Vodka can be made from a variety of base ingredients, including grains like wheat, rye, or barley, as well as potatoes, corn, and even sugar beets. However, some vodkas stand out for being distilled from more unique sources – like apples.
Apples as a Vodka Base
Apple vodka derives its distinct flavor from the fruits themselves. Apples contain high levels of sugars, which get fermented and distilled into alcohol. They also impart subtle fruit essences and aromas into the final spirit.
Compared to grain-based vodkas, those made from apples tend to taste sweeter and fruitier. They are sometimes described as having a rounded, smooth flavor with hints of apple or other orchard fruits. The natural sugars contribute to a softer, less harsh taste.
Popular Apple Vodka Brands
Some of the top vodkas made using apples include:
- Purity Vodka – Made in Sweden using locally-grown apples. Purity is distilled 34 times and filtered with charcoal for ultra smoothness.
- belle de Brillet – A French vodka made solely from the Brittany appellation apples. It has floral, fruity notes.
- Square One Organic Vodka – An American organic vodka made from organically-grown Fuji and Gala apples. It has a clean, fresh apple aroma.
- Shiny Apple Vodka – Uses specially selected apples from Italy’s Alto Adige region. It has a balanced sweetness with apple and pear flavors.
- Apple Cross Vodka – Made in the Yakima Valley of Washington state using a blend of apples for balanced acidity and fruitiness.
How Apple Vodka is Produced
The production process for apple vodka involves:
- Selecting and washing fresh apples – Usually a blend of apple varieties are used. Tart and sweet apples are combined.
- Mashing the apples into pulp – The apples are crushed and pressed to extract the juice.
- Fermenting the apple juice and sugars – Yeast is added to ferment the natural sugars into alcohol.
- Distilling the fermented apple juice – The liquid goes through distillation columns to concentrate the ABV and purify the flavors. Multiple distillations may be used.
- Filtering and bottling – The distilled spirit is filtered, diluted to 40% ABV with water, and bottled as vodka.
Compared to grain vodka, apple vodka takes more fruit to produce the same volume of alcohol. But the fruit contributes appealing flavors that stand out in cocktails or neat pours.
Cocktails Using Apple Vodka
The natural sweetness and fruitiness of apple vodka makes it perfect for many cocktails. Here are some popular recipes:
Apple Pie Martini
- 2 oz apple vodka
- 1 oz butterscotch liqueur
- 1 oz caramel syrup
- Dash of cinnamon sugar
Shake ingredients with ice. Strain into glass rimmed with cinnamon sugar. Garnish with an apple slice.
Sparkling Apple Vodka Spritzer
- 1 1/2 oz apple vodka
- 1/2 oz apple cider
- 4 oz sparkling water
- Apple slice garnish
Build in glass over ice. Top with sparkling water and garnish.
Candy Apple Martini
- 2 oz apple vodka
- 1/2 oz DeKuyper Sour Apple Pucker schnapps
- Splash sweet and sour mix
- Maraschino cherry garnish
Shake with ice and strain into chilled glass. Garnish with cherry.
Conclusion
Vodka made from apples offers a wonderfully flavored, fruit-forward spirit. Brands like Purity, Belle de Brillet, and Square One exemplify the smoothness and subtle sweetness that apple vodka can achieve. With its natural fruit essences, apple vodka shines in cocktails like the Apple Pie Martini, Candy Apple Martini, and more. For those looking to move beyond traditional grain vodka, apple vodka delivers satisfying fruit character and mixability.