Vanilla vodka is a versatile spirit for cocktails with clean flavors that combine well with many mixers. Vanilla brings a mellow sweetness to vodka cocktails, while vodka has a clean, pure taste that plays well with other ingredients.
Vanilla Cardamom Screwdriver
Sure you can have a plain screwdriver, but once you've tried one scented with cardamom and vanilla, you'll never want a plain one again. The secret to any good screwdriver is freshly squeezed orange juice.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces vanilla vodka
- ¾ ounce cardamom simple syrup (see recipe below)
- 3 ounces freshly squeezed orange juice
- Ice
- Orange slices for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the vodka, syrup, and orange juice.
- Add ice and shake.
- Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.
- Garnish with an orange slice.
Vanilla Berry Summer Spritzer
This light cocktail tastes of summer. It's refreshing, breezy, easy to customize, and delicious.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces vanilla vodka
- 6 ounces club soda
- ¼ cup fresh berries of your choice
- Ice
Instructions
- In a collins glass, combine the vodka, soda, berries, and ice.
- Stir to mix.
Vanilla Vodka Baileys Martini
The creamy Baileys martini takes on even sweeter flavors when you use vanilla vodka. Enjoy this recipe for a vanilla Baileys martini.
Vanilla Vodka Horchata
Horchata is a sweet cinnamon and rice beverage. Turning it into a cocktail is pure genius; it's smooth, creamy, and delicious. It works best with homemade cinnamon simple syrup (recipe follows).
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces vanilla vodka
- ¾ ounce cinnamon simple syrup
- 4 ounces unsweetened rice milk
- Ice
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the vodka, syrup, and rice milk.
- Add ice and shake.
- Strain into a collins glass filled with ice.
Vanilla Vodka French Martini
The vanilla vodka French martini is a variation of the basic French martini. Make it using vanilla vodka, Chambord, and pineapple juice.
More Cocktails With Vanilla Vodka
Vodka is the vanilla of the spirits world - it goes with anything. And vanilla is...the vanilla of the flavor world. It pairs well with most any flavor. So there are plenty of cocktails you can make if you've got a bottle of vanilla vodka just begging to be used.
- Taste the tropics by adding vanilla vodka to a key lime martini.
- If you wish lemon meringue pie had a bit more of a kick, you'll love the lemon meringue martini.
- Like boozy milkshakes? How about a chocolate malt?
- Enjoy a taste of the holidays with a pumpkin pie martini.
- Have a delicious hot caramel apple cocktail and feel like a kid again.
- Chocoholics rejoice. Try this tasty Galliano chocolate martini.
- If it's cookies you crave, try a snickerdoodle cocktail.
- When the Girl Scouts have stopped selling their cookies, try this Girl Scout cookie shot instead.
- Want something fruity? Try a badger cocktail.
Cinnamon (or Cardamom) Simple Syrup
Make this simple syrup and chill in the fridge before using in cocktails. You can also replace the cinnamon with two cardamom pods for a homemade cardamom-infused simple syrup.
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup superfine sugar
- ⅓ cup water
- 2 cinnamon sticks or 2 cardamom pods
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a small saucepan.
- Put the pan on medium-high heat. Bring to a simmer, stirring constantly, and simmer for one minute.
- Allow to steep for 30 minutes. Remove the cinnamon or cardamom and refrigerate until you are ready to use. This will keep for up to a week in the fridge.
Smooth and Sweet
You'll find many brands of vanilla vodka, each with their own level of flavor and sweetness. You can even make your own by infusing a split vanilla bean in 750 mL of vodka for about seven days (longer for more intense flavor). Then you can use the recipes above or use your imagination to make delicious cocktails infused with the sweet, mellow flavor of vanilla.
