It's after Labor Day, which means everyone from your neighbor down the street to every department store in the strip mall is throwing up tinsel and lights.
But sometimes it takes a bit more spirit to get into the swing of the holidays, which is why we're bringing you the best vodka cocktails to pair with all the best holiday treats.
As you party hop and rock around one Christmas tree after another, show off your adult beverage know-how with these perfect vodka pairings.
Thanksgiving Leftovers
It seems like the only thing that is never left over after Thanksgiving is pumpkin pie. While you're enjoying your Thanksgiving leftovers from November 23rd through the New Year, sip this pumpkin-pie substitute.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces Equality Vodka
- 2 ounces pumpkin spice liqueur (we like this one)
- A pinch of ground nutmeg
- A pinch of ground cinnamon
Shake It Up
The best vodka cocktails are shaken, not stirred. One of the reasons is because it awakens the aromas of the ingredients you're using. For this pumpkin-pie vodka cocktail, be sure to shake up your vodka and pumpkin liqueur vigorously in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
Then take a nice, deep inhale and enjoy all the cozy scents as you dive into a plate of Thanksgiving goodness.
If you're feeling whimsical, garnish your cocktail with whipped cream and a cinnamon stick.
Peppermint Bark
Despite the fact that peppermint and chocolate are such a marvelous flavor combination, we only seem to find this harmonious pairing during the holidays. While you're getting your fill of all the peppermint bark this winter, enjoy it beside the best vodka cocktail you can imagine.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce Equality Vodka
- 1 ounce Peppermint Schnapps (we like this one)
- 1 ounce Creme de Cacao
- 1/2 ounce half & half
- Crushed peppermint candy
Shake It Up
First, drop a few stray candy canes in a ziplock bag and go to town with your favorite meat mallet. (We call this holiday therapy.)
Then, add a few pieces of crushed candy cane to a shaker with your vodka, peppermint schnapps, creme de cacao, and half and half – and just a couple ice cubes.
Shake, shake, shake, and strain into a martini glass. Garnish your cocktail with a mini candy cane and enjoy your sweet treats until the Times Square Ball drops.
Gingerbread Cookies
What is gingerbread, exactly? It doesn't taste like ginger. Nor bread. Yet it does taste like our favorite time of the year.
It's time to bring this favorite childhood treat into adulthood with a decadent gingerbread vodka cocktail.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces Equality Vodka
- 1 ounce Bailey's Irish Cream
- 1/2 ounce Gingerbread Syrup (Like this one. Feeling crafty? Make your own!)
Shake It Up
In an ice-filled shaker, add your vodka, cream liqueur, and gingerbread syrup. Shake well and strain into a highball glass.
To add some extra holiday magic, mix a tablespoon of sugar with a tablespoon of cinnamon and use it to rim your glass. Christmas cheer, guaranteed.
Cranberry-Anything
Cranberry seems to be a running theme throughout the holidays. You'll likely find it sitting beside a nice plump turkey on the Thanksgiving table, in candy form at holiday parties, or strung up with popcorn and wrapped around the Christmas tree.
And why not? Cranberries are little gems of antioxidant heaven. Here's the best vodka-cranberry cocktail you'll have all winter long: the Cran-Jam.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ ounces Equality Vodka
- 3 ounces Cranberry Juice
- 1 Tbsp. Raspberry Jam (seedless, if available)
- Fresh Lemon
Shake It Up
If you plan to knock the striped elf socks off your guests this holiday season, you might as well make a nice big batch of this beautiful cocktail.
Start by heating up the cranberry jam in a saucepan – or a microwave, if you're feeling lazy – so it becomes syrup-like. Take it off the heat and let it cool.
When you're ready to get the party started, add your jam, vodka, and cranberry juice to an ice-filled shaker. Squeeze a slice of lemon over the top and shake vigorously.
Strain into a martini glass and enjoy.
Best Vodka Mixers
The best vodka mixers are ones that bring the natural qualities of your vodka to life. This holiday season, experiment with vodka mixers with natural citrus flavors or carbonation, and leave your palate excited.
Of course, when you get right down to it, the best vodka mixers are those you enjoy and are excited to share with your loved ones.
Have some spirited wisdom of your own to share? We'd love to hear it! What's your favorite holiday cocktail? Follow us on Instagram @EqualityVodka