Can one that has the Minhag of drinking beer on Tu Bishvat comply comply by drinking some barley vodka?

The minhag of drinking beer on Tu Bishvat is based on the fact that we eat fruits of the seven species (Shivas Haminim, Devarim 8: 8) on that day that marks the Rosh Hashana for trees. Wheat and barley, belong to that group. (See Nitey Gavriel – Purim 5: 2 he mentions that the Belzer Rebbe maintained that tradition). Although barley vodka is just a distillate of the barley and does not contain the direct parts of the barley, for this particular tradition it suffices.