Blackstar

About the Blackstar

Anise tinged and citrus forward, the Blackstar is a vodka cocktail that pairs Timber Creek Florida Vodka with grapefruit and lime juice, a small pour of sambuca, simple syrup, and a star anise pod for garnish. Vodka forward drinks live or die on the quality of the base spirit, since there’s little else in the glass to hide behind. Timber Creek Florida Vodka, distilled from grain and finished through the distillery’s grain to glass process, has a clean, slightly sweet profile that gives the citrus juices something substantial to build on, rather than tasting like flavored water with a kick. The sambuca adds a licorice sweetness that echoes the star anise garnish, tying the whole presentation together both visually and on the palate.

To build it, shake the vodka, grapefruit juice, lime juice, sambuca, and simple syrup hard with ice until well chilled, then strain into a chilled coupe glass. Float a star anise pod on the surface as a garnish, both for aroma and for visual effect against the glass’s pale color. The bittersweet grapefruit and anise combination pairs nicely with the suggested dark chocolate, berry tart, and roasted almonds, all of which can stand up to the drink’s citrus edge. Blue cheese offers a sharper, saltier counterpoint if you want something less sweet on the table, and duck breast makes a good main course if you’re building a full menu around the drink.

Because vodka cocktails can taste deceptively light and easy to drink, it’s worth remembering the full pour of spirit in each glass, sipping at a reasonable pace and making sure you’ve got a plan for getting home safely before the night gets away from you. Its refreshing profile makes it easy to reach for a second round too quickly, so pace yourself accordingly and keep water within reach between glasses.

Anise tinged and citrus forward, the Blackstar is a vodka cocktail that pairs Timber Creek Florida Vodka with grapefruit and lime juice, a small pour of sambuca, simple syrup, and a star anise pod for garnish. Vodka forward drinks live or die on the quality of the base spirit, since there’s little else in the glass to hide behind. Timber Creek Florida Vodka, distilled from grain and finished through the distillery’s grain to glass process, has a clean, slightly sweet profile that gives the citrus juices something substantial to build on, rather than tasting like flavored water with a kick. The sambuca adds a licorice sweetness that echoes the star anise garnish, tying the whole presentation together both visually and on the palate.

To build it, shake the vodka, grapefruit juice, lime juice, sambuca, and simple syrup hard with ice until well chilled, then strain into a chilled coupe glass. Float a star anise pod on the surface as a garnish, both for aroma and for visual effect against the glass’s pale color. The bittersweet grapefruit and anise combination pairs nicely with the suggested dark chocolate, berry tart, and roasted almonds, all of which can stand up to the drink’s citrus edge. Blue cheese offers a sharper, saltier counterpoint if you want something less sweet on the table, and duck breast makes a good main course if you’re building a full menu around the drink.

Because vodka cocktails can taste deceptively light and easy to drink, it’s worth remembering the full pour of spirit in each glass, sipping at a reasonable pace and making sure you’ve got a plan for getting home safely before the night gets away from you. Its refreshing profile makes it easy to reach for a second round too quickly, so pace yourself accordingly and keep water within reach between glasses.