I'll blame it on the time of the year, but the first thing that I thought when I heard about the garlic-flavored vodka from Russian distillery Vodochnaya Artel "YAT" was that it must be designed to keep vampires away. Why else would you want to drink it? As it turns out, the garlic vodka is part of a new line of strongly flavored "bitter nastoykas" from the company, which has also released a horseradish-flavored vodka.

The spirits are supposed to be served with food, enhancing the flavor of the dishes. The horseradish "fits in well with meat dishes, for instance jellied tongue or herring seasoned with spring onions" and the garlic, which actually contains natural garlic, "will warm you and keep you off cold."

If these two flavors aren't exactly appealing to you, and you don't have any vampires that you want to ward off using the garlic vodka, the company also makes honey and cornbread flavored vodkas that sound like they would be more appealing to a general audience.

[via Bottle Watch]

44°North Vodka ($29) is an ultra-premium vodka made in Idaho using - what else - Idaho potatoes as part of its distillation process. The 70-proof spirit is flavored with huckleberries, which give the vodka a grapey, blueberry flavor that is quite addictive, though the thing that sets it apart (aside from the sexy bottle) from other vodkas is its quality. It is incredibly smooth and well-balanced, a perfect sipping vodka when chilled.

Of course, a vodka that is good on its own is also good in drinks. And, all things considered, it might be for the best that not too many bars in my area stock this. 

My general philosophy on drinks is that simpler is better. Hence, this drink is a slightly more precise version of one of the vodka-maker's standard recipes and really only requires two ingredients, though it can be tarted up with a twist of lime, if so desired. I've noticed that my martini glasses are on the large side, so this drink is formulated to make a 5-ounce drink. If, for some reason, your martini glass can't handle it than you'll have to treat the bartender to the leftovers before you serve the drink.

44°North Boise Metropolitan
2 ounces 44°North vodka
3 ounces cranberry juice
twist of lime (optional)

Combine vodka and cranberry juice in a shaker filled with ice, shake and strain into a martini glass. Add a twist of lime for extra punch.

Zygo Vodka is a vodka that contains guarana, taurine and yerba matte - giving it a caffeinated kick. It's tagged as being "the morning vodka," referring to the fact that it's supposed to keep you going until dawn - not because it should be drunk in the morning. Their sales pitch - one of them, at least - seems to be "Check this out, it's got all the same sh*t as red bull and doesn't taste like a tin can." Pretty persuasive marketing, especially as energy everything gets more and more popular.

Unlike Pink Vodka, which is flavorless as well as caffeinated, Zygo Vodka is a flavored with a blend of Mandarin Orange, Peach, Juniper and Vanilla. The spirit is 70 proof and can be used in any normal vodka application. It sounds like it would make a killer cosmo, though the company has lots of more inventive recipes on their site. They also have a blog that's worth checking out if you're interested in hearing about how a young company with spirit(s) gets started.

Zygo is carried in a number of clubs and bars, as well as hotels like NY's Mandarin Oriental, throughout 37 states. It also looks to be available online for $29.99.

At Luxist, Deidre mentioned that there is a vodka with a purpose beyond mere intoxication. Snow Leopard Vodka is an ultra-premium Polish vodka made with spelt grain that promises to be the "best vodka on the market," with a round, smooth taste. It is being sold to benefit the Snow Leopard Trust, a nonprofit dedicated to the protection of the endangered felines. A full 15% of the profits will be donated to the trust and the company hopes to be able to donate more than £543,000 ($1 million) each year. The vodka will be available at Harvey Nichols wine shops in the UK this month, where it will sell for £36. There will also be at least eight upscale restaurants and nightclubs that will be selling the vodka and specialty cocktails that feature it, so customers can drink with a conscience.