Vodka. It summons up cold winter nights. (If you're Russian.) Or party drinks on the deck in the summer. Or just a cocktail, usually with a mixer.

We're veteran cookbook authors Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough. We have over three dozen titles to our names, including THE ULTIMATE PARTY DRINK BOOK. This is our food and cooking podcast.

This show is all about vodka. We give you the skinny on the basics. We have a one-minute cooking tip about better cocktails. And Bruce interviews Ryan Christiansen, co-owner of the fabulous Bar Hill Distillery. We love his gin. But did you know Bar Hill makes vodka, too? Find out the secrets before we tell you what's making us happy in food this week.

Here are the segments of this episode of COOKING WITH BRUCE AND MARK:

[00:41] All about vodka!

[16:08] Our one-minute cooking tip: Chill your glasses for a better cocktail.

[17:48] Bruce's interview with Ryan Christiansen, co-owner and master distiller at Barr Hill, makers of terrific gin . . . and now vodka!

[34:42] What’s making us happy in food this week? Babka and raw (yes, raw!) venison tenderloin.