‘Tis the season of pumpkin spice. For some reason, this fall has brought on a larger wave of pumpkin spice flavored products than usual. From PSL’s to PS Yogurt to PS Hummus, it’s showing up in every food group. But, along with these products has come an unsettling mindset: that consuming pumpkin spice flavored goodies makes one “basic.” This assumption states that if you happen to order a Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks, you should be banished to the land of Uggs and North Face forevermore. Well, in an effort to change this unnecessary and frankly insulting stigma, we’ve collected our favorite pumpkin spice cocktails–because there’s nothing basic about booze.
First things first, there are a couple of ways to bring the pumpkin flavor.
- pumpkin puree
- pumpkin butter
- pumpkin flavored alcohol (vodka, rum, whiskey etc)
- pumpkin liqueur
These different methods will slightly alter the consistency and potency of your drink, so we encourage you to get creative and experiment.
- 1 1/2 ounces rye whiskey
- 1 1/2 ounces pumpkin liqueur
- 1/2 ounce triple sec
- 1/4 ounce anise liqueur
- 1 egg white
- 3 dashes Angostura aromatic bitters
- Grated nutmeg for garnish (optional)
Pour the ingredients into an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Shake. Shake again. And shake again to make sure the egg is properly mixed. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Top with grated nutmeg and enjoy.
- 1 ounce pumpkin puree
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 ounce fresh lemon juice
- 2 ounces bourbon
- 3 ounces ginger beer
- 1/8 teaspoon grated fresh ginger (yes, you can use ground ginger if you must)
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Garnish: (optional)
- 1 cinnamon stick
- Sage leaves
- Dash of ground cinnamon
Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake. Strain into a glass on the rocks. Garnish with a cinnamon stick, a couple of sage leaves, and an extra dash of cinnamon. Notice how unbasic this cocktail is and enjoy.
- 1 oz vodka
- 6 oz sparkling wine (used Processco)
- 1 heaping teaspoon pumpkin mixture
- 2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice
- Oversized ice cube
Pumpkin mixture: Combine 1 can pumpkin (not pie mix), 1/2 cup water, 2 ½ tablespoons of sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ginger, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, and 1/4 teaspoon cloves. Place mixture in a microwave-safe bowl and cook for 20 minutes stirring frequently until thick enough so it does not run off a spoon when turned upside down. Transfer to containers and chill in the refrigerator until mixing the drinks.
Place the vodka, pumpkin mixture and pumpkin spice in the bottom of a wine glass. Stir well. Top with 4 oz. of sparkling wine, add oversized ice cube, and then add the remainder of the 2 oz. sparkling wine to the glass. Enjoy.