Belvedere Pure Vodka

Bea Bradsell is the On-Trade Director of The Drink Cabinet. Over her 20 years in hospitality, she has worked at some of the world’s top venues including El Camion, Callooh Callay, Swift & The Dead Rabbit. Bea is also the daughter of Dick Bradsell, creator of many modern classics, most notably the Espresso Martini and the Bramble.

Starting with a beautiful velvety mouthfeel, moving into lactic notes and finishing on spiced rye. Smooth and creamy with a touch of spice.

This is a vodka for all occasions. The bold flavours of the vodka mean it makes a perfect Martini - Espresso and Classic. However, its complexity also means you can experiment. I recommend trying it in a familiar whisky classic like an Old Fashioned (switch out the Angostura bitters for lemon bitters).

This vodka is a great all-rounder. It’s the perfect introduction to the category for those who are starting off their vodka journey, thanks to its approachable flavour profile. It pairs wonderfully with mixers or in classic vodka cocktails. However, the layers of flavour found in its Dankowski rye also make it a wonderful vodka to sip neat, so you can explore flavours that often don’t shine through in other vodkas - from subtle sweet touches of vanilla to spiced peppery rye.

An Espresso Martini of course! The creamy texture of the vodka and its subtle sweetness make it the perfect accompaniment to the classic dessert cocktail. Belvedere Pure is also the base for my classic Martini of choice. I tend to go for a wet Martini either with a pickled onion or a lemon twist. If I’m making them at home, I also add 5ml of fino sherry.

For your Espresso Martini, you want to make sure you properly ice up your shaker. You’re going to need to shake it hard to get that beautiful frothy head and lots of good-quality ice will help with this. I’m also actually a fan of a freezer Martini. Once you’re a couple of Martinis into your bottle of Belvedere Pure, work out your ratios for vermouth and some water for dilution then pop the bottle in the freezer so you always have the perfect serve ready to go. No ice needed!

I always like a bit of a ‘V’ to my Espresso Martini glasses. Maybe not all the way to the giant mid-90s glasses but just enough of the shape to remind you of them and bring a touch of nostalgia to the experience. I like a smaller size of glass for my Martinis. I picked up some beautiful vintage glasses that are just perfect for a couple of sips. This means they always stay ice cold, and you can keep topping them up from your freezer bottle.

The Espresso Martini started life as an after-dinner/dessert cocktail, and it still has its place there. But my perfect time is when your evening is at a crossroads. It usually helps make up your mind - getting you back on the dance floor or just enough energy for the bus home.