6 Vodka cocktail recipes

Oct. 4 is National Vodka Day, and we’re ready to celebrate with one of these luscious libations created by chef Marcus Samuelsson!

Basil gimlet

Serving size 1

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces SKYY Vodka
• 1 ounce lemon juice
• 3/4 ounce honey solution (1-to-1 honey and hot water)
• 5 small basil leaves

Directions:

1. Fill a shaker with ice and all the ingredients.
2. Shake vigorously.
3. Strain and serve in a martini glass garnished with basil.

The Savoy

Serving size 1

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces SKYY Vodka
• 3 red grapes
• 3 bunches of white grapes
• 1 ounce lemon juice
• 1/2 ounce agave syrup

Directions:

1. In a rocks glass, muddle two red grapes and two white grapes.
2. Shake the vodka, lemon juice and agave together with ice, and strain over muddled grapes.
3. Garnish with a skewer of 4–5 grapes.

Ginger hibiscus punch

Makes 1 cocktail with enough base for 16 cocktails

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces SKYY Infusions Coconut
• 2 ounces hibiscus base (recipe to follow) or chilled hibiscus tea
• 1/2 ounce lime juice
• Lime for garnish

Directions:

1. Mix and serve on the rocks.

Ingredients:

• 1 quart water
• 1 cup hibiscus flowers
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3 tablespoons grated ginger

Directions:

1. Bring ingredients to a boil, then remove from heat, and let the mixture sit overnight.
2. Strain into an airtight container. Allow to cool. Garnish with lime.

Earl of Harlem

Makes 1 cocktail with enough base for 28 cocktails

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces SKYY Vodka
• 2 ounces Earl of Harlem syrup (recipe to follow)
• 1/2 ounce lemon juice
• 1/2 ounce simple syrup
• Orange rind (for garnish)

Directions:

1. Shake with ice, then strain into a rocks glass.
2. Garnish with an orange rind.

Ingredients:

• 5 cups water
• 2 cups loose Earl Grey tea or 30 Earl Grey tea bags
• 1 batch coriander syrup (recipe to follow)

Directions:

1. Boil the water, then steep the tea for 20 minutes.
2. Combine the tea with the coriander syrup.
3. Let cool. Strain into a container.

White Sangria

Serving size 1

Ingredients:

• 2 cups SKYY Vodka
• 2/3 bottle white wine
• 2 ounces lime juice
• 8 ounces orange juice
• 8 ounces apple juice
• 1 mango, cut into cubes
• 2 pears, cut into cubes
• Pear and strawberry for garnish

Directions:

1. Soak the fruit in juices and vodka for 2 hours to overnight (feel free to add more SKYY for a stronger drink).
2. Stir together in a pitcher, and serve in a wineglass. Garnish with pear and strawberry.

Apple-spiced martini

Makes 1 cocktail and enough base for 20 cocktails

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces SKYY Vodka
• 1/2 ounce lime juice
• 1/2 ounce apple-spiced simple syrup (recipe to follow)
• 2 dashes angostura bitters
• Ice
• Slice of apple (for garnish)

Directions:

1. Put all the ingredients in a shaker.
2. Add ice and shake.
3. Strain through a Hawthorn shaker into chilled coupe glasses garnished with apple.

Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ground
• 1 teaspoon ginger, ground
• 1 teaspoon allspice, ground
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg, ground (freshly ground if possible)
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 slice of a red apple, 1/4 inch thick
• 1/2 cup water

Directions:

1. Place all the ingredients into a small saucepan.
2. Bring to a boil. Strain the mixture into an airtight container.
3. Cool. Refrigerate. Will stay fresh for up to two weeks.

Photo credits: Campari America

More vodka recipes

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How to make flavor-infused vodka
Vodka-infused foods