World Vodka Day: Celebrating the water of life in style
Although vodka’s origins are believed to stretch back over a thousand years in Russia and Poland, its global popularity didn’t truly soar until after the Second World War.
Today, it ranks among the world’s most popular spirits, with global market projections indicating that its value will rise from R614,127.72 million in 2023 to R937,502.18 million by 2032.
The neutral taste of the distilled grain spirit has made vodka incredibly versatile and popular, with vodka being a key staple in iconic cocktails such as the Moscow Mule, Bloody Mary, and Vodka Martini.
It’s almost unthinkable for any reputable bar not to carry a range of premium vodka brands. For those who prefer to sip their vodka neat, there’s an abundance of botanical and fruit infused varieties for all tastes in the market.
When were vodka cocktails first made?
While there is no recorded recipe that we can reference today, the first report of a vodka cocktail comes from New Hampshire in the U.S when in 1905 a bartender experimented with recipes for visiting Russian dignitaries.
Fast forward a couple years later and we can also reference a recorded recipe from 1911, when the St. Charles Hotel in New Orleans started mixing a cocktail of vodka and rowanberry cordial, known as the “Russian Cocktail”.
Furthermore, early versions of the Vodka Martini and Vodka Collins were the creations of prohibition-era American bartenders who enjoyed experimenting with local ingredients across Europe.
Celebrate the day with a mouth-watering cocktail at home
With a day as exciting as World Vodka Day happening on a Friday, the start to any vodka-enthusiasts weekend can’t come and go without a delicious cocktail courtesy of Vusa Vodka:
Aside from its African origin, Vusa Vodka is unlike 99% of vodkas in the market that are made with wheat, potatoes and corn. Crafted from the finest African sugarcane Vusa is distilled using the purest water from Lions River, KZN, in a copper pot still.
The spirit’s unique filtration process through charred charcoal ensures a silky smooth, memorable finish perfect for sipping on the rocks or mixing in cocktails.
Vusa’s exceptional and surprising smoothness will leave you reaching for a second sip, just to make sure. What makes it the smoothest vodka you’ll ever try?
While 99% of vodkas are distilled from wheat, potatoes, or corn, Vusa is different from the rest.
Crafted from African sugarcane, Vusa’s ingredients and unique distillation process ensures less impurities. The result? A smoother, purer, and more delicious vodka than any you’ve tasted before.
Spicy Vodka Margarita
Ingredients:
50 ml Vusa Vodka Original
30 ml fresh lime juice
20 ml triple sec (or orange liqueur)
10 ml agave syrup (adjust to taste)
1-2 slices fresh jalapeño (depending on your heat preference)
Salt (for rimming the glass)
Lime wedge (for garnish)
Ice
Instructions:
Rim your glass with a lime wedge and dip it into salt to coat the edge. In a shaker, muddle some jalapeño slices to release their heat. Add the Vusa Vodka, lime juice, triple sec, and agave syrup to the shaker.
Fill with ice and shake well until chilled. Strain the mixture into the prepared glass filled with ice. Add a lime wedge and an extra slice of jalapeño for garnish. Feel free to adjust the ingredients to match your taste and enjoy your spicy vodka margarita!
Try out the vodka soda’s cooler counterpart - the seltzer
Perhaps DIY cocktail skills aren’t your forté, or you may be looking for something easy to bring with you to share at braais and get togethers - then the seltzer is perfect for you.
Seltzers provide a guilt-free way to indulge in something light and fizzy, complete with refreshing flavours. And if they come with a little buzz, well, that’s just a bonus.
The South African seltzer market has seen remarkable growth in recent years, offering consumers a plethora of delicious choices. Among these is Dukes Hard Seltzer, featuring three standout flavours. First up is the Dukes Mixed Berry, a vibrant blend that bursts with the juiciest berries, turning every sip into a fruity fiesta for
your palate. Then there’s the Passionfruit flavour, which delivers a taste of the tropics—sweet, tangy, and utterly irresistible, it’s like sunshine in a can.
Finally, indulge in the Grapefruit & Orange flavour, a refreshing fusion of zesty grapefruit and tangy orange that’s truly a match made in flavour heaven.
With just 30 calories per 100ml, you can be confident that your pre-summer wellness goals are well within reach.