Tag Archives: Grape Vodka

Review: Pucker Me Pleased

Pucker Vodka Tasting - photo copyright Cheri Loughlin

Flavored vodkas have become a dime a dozen on liquor store shelves. Some are creatively clever with wild infusions from bacon to tarragon and lavender. Standard flavors are relatively easy to interchange no matter which quality brand one chooses from the shelf. When one stares at the rows of flavored vodkas it is a little difficult to choose one brand of vanilla vodka from another. Usually the decision comes down to price point or picking up a tried and true favorite brand. However there are those flavors that stand out a little more than others due uniqueness in flavor.

The line of Pucker Vodkas clearly stands out with their faint sweetness and truly pucker worthy sweet tart flavors. Citrus is no longer just a hint of orange, lemon and lime rolled into one. Citrus Pucker brings “ooo la la” mouth watering excitement to the lips. It defies ordinary. Definitely designed with Girls Night Out in mind and times when flavorful fun happy hour supersedes old fashioned classics.

Citrus Pucker Vodka

Aroma: Dry powder orange / citrus with hint of sweetness.

Taste: Definite pucker worthy sour right from the start! Lemony / orange with bit of artificial feel. Sour to sweet combination is intriguing.

Can see this as a terrific flavored vodka mixing spirit. Great basis for lemon drop cocktails and shooters with nice appeal for various other fruity drinks on the agenda.

Lemon Drop – created by Cheri Loughlin

Lemon Drop - created by Cheri Loughlin - photo copyright Cheri Loughlin1-1/2 measure Citrus Pucker Vodka

3/4 measure Lemon Juice

3/4 measure O3 Premium Orange Liqueur

1-1/2 measure Lemonade

Lemon Wheel Garnish

Sugar for Rim

Slide lemon around rim of chilled cocktail glass. Dip lemony rim in sugar. Set aside. Combine liquids in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into prepared cocktail glass. Garnish with lemon wheel.

Sour Apple Sass Pucker Vodka

Aroma: Makes the mouth water. Reminds me of apple flavored Jolly Ranchers and apple flavored Laffy Taffy. Smells like sweetly ripened granny smith apples.

Taste: Hint of sweetness. Terrific tart apple flavor. Just marvelous for mixing all sorts of apple cocktails. Caramel covered apple comes to mind right off the bat. Perfect for fun fruity apple shots, too.

Sassy Apple Shot – created by Cheri Loughlin

Sassy Apple Shot - created by Cheri Loughlin - photo copyright Cheri Loughlin1 measure Sour Apple Sass Pucker Vodka

1/2 measure O3 Premium Orange Liqueur

1/2 measure Ginger Ale

1/4 measure Lemon Juice

Combine liquids in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into two shot glasses.

Cherry Tease Pucker Vodka

Aroma: Not as tart as the other Pucker Vodkas. Bitter cherry with vanilla sweetness. Hint of lush coming through. Not quite “fresh” cherry aroma.

Taste: Smoother and less tart than the other Pucker Vodkas. Vanilla definitely blended into the flavor. Dark cherry, artificial in flavor.

Chocolate Covered Cherry – created by Cheri Loughlin

Chocolate Covered Cherry - created by Cheri Loughlin - photo copyright Cheri Loughlin1-1/2 measure Cherry Tease Pucker Vodka

3/4 measure White Crème de Cacao

2 measures Cranberry Juice

Maraschino Cherry Garnish

Combine liquids in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into chilled cocktail glass. Drop in cherry to sink to the bottom of the glass.

Just WOW! Chocolate, cherry and vanilla combine exactly right. Though the spirit comes across a bit artificial in flavor when tasted neat, Cherry Tease Pucker Vodka clearly stands up to the test when mixed in cocktails.

Grape Gone Wild Pucker Vodka

Aroma: Laffy Taffy grape flavor is the automatic first impression. Sweetness, lush aroma. Not fresh grape, but the ideal sweetened grape candy feel.

Taste: Little more artificial with scant taste of perfume. Totally grape in flavor through and through.

Italian Kiss – created by Cheri Loughlin

Italian Kiss - Created by Cheri Loughlin - photo copyright Cheri Loughlin1-1/2 measure Grape Gone Wild Pucker Vodka

1/2 measure Amaretto

2 measures Cranberry Juice

Maraschino Cherry Garnish

Combine liquids in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with maraschino cherry.

Nice flavor. Surprising how well the flavors of grape and amaretto combine in this cocktail. Grape flavored vodka doesn’t necessarily have to mean candied fruit cocktails.

A special Girls Night Out evening recently brought women to the bar to sample the Pucker Vodka line. Sour Apple Sass Pucker Vodka proved to be a huge hit. Ideas for more cocktails and shots were created and sampled on the spot proving the terrific versatility of this particular spirit. Women commented on the pleasing bottle design with its fun factor and sleekness.

Girls Night Out Tasting - Pucker Vodka

Pucker Vodka samples for review and Girls Night Out tasting provided by representatives of Beam Global Wine & Spirits. Please email Cheri for more information about featuring specific brands in Girls Night Out parties.

Cheri Loughlin is a leading cocktail and photography resource for beverage companies, event planners, businesses and individuals. High resolution cocktail and beverage stock photography images are available in downloadable digital format in the newly redesigned Stock Photography Gallery at www.cheriloughlin.com.

Twitter, Facebook, StumbleUpon – str8upcocktails @ gmail.com – ©2011 Cheri Loughlin-The Intoxicologist, All Rights Reserved. All opinions, reviews and spirits’ coverage are the personal opinion and decision of Cheri Loughlin.

 

Three Olives Grape Vodka: Stirring Up Memories

Remember Pixie Stix, the powdered candy that comes packaged in multi-colored wrappers that resemble drinking straws?  Their varietal of flavors is beginning to remind me of something else; Three Olives Vodka.  This is not meant to be an unflattering comparison, but rather an observance that came to me last night as the Three Olives Grape flavor wafted up from the tasting glass to jostle my memory to the days of ten year old bliss.  You know the days…carefree times before the teenage years of angst set in and high school loomed with decisions soon settling on the shoulders of “What Shall I Be?” when I grow up.  For those of you too young to relate, “What Shall I Be?” was a board game for girls with careers for the future (ie: nurse, stewardess, ballet dancer, teacher, actress or model).  Times have changed and girls have so many more choices with more role models to shape their future as well.  Thank goodness for change, advancement and of course variety.Three Olives Grape Vodka - photo copyright Cheri Loughlin

Three Olives Vodka never disappoints when it comes to variety.  When Three Olives launched Three-O Cherry and Three-O Grape in 2001 the flavored vodka market ignited bringing the flavored martini to a whole new level.  Three-O Bubble flavored vodka created the same frenzy with consumers looking for the newest mixer to splash in with their juicy fruit flavored vodka.  Three Olives may be serious about the quality of their vodka, but their flavor variety is all about fun and frivolity in a cocktail.  Three Olives seemingly creates vodka with the goal of celebrations, excitement and enjoyable experiences with friends.  Quite possibly it is the reason behind such flavors of Root Beer, Chocolate and Grape.  

Three Olives Grape

Aroma: Essentially sweet grape like that of Pixie Stix.  There is no alcohol burn on the nose.Three Olives Grape Vodka - photo copyright Cheri Loughlin 300

Flavor: This does not taste the least bit like fresh grapes.  It resembles grape soda pop without the fizz and sugar.  However, the grape flavor is replicated so well the imagination can almost duplicate the sense of sweetness one tastes in Grape Nehi Soda from the aroma alone.  The base vodka stands up well with the ultimate quality of Three Olives premium vodka.  It has medium body that rounds out on the palate without harshness.

Thoughts: Sampling this particular flavor left me with fond memories of penny candy, slumber parties with friends and playing outside barefoot as a kid.  It is amazing the small taste and scent of a vodka flavor can do that simple thing.  While sometimes I scan the shelf and think what in the world some companies are thinking with so many flavors and what in the world could possibly be done with some of the flavors they choose to release; now I know.  Sometimes it isn’t about a perfectly layered cocktail.  Sometimes it is about a simple cocktail with Sprite, Ginger Ale or Soda mixed in to make to make it fizz and then one’s own memory and friends to chat and make up the rest of the good time.

Cheri Loughlin is a leading cocktail and photography resource for beverage companies, event planners, businesses and individuals. High resolution cocktail and beverage stock photography images are available in downloadable digital format in the newly redesigned Stock Photography Gallery at www.cheriloughlin.com.

Twitter, Facebook, StumbleUpon – str8upcocktails @ gmail.com – ©2012 Cheri Loughlin-The Intoxicologist, All Rights Reserved. All opinions, reviews and spirits’ coverage are the personal opinion and decision of Cheri Loughlin.

Ecstasy Martini

Ecstasy MartiniBlueberry Bubble - photo copyright Cheri Loughlin

3 ounces Grape Vodka

1/2 ounce Blue Curacao

1/2 ounce Grenadine

Splash of Club Soda

Orange Wedge Garnish

Combine liquids except club soda in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into chilled cocktail glass. Add splash of club soda. Garnish with orange wedge.

Recipe courtesy Three Olives Vodka

Cheri Loughlin is a leading cocktail and photography resource for beverage companies, event planners, businesses and individuals. High resolution cocktail and beverage stock photography images are available in downloadable digital format in the newly redesigned Stock Photography Gallery at www.cheriloughlin.com.

Twitter, Facebook, StumbleUpon – str8upcocktails @ gmail.com – ©2012 Cheri Loughlin-The Intoxicologist, All Rights Reserved. All opinions, reviews and spirits’ coverage are the personal opinion and decision of Cheri Loughlin.

LA Iced Tea

LA Iced TeaTexas Iced Tea-Quila - photo copyright Cheri Loughlin

2 ounces Grape Vodka

4 ounces Sweetened Iced Tea

Lemon Wedge Garnish

Build in highball glass over fresh ice. Stir. Garnish with lemon wedge.

Recipe courtesy Three Olives Vodka

Cheri Loughlin is a leading cocktail and photography resource for beverage companies, event planners, businesses and individuals. High resolution cocktail and beverage stock photography images are available in downloadable digital format in the newly redesigned Stock Photography Gallery at www.cheriloughlin.com.

Twitter, Facebook, StumbleUpon – str8upcocktails @ gmail.com – ©2012 Cheri Loughlin-The Intoxicologist, All Rights Reserved. All opinions, reviews and spirits’ coverage are the personal opinion and decision of Cheri Loughlin.

Screwy Grape

Screwy GrapePeach Simplici-Tea - photo copyright Cheri Loughlin

2 ounces Grape Vodka

4 ounces Orange Juice

Orange Wedge Garnish

Build in highball glass over fresh ice. Stir. Garnish with orange wedge.

Recipe courtesy Three Olives Vodka

Cheri Loughlin is a leading cocktail and photography resource for beverage companies, event planners, businesses and individuals. High resolution cocktail and beverage stock photography images are available in downloadable digital format in the newly redesigned Stock Photography Gallery at www.cheriloughlin.com.

Twitter, Facebook, StumbleUpon – str8upcocktails @ gmail.com – ©2012 Cheri Loughlin-The Intoxicologist, All Rights Reserved. All opinions, reviews and spirits’ coverage are the personal opinion and decision of Cheri Loughlin.

Green Grape Martini

Green Grape MartiniCocktail 2 - photo copyright Cheri Loughlin

2 ounces Grape Vodka

1 ounce Melon Liqueur

Splash of Pineapple Juice

Orange Wedge Garnish

Combine liquids in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with orange wedge.

Recipe courtesy Three Olives Vodka

Cheri Loughlin Photography - Cocktail Development & Photography Services

Twitter, Facebook, StumbleUpon – str8upcocktails @ gmail.com – ©2012 Cheri Loughlin-The Intoxicologist, All Rights Reserved. All opinions, reviews and spirits’ coverage are the personal opinion and decision of Cheri Loughlin.

Grape Lemonade

Grape LemonadeWild White Tea 1 photo copyright Cheri Loughlin

2 ounces Grape Vodka

1/2 ounce Triple Sec

1/2 ounce Sour Mix

2 ounces Lemon-Lime Soda

Lemon Wedge Garnish

Build in highball glass over fresh ice. Stir. Garnish with lemon wedge.

Recipe courtesy Three Olives Vodka

The Intoxicologist is a blogger & corporate mixologist who creates and photographs the best cocktails and mixed drinks for home entertaining and bar use.

Twitter, Facebook, StumbleUpon – str8upcocktails @ gmail.com – ©2013 Cheri Loughlin-The Intoxicologist, All Rights Reserved.

Grapehound

The Grapehound long drink reminds me of the easy two ingredient Greyhound highball. Of course! But this recipe is for grape lovers. It’s a bit sweeter with grenadine added on top. Less citrusy than the Greyhound. And fruitier with grape vodka. Make this even sweeter by using ruby red grapefruit.

GrapehoundGo Team - photo copyright Cheri Loughlin

2 ounces Grape Vodka

4 ounces Grapefruit Juice

Splash of Grenadine

Lime Wedge Garnish

Build in highball glass over fresh ice. Stir. Garnish with lime wedge.

Recipe courtesy Three Olives Vodka

The Intoxicologist is a blogger & corporate mixologist who creates and photographs the best cocktails and mixed drinks for home entertaining and bar use.

Twitter, Facebook, StumbleUpon – str8upcocktails @ gmail.com – ©2013 Cheri Loughlin-The Intoxicologist, All Rights Reserved.