Celebrating #NationalVodkaDay with #NC ‘s own @OakleeDistill #BootsVodka #TroopStrength 

Boots Vodka Troop Strength | ‘Vodka with Traction’

Hey Vodka lovers, time to celebrate! October 4th is National Vodka Day and I want to tell you about a delicious vodka made by Oaklee Distilling Cocalled Boots Vodka Troop Strength. Based in Wendell, NC., founder Lee Browne has created an unique vodka distilled using sweet potatoes and corn!

Boots Vodka Troop Strength at Yelp Triangle Made Event | Oaklee Distilling Co. Founder, Lee Browne with Leslie Heigh, Founder of SobeSavvy.com

I had the pleasure of meeting Lee recently and tasting Boots Vodka at the Yelp Triangle Made Event. I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed it neat! Lee served it chilled-shaken,not stirred-for guests to try and advised that this spirit would serve well in vodka forward cocktails, such as this classic: B&B Vesper 

-Add 2oz. Bombay Sapphire Gin, 1oz. Boots Vodka Troop Strength, and 1/4oz. Cocchi Americano to a shaker with ice. Shake until chilled and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.

We learned that Boots Vodka is milled, distilled and bottle filled at Troop Strength, which identifies it as 90 proof. That’s a slightly higher proof than the usual vodka product. No wonder it’s known on the vodka market as a “Vodka with Traction”.

Boots Vodka Troop Strength | ‘Boots Up’ Cocktail Recipe

After trying Boots myself, I thought the vodka was earthy, pleasing to the palette and would be something my husband and I could serve to both our male and female friends. Since Fall is here and the time is near to start cozying up due to cooler temps, I thought I would warm you up with a fun recipe post for a cocktail made with Boots Vodka. Ladies and Gents, I present to you the Kinky Boots Martini! 

Boots Vodka Troop Strength | Kinky ‘Boots’ Martini


KINKY ‘BOOTS’ Martini

In a shaker combine 1-1/2oz. Boots Vodka Troop Strength, 1/2oz cranberry juice, 1/2oz. fresh lemon juice and add a splash of grenadine for more red if you wish (like in the Broadway musical play ‘Kinky Boots’, Red is a sexy color! ). Shake with ice until chilled and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with an orange twist.

Below are a few events Oaklee Distilling Co. will be attending if you would like to meet with them there and try Boots for yourself! 

  • 10/6 and 10/7 – Wendell Harvest Festival — Wendell, NC
  • 10/19 – Little River Ducks Unlimited Banquet — Wendell, NC
  • 10/21 – Rex Hospital Gala — Downtown Raleigh

Also here’s the website if you’d like a little more info: http://www.oakleedistilling.com/

I highly suggest you make plans to tour the distillery and taste some of Oaklee’s vodka, now available in North Carolina and Virginia. This season, enjoy the above recipe made with Boots Vodka Troop Strength and let me know in the comments below⤵

HAVE YOU EVER TRIED BOOTS VODKA OR SWEET POTATO VODKA? WHAT IS YOUR FAVE VODKA COCKTAIL?


Cheers!

Boots Vodka Troop Strength | Distilled from sweet potatoes and corn and bottled at Troop Strength

Celebrate #FirstDayofFall with #EndofSummer Sips made with @BedlamVodka #bringthebedlam

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post, however all pictures and opinions are 100% my own.

If you attended the NC Restaurant & Lodging Expo or followed my stories on Instagram, then you know that was an amazing event to meet vendors in the restaurant, food service, lodging & hospitality. While there I got to sample and learn about Bedlam Vodka who is distilled and bottled by Graybeard Distillery in Durham, NC. After one sip, I knew I had to help spread the word about this amazing Vodka via my Spirits/Beer blog, as well as share some of my favorite #SobeSavvySips cocktail recipes (crafted by favorite at-home mixologist, my husband).

Before I share two cocktail recipes that will have you dancing like the bottle of Bedlam in the above video clip, let me tell you the number one reason we found this vodka to be enjoyable. It is so S.M.O.O.T.H! There was no burn and very smooth to drink. Per the company and as printed on the bottle: “Vodka Need Not Burn” 

Bedlam Vodka “Vodka Need Not Burn”

How is that ‘no burn’ possible you ask? Bedlam Vodka is distilled from rice instead of wheat or potato. Designed from an Irish vodka recipe handed down over a few generations of Scott Russ’ family, this spirit is sure to elevate any vodka cocktail recipe you may have already in your repetoire. Speaking of recipes, brand director/bartender Jesse Cortez, mixes the versatile vodka into unique drinks that are unexpected and delicious. Be sure to follow Bedlam Vodka on Instagram for inspiration!

#BringtheBedlam | Bedlam Vodka

We have tried Bedlam Vodka in two cocktail recipes that I think everyone over 21 would love:  Moscow Mule & Thyme for Fall Martini

RECIPES

Bedlam Vodka | #SobeSavvySips Moscow Mule

MOSCOW MULE

PREP 5mins TOTAL 5mins

This perfect all-year round drink is a classic, easy to make drink that only requires 3 ingredients. Invest in some His and Her copper (a favorite autumn color) mugs and enjoy!

Makes 1 drink

YOU WILL NEED

A half of lime

2 ounces Bedlam Vodka

4 ounces cold ginger beer

Ice

DIRECTIONS

●Squeeze lime into a copper mug
●Fill glass with ice then pour in the vodka and ginger beer
●Garnish with a lime 

Bedlam Vodka | #SobeSavvySips ‘Thyme For Fall’ Martini

THYME FOR FALL Martini

PREP 15mins TOTAL 20mins

This cocktail is inspired by a recipe called The Salty Dog . I’ve made some variations to suit my taste. For example I prefer a sugar rimmed martini glass while the recipe calls for course salt around the rim. This tasty, thyme-infused drink calls for gin in some recipes, but my husband thought Bedlam Vodka would go well in this light, citrusy, herbal cocktail. He was right!

This recipe calls making a Thyme Simple Syrup with these ingredients: 1/4 cup sugar + 1/4 cup water + 8 sprigs Thyme

*The Cocktail Novice has a great guide for infusing herbs in simple syrups , that you can check out >>here.*

Makes 1 martini drink

YOU WILL NEED

2 oz. Bedlam Vodka
3 oz. Freshly Squeezed Pink Grapefruit Juice
½ oz. Freshly Squeezed Lime Juice
½ oz. Thyme Simple Syrup
1 Tbsp Sugar, For Glass Rim
1 Grapefruit wedge

DIRECTIONS

●Combine Vodka, Juices, Thyme Syrup and Ice in a Cocktail Shaker
●Shake Well
●Sugar the rim of a Martini Glass
●Strain Cocktail Into Martini Glass
●Garnish with a Thyme Sprig &      Grapefruit Wedge

Bedlam Vodka is available in NC ABC Stores plus bars and restaurants across the state.  Also, those of you in SC and GA can also enjoy the smooth taste of Bedlam Vodka. This company has plans of going nationwide, and to #bringthebedlam to everyone! Be sure to follow http://www.bedlamvodka.com to see what locations they will be in next!

Bedlam Vodka Cocktails

Hope you enjoy these 2 cocktail recipes and are inspired to go out and buy Bedlam Vodka and toast to the first day of Fall! 

Cheers!