Za Vas! Heather Crosby and I continued the Upper Crust Social Club event series by co-hosting a Russian-inspired vodka infusion party.
Guests brought their own homemade vodka infusions …such a range of tasty concoctions from Watermelon Rosewater Vodka Infusion to Skittles Vodka to Cucumber Mint Vodka Infusion to Bacon Maple Vodka Infusion to Apple Cinnamon Vodka Infusion and more. (You should make your own. It’s easy.)
Each guest received a vodka tasting packet and voting tokens to reward their favorite creation. The winners, Matt and KC MacQueen, got bragging rights and a very fancy Vodka Infusion Champion trophy for their popular Habenero/Orange Peel/Peppercorn vodka infusion.
For decor, we kept things white and red with Russian accents …white tablecloths, white & red flowers, assorted Russian books and jewelry from Alex (our favorite Russian), cutey-pie Russian matryoshka nesting dolls…
…dolly handmade signs reminding guests to “fill your belly,” “cleanse your palette” and “clean your glass”…
…signs of tot-holding old school Russian-esque lasses…
…and super fun individual tasting booklets with enclosed voting tokens.
Now take note: This is a vodka *infusion* tasting party theme which means mixers like 7up are definite no-nos. Because guests sipped straight vodka after vodka we supplied ample pitchers of water, dumping buckets for extras, a crunchy tater tot bar with five dipping sauces to help soak it up, orange slices for palette cleansers …and our special top secret “Morning-After Hangover Cure” party favor (free template and instructions below).
The vodka infusion theme would be perfect for bachelorette parties and birthdays. And a collection of vodka infusions in nice glass jars would be a great gift. Our excuse was to gather our friends and festively warm everyone up from the inside. It worked.
You’re welcome to use these instructions and templates for free for your own personal use. Anyone using the template simply post a comment below or email me to track its usage.
Free printable party templates: (thanks, Heather!)
- Free Russian nesting dolly signs template (PDF)
- Free tater tots Russian girls sign (PDF)
- Free voting token template (PDF)
- Coming soon: I’ll post the super cool tasting booklet along with a video on how to properly fold it
Hangover Cure Favor Supplies:
- Heather’s free template for the hangover cure label (PDF)
- White printer paper
- 1/2 inch Black Electrical Tape
- Test tubes (we used the 18×150 glass ones but you could go smaller or get plastic)
- Test tube corks (we used size 6; be sure to match your test tube size)
- Emergen-C packets (one for each guest, choose your flavor)
- Pop Rocks (1 packet = 3/4 guests)
- Scissors
- Xacto basic knife set, Ruler and Self-healing cutting mat (strongly recommended for straight cuts …otherwise, use scissors)
- Computer and printer (or send to FedEx Office)
- White paper bags (optional, one per guest)
- Pretty stickers OR 8 1/2″ x 11″ sheets of sticker paper from an office supply store to make your own custom stickers on the computer like we did (optional)
- Red tissue paper (optional)
Carefully pour one packet of Emergen-C into the test tube. Poor about 1/3 packet of Pop Rocks on top in a contrasting color. Top with one cork; avoid pushing too hard which might crack the test tube.
Print the free template and cut into strips using your Xacto knife, ruler and self-healing mat. Fold each strip in half lengthwise. Fold the strip over the cork, making one end longer than the other (see the picture). Cut a short piece of electrical tape and wrap it around the label and test tube to seal.
Try not to shake the test tubes; they look nice layered.
Place a test tube into a white shopping bag with red tissue paper. Place a sticker on the front. Na zdarOv’ye!
COPYRIGHT NOTE: You’re more than welcome to use this theme and templates for your own personal use. Please post a comment below or email me if you use this project so I can smile when I see that it’s being used. Craft and pass it on!
Ally
Thursday 10th of September 2015
Love your ideas. I'm planning a vodka infusion party and would love the tasting booklet or to at least know what was inside so I can make one. Any chance you can help me out?
Kathy Beymer
Wednesday 23rd of September 2015
Hi Ally, it must be the vodka as I cannot actually remember what we put inside the booklets :D Sorry about that - our party was a few years back but our friends still talk about it. Have a fun tasting!
Cheri_P
Thursday 10th of April 2014
I love this idea on so many levels. I'm looking forward to doing this for a Christmas Party..because what better way to warm your heart in the cold of winter than Vodka and friends?
Question on the hangover favors. Do you include instructions to go with them? Would you add it to water? Or is it more just for looks and not actual use?
Meine Seite
Friday 18th of October 2013
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Social
Thursday 17th of October 2013
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Felipe
Tuesday 18th of December 2012
Several years ago we visited St. Petersburg, and while we were there we came ascors a vodka called 5 Star . What, in your collection, is the nearest to this? It's very common in St. Petersburg and costs almost nothing, but it was very mild, delicious, and easy to drink. I've never been able to get it in the United States.Many thanks.