A long vodka is a
vodka
Vodka ( ; is a clear distilled beverage, distilled alcoholic beverage. Its varieties originated in Poland and Russia. Vodka is composed mainly of water and ethanol but sometimes with traces of impurities and flavourings. Traditionally, it is ...
-based
cocktail
A cocktail is a mixed drink, usually alcoholic beverage, alcoholic. Most commonly, a cocktail is a combination of one or more liquor, spirits mixed with other ingredients, such as juices, flavored syrups, tonic water, Shrub (drink), shrubs, and ...
, popular throughout
Scotland
Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...
and known to be served in some parts of England.
Origins
The long vodka is claimed to have been invented in
Lancashire
Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated ''Lancs'') is a ceremonial county in North West England. It is bordered by Cumbria to the north, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire to the east, Greater Manchester and Merseyside to the south, and the Irish Sea to ...
, England in 1978 by Jacky Bevan. Bevan was a barmaid who, instead of making a
gin gimlet as requested, accidentally made the drink with
vodka
Vodka ( ; is a clear distilled beverage, distilled alcoholic beverage. Its varieties originated in Poland and Russia. Vodka is composed mainly of water and ethanol but sometimes with traces of impurities and flavourings. Traditionally, it is ...
instead of
gin
Gin () is a distilled alcoholic drink flavoured with juniper berries and other botanical ingredients.
Gin originated as a medicinal liquor made by monks and alchemists across Europe. The modern gin was modified in Flanders and the Netherlands ...
. She tried this combination and found it too bitter; she added lemonade to the drink and the first iteration of the drink was created. When Bevan visited a
pub
A pub (short for public house) is in several countries a drinking establishment licensed to serve alcoholic drinks for consumption on the premises. The term first appeared in England in the late 17th century, to differentiate private ho ...
in
Inverkeilor
Inverkeilor is a village and parish in Angus, Scotland. It lies near the North Sea coast, midway between Arbroath and Montrose, Angus, Montrose. The A92 road now bypasses the village.
The population of Inverkeilor parish in the United Kingdom Cen ...
, Scotland in 1981 and requested the drink, the bartender was intrigued by her drink choice and added it to his cocktail menu. It is believed that shortly afterwards the drink became known in nearby
Aberdeen
Aberdeen ( ; ; ) is a port city in North East Scotland, and is the List of towns and cities in Scotland by population, third most populous Cities of Scotland, Scottish city. Historically, Aberdeen was within the historic county of Aberdeensh ...
and
Montrose, and it quickly gained popularity around Scotland. The rinse of
Angostura bitters
Angostura bitters () is a concentrated bitters (herbal alcoholic preparation) based on gentian, herbs, and spices, produced by House of Angostura in Trinidad and Tobago. It is typically used for flavouring beverages, or less often, food. The ...
and the name 'long vodka' were added sometime after this.
Preparation
A long vodka is made by adding lemonade, or soda water, and
lime cordial to 1 or 2 shots of vodka on ice. The glass can either be rinsed (and then emptied) with
Angostura bitters
Angostura bitters () is a concentrated bitters (herbal alcoholic preparation) based on gentian, herbs, and spices, produced by House of Angostura in Trinidad and Tobago. It is typically used for flavouring beverages, or less often, food. The ...
, or 2–3 drops can be added to taste; distinguishing the drink from a vodka lime and lemonade.
See also
*
Gimlet (cocktail)
The gimlet () is a cocktail made of gin and lime cordial. A 1928 description of the drink was: gin, and a spot of lime. A description in the 1953 Raymond Chandler novel ''The Long Goodbye (novel), The Long Goodbye'' stated that "a real gimlet is h ...
*
Lemon, lime and bitters
*
Pink Gin
Pink gin was historically used to refer to a cocktail made fashionable in England in the mid-19th century, consisting of Plymouth gin and a dash of Angostura bitters, a dark red bitters that makes the whole drink pinkish. In recent years, the term ...
References
{{cocktail-stub
Cocktails with vodka
Cocktails with Angostura bitters
Cocktails with lemonade