Category: vodka

vodka

Christmas in Cape Cod – A Cape Codder Holiday Cocktail Recipe with Mocktail Option

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Christmas in Cape Cod is a holiday cocktail recipe that's a take on an old classic-- the Cape Codder. It's a delicious cocktail to make with vodka, cranberry juice, a cranberry red wine reduction syrup, and lime juice. See the mocktail version to learn how to make this recipe alcohol-free.

Christmas in Cape Cod is a holiday cocktail recipe that’s a take on an old classic– the Cape Codder. It’s a delicious cocktail to make with vodka, cranberry juice, a cranberry red wine reduction syrup, and lime juice. See the mocktail version to learn how to make this recipe alcohol-free.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy a product via my affiliate link, I will receive a commission. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I actually like! 

We’re well into the holiday season and I’ve yet to make a Christmas-y drink. I know. I’ve been wasting precious days. But I’m gonna try to make up for it. While a Cape Codder is not traditionally a holiday cocktail recipe, adding some cranberry red wine reduction syrup gives it that feel.

I’d been looking for ways to use up the last 1/2 oz of my cranberry red wine reduction syrup for several days before I thought of this Christmas in Cape Cod idea. The syrup is so good, y’all. So good. It was fantastic in The Bride Wore Red and in this mocktail recipe. But I wanted to really highlight the cranberry flavor in the syrup. There’s no more classic cranberry cocktail recipe than a Cape Codder.

The Cape Codder was also previously called the Red Devil. Apparently, the name change came about in the 60s because Cape Cod, Massachusetts is pretty well-known for its cranberries. My Instagram friend, @risajamesphotography, has a better theory. She said her guess is that’s because the drink was created during the Cold War, and Red Devil had too much of a Communist slant to it. I can’t help but think there could be some truth in that, too!

Risa is also the reason I served this cocktail in the glassware that I did. She told me that she loved my peacock glasses so much that she’d plan recipes around them. And then she proceeded to send me the link to a Cape Codder recipe saying “Make this drink in the peacock glass!” Well Risa, done & done. Thanks for the suggestion!

If you want to make a traditional Cape Codder, just leave out the lemon-lime soda and the cranberry red wine reduction syrup.

I also made a mocktail version of this. I’ve included both recipes below.

Ingredients for a Christmas in Cape Cod – Mocktail Version

  • 2 oz cranberry juice
  • 1/2 oz lime juice
  • 2 heaping bar spoons of cranberry sauce
  • 2+ oz lime sparkling water

How to Make a Christmas in Cape Cod – Mocktail Version

Add the cranberry juice, cranberry sauce, and lime juice to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well, about 20 seconds. Strain into a highball glass that’s filled with ice. Top off the glass with the lime sparkling water.

Ingredients for a Christmas in Cape Cod

  • 2 oz vodka
  • 3 oz cranberry juice
  • 1/2 oz lime juice
  • 1/4 oz cranberry red wine reduction syrup (or 2 heaping bar spoons of cranberry sauce)

How to Make a Christmas in Cape Cod

Add the vodka, cranberry juice, cranberry red wine reduction syrup, and lime juice to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well, about 20 seconds. Strain into a highball glass that’s filled with ice.

Christmas in Cape Cod is a holiday cocktail recipe that's a take on an old classic-- the Cape Codder. It's a delicious cocktail to make with vodka, cranberry juice, a cranberry red wine reduction syrup, and lime juice. See the mocktail version to learn how to make this recipe alcohol-free.

Christmas in Cape Cod

A holiday twist on a classic Cape Codder recipe. See notes for a mocktail verison.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 3 mins
Course Drinks
Servings 1

Equipment

  • cocktail shaker

Ingredients
  

  • 2 oz vodka
  • 3 oz cranberry juice
  • ½ oz lime juice
  • ¼ oz cranberry red wine reduction syrup*

Instructions
 

  • Add the vodka, cranberry juice, cranberry red wine reduction syrup, and lime juice to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
  • Shake well, about 20 seconds.
  • Strain into a highball glass that's filled with ice.

Notes

*For the cranberry red wine reduction syrup recipe, click here. 

For a mocktail version:

Ingredients
  • 2 oz cranberry juice
  • 1/2 oz lime juice
  • 2 heaping bar spoons of cranberry sauce
  • 2+ oz lime sparkling water
Instructions 
Add the cranberry juice, cranberry sauce, and lime juice to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well, about 20 seconds. Strain into a highball glass that’s filled with ice. Top off the glass with the lime sparkling water.
Keyword Cape Cod, Cape Codder, cranberry juice, cranberry red wine reduction syrup, cranberry sauce, lime, vodka
vodka

Spiced Pear Cocktail | The Best Fall Cocktail Recipe with 5 Simple Ingredients

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This simple spiced pear cocktail is an easy fall cocktail made with vodka, fresh pear, cinnamon simple syrup, and a splash of ginger beer.

This simple spiced pear cocktail is made with vodka, fresh pear, cinnamon simple syrup, and a splash of ginger beer. It’s sweet and warming–the perfect cocktail to sip on a crisp autumn evening.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy a product via my affiliate link, I will receive a commission. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I actually like! 

More days than not, it’s feeling like fall here in Texas. Finally. I mean, we’re already halfway through season and I wore boots for the first time this morning. Granted, it’ll be too warm for me to wear this afternoon when I do my grocery pick-up but it was a momentous occasion nonetheless.

Few things embody the flavor of fall to me the way cinnamon does. I recently made some cinnamon simple syrup to put in a spiced pomegranate cocktail and I’ve been itching to use it in another cocktail recipe ever since. Pears and cinnamon are a match made in heaven. After making this spiced pear cocktail I can’t stop thinking about how it tastes like a spiced poached pear in liquid form. I think I’ll be making this easy recipe soon because now I’m dying to have one in, well, edible form.

This spiced pear cocktail recipe would be a great cocktail to serve on Thanksgiving. It’s also easy to make ahead of time so you can spend less time mixing drinks and more time mixing it up with your guests (see what I did there?). Simply multiply the ingredients by the number of guests you’ll be serving and add all of the ingredients except for the ginger beer to a large pitcher. When you’re ready to serve the cocktail, pour into a lowball glass and add about an inch of ginger beer into each glass.

This simple spiced pear cocktail is an easy fall cocktail made with vodka, fresh pear, cinnamon simple syrup, and a splash of ginger beer.

Alternatively, you can serve this cocktail on a coupe glass without ice and add only a splash of ginger beer. This cocktail is honestly delicious both ways!

If you make this spiced pear cocktail, be sure to tag me on Instagram and let me know in a comment down below!

Cheers!

This simple spiced pear cocktail is an easy fall cocktail made with vodka, fresh pear, cinnamon simple syrup, and a splash of ginger beer.

Ingredients for a Spiced Pear Cocktail

  • 1 1/2 oz vodka
  • 3/4 oz fresh pear juice*
  • 1/4 oz lemon juice
  • 1/2 oz cinnamon simple syrup
  • splash of ginger beer

*If you don’t have a juicer, store-bought will work. If it’s not in your store’s juice aisle, check the baby section. If you can’t find it, apple cider will taste great, too!

How to Make a Spiced Pear Cocktail

Add the vodka, pear juice, lemon juice, and cinnamon simple syrup to a cocktail shaker that’s filled with ice. Shake well, about 15-20 seconds. Strain the cocktail into a coupe glass. Add a splash of ginger beer. Garnish with a dehydrated pear.

Spiced Pear Cocktail Recipe

An easy vodka cocktail made with pear juice, cinnamon simple syrup, and ginger beer.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 3 mins
Course Drinks
Servings 1

Equipment

  • cocktail shaker

Ingredients
  

  • 1½ oz vodka
  • ¾ oz fresh pear juice*
  • ¼ oz fresh lemon juice
  • ½ oz cinnamon simple syrup**
  • 1 oz ginger beer

Instructions
 

  • Add the vodka, pear juice, lemon juice, and cinnamon simple syrup to a cocktail shaker that's filled with ice.
  • Shake well, about 15-20 seconds.
  • Strain the cocktail into a lowball glass.
  • Top off the glass with ginger beer.
  • Garnish with a dehydrated pear or a slice of fresh pear.

Notes

*If you don’t have a juicer, store-bought will work. If it’s not in your store’s juice aisle, check the baby section. If you can’t find it, apple cider will taste great, too!
**Making cinnamon simple syrup at home is very easy. Find the 2 ingredient recipe here. 
Keyword cinnamon, cinnamon simple syrup, ginger beer, lemon, lemon juice, pear, pear juice, spiced pear cocktail, vodka
vodka

Chai White Russian | An Effortless 4 Ingredient Fall Cocktail Recipe

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This Chai White Russian is an easy fall cocktail recipe. Only 4 ingredients stand between you and this cozy and caffeinated delight: vodka, coffee liqueur, cream, and chai tea.

This Chai White Russian is an easy fall cocktail recipe. Only 4 ingredients stand between you and this cozy and caffeinated delight: vodka, coffee liqueur, cream, and chai tea.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy a product via my affiliate link, I will receive a commission. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I actually like! 

I love chai tea. The spices… the richness… it’s one of my favorite teas to drink. Chai tea also varies wildly from brand to brand or person to person. The best chai tea I’ve ever had was at an Indian restaurant in Xi’an, China. Yep. They also made the best Indian food I’ve ever eaten.

For years I’ve tried to recreate it, but I never can. The taste will just have to live on in my memory. I haven’t made my own in a while, but after making this Chai White Russian last night, I’m inspired to try again. Finding the right black tea is foundational to a good chai recipe. Go ahead and forget trying to find a good one at your local grocery store and opt to look on Amazon or at an Indian grocery store instead. Once I finish my current not-so-great box of black tea, I’m going to be trying this one. I have high hopes for it.

For this recipe, I used a carton of chai concentrate. It’s pretty decent. It’s not my favorite chai recipe but it satisfies my chai craving when it hits. I also don’t hate the fact that it’s incredibly convenient. Just add an equal amount of milk and concentrate then heat it or add ice.

This Chai White Russian is an easy fall cocktail recipe. Only 4 ingredients stand between you and this cozy and caffeinated delight: vodka, coffee liqueur, cream, and chai tea.

If you’ve never had a White Russian before, it’s a delicious coffee and cream cocktail. I’m not a big sweet drink drinker… but I love a White Russian in the evening. I’ve long fantasized about making a Chai White Russian and I finally made those dreams come true last night.

If you have bagged chai tea, you can steep some tea and use that instead. Alternatively, you could steep the tea in the vodka and make a Chai White Russian that way. I think they’d all turn out well.

And when it comes to coffee liqueur, you can certainly buy a bottle of Kahlúa. But you can also make your own. If you make your own, you can use your favorite coffee and adjust the amount of sweetness to your liking. Here’s my super easy recipe.

This *might* be my new favorite fall cocktail recipe. I’m still really digging the Autumn In Tuscany but since that one is citrusy, this Chai White Russian definitely wins the Best Sweet Dessert Cocktail Recipe award. If you try it, be sure to tag me on Instagram or comment down below. I’d love to hear what you think!

This Chai White Russian is an easy fall cocktail recipe. Only 4 ingredients stand between you and this cozy and caffeinated delight: vodka, coffee liqueur, cream, and chai tea.

Ingredients for a Chai White Russian

How to Make a Chai White Russian

Add a large ice cube to a lowball glass. Pour in the vodka, coffee liqueur, cream, and chai concentrate. Stir to combine.

Chai White Russian

This Chai White Russian is an easy fall cocktail recipe. Only 4 ingredients stand between you and this cozy and caffeinated delight: vodka, coffee liqueur, cream, and chai tea.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 1 min
Course Drinks
Servings 1

Ingredients
  

  • 1 oz vodka
  • 1 oz coffee liqueur (see notes for a homemade recipe)
  • 1 oz cream*
  • 1 oz chai tea concentrate

Instructions
 

  • Add a large ice cube to a lowball glass.
  • Pour in the vodka, coffee liqueur, cream, and chai concentrate.
  • Stir to combine.

Notes

Click here to learn how to make your own easy homemade coffee liqueur.
*you can use half & half, heavy cream, or your favorite milk substitute. 
Keyword chai, chai tea, coffee liqueur, cream, cucumber-infused vodka, half and half, white russian
This Chai White Russian is an easy fall cocktail recipe. Only 4 ingredients stand between you and this cozy and caffeinated delight: vodka, coffee liqueur, cream, and chai tea.
vodka

Autumn in Tuscany | A Fall-Inspired Lemon Drop with Rosemary Sage Simple Syrup

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Autumn in Tuscany is an elegant yet simple cocktail with bright citrus and warm herbs. It's an unexpected fall twist on a classic Lemon Drop cocktail.

Autumn in Tuscany is an elegant yet simple cocktail with bright citrus and warm herbs. It’s an unexpected fall twist on a classic Lemon Drop cocktail.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy a product via my affiliate link, I will receive a commission. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I actually like! 

It’s officially fall now and even though temperatures are alternating between pleasant and rather warm here in Texas, I’m embracing all the cozy things. Autumn-scented candles, chai tea, toasty blankets, apple cider, alllll the soup recipes. I learned long ago that if I wait to do all the fall things when it actually feels like fall outside, I’ll have about 3.25 days to enjoy it. Ah, the joys of living in a state that has 2 seasons.

Last week, I made an incredible rosemary sage simple syrup to go in the Cowboy Cure-All. I loved how autumnal the syrup tasted and was eager to play around with it. Anytime I make a new simple syrup, I try it out in a few classic cocktails. As I’ve said time and time again, the easiest way to revamp a drink recipe is to switch out the simple syrup flavor.

Autumn in Tuscany is an elegant yet simple cocktail with bright citrus and warm herbs. It's an unexpected fall twist on a classic Lemon Drop cocktail.

I began to think about what would pair well with rosemary and sage. Lemon. Definitely lemon. It would keep the herbs from being too heavy. I ran down the list of classic cocktails that had lemon. Oooh… a Lemon Drop. Now that could be good. I was a little unsure about how the orange liqueur in it would interact with the sage and rosemary but DANG! It’s good!

I made an Autumn in Tuscany for the first time with my friend who is as equally into cocktails as I am. She’s also a fantastic cook so I respect her opinion when it comes to all things edible and drinkable. So when she says a drink is really good, I know it must be.

Autumn in Tuscany is an elegant yet simple cocktail with bright citrus and warm herbs. It's an unexpected fall twist on a classic Lemon Drop cocktail.

She’s also the one who gave me the idea for the name. She informed me that rosemary, sage, and citrus are all hallmark flavors in Tuscan cuisine. I’m not much of a cook but now I want to start researching Tuscan dishes to serve up with this Autumn in Tuscany.

If you make an Autumn in Tuscany, be sure to tag me on Instagram (@girlandtonic_)! I love sharing y’all’s re-shakes of the drinks I post.

Cheers to the thought of spending autumn in Tuscany.

Ingredients for an Autumn in Tuscany

  • 1 1/2 oz vodka
  • 1/2 oz orange liqueur or triple sec
  • 3/4 oz lemon juice, freshly squeezed
  • 3/4 oz rosemary sage simple syrup (add more or less depending on how sweet you like your drinks)

How to Make an Autumn in Tuscany

Add vodka, orange liqueur, fresh lemon juice, rosemary sage simple syrup, and ice to a cocktail shaker. Shake well, about 20 seconds. Strain into a coupe glass.

Autumn in Tuscany

A cozy fall twist on a classic Lemon Drop cocktail.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 3 mins
Course Drinks
Servings 1

Equipment

  • cocktail shaker

Ingredients
  

  • 1½ oz vodka
  • ½ oz orange liqueur
  • ¾ oz lemon juice, freshly squeezed
  • ¾ oz rosemary sage simple syrup*

Instructions
 

  • Add vodka, orange liqueur, fresh lemon juice, rosemary sage simple syrup, and ice to a cocktail shaker.
  • Shake well, about 20 seconds.
  • Strain into a coupe glass.
  • Garnish with a sage leaf.

Notes

*For the easy rosemary & sage simple syrup recipe, click here.
Keyword lemon, lemon drop, lemon juice, rosemary, rosemary sage simple syrup, sage, simple syrup, vodka
Autumn in Tuscany is an elegant yet simple cocktail with bright citrus and warm herbs. It's an unexpected fall twist on a classic Lemon Drop cocktail.
vodka

Mother Mule | A Healthy Moscow Mule Variation with Ginger Honey Shrub

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The Mother Mule is a healthy ginger Moscow Mule variation made with Other Mother Vinegar Ginger Honey Shrub. It's easy to create at home and good for you, too, thanks to the gut-boosting bacteria found in the shrub.

The Mother Mule is a spicy ginger Moscow Mule variation made with Other Mother Vinegar Ginger Honey Shrub. It’s easy to create at home and good for you, too, thanks to the gut-boosting bacteria found in the shrub.

Chances are if you like cocktails, you’ve ordered or made a Moscow Mule. It’s a true classic cocktail recipe that’s inspired many other drinks. Moscow Mule variations are common these days and I’m not complaining. Vodka, lime, and ginger beer are a perfect foundation for building more flavors on top of. I’ve posted a few Moscow Mule variations here on Girl & Tonic: the Irish Mule (made with whiskey), a Dark & Stormy (my forever go-to drink), and an Orange Cassidy (my own AEW-inspired riff on a Moscow Mule).

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy a product via my affiliate link, I will receive a commission. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I actually like! 

I’m really excited about today’s Moscow Mule variation for two reasons: 1) it’s good for you, and 2) it can be easily made into a mocktail or alcohol-free cocktail.

Okay, okay. I can practically hear you rolling your eyes at me when I say that this Mother Mule cocktail recipe is good for you. Hear me out. I know vodka isn’t necessarily an elixir of health. BUT one of the main ingredients in this drink is pure health in liquid form. It pretty much counterbalances the whole alcohol & sugar thing.

Okay. Maybe I’m exaggerating a bit when I say it’s bottled-up health. But Other Mother Vinegar is really good for you. Allow me to inform you.

The Mother Mule is a spicy ginger Moscow Mule variation made with Other Mother Vinegar Ginger Honey Shrub. It's easy to create at home and good for you, too, thanks to the gut-boosting bacteria found in the shrub.

Other Mother Vinegar is a “live vinegar”, meaning each bottle contains millions of healthy bacteria that will give the microbiome in your intestines a boost. Live vinegar is packed with other benefits, too: can lower blood pressure and blood sugar levels, helps with indigestion and acid reflux, and is chock-full of antioxidants. You can read more about the benefits of drinking vinegar here.

I’ve actually made another cocktail and mocktail recipe using the raspberry OMV shrub shot. It’s called the Rowdy Mother (are you sensing a theme in the names yet). If you’re not down for a ginger honey shrub, their raspberry shrub or the turmeric one would also work really well in this recipe!

(If you’re looking for some 100% or 90% healthy cocktail/mocktail options, check out my Mother’s Garden recipe or this Cucumber Basil Refresher.)

I mentioned early that one reason I’m excited about this recipe is that it can be easily made into a mocktail or alcohol-free cocktail. I love easy, 3-ingredient cocktails like the Moscow Mule. But when 1/3 of those ingredients is alcohol, the drink becomes rather empty if you’re going alcohol-free that night. When you use a vinegar shrub as one of your ingredients, your drink will be anything but bland.

Another perk of using shrubs as a drink ingredient is that you don’t need to use citrus. While you definitely can use a fresh lime (like I did), you don’t need to. After all, shrubs were originally used as a substitute for fresh citrus back in the colonial days.

The Mother Mule is a spicy ginger Moscow Mule variation made with Other Mother Vinegar Ginger Honey Shrub. It's easy to create at home and good for you, too, thanks to the gut-boosting bacteria found in the shrub.

I lied earlier when I said I was excited about this recipe for two reasons. I actually have a third. As of yesterday, those of you living in the grand state of Texas can find Other Mother Vinegar at H-E-B!!! *cue the Hallelujah chorus & start thanking Jesus for the gift that is H-E-B* Over 85 locations are stocking their shelves with OMV shrub shots– check your Healthy Living Department to see if you’re one of the lucky several.

Oh… you don’t live in Texas? That sucks- for many reasons- but thankfully you can order Other Mother Vinegar online.

Do you love Moscow Mules? Let me know what your favorite Moscow Mule variation is down below and, as always, tag me if you make this one! (@girlandtonic_).

The Mother Mule is a spicy ginger Moscow Mule variation made with Other Mother Vinegar Ginger Honey Shrub. It's easy to create at home and good for you, too, thanks to the gut-boosting bacteria found in the shrub.

Ingredients for a Mother Mule

  • 1 1/2 oz vodka (leave out for mocktail version)
  • 1/2 oz ginger honey shrub (check out OMV’s sample size here)
  • 1 lime wedge
  • 4+ oz ginger beer (Bundaberg is my favorite!)

How to Make a Mother Mule (a Moscow Mule Variation)

Add ice to a copper mug or a lowball glass. Pour in the vodka (skip if going alcohol-free), ginger honey shrub, and squeeze the lime wedge into the mug. Top off the rest of the mug with your ginger beer. Stir to combine. Garnish with an extra lime wedge.

Mother Mule

A spicy and healthy Moscow Mule variation made with a ginger honey vinegar shrub.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 2 mins
Course Drinks
Servings 1

Ingredients
  

  • 1½ oz vodka (omit for mocktail)
  • ½ oz ginger honey shrub*
  • 1 lime wedge
  • 4+ oz ginger beer

Instructions
 

  • Add ice to a copper mug or a lowball glass.
  • Pour in the vodka (skip if going alcohol-free), ginger honey shrub, and squeeze the lime wedge into the mug.
  • Top off the rest of the mug with your ginger beer. Stir to combine.
  • Garnish with an extra lime wedge.

Notes

*You can buy a sample size of Other Mother Vinegar’s ginger honey shrub here.
Keyword ginger beer, ginger honey shrub, lime, lime juice, shrub, vodka