by Jaelyn Penner
If you love pumpkin pie, you will adore this drink! It has an intense pumpkin flavor, with pie-like sweetness and spice. It would be fantastic served with heavy hors d’oeuvres, or even with just some tasty (pumpkin seed?) crackers to unwind after a long autumn workday!I love this time of year! The holiday trifecta: Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas all in such close proximity makes the last three months of the year a veritable storm of activity, decorating, un-decorating, decorating again, un-decorating again, decorating some more and shopping-shopping-shopping! But of course, the best parts of all of this madness are the celebrations!!!
What are celebrations but great people, great food, great mood and yummy drinks? Luckily, two holidays in the Trifecta are autumnal… meaning pumpkin works wonderfully for Halloween as well as Thanksgiving. And in that spirit (pun intended), I have the perfect beverage for you!
The Great Pumpkin Pie-tini
1/2oz Pumpkin Pie Vodka (unbelievable but true – this flavor was available at my local liquor store. If you can’t find it, substitute with vanilla vodka)
1 tsp. Pumpkin Butter
1 oz. cold Ginger Beer(available at Cost Plus World Market, or often at health food stores)
3 oz. cold Pumpkin Beer
Dash of Fresh-Ground Nutmeg
Cinnamon Stick for garnish
In shaker, add Vodka and Pumpkin Butter. Shake well, add ice, shake for another 5 seconds. Pour liquid only (not ice) into martini glass. Add Ginger Beer, fill with Pumpkin Beer. Gently stir. Using a small grinder and whole nutmeg, grind a dash on top of drink. Add cinnamon stick for garnish, and enjoy!
Note: Beverage brands vary widely in taste. I used a fairly sweet ginger beer by The Ginger People. If yours isn't as sweet as you would like, you can increase the amount of pumpkin butter in your drink.
