Wow your guests with decadent cocktails, adding your secret ingredient… a splash of deliciously fragrant vanilla liqueur. Remember, only quality vanilla liqueur or pure vanilla extract will do when paired with premier spirits. If you can’t find vanilla liqueur or pure vanilla extract in the shops, no problem. It’s surprisingly easy to make your own.
Vanilla martini
Add ice cubes into a cocktail shaker until two-thirds full. Add vodka, vanilla liqueur and lime juice. Shake well. Strain and pour into chilled martini glasses. Garnish with a lemon ring.
Vanilla rum
Fill a low-ball glass with ice. Pour the Kahlúa, rum and vanilla extract over the ice. Add a layer of cream the same way you would for a Kahlúa coffee. Do this by very slowly pouring the cream over the back of the spoon so it forms a layer and doesn’t mix with the Kahlúa and rum mixture. Vanilla & raspberry bellini
Make a puree by placing the raspberries in a blender. This can be done a few days in advance and keep it in the fridge. Press the raspberry puree through a fine-mesh strainer to rid it of gritty seeds. Stir in the lemon juice and vanilla extract. Place 2 tablespoons of the raspberry puree into a champagne flute. Top up with prosecco. Garnish with mint and fresh raspberries. For a kid-friendly Bellini, replace prosecco with sparkling apple juice. If you don’t have prosecco, sparkling wine (champagne) will do.
You might like: Learn more about vanilla beans and powder.
Vanilla champagne
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Place the sugar cube in the champagne flute. Pour the vanilla extract over the cube and press down gently with a spoon to break it up. Top up glass with champagne. Garnish with a twist of lemon rind.
Orange & vanilla highball
Fill a highball glass with ice cubes. Add all the ingredients. Garnish with an orange slice.
Vanilla & cranberry mimosa
Add the vanilla vodka, cranberry juice and ice to a cocktail shaker. Shake well. Strain while pouring into a champagne flute, using a coffee filter to get rid of cranberry sediment. Top up glass with sparkling wine. Garnish with fresh cranberries and a whole vanilla bean. To make a holiday punch, multiply the cranberry juice and vanilla vodka by 6 and used the entire bottle of sparkling wine.
Hot chocolate & vanilla vodka toddy
Makes 4 servings:
Heat the whole milk in a saucepan over low to medium heat until warmed through but not boiling. In a separate saucepan, add half&half whole milk and cream and heat over medium heat. Do not scald or bring to the boil. Reduce to low heat and add chocolate chips. Whisk vigorously until smooth and fully incorporated. Add heated whole milk plus icing sugar to the half&half saucepan. Heat through but don’t scald or boil. Add vanilla vodka to each mug and top up with hot chocolate toddy. Garnish with miniature marshmallows and a splash of chocolate syrup. Visit nativevanilla.com for more recipes.
