For anyone like me who is sick of the dirty hangovers that supermarket value vodka gives you, and who also thinks that no longer being a student means that it’s probably time to refine their taste in drink, help is at hand. I recently stumbled (excuse the pun!) upon Gold Russian Standard Vodka, which unlike many of its competitors, is actually produced in Russia - the spiritual and cultural homeland of premium vodka.
Coming from a brand who prides themselves on being exceptionally smooth tasting, and thus ideal for pairing with food, it is fitting that they recommend pairing their Russian Standard Vodka with Zakuski – Russian for ‘small bites’ or ‘bar snacks’. And while Zakuski, much like vodka, is a Russian tradition, it has certainly infiltrated into other cultures, with a fondness for canapés or bar-bites being very much commonplace in England.
And with the festive season drawing closer by the day, never has it been more appropriate to indulge in some Vodka and Zakuski. So whether you’re enjoying a couple of drinks at home with friends, or getting ready for a festive night out on the tiles and are after a tipple or two and some nibbles to pre-empt a night of banter and boogying, look no further than Russian Standard Vodka and Zakuski; the perfect fusion of food and drink. But remember folks, drink sensibly – with our student days nothing but a distant memory it’s no longer socially acceptable to wake up with a traffic cone in one’s room, nor in a stranger’s bed! And the lovely people at Russian Standard Vodka have given us a recipe suggestion for anyone wanting to try their hands at a Russian delicacy – enjoy!
Classic Russian Blini Recipe
Ingredients:
- 175g plain flour
- 50g buckwheat flour
- 1 sachet dried yeast
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 3 eggs – separated
- 150ml sour cream
- 275ml milk
Sift flour and yeast in one bowl, combine egg yolks, sour cream and milk in another bowl and whisk. Add the egg mixture to the flour, cover and allow to double in size in a warm, dry place. Softly beat in egg whites and fry. Top with desired topping. We recommend smoked salmon or caviar if you’re feeling flush!