A cozy fall cocktail that tastes just like the season! This Pumpkin Spice Martini is made with pumpkin liqueur, vanilla vodka, and Licor 43 for a smooth, sweet, and lightly spiced drink you’ll want all autumn long. It’s the perfect after-dinner cocktail for fall gatherings, Halloween parties, or with Thanksgiving dessert.
Why You’ll Love This Pumpkin Spice Martini
When we’re making holiday themed drinks like this Pumpkin Spice Martini, we know that they need to look as good as they taste.
- Easy to make: Only three ingredients and a quick shake, no blender or complicated syrups needed.
- Seasonal flavor: Pumpkin spice liqueur brings warm fall spices, while vanilla vodka and Licor 43 add a hint of sweetness and citrus.
- Looks festive: A sugar-rimmed martini glass gives it that extra sparkle for holidays and cozy nights in.
- Make it ahead: Mix up a batch for parties and keep it chilled, it’s just as delicious served cold later.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This pumpkin spice martini only requires a few ingredients, but they will probably require a trip to the liquor store. However, once you buy these liquors you’ll have them for a few years to come.
- Vanilla Vodka: You can substitute regular vodka but we do like the hint of vanilla flavor that vanilla vodka brings to this martini recipe. If using regular vodka you can add a splash of vanilla extract.
- Pumpkin Spice Liquor: For this drink recipe, we’re looking for the clear, orange colored pumpkin spice liquor, not the creamy version. We like the brand Hiram Walker, for example.
- Licor 43: This liquor is a standard bottle in our cabinet. We use it for tons of drink recipes, including this pumpkin martini. It’s a Spanish liquor with a citrusy, vanilla flavor.
- Colored Sugar and Corn Syrup: For rimming the glass, optional but fun for parties. See the post and recipe card for details.
How To Add A Sugar Rim To A Martini Glass
Rimming a glass in sugar is really easy but I do get a lot of questions about it. People comment that the sugar rims run, or doesn’t stick to the rim well and it’s really all about one ingredient.
Corn syrup! Using syrup instead of water or in some recipes lime or lemon juice really acts like an edible glue for whatever you’re using to coat the rim of your glass. Water or lime juice will dissolve a sugar rim to some point and make it run down the glass.
- Pour corn syrup into one shallow dish and colored sugar (or cinnamon-sugar mix) into another.
- Dip the rim of a chilled martini glass into the corn syrup, then into the sugar until coated.
- Let set for a minute before pouring the drink.
- Tip: Try caramel syrup instead of corn syrup for a salted-caramel rim, or use gold sugar sprinkles for a holiday twist.
Alternatives To Corn Syrup
If you’re opposed to using corn syrup, or you just don’t have any, you can also try using honey, maple syrup or caramel sauce. It will add a sweeter flavor to the drink, but if you’re ok with that, both of those will also work.
For A Big Batch Recipe
Double, triple, quadruple this vodka martini recipe and keep it right in the refrigerator until party time. Rim the glasses before your party and have them on stand by.
Then when it’s cocktail time just pour the chilled martini into the rimmed glasses and serve. If you want the icy bits in your martini you can pour the martini mixture into a shaker filled with ice, shake well and then strain into your glasses.
Shaking the martinis before serving is an extra step, but one I do like to take. An icy cold martini makes a huge difference in the flavor – but if that’s not an option just make sure that your pitcher of drinks is kept chilled.
Variations
There are lots of ways that you can switch up the flavors and appearance of this martini recipe to customize it for different holidays and parties!
- Different Rims: Use different colored sugars for different holidays or themed parties. Sprinkles are also fun or an edible rim like a graham cracker crust.
- Different Liquors: Switch up the pumpkin spice liquor for other flavors like caramel apple or any other flavor you like. Most flavored liqours will work well with the other ingredients in this recipe.
- Different Vodka: Instead of vanilla, explore the many different flavored vodka options available.
- Make It Creamy: You can also use the creamy version of pumpkin spice liquor and make this martini creamy, more of a dessert cocktail.
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Pumpkin Spice Martini
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: No Cook
- Total Time: 0 hours
- Yield: 1 Drink 1x
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeThis Pumpkin Spice Martini is sure to be a hit at your fall parties! A vodka martini with pumpkin spice flavors and a festive sugar rim!
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vanilla vodka
- 1 1/2 ounces pumpkin spice liquor (clear orange, not creamy, like Hiram Walker brand)
- 1/2 ounce Licor 43
- Corn syrup
- Colored sugar for rimming the glass
Instructions
- Pour the sugar onto a shallow plate and spread into an even layer. Pour the corn syrup onto another shallow plate, deep enough to dip the rim of your glass into. Swirl the rim around in the corn syrup and them dip it into the colored sugar to create the sugared rim. (You can do this ahead of time if you’re serving these drinks at a party)
- Add the pumpkin spice liquor, vodka and Licor 43 to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well.
- Strain into the rimmed martini glass and serve.
- Category: Cocktails
- Method: Shaken
- Cuisine: American
