Listen. The bottom line is that most of what you're drinking in a vodka martini is vodka. Pour a glass full of crap and you can guess what its going to taste like. Do yourself a favor and taste some of the better vodkas. Find the one that appeals most to you. That's your vodka. - Johnnie

Vodka and the Martini Recipe

Your choice of vodka will "make or break" your martini experience.  If you have ever had a vodka martini and experienced an unpleasant burning sensation, the cocktail was probably inartfully mixed with a poor quality vodka.  So, how do you know a good vodka?

Quality For Your Vodka Martini Recipe

Ingredients, Distillation and Filtration are the three factors that determine whether a vodka is going to be an ultra-premium experience or just cheap booze.  Of course, when shopping, you can use price as a guide because the premium and ultra-premium vodkas will reflect their stature in their price tag.  However, it also helps to know what makes that vodka worth the price.

The spirit's smoothness will get better or worse depending upon what ingredient is used to produce it.  Both the type and the quality of those ingredients used to make vodka play a role in the result.  Corn, potatoes, molasses, barley, rye and wheat are the common ingredients used in manufacture. Corn based vodka tends to lack distinctive taste and is typically not used to produce premium spirits.  Vodka made from wheat tends to have a soft, smooth character.  Other vodkas may carry hints of the fruit essences they contain.

During the distillation process, the distiller is attempting to retain the flavorful traits of the vodka while getting rid of impurities. Most distillers have proprietary distillation processes to help in achieving the balance between purity and taste.

Johnnie Martini's Vodka Reference
Grade	Well	Better	Premium	Ultra-Premium
Taste	Burns.	Less burn.	Little or no burn, and may exhibit some individual charcter.	A very smooth spirit with character and individuality.
Preferred Ingredients	-	-	Potato, soy or wheat.	Potato, soy or wheat.

Vodka Tasting

To taste different vodkas, you will use a small shot glass and serve the spirit chilled. Begin by taking in the aroma. If it smells like rubbing alcohol, it probably is a lesser quality vodka.

Next, hold the vodka in your mouth for a moment before swallowing. A top vodka will be smooth with very little burn.  You may detect a hint of spiciness from rye, slight sweetness from wheat, or perhaps a hint of fruit. 

How do you determine the best vodka?  It's all up to you.  Take home the one you enjoy most.

A Vodka Martini Recipe Uses More Than Vodka

While vodka constitutes a significant part of a vodka martini, it is not the sole ingredient.  When selecting ingredients, remember that the only two elements you control in the process of creating the drink is your skill and the quality of the ingredients. 

Make sure your vermouth is fresh, as it does have a shelf life.  The same is true for your garnish.  Your ice should be clear, made from clean water.  Your goal is to create something that is truly refined.

Selecting A Gin For Your Martini