Puffing Billy Vodka with a difference NO potatoes

Puffing Billy Vodka is different to any other Vodka as their Vodka is not made from potatoes nor grains but from malted barley instead.

I was kindly gifted a bottle of Puffing Billy vodka as a PR sample to enjoy at home as I am a lover of vodka and wow how I was surprised by the taste.

Puffing Billy

Puffing Billy ABV 40% is a new Scottish vodka which came on the market back in February 2020.

Their vodka is different to any other vodka as it’s made using malted barley.

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First, we pot-distill our malted barley spirit. Then we re-distill it in our Carterhead Still to turn it into vodka. Regular filtration would strip away the delicious flavours and soft textures of the barley, so instead the spirit vapours are steamed through charcoal rather than filtered as a liquid. It’s the only vodka in the world made this way. Puffing Billy Steam Vodka – Steam Smoothed. Never Filtered. . . . Please drink responsibly. Visit drinkaware.co.uk for the facts.

A post shared by Puffing Billy Steam Vodka (@puffingbillyvodka) on Feb 27, 2020 at 9:16am PST

The malted barley is made from pot distilling, not filtered. The spirit vapours are then steamed through charcoal rather than filtered as a liquid which makes Puffing Billy the only vodka in the world which is made in this way.

The malted barley within Puffing Billy Steam Vodka gives a rich, creamy texture creating a full rounded smoothness which provides an excellent balance.

Puffing Billy love of vodka

Upon receiving my bottle of Puffin Billy before cracking it open it was very interesting learning about how their vodka is made from the malted barley as on the back of the bottle there is a diagram of the whole process.

The clear vodka has a citrus, fruity and grassy smell to it. Upon tasting has a smooth taste bringing flavour of malt, lemon and spice. Refreshingly clean.

As well as just drinking Puffing Billy pure I decided to create a few cocktails with it.

Pink Vodka Lemonade Cocktail (serves 6 – 8 people)

Ingredients

• 2 cups of ice
• 180ml Vodka
• 80ml lime juice
• 80ml cranberry juice
• 60ml Malibu
• 1.25 quart (litre) lemonade

1. Combine all of the ingredients in a large pitcher filled with ice, adding the soda last. Serve.

Vodka Lemonade Spritz

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp water
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 2 slices lemon peel
• 3 lemon wedges
• Juice of 1/2 lemon
• 150 ml Vodka
• Soda water as needed

Method

• In a small sauce pan, bring to a light boil the sugar, water, lemon peel and juice, on very low heat.
• Simmer until you reach a syrup consistency, then turn the heat off and allow to cool.
• Fill each glass with a wedge of lemon, 2fl oz of vodka and 1 tbsp of syrup, then lightly mix.
• Top with soda water and ice cubes, then serve.

Cosmopolitan Cocktail

Ingredients

• 45ml lemon Vodka
• 15ml triple sec
• 30ml cranberry juice
• 10ml lime juice
• ice

Garnish

• Orange zest, or a lime wedge on the rim of the glass

Method

1. Shake ingredients with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.
2. To make the garnish, hold a 3cm round piece of orange zest about 10cm above your drink and wave over a flame. Bend the outer edge of the zest in towards the flame so that the orange oils are released, then drop the zest into the the drink .

Also I decided to cook with it.

Easy Vodka Sauce (serves 2)

Ingredients

• 1/2 tbsp olive oil
• 1/4 onion, finely chopped
• 125g pancetta, diced
• 1 garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup Vodka
• 8oz can tomatoes, crushed
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup double cream
• 1/2 cup parmsean cheese, grated
• 250g pasta
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
• Basil, thinly sliced

Method

1. Heat olive oil in a large saucepan. Add the chopped onions and pancetta and cook over medium heat until onions have softened and pancetta is crispy, about 4 minutes.
2. Add in garlic and cook for approx 1 – 2 minutes.
3. Add the vodka and the tomatoes to the pot. Bring the sauce to a simmer. Simmer for around 20 minutes to burn off the alcohol and cook down the tomatoes.
4. Cook pasta in boiling water.
5. Add the salt, cream and Parmesan. Simmer for approx 5 minutes until creamy.
6. Mix in sauce with cooked pasta with the red pepper flakes if using along with the basil.

Lemon Vodka Jellies (serves 12)

Ingredients

• 3 large lemons
• 1 tbsp caster sugar
• 2 gelatine leaves
• 100ml vodka
• 50ml lemon cello

Method

1. Cut the lemons in half length ways and scoop out the flesh, reserving the hollowed-out halves. Chop the flesh in a blender, then push through a sieve into a bowl. Discard the pulp in the sieve. Measure out 100ml juice (top up with water if you need to), then pour into a pan with 50ml water and the sugar. Bring to a simmer.
2. Soak the gelatine in cold water. Remove the juice mixture from the heat. Squeeze the excess water from the gelatine, then add to the pan and stir to dissolve. Pour in the vodka and triple sec.
3. Set the reserved lemon halves, cut-side up and fill to the top with the jelly mix. Leave to set in the fridge overnight. 
4. Cut each half into two wedges and serve well chilled.

Vodka Lemon Chicken

• 1 lemon, thinly sliced
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 2 eggs
• 2 tbsp milk
• 1/2 cup plain flour
• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 4 tbsp vodka
• 5 tbsp unsalted butter
• 4 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 tbsp parsley, chopped
• 1 tbsp basil, chopped
• 4 tbsp capers
• Salt
• Black pepper

Method

1. Char the lemon slices on both sides in a pan over a high heat and set aside.
2. Return the pan to a moderate heat and add the oil.
3. Whisk the eggs and milk in a small shallow bowl. Tip the flour into another shallow bowl.
4. Dunk the chicken breast into the flour, and then in the egg mixture. Place immediately in the pan. Repeat with the remaining breasts and saute the chicken until golden and cooked through. Set aside.
5. Deg-laze the pan with the vodka and loosen the flavor bits at the bottom of the pan by scraping with a wooden spoon.
6. Add the butter, lemon juice, parsley, basil, capers, salt and pepper. Continue to cook until the mixture reduces by about a quarter. Return the chicken and grilled lemon slices to the pan and toss.
7. Serve the chicken breasts topped with the sauce.

What would you do if you had a bottle of Puffing Billy?

Verdict

This refreshingly vodka made from barley is lovely and would recommend to any who loves vodka.

Puffing Billy order yours

The Border Distillery Company Ltd
Commercial Road
Hawick
Scotland
TD9 7AQ

Puffing Billy can be purchased via The Borders Distillery.

Alternatively purchase via my shop via Amazon.

Thank you to Puffing Billy for the vodka. All views are my own honest opinion.