During our 4th annual MLKJ weekend trip to
Monterey, I decided to host a Taste It & Rate It cocktail night! Ahead of time I chose 3 recipes from the, it’s
party time! recipe booklet provided by Raley’s in my try it kit. I chose the Blended Cosmopolitan, Tart Tart,
and Herb Infusiastic Martini because these three cocktails called for the ingredients
we were asked to try, the Aya Vodka, Raley’s cranberry juice, and Full circle
herbs.
In addition to trying the Raley’s products we decided to do
a taste test challenge. Each bartender
made each cocktail with the Aya Vodka and another premium brand vodka. Cocktails were served in purple and green
cups and only the bartender knew which cup contained the cocktail made with Aya
Vodka and which cup contained the cocktail made with the other premium brand
vodka.
My husband and I printed out Rate It cards asking our
friends to 1. Rate each cocktail on a scale of 1 to 5, 1 hating it and 5 loving
it 2. If they had a preference over the
cocktail served in the green cup, purple cup, or no preference 3. Guess
which cup the cocktail made with Aya vodka was in, green or purple.
The Results – A super fun time! The Tart Tart was the crowd favorite with an
average taste score of 3. 50% of participants
(there were 8 of us), preferred the green cup while the other preferred the
purple, and 50% guessed correctly that the Aya Vodka was in the green cup.
Next up, the Blended Cosmopolitan with an average taste
score of 2. Two people had no
preference, 5 people preferred the purple cup and 1 person preferred the green
cup. 100% guessed incorrectly that the
Aya Vodka was in the green cup. It was in the purple cup.
Last, and most definitely least, the Herb Infusiastic
Martini was a total bomb with an average taste score of 1. Although, there was not a section for
comments, one person wrote Herrible. Lol!
That is how they spelled it! This may have been due to my choice of herb –
Thyme. I was going for something savory
since the Blended Cosmo was likely going to be sweet and the Tart Tart, well,
tart. Four people had no preference, two
preferred the green cup and the other two preferred the purple cup. 66% guessed
correctly that the Aya Vodka was in the green cup.
All in all I’d say that the recipes were not a huge hit but
the Raley’s Aya Vodka held its own against the other premium brand vodka! Thanks, Raley’s, for inspiring a super fun
night!
Raley's Fine Products
Me, explaining what we're doing ;-)
The Guys tasting and rating!
The Rate It Card
The Girls Tasting and Rating ;-)
