5 Vodka Cocktails to Celebrate Thanksgiving

Cranberry, apple, cinnamon, pumpkin and ginger — the flavors of Thanksgiving translate naturally into the glass. Here are five vodka cocktails that capture the spirit of the season, each one built around the flavors already on the Thanksgiving table…minus the turkey.

What Vodka Cocktails Work Best for Thanksgiving?

Here are five of our favorite vodka cocktails to make this Thanksgiving — from stirred martinis to simple built highballs:

• Ginger Martini
• Appletini
• Falling Leaves
• Vodka Cranberry
• Pumpkin Pie Martini

How Do You Make a Ginger Martini?

The Ginger Martini is the most elegant drink on this list — Absolut Citron and warming ginger syrup, stirred over ice in a mixing glass and strained into a chilled martini glass.

Two ingredients, stirred – no cocktail shaker required.

Ingredients:

• 45 ml Absolut Citron
• 1 teaspoon Ginger Syrup
• Ice Cubes

How to Make a Ginger Martini:

1. Fill a mixing glass with ice cubes.
2. Use a jigger to measure and pour 45 ml Absolut Citron into the mixing glass.
3. Add 1 teaspoon of ginger syrup.
4. Stir gently with a bar spoon until well chilled and your preferred dilution is reached.
5. Strain into a chilled martini glass using a Julep strainer.

How Do You Make an Appletini?

The aroma of green apples is one of the most evocative of fall — and the Appletini brings that character directly to the glass.

Absolut Vodka, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, apple liqueur and apple juice, shaken and strained into a chilled martini glass.

Ingredients:

• 45 ml Absolut Vodka
• 25 ml Fresh Lemon Juice
• 25 ml Simple Syrup
• 20 ml Apple Liqueur
• 20 ml Apple Juice
• Ice Cubes

How do you make an Appletini? Watch Rico show you how it’s done:

How Do You Make a Falling Leaves Cocktail?

The Falling Leaves is a built cocktail that mixes Absolut Mandrin, cider, cranberry juice, lemon juice and simple syrup. It’s made directly in a highball glass over ice and finished with a cinnamon stick.

How can you resist including a cocktail named Falling Leaves on your Thanksgiving menu? But trust us, it’s not just the name that makes it a great choice for Thanksgiving.

Ingredients:

• 45 ml Absolut Mandrin
• 60 ml Cider
• 30 ml Sweetened Cranberry Juice
• 15 ml Fresh Lemon Juice
• 10 ml Simple Syrup
• Cinnamon Stick to garnish
• Ice Cubes

How to Make a Falling Leaves Cocktail:

1. Fill a highball glass with ice cubes.
2. Use a jigger to measure and pour 45 ml Absolut Mandrin into the glass.
3. Add 60 ml cider and 30 ml cranberry juice.
4. Add 15 ml fresh lemon juice and 10 ml simple syrup.
5. Stir gently with a bar spoon to combine the flavors.
6. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.

How Do You Make a Vodka Cranberry?

Name one ingredient synonymous with the Thanksgiving feast. That’s right — cranberries. Native to North America and a staple of the holiday table since its earliest days, the Vodka Cranberry is the simplest, most crowd-pleasing way to get it into a glass.

Absolut Vodka and cranberry juice, built directly in a highball glass over ice and garnished with a lime wedge.

Ingredients:

• 45 ml Absolut Vodka
• 150 ml Sweetened Cranberry Juice
• Lime Wedge to garnish
• Ice Cubes

Ready to make a Vodka Cranberry? Watch Rico show you how to do it…blindfolded!

How Do You Make a Pumpkin Pie Martini?

It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without Pumpkin Pie — and the Pumpkin Pie Martini brings those same flavors to the glass. Absolut Vanilia, whole milk, cinnamon syrup and pumpkin purée, shaken and double strained into a chilled martini glass.

Ingredients:

• 45 ml Absolut Vanilia
• 30 ml Whole Milk
• 2 tablespoons Pumpkin Purée
• 1 tablespoon Cinnamon Syrup
• Ice Cubes

How to Make a Pumpkin Pie Martini:

1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes.
2. Use a jigger to measure and pour 45 ml Absolut Vanilia into the shaker.
3. Add 30 ml whole milk, 2 tablespoons of pumpkin purée and 1 tablespoon of cinnamon syrup.
4. Shake vigorously until the outside is frosty.
5. Double strain into a chilled martini glass using a Hawthorne strainer and a fine mesh strainer.

Happy Thanksgiving!