from Prairie Organic Spirits:

Roasted Grape Bounty

·         2 oz. Prairie Organic Vodka

·         1 oz. grape juice

·         ½ vanilla bean, scraped

·         Vanilla sugar rim

Directions:

1.    Place 2 oz. of Prairie Organic Vodka and 1 oz. of grape juice in a shaker. Mix vigorously.

2.    Pour the mix into a tall glass rimmed with sugar previously.

3.    Top with ice and the vanilla bean

Prairie Organic Spirits

I first learned about Prairie Organic Spirits at the 2015 Tales of the Cocktail, where they won me over with their colorful garden-inspired displays and friendly mixologists. Also, they were giving out free muddlers!

Prairie Organic at Tales of the Cocktail

Prairie Organic specializes in small-batch, organic (duh) clear alcohols (gin, vodka, etc.), whose uniformly pure taste makes them scarily sippable and wonderful ingredients for cocktails.

I'll take two!

Recently, POS and I had another rendezvous in preparation for the Austin Food & Wine Festival (later cancelled) and they were generous enough to provide me with a sample of their Cucumber Vodka for some home experimentation.

Thus far my research has yielded two more-than-quaffable creations:

Blackberry Ginger Cucumber Highball (pictured above)

• 1 1/2 ounces Prairie Organic Cucumber Vodka
• 3 ounces ginger ale
• blackberries for garnish

Pour vodka and ginger ale into a chilled glass. Garnish with blackberries, which are best consumed after you have finished your drink so they have time to absorb the boozy juices.

C.G.C (Cherry-Grape-Cucumber) Martini

• 1 1/2 ounces Prairie Organic Cucumber Vodka
• 2 ounces 100% pure grape juice
• fresh cherries

Pit approximately 4-5 cherries. Muddle at the bottom of a shaker; add grape juice, vodka, and ice. Shake vigorously, and strained into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a fresh cherry.

The Blackberry Ginger Highball's slightly spicy notes are mellowed out by the cucumber and I love the way the errant blackberries add the occasional punch of sweetness. Harder-hitting albeit just as refreshing is the C.G.C Martini, whose berry overtones almost mask the alcohol...which is why, 'whoopsy-daisy, did I just drink two in under 45 minutes?'