Go Exclusiv! -Vodka review

I was thrilled to be able to review a bottle of Exclusiv Vodka from this phenomenal East Coast based company. After years of bartending, Irishman is a master mixologist! He loves the art of blending flavors which is fantastic for the martini loving Duck. I’m a big fan of vodka martinis and a bit of a vodka snob. I “thought” I had a favorite prior to my introduction to Exclusiv.

Amazingly smooth, this is one vodka I can actually toss back straight up and I’m not an 'on the rocks' kind of gal. Chilled or room temperature, Exclusiv Vodka is smooth as water going down leaving no after taste; a warmth spreading through my chest the only indication of having an alcohol content. THIS IS AMAZINGLY GOOD STUFF! And you’d think it was super expensive. NOT SO! Even more affordable than its substandard counter parts, this vodka will be your new standard go-to and you will LOVE IT!

After experiencing Exclusiv, it is no surprise that it has recently won the Double Gold Medal in the 2012 San Francisco world spirits competition. The oldest, largest, and most recognized spirit competition in the United States had Exclusive competing against 1,200 other spirits! As well as being awared 2011 Best Value Vodka $10 and under. Remarkable achievements well deserved!

In researching the company, I was thrilled to find they have launched new flavors including Berry and Coconut with Peach scheduled for release in May. And while Exclusiv is predominantly in the East Coast market, I would without hesitation buy and have this vodka shipped to me in the Midwest! It is hands down my new favorite vodka. If I knew anything about promoting, marketing and launching I would be begging Exclusiv for a job and retailers here to stock this liquid beauty. I love it that much!

Irishman whipped up some phenomenal cucumber martinis using Exclusiv vodka. They were good before but this made them outstanding! A perfect indulgence to usher in warmer weather! He said I could most definitely share the recipe with you. Yeah!

You can connect with Exclusiv on Twitter and Facebook!

Sweet Cucumber Martini featuring Exclusiv Vodka

For 1-2 cocktails, begin with 2-3 small cucumbers, peeled

Slice the cucumbers in half and scoop out the seeds with a spoon (discard seeds)

Chop the cucumbers very finely-- a food processor is nice for this part. (Cut the halves into sticks and feed them through the slicer before switching to the chopping blade). The bits should be slightly smaller than those in pickle relish, but do not go so far as to puree them.

Gather the finely chopped cucumber into a double layer of cheesecloth and squeeze the juice out into a bowl or measuring cup. Twist the top of the cheesecloth to tighten even further. (I suggest here that you dampen your cheesecloth with water before straining the cucumber. This ensures that the cloth doesn’t soak up your awesome juice!)

Simple Syrup

For the sweet cocktails, we use simple syrup rather than sugar directly. To prepare, mix 1/4 cup sugar into 1/4 cup hot water, stir until dissolved, and allow to cool. (Hot water from the tap is normally hot enough to dissolve sugar in these proportions.) Irishman has also prepared these by just adding sugar directly and both yield a great taste in our opinion.

Now, put it all together…

1 oz cucumber juice

1 oz simple syrup

2 oz Exclusiv Vodka

1/2 tsp lemon juice (or to taste)

Combine ingredients with ice in a cocktail shaker, strain, and serve in a martini glass!

***I was provided product for the purpose of facilitating the review but received no financial compensation for my opinion. All opinions expressed are my own and were not swayed by the receipt of product**