Move Over Martinis, This Potato Vodka Belongs in a Kokum Punch

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Tucked into Colorado's Roaring Fork Valley, Woody Creek Distillers produces a potato vodka that reminds us the humble tuber is capable of far more than becoming a fried appetizer. The potatoes are grown in the region  and the water comes from the surrounding mountains. 

Woody Creek Distillers Vodka begins with three varieties of locally grown potatoes: Colorado Rio Grande Russet, Chepita, and Lady Claire. Rather than relying on neutral grain spirits or blending with spirits sourced elsewhere, the distillery commits to a single distillation that preserves the character of its ingredients. The result is a vodka with surprising depth and subtle complexity. Its signature creamy mouthfeel sets it apart from many of its more neutral competitors, whether enjoyed neat, over ice, or at the center of a well-crafted cocktail. 

Buy Woody Creek Potato Vodka: $33.85

While the vodka performs admirably in a Vesper Martini — my all time favorite cocktail – its creamy texture and subtle peppery notes also make it an excellent candidate for a Kokum Punch. The tart fruit character of the kokum, fresh mint, and lime provide a refreshing counterpoint to the vodka's richer mouthfeel, while a rim of chaat masala highlights the spirit's natural flavors.

Vodka Kokum Punch

This recipe was adapted from a Vodka Kokum Punch by Apoorva Rao, originally published by The Bar. The version below has been modified for this review. 

Ingredients

• 2 oz Woody Creek Distillers Vodka (60 mL)
• 2 oz kokum sharbat (60 mL)
• 8 fresh mint leaves, divided
• ⅓ oz lime juice (10 mL)
• Chaat masala for a light half-rim

Method

1. Apply a light half-rim of chaat masala to a highball glass.
2. Add 4–6 fresh mint leaves to a shaker and gently muddle.
3. Add the vodka, kokum sharbat, lime juice, and ice.
4. Shake until well chilled.
5. Strain into a highball glass filled with crushed ice.
6. Garnish with the remaining mint leaves.

Served over crushed ice, the Vodka Kokum Punch is exactly what I want on a humid summer evening. The kokum brings enough tartness to keep the drink from feeling sweet, while the potato vodka gives it a fuller body — a velvety, slightly viscous texture. The chaat masala rim feels like South Asia's answer to Tajín, pairing so naturally with the tart, floral character of the kokum that it might as well have been made for this cocktail. 

Something tells me a lot of Kokum Punches are going to be mixed this summer.

Buy Woody Creek Potato Vodka: $33.85

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