Despite sounding like a Romanian sneeze, Blavod is actually a deep-black vodka from the UK. It’s colored with the extract of a Burmese tree called Black Catechu, which the company says does not affect the flavor. I’ve run across several reviews which say that the vodka actually has an “herby-medicinal aftertaste,” however, so you might take that into consideration when choosing a mixer.

Doesn’t matter. It’s pure black vodka. How can we not love it?

Obviously, the best way to show this off when serving as a mixed drink is to float the vodka so that it forms a separate layer.

1. Figure out the density of each ingredient; the denser liquids go on the bottom (The Webtender has a specific gravity chart, if you need some help.)
2. Pour the heaviest ingredient in the bottom of the glass.
3. If you’re going to add ice, do it now. Putting it in later will destroy your layers.
4. Place a teaspoon upside down close to the surface of the drink, with the edge of the spoon against the edge of the glass.
5. Very slowly pour the next-heaviest ingredient over the back of the spoon, just letting it trickle in. Raise the spoon slowly if necessary.
6. Repeat with each ingredient, ending with the least dense.

Incidentally, this is a lot easier to do if you use a plastic syringe instead of a teaspoon: Just suck up the necessary amount, place the tip of the syringe on the inside of the glass, and slowly push the plunger. You’ll want a needle with a fairly large bore; the syringes used for injecting marinades into meat work pretty well.

Here are a few easy recipes to get you started:

Black Widow
2 oz Blavod vodka
3 oz cranberry juice

Pour the cranberry juice into a highball glass filled with ice. Float the Blavod on top.

October Screwdriver
3 oz Blavod vodka
3 oz orange juice

Pour the orange juice into a collins glass filled with ice. Float the Blavod on top.

Dracula’s Kiss
1 1/2 oz Blavod vodka
6 oz Bloody Mary mix

Pour the Bloody Mary mix into a hurricane glass filled with ice. Float the Blavod on top. Add jalepeno pickle for spicy taste

Vampire Bite
2-3 drops red chili oil (found in the Asian section of most supermarkets)
2 oz. pomegranate juice
1/2 oz. Alizé Red Passion
2 oz. Blavod Black Vodka

Drip the chili oil into the bottom of a chilled highball glass. Layer pomegranate juice, Alizé, and Blavod on top.

(This post was first published in July 2008; I’ll be doing a few days of “blast from the past” archive posts in a probably-vain effort to catch up with real life.)