Although I always enjoy my Wine Of The Week, summer is on its way (fingers crossed), so I occasionally try to swap out a glass of wine with a slightly lower calorie vodka & water…but not all vodkas are created equal. My fiancé is of Polish decent so vodka knowledge (and drinking it) is an important part of our alcohol collection.

Polish vodka is among the worlds best- something to keep that in mind when choosing your spirits this weekend. Many people aren’t aware of most vodka’s grain base but as a celiac, I have had to educate myself on such things. So I was very excited to receive a bottle of Luksusowa, a beautiful Polish potato based vodka. Luksusowa is Polish for ‘luxury’ and in a grain-heavy vodka market, it is no surprise that this spirit is award winning.

Although the bottle arrived with some suggested recipes, I always believe that the true test of a decent vodka is to drink it alone and/or in a vodka water where the flavour cannot hide behind sugars, bitters or fruit juices. We poured over ice and sipped- it was clear, smooth and crisp, everything you would expect from vodka called ‘Luxury.’

With the combination of luxurious taste and Luksusowa’s red-blooded, millennial male targeted marketing, it was no wonder that this vodka disappeared the next time my man had the boys over for ‘a few drinks’.

We did get a chance to try out a few recipes and our favourite was the Basil & Raspberry Smash, which you can find below. It was light, sweet without being offensive and let the Luksusowa hold its own on the flavour front.

While for me, nothing can top a Gabbiano Pinot Grigio or a Louis M Martini Cabernet Sauvignon, there is room in my slightly Polish world for delicious vodka based cocktails or even the classic vodka & water…. Especially when they’re made with Luksusowa Vodka.

Available at the LCBO for $25.45 (750 mL)

Basil and Raspberry Smash

• 1.5 oz. Luksusowa Vodka
• .5 oz
 Simple syrup
• 5
 Basil leaves
• 10 Fresh raspberries
• .5 oz. Cranberry juice

Garnish:

• 2 fresh raspberries and a basil leaf

Instructions:
 Muddle basil and raspberries gently in a short glass. Add all other ingredients and fill glass 2/3 with crushed ice. Mix well using a bar spoon and top up with ice.

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