Camitz Sparkling Vodka

When it comes to booze, vodka is such a versatile drink. You could opt for vodka and tonic, vodka and lemonade, vodka and orange. You could make that 18th-birthday-party-food classic, vodka jelly (just don't put too much vodka in or it won't set, trust me !). You could get a bit more sophisticated and use it to make cocktails like a Cosmopolitan, Bloody Mary, Vodka Martini, Sex on the Beach, Long Island Iced Tea or Black Russian. A local bar I used to go to a long long time ago used to serve up After Eights Vodka shots and Maltesers Vodka shots. When I asked how he made them, the barman said they mashed up the chocolate and poured vodka into it. I have no idea if he was telling the truth or not but the result was a delicious glass of something that made you feel like you were eating chocolate with someone jumping up and down on your head !

Well, now you can have yet another whole new experience with vodka by trying Camitz Sparkling Vodka. It looks very chic and stylish with the bottle looking just like a magnum of champage. It's absolutely perfect for an alcohol-fueled girls night in and, as I discovered, the novelty value will win over even those who normally don't like vodka ! Be warned though - it's 40% alcohol by volume (abv) so go easy if you don't want a serious hangover the next morning !

My initial reaction was that you'd never be able to polish off a whole bottle of vodka in one go so you'd end up throwing loads away when the fizz had all gone which would be a waste of money (and alcohol !), but it turns out that this is not the case - you can even drink it when it's gone flat. "Once opened, Camitz Sparkling Vodka will stay sparkling for up to eight hours, depending on the temperature. If unfinished after opening, a Champagne stopper will keep the vodka sparkling for up to three days or more when stored chilled, depending on how much is left. Even when the bubbles are gone, however, Camitz remains a superior premium vodka."

For it to be really chilled and lovely and fizzy, you need to refrigerate the bottle for a while before drinking it, then keep it in an ice bucket for an optimal serving temperature of 4°. The bottle should be stored upright and not frozen.

For the serious foodie, Camitz tell us that the sparkling vodka "complements delicate flavours such as fresh seafood, sushi, oysters and shellfish, enhancing salinity and balancing acidity. It will also provide a new alternative for lovers of steak, salmon and game." Or you can forget the food entirely and just concentrate on the drinking ! "Camitz Sparkling Vodka offers the ultimate shot, served straight or combined with your favourite mixer. It can of course also be used in mixed drinks. Small amounts of high quality liquor, fresh fruit, and garnishes, as well as combining with Champagne, will make beautiful sparkling cocktails."

Here are a couple of cocktail ideas for you to try out, but you can let your imagination run riot, or just be a purist - it tastes really nice on its own in a champagne glass too ! Cheers !

Swedish Snowstorm Shot
glass Shot

parts ingredients
1 / 4 Cointreau / triple sec
1 / 4 Freshly squeezed lemon juice
Dash sugar (simple) syrup
Dash grenadine (optional)
2 / 4 Camitz Sparkling Vodka

method : Shake the first three ingredients with ice and strain into chilled glass.
Add a dash of grenadine and then layer Camitz Sparkling Vodka by carefully pouring.

Camitz Sparkling Cosmopolitan
glass Martini

parts ingredients
1 / 10 Cointreau / triple sec
1 / 10 Freshly squeezed lime juice
4 / 10 Cranberry juice
4 / 10 Camitz Sparkling Vodka
Lime Wheel for garnishing glass rim

method : Shake the first three ingredients with ice and strain into chilled glass. Top carefully with Camitz Sparkling Vodka.

RRP : £13.99 (200ml) and £29.99 (700ml)

More information about Camitz Sparkling Vodka can be found at www.camitzvodka.com

See also the Camitz blog at www.whatssparkling.com to find who’s drinking Camitz Sparkling Vodka, and where

Camitz Sparkling Vodka can be found in many of London’s most stylish bars and restaurants. Outlets include The Winchester at Islington in the city’s north, the exclusive Roof Gardens in Kensington, the swanky Sugar Hut in SW6 and The Last Days of Decadence in Shoreditch. Outside the capital, vodka lovers will find Camitz on the tariff at bars as diverse as Basildon’s SKY Sports bar and the Oracle in Leeds. For drinkers preferring to imbibe at home, the growing list of retailers includes Selfridges in London, Manchester and Birmingham and online specialists, DrinkEmporium.com, Firebox.com and Drinkshop.com.