"Sipping Vodka" ??

In our life food is definitely a dominant theme - even if you try to ignore it.  It's funny how sometimes food shows up into other realms such as movies, music, art and pop culture.  It could be said that what we eat/drink in part defines us or at least reveals information about us.  If in a hundred years a historian was going to analyze this blog she/he would be able to point out certain things about me only based on the food topics I'm writing on.  An economist might make assumptions about my income and quality of life.

It's from one of this crossovers between drink and music that my post begins.  I have always been interested in hip hop culture and I still listen to a lot of rap music.  Regardless of how polite and correct it might be it is still a very fascinating music genre full of rhythm and inventiveness.  

Listening to the recent and very good King's Landing by Vinny Cha$e - vinnycha$enyc - mixtape preview - I came across a rhyme that captured my attention.  On track 6 of the mixtape, the appropriately titled "Coolin," Vinny talks of "sipping vodka."  As I did not recall that vodka should be sipped I immediately researched the topic. Is the word " sipping" used as slang? The Urban Dictionary defines sipping as: "process of drinking carbonated grape juice and liquid codeine mixed usually while smoking marijuana." It is obviously not a case of slang.  Vinny Cha$e implies that he's drinking so much vodka that it's like sipping it - a constant drinking process.  And the word "sippin" is for sure much more club-cool than drinking. One could not rap to "shooting vodka." It just doesn't sound right.

My quest continued.  Should vodka be taken in shots as I believe or should it be sipped?

From a logical point of view it should be drunk in shots.  Its main characteristic is purity and freshness of taste.  There is no benefit in sipping it.  Vodka is served from the freezer. The drinker is not trying to showcase or taste any subtle flavors.  If that was the case vodka would be served at room temperature.

But besides my experience in Latvia and general knowledge I searched the internet for more validation.

Esquire contains an article that is a bit oxymoronic: the title mentions that vodka should be "sipped with food" but later on it mentions that vodka should be "drunk in little chilled shots alongside little plates." That makes more sense.  Esquire is talking about zakuskis. These are Russian hors d'oeuvres served before a meal.  

I did go on to research the web a bit more and found plenty more evidence of Russian origin to support my statement that vodka should be drunk in shots.  It's important not to fill the glass to the rim and to finish the vodka in one gulp.  Vodka needs to be served chilled - the bottle kept in the freezer.  And make sure to give a toast when having vodka. 

So for this Christmas season instead of an aperitif or white wine why not pair your buffet of amuse bouche and hors d'oeuvres with shots of good quality vodka? 

Final notes:

From my vodka adventure I learned a few more things. 

YORSH: a Russian drink consisting of beer + generous amount of vodka. Don't ask me how it originated.

PICKLE JUICE: preferred Russian hangover cure.