National Vodka Day, October 4th. 

There is no doubt that Vodka is the most useful and mixable liquor at the bar. It’s clean and crisp nature makes it usable for pretty much anything like the standard Vodka Tonic, to an Apple or Espresso Martini, all the way to the Bloody Mary you’ll need the following morning. Today, most vodka is made from fermented grains such as sorghum, corn, rice, rye or wheat, though you can also use potatoes, fruits or even just sugar, but all have their own unique characteristics according to which medium you go with or what you add into the distilling pot. On October 4th, however you take it, mixed or straight up, Vodka is getting its very own appreciation day and let’s face it, after this crazy crazy year, we could all use something a little stronger than our daily glass (or two) of Chardonnay.

For those who were lucky enough to have dined in our restaurant before it very unfortunately closed due to the pandemic, you may have had one of the best fine dining experiences our little big town has to offer. Throughout it’s 43 year lifetime, the cocktails here at PRIMA had changed with the trends, new recipes were added and revamped, but one thing remained true-- vodka. It has been a go-to for many of the delicious concoctions our bartenders dreamt up and added to our menu. The most popular elixir was PRIMA’s version of a typical gin recipe, the PERSEPHONE. The only other beverage with the same sort of reputation would be the Aperol Spritz, but that is only because our wine shop manager, Mr. Frank Rothstein, would order one almost every night after his shift as our resident sommelier. I’d almost hate ordering the Persephone myself for fear that I would drink it too fast and keep ordering more! From our home to yours, we hope you can enjoy this delicious drink for many years to come.

The PRIMA Persephone:

• 1 oz Wheatley Vodka
• 1 oz Pomegranate juice
• 0.5 oz fresh lemon juice
• Give a little stir
• Top off with your Jeio Bisol Prosecco

One of my favorite examples of flavored vodka is from St. George Spirits, a Bay Area Distillery close to our homebase. Master distillers, Dave Smith and Lance Winters, make a range of unique and VERY delicious vodkas, gins, whiskeys, and liquors but none stand out to me more like their Green Chili Vodka. They make this vodka from a variety of California-grown hot and sweet peppers that build layers of sweet and savory heat. They also include lime peel and fresh cilantro for even more vibrancy and depth of flavor. If you’re a fan of the Moscow Mule, make sure to take a spin with their Green Chili Mule for a refreshing savory kick that is sure to have your taste buds steaming.

• The Green Chili Mule:
• 2 oz St. George Green Chile Vodka
• 3 oz ginger beer
• 1/2 oz fresh lime juice
• Garnish with a lime wedge