8 Drinks to Make
with vanilla vodka
Absolut Vanilia is a delicious and versatile vanilla-flavored vodka. Made with natural ingredients, it adds a luxurious twist to classic drinks and infuses a touch of warm vanilla flavor into any of your favorite cocktails with its creamy bourbon vanilla character and notes of toffee and caramel.
There are endless ways to enjoy Absolut Vanilia. It pairs well with coffee liqueur, passion fruit, citrus juice, and cream, making it the base spirit for cocktails like the Pornstar Martini, Vanilla Espresso Martini, Spicy Fifty, and Apple Pie Shot.
Below we highlight nine of our favorite cocktails with Absolut Vanilia. But first, let’s hand the mic over to Ricardo ‘Rico’ Dynan, Bartender and Absolut Global Brand Ambassador.
1. Pornstar Martini
The Pornstar Martini is a modern classic combining Absolut Vanilia, passion fruit purée, and pineapple juice, served with a champagne shot on the side. Also known as the Passion Star Martini, if the name doesn’t grab your attention, its tropical flavors and presentation most certainly will.
Traditionally accompanied by a shot of champagne (or Prosecco) on the side, the Pornstar Martini is one of the best examples of how to make a great cocktail with Absolut Vanilia. Check out our Pornstar Martini recipe.
It follows the same recipe for a classic Espresso Martini but uses Absolut Vanilia – vanilla-flavored vodka – instead of Absolut Vodka. Learn how to make a Vanilla Espresso Martini.
4. Spicy Fifty
One of the many brilliant creations from one of the world’s most legendary bartenders, the Fifty Spicy was created in 2004 at a bar in London and is a delightful journey of sweet, sour, and spicy flavors.
It blends creamy vanilla, zesty lime, sweet honey, and floral elderflower cordial, all topped off with a warm, spicy finish from a jalapeño. Here’s how to make a Spicy Fifty
5. Apple Pie Shot
Fresh Apple Juice? Check. Lemon Juice? Check. Cinnamon? Check. Vanilla? Check.
The Apple Pie Shot might be small in size, but it’s packed with flavor. Easy to make and guaranteed to please, it’s like a slice of Grandma’s warm apple pie in liquid form. Here’s how to make an Apple Pie Shot.
6. Soho Martini
The Soho Martini is an elegant Martini that mixes Absolut Vodka together with Absolut Vanilia with a hint of orange curaçao and a dash of orange bitters, creating a balanced, citrusy, and subtly sweet cocktail. Discover our recipe for a Soho Martini.
7. Strawberry & Cream Highball
“Think Strawberries and Cream. Think Eton Mess,” says Rico. “Absolut Vanilia has those hints of ice cream and creamy vanilla-ness – you can’t beat it.”
The Strawberry & Cream Highball mixes Absolut Vanilia, fresh lemon juice, strawberry syrup and soda water, garnished with lemon zest. Learn how to make a Strawberry & Cream Highball.
8. 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.
9. Strawberry Night
What would happen if you mixed Absolut Vanilia, passion fruit juice, lemon juice, and passion fruit liqueur, and then garnished it with fresh strawberries, a pineapple wedge and a vanilla pod? A cocktail so delicious your taste buds won’t know what’s going on!
Sweet and tart, a Strawberry Night is a must-try. 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.
