Bacon vodka
Encyclopedia
Bacon vodka is vodka
infused with bacon
flavor, part of a larger trend of "carnivorous cocktails" and the addition of savory flavor to mixed drinks. The infused alcohol can be sipped but is typically used in mixed drinks like the Bloody Mary
or bacon martini
.
.
In April 2009, Seattle-based Black Rock Spirits released a commercial version of bacon-infused vodka, which is known as "Bakon Vodka". The vodka was a result of two years of testing. Black Rock's vodka is a potato-based spirit
, created using a single heating process of column distillation
in an effort to keep the alcohol from "bruising". Bakon Vodka is currently available in about 16 states. It retails for about $30 per bottle. Black Rock Spirits has reported to have had commercial success to date, expanding production based on the demand.
has described it as having a "robust, meaty aroma that pleased the palate, grounded by a sharp undercurrent of liquor."
"Food and Beverage World" said of the vodka "[I was] amazed at the mouthfeel. It was warm and had more substance than just vodka alone, and it actually tasted like the bacon I had last Sunday morning! It also reminded me of smoked pork. Swallowing it clinched the deal. It was among the smoothest vodkas I have ever had with absolutely no bite... It gave the drink a hint of smokiness and of course a subtle bacon flavor that really, really worked well."
Bakon Vodka has since received critical acclaim by professional mixologists, winning the 2010 Silver Medal winner in the Wine and Spirits category in the Beverage World BevStar Awards, and a silver medal in the SIP Awards International Spirits Competition. In November 2010, Bakon Vodka was awarded a Gold medal and rated "92 points - Exceptional" by the Beverage Testing Institute's International Review of Spirits, the oldest and one of the most widely regarded spirits competitions in the US. The review notes:
The Tasting Panel magazine, the most widely circulated trade publication in the beverage industry, selected Bakon Vodka as a "Publisher's Pick" for their September 2010 issue, giving it a score of 93 points. The review notes, "The smoky bacon nose is not at all contrived; in fact, it's tempting as all get-out. The palate is just as authentic: clean and slightly sweet with a how-did-they-do-it authenticity. No heat at all, merely slightly peppered and delectable."
Bakon was also featured in a number of TV programs including The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien
, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
, and The Today Show
.
called the "Bacon Mary", where traditional vodka is substituted with Bacon Vodka. The Bacon Caesar
, popular in Canada, is a variation of the Bloody Mary that uses Clamato
or clam broth.
The creation of bacon vodka has inspired bartenders to create a number of cocktails based on the infusion, where the smoke and umami
flavor accents other more traditional flavors. Popular drinks with bacon vodka include the Bacon Martini
, the Bacon Russian (similar to a White Russian
) and the Bacon-Chocolate Martini. It can also be used in a marinade
for meats such as steak, or straight in a Bacon-Vodka Oyster Shooter.
Vodka
Vodka , is a distilled beverage. It is composed primarily of water and ethanol with traces of impurities and flavorings. Vodka is made by the distillation of fermented substances such as grains, potatoes, or sometimes fruits....
infused with bacon
Bacon
Bacon is a cured meat prepared from a pig. It is first cured using large quantities of salt, either in a brine or in a dry packing; the result is fresh bacon . Fresh bacon may then be further dried for weeks or months in cold air, boiled, or smoked. Fresh and dried bacon must be cooked before eating...
flavor, part of a larger trend of "carnivorous cocktails" and the addition of savory flavor to mixed drinks. The infused alcohol can be sipped but is typically used in mixed drinks like the Bloody Mary
Bloody Mary (cocktail)
A Bloody Mary is a popular cocktail containing vodka, tomato juice, and usually other spices or flavorings such as Worcestershire sauce, Peri-Peri Sauce, Tabasco sauce, beef consomme or bouillon, horseradish, celery, olive, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, lemon juice, and celery salt...
or bacon martini
Bacon martini
A Bacon Martini, also known as Bacontini, Pig On The Rocks or a Bloody Bacon Martini, is a cocktail that consists of bacon-infused vodka and is served with a garnish that can include ingredients such as strips of bacon, bacon bits and olives. Variants may include the addition of Bloody Mary mix...
.
History and commercial availability
Meat-infused beverages are nothing new to the cocktail world, some famous examples including the "Bull Shot" at Ernest Hemmingway's favorite bar (Harry's) in Venice in 1940s, and references by writers as far back as the 17th century, including John Locke and Samuel Pepys, who imbibed and wrote about savory infused ales. A handful of bars and mixologists have been making bacon or other meat-infused cocktails for years, including the Double Down Saloon in Las Vegas and New York, which has been famous for their "Bacon Martini" for over a decade. Bacon and other meat-infused cocktails have only recently started enjoying wider appeal as mixologists have noted that "meat brings out the smokiness of the whiskey [and other cocktail combinations]". Mainstream interest in bacon vodka has been further driven by a pop-cultural interest in bacon, often called bacon maniaBacon mania
Bacon mania refers to passionate bacon enthusiasm in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Especially fervent in the United States, the enthusiasm has been described as forming a "Bacon Nation"...
.
In April 2009, Seattle-based Black Rock Spirits released a commercial version of bacon-infused vodka, which is known as "Bakon Vodka". The vodka was a result of two years of testing. Black Rock's vodka is a potato-based spirit
Distilled beverage
A distilled beverage, liquor, or spirit is an alcoholic beverage containing ethanol that is produced by distilling ethanol produced by means of fermenting grain, fruit, or vegetables...
, created using a single heating process of column distillation
Fractional distillation
Fractional distillation is the separation of a mixture into its component parts, or fractions, such as in separating chemical compounds by their boiling point by heating them to a temperature at which several fractions of the compound will evaporate. It is a special type of distillation...
in an effort to keep the alcohol from "bruising". Bakon Vodka is currently available in about 16 states. It retails for about $30 per bottle. Black Rock Spirits has reported to have had commercial success to date, expanding production based on the demand.
Reception
"After hours" reporter Sam Sessa of The Baltimore SunThe Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun is the U.S. state of Maryland’s largest general circulation daily newspaper and provides coverage of local and regional news, events, issues, people, and industries....
has described it as having a "robust, meaty aroma that pleased the palate, grounded by a sharp undercurrent of liquor."
"Food and Beverage World" said of the vodka "[I was] amazed at the mouthfeel. It was warm and had more substance than just vodka alone, and it actually tasted like the bacon I had last Sunday morning! It also reminded me of smoked pork. Swallowing it clinched the deal. It was among the smoothest vodkas I have ever had with absolutely no bite... It gave the drink a hint of smokiness and of course a subtle bacon flavor that really, really worked well."
Bakon Vodka has since received critical acclaim by professional mixologists, winning the 2010 Silver Medal winner in the Wine and Spirits category in the Beverage World BevStar Awards, and a silver medal in the SIP Awards International Spirits Competition. In November 2010, Bakon Vodka was awarded a Gold medal and rated "92 points - Exceptional" by the Beverage Testing Institute's International Review of Spirits, the oldest and one of the most widely regarded spirits competitions in the US. The review notes:
The Tasting Panel magazine, the most widely circulated trade publication in the beverage industry, selected Bakon Vodka as a "Publisher's Pick" for their September 2010 issue, giving it a score of 93 points. The review notes, "The smoky bacon nose is not at all contrived; in fact, it's tempting as all get-out. The palate is just as authentic: clean and slightly sweet with a how-did-they-do-it authenticity. No heat at all, merely slightly peppered and delectable."
Bakon was also featured in a number of TV programs including The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien
The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien
The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien is an American late-night talk show that featured Conan O'Brien as host from June 1, 2009 to January 22, 2010 as part of NBC's long-running Tonight Show franchise...
, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno is an American late-night talk show hosted by Jay Leno that initially aired from May 25, 1992 to May 29, 2009, and resumed production on March 1, 2010. The fourth incarnation of the Tonight Show franchise made its debut on May 25, 1992, three days following Johnny...
, and The Today Show
The Today Show
Today is an iconic American morning news and talk show airing every morning on NBC. Debuting on January 14, 1952, it was the first of its genre on American television and in the world. The show is also the fourth-longest running American television series...
.
Home-made versions
Bacon-flavored vodka infusions can be made by pouring 4oz of bacon fat in a fifth of vodka,continuously stirring, freezing and then removing the fat off the top. The process is known as 'fat-washing'.Uses
Black Rock Spirits, the maker of Bacon recommends sipping the vodka rather than taking it as a shot because of the strong smoky flavor. In a mixed drink the most popular recipe is Bacon Vodka's flagship cocktail, a variation on the Bloody MaryBloody Mary (cocktail)
A Bloody Mary is a popular cocktail containing vodka, tomato juice, and usually other spices or flavorings such as Worcestershire sauce, Peri-Peri Sauce, Tabasco sauce, beef consomme or bouillon, horseradish, celery, olive, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, lemon juice, and celery salt...
called the "Bacon Mary", where traditional vodka is substituted with Bacon Vodka. The Bacon Caesar
Caesar (cocktail)
A Caesar or Bloody Caesar is a cocktail created and primarily consumed in Canada. It typically contains vodka, Clamato , hot sauce and Worcestershire sauce, and is served with ice in a large, celery salt-rimmed glass, typically garnished with a stalk of celery and wedge of lime.It was invented in...
, popular in Canada, is a variation of the Bloody Mary that uses Clamato
Clamato
Clamato is a drink made of reconstituted tomato juice concentrate flavored with spices and clam broth. Made by Mott's, the name is a portmanteau of "clam" and "tomato"...
or clam broth.
The creation of bacon vodka has inspired bartenders to create a number of cocktails based on the infusion, where the smoke and umami
Umami
Umami , popularly referred to as savoriness, is one of the five basic tastes together with sweet, sour, bitter, and salty.-Etymology:Umami is a loanword from the Japanese meaning "pleasant savory taste". This particular writing was chosen by Professor Kikunae Ikeda from umai "delicious" and mi ...
flavor accents other more traditional flavors. Popular drinks with bacon vodka include the Bacon Martini
Bacon martini
A Bacon Martini, also known as Bacontini, Pig On The Rocks or a Bloody Bacon Martini, is a cocktail that consists of bacon-infused vodka and is served with a garnish that can include ingredients such as strips of bacon, bacon bits and olives. Variants may include the addition of Bloody Mary mix...
, the Bacon Russian (similar to a White Russian
White Russian (cocktail)
A White Russian is a sweet cocktail made with vodka, coffee liqueurs , and cream served with ice in an Old Fashioned glass...
) and the Bacon-Chocolate Martini. It can also be used in a marinade
Marination
Marination is the process of soaking foods in a seasoned, often acidic, liquid before cooking. The origins of the word allude to the use of brine in the pickling process, which led to the technique of adding flavor by immersion in liquid...
for meats such as steak, or straight in a Bacon-Vodka Oyster Shooter.