Pumpkin Cocktails

Every autumn, as innate tastes change with the season, people seek out pumpkin flavored cocktails. It is a unique flavor in a cocktail and, while not the most versatile, can be found in everything from a variety of pumpkin martinis to punches that are perfect for the holidays.

To get the pumpkin into your cocktails you have a few options including pumpkin butter, pumpkin syrup, pumpkin seeds, pumpkin puree, or pumpkin liqueur and the list below includes each. For any of these pumpkin pie spice could be lightly sprinkled on top of the drink (such as you would with nutmeg) for a seasonal garnish. Also, at the bottom you will find a few food recipes with pumpkin and liquor.

Pumpkin-flavored Cocktails:
These drinks use either fresh pumpkin (seeds or flesh) or a pumpkin butter or syrup (such as Monin), or a pumpkin spice.

• Calabatini
• Falling Leaf Fizz
• Homecoming
• Jack-o-Lantern Punch
• Polished Princess
• Pumpkin Carver
• Pumpkin Divine
• Pumpkin Patch
• Pumpkin Punch
• Pumpkin Shandy
• Pumpkin Spice
• Spiced Pumpkin Martini

Pumpkin Liquor Cocktails:
Rarely can you find a pumpkin-flavored liquor because it is a very seasonal flavor and because of this few liquor companies take on the challenge. However, a few do and some come and go with the exception being Hiram Walker Pumpkin Spice Liqueur, which is relatively easy to find in the fall and winter (at least as of 2009). One of my favorites is Modern Spirit's seasonal Pumpkin Pie Vodka, which is currently out of production. On the scene in 2012 is Pinnacle Pumpkin Pie Vodka, another limited edition from one of the brands leading the dessert vodka trend. Search your liquor store shelves for the season's current selections as it is difficult to keep up with this tricky flavor.

• Ghost-tini
• Great Pumpkin
• Halloween Brew
• Pumpkin Fever
• Pumpkin Martini
• Pumpkin Pie Martini
• Pumpkin Spice Martini
• Spiced Pumpkin
• Thanksgiving Cider

"Spiked" Pumpkin Food Recipes:
Baking with both pumpkin and distilled spirits can create some fantastic foods and these few recipes prove that.

• Baked Spicy Pumpkin and Rum Cheesecake
• Kahlua Pumpkin Pie - from Peggy Trowbridge Filippone, About.com Guide to Home Cooking
• Rum Raisin Pumpkin Bread - from Elizabeth Yetter, About.com Guide to Bread Baking
• Spice Pumpkin Tiramisu - from Carroll Pellegrinelli, About.com Guide to Baking

This collection of cocktail recipes is an ongoing project and is updated regularly.

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