8 Drinks to Make
with vanilla vodkaAbsolut Vanilia is a vanilla-flavored vodka made with natural flavor – warm notes of bourbon vanilla, toffee and caramel that pair naturally with coffee liqueur, passion fruit, citrus and cream. The base spirit behind the Pornstar Martini, Vanilla Espresso Martini, Spicy Fifty and Apple Pie Shot, among others.
Here are eight of our favorite cocktails with Absolut Vanilia – but first, over to Ricardo ‘Rico’ Dynan, bartender and Absolut Global Brand Ambassador.
1. Pornstar Martini
The Pornstar Martini – also known as the Passion Star Martini – is a modern classic and one of the most popular cocktails made with Absolut Vanilia. Made with Absolut Vanilia, passion fruit purée, vanilla syrup and muddled pineapple, garnished with a floating passion fruit half and served with a champagne shot on the side.
With 7,951 reviews and a 4.7 star rating on Absolut Drinks, it’s the highest-rated cocktail on the site. The numbers speak for themselves. Check out our Pornstar Martini recipe.
Richer and more indulgent than the original, with the vanilla softening the bitterness of the coffee into something altogether more dessert-forward.
Learn how to make a Vanilla Espresso Martini.
3. Spicy Fifty
The Spicy Fifty is a cocktail of contrasts — Absolut Vanilia, fresh lime juice, honey, elderflower cordial and a whole jalapeño, shaken and fine strained into a chilled martini glass.
Created by one of the world’s most celebrated bartenders, it balances sweet, sour and spicy in a single drink. Here’s how to make a Spicy Fifty.
4. Apple Pie Shot
The Apple Pie Shot is exactly what it sounds like — Absolut Vanilia, fresh apple juice, lemon juice and cinnamon in a single shot glass.
Small in size, big on flavor and about as close to a slice of Grandma’s warm apple pie as a shot glass will allow Here’s how to make an Apple Pie Shot.
5. Soho Martini
The Soho Martini is a vodka cocktail that takes the classic Martini format and adds a subtle twist – Absolut Vodka and Absolut Vanilia, a hint of orange curaçao and a dash of orange bitters, shaken and fine strained into a chilled martini glass.
Citrusy, subtly sweet and a natural next step for Martini lovers. Discover our recipe for a Soho Martini.
6. Strawberry & Cream Highball
“Think strawberries and cream. Think Eton Mess,” says Rico. “Absolut Vanilia has those hints of ice cream and creamy vanilla – you can’t beat it.”
He’s not wrong. The Strawberry and Cream Highball mixes Absolut Vanilia, fresh lemon juice, strawberry syrup and soda water, garnished with lemon zest – a highball that tastes exactly like it sounds. Check out
7. Pumpkin Pie Martini
Shaking together Absolut Vanilia, milk, pumpkin purée and a tablespoon of cinnamon syrup, the Pumpkin Pie Martini is a perfect sipper for the Holidays and those chilly fall and winter nights. Discover our Pumpkin Martini recipe.
8. Strawberry Night
Strawberry Night is a shaken cocktail made with Absolut Vanilia, passion fruit juice, fresh lemon juice and passion fruit liqueur – served in a highball glass, garnished with fresh strawberries, a pineapple wedge and a long vanilla pod.
Tropical, fruit-forward and built around the natural tension between passion fruit tartness and warm vanilla sweetness. Check out our Strawberry Night cocktail recipe.
Vanilla vodka has a natural affinity with citrus juices – fresh lemon and lime cut through the sweetness and sharpen the overall flavor in all the right ways. Coffee liqueur and espresso are equally natural partners, amplifying the vanilla’s caramel undertones into something that tastes like a dessert in a glass.
Tropical fruits like passionfruit and pineapple lean into the sweetness, while mixed with cream and milk will make any drink rich and sippable.
For something more unexpected, contrast pairings work surprisingly well. Ginger beer brings a spicy, sharp edge that plays beautifully against vanilla’s softness as does jalapeño syrup or a dash of hot sauce for those who like their cocktails with a little heat. The tension between sweet and spicy is where things get interesting.
One thing to avoid – strongly flavored spirits that compete with rather than complement the vanilla. Peated Scotch and heavily aged rum both bring too much of their own character to the glass.
When it comes to vanilla vodka, we like to think about how we would pair those flavors in the kitchen. Vanilla vodka often goes with dessert-like pairings like apples, coffee, cream and caramel. On the other hand, vanilla vodka also pairs unexpectedly well with spicy ingredients like hot sauce or jaläpeños.
We might be biased, but in our humble opinion it’s Absolut Vanilia. The smooth mouthfeel and sweet notes of vanilla, butterscotch, and crême brülée makes it great on its own, and perfect for mixed drinks. However, the real answer to this question actually comes down to personal preference. If you find a vanilla vodka you like, then that’s the one you should use.
