Vodka is a clear, neutral spirit, usually distilled from grain or potatoes and bottled around 40 percent alcohol, and the right bottle depends on whether you will sip it cold or mix it. CBC Liquors in Westford keeps a full vodka shelf, from straight bottles to flavored ones, and this guide covers how to choose between them.
What is vodka and what is it made from?
Vodka is a distilled spirit that is filtered and bottled without the long ageing that defines whiskey or brandy. In most of the world it has to be fairly neutral in aroma and taste, which is why it works as a base for so many drinks.
The starting material varies. Grain such as wheat, rye or corn is the most common source, potatoes are used by some makers, and a few use grapes or other fruit. Each leaves a slightly different mark: wheat tends to read soft and a little sweet, rye can taste peppery, corn often reads rounder and creamier, and potato can feel fuller on the tongue.
After fermenting, the liquid is distilled, often several times, then filtered and diluted with water to bottling strength. Nothing is added to a plain vodka for colour, which is why it pours clear. Differences between bottles are subtle, but they are real, and you notice them most when you drink it cold and straight.
Which vodkas does CBC Liquors in Westford carry?
The shop at 142 Littleton Rd stocks a range of vodkas, and several names are here for you to look at. Tito's Vodka is one of the store's best sellers and is in stock now. Ketel One Vodka, New Amsterdam Vodka and Smirnoff No. 21 Vodka sit alongside it as straightforward bottles for martinis, highballs and everyday mixing.
For something with a flavor already in it, there are New Amsterdam Pink Whitney and Smirnoff Espresso. Both are covered further down.
The store has 4,617 products in stock across 1,892 brands, so the vodka section is one part of a much wider liquor range. If you are looking for a specific bottle that is not on the shelf, ask at the counter and the team can tell you what they have.
Vodka we stock
Our best sellers first. In stock now, at today’s prices. Order online for pickup, delivery or shipping.
How do you choose between vodkas?
Start with how you will drink it. If it is going into a cocktail with juice, soda or a strong mixer, the differences between bottles shrink and a clean, reliable vodka does the job. If you plan to sip it chilled, or build a martini where vodka is most of the glass, the character of the base matters more, so it is worth tasting a couple side by side.
Think about texture as well as flavor. Some vodkas feel light and crisp, others come across rounder and slightly sweet. Neither is better; they suit different drinks. A crisp vodka makes a sharp martini or a bright vodka soda, while a rounder one is pleasant over ice on its own.
It also helps to buy for the people drinking. If a group likes a mix of simple highballs, a straightforward vodka works for everything. If someone wants an espresso martini, a coffee-flavored bottle may be easier than building the drink from scratch. The staff at the Westford shop can talk this through with you in a couple of minutes.
What is flavored vodka, and when does it make sense?
Flavored vodka starts as vodka and has flavor added after distillation. That can be fruit, spice, coffee or sweet notes, and the result is usually a little different in strength and sweetness from a plain bottle, so check the label.
New Amsterdam Pink Whitney is a flavored vodka, which makes it a common pick for a simple drink over ice or with soda, with no extra ingredients needed. Smirnoff Espresso brings coffee flavor, which is the shortcut to an espresso martini or a coffee-and-cream drink.
The trade-off is flexibility. A plain vodka goes into almost any recipe, while a flavored one steers the drink in a direction. If you are buying one bottle for a variety of cocktails, plain is the safer choice. If you have one drink in mind, the flavored bottle makes it easier.
How should you serve vodka?
Vodka is served several ways, and none of them is wrong. Many people keep a bottle in the freezer, because the cold makes it feel thicker and smoother. A small pour of chilled vodka, sipped slowly, is the classic way to taste what a bottle is really like.
For cocktails, the simple builds are the most useful: vodka with soda and a squeeze of lime, vodka with tonic, vodka with cranberry or orange juice, or vodka with ginger beer for a Moscow mule. Our mixers section covers the sodas, tonics and other bottles that go with them.
For a martini, stir vodka with a little dry vermouth over ice, strain it into a chilled glass and finish with a lemon twist or an olive. Use plenty of ice and don't hurry the stirring, since the dilution is part of the drink.
However you serve it, pour measured drinks and give guests the option of water or a non-alcoholic choice alongside.
How should you store an open bottle of vodka?
Vodka keeps well. Because it is a high-strength, unaged spirit, it does not spoil the way wine can, and an open bottle holds its character for a long time if the cap is tight.
Keep it upright, out of direct sunlight and away from heat, such as a spot above the stove. The freezer is fine for vodka, since at normal bottling strength it will not freeze solid, though it is also fine in a cabinet if you prefer to pour over ice.
Unlike a bottle of sparkling wine or a cask-aged spirit, there is no right time to finish it. Just make sure the cap is closed and the label stays readable so you know what you have.
Can you pick up or get vodka delivered from CBC Liquors?
Yes. Besides walking in, CBC Liquors offers pickup, delivery and shipping. Pickup hours match the store hours: Sunday 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Monday to Thursday 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and Friday and Saturday 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
Delivery hours run a little shorter: Sunday 10:00 AM to 7:30 PM, Monday to Thursday 10:00 AM to 8:30 PM, and Friday and Saturday 10:00 AM to 9:30 PM. The shop also serves Chelmsford, Carlisle, Littleton, Acton, Tyngsborough, Lowell, Billerica, Boxborough and Dunstable. If you are in one of those towns, see the pages for Chelmsford, Acton or Lowell, or the full delivery areas page.
If you would rather read the rules for sending a bottle elsewhere, the shipping policy explains how that works. Planning a bigger get-together? The party planner is a good place to start.
CBC Liquors holds a 4.7 out of 5 Google rating from 339 reviews, and the team on Littleton Rd is happy to help you pick a bottle in person.
Common questions
What is vodka made from?
Most vodka is distilled from grain such as wheat, rye or corn, though some makers use potatoes or fruit. It is then filtered and diluted with water to bottling strength.
Does CBC Liquors in Westford carry Tito's Vodka?
Yes. Tito's Vodka is one of the store's best sellers and is in stock now, along with Ketel One Vodka, New Amsterdam Vodka and Smirnoff No. 21 Vodka.
Is flavored vodka the same as regular vodka?
It starts as vodka, then flavor is added. It can differ from a plain bottle in sweetness and strength, so read the label. New Amsterdam Pink Whitney and Smirnoff Espresso are two flavored options the store carries.
Does vodka need to be kept in the freezer?
No. Vodka is fine in a cabinet away from heat and sunlight. Many people chill it for sipping, and it will not freeze solid at normal bottling strength.
Can I order vodka for pickup or delivery in Westford?
CBC Liquors offers pickup, delivery and shipping. Pickup runs during store hours, and delivery hours finish 30 minutes before closing each day.
