Autumn wouldn’t be complete without pumpkin finding its way into your kitchen. Whether you like it in your coffee as a Pumpkin Spice Latte or as dessert in a Pumpkin Layer Pie, this savory yet slightly sweet ingredient sets the stage for a season brimming with delightful treats.
And what better way to enjoy this holiday favorite than in a cocktail? We’ve rounded up top-notch recipes from acclaimed spots in South Florida to indulge in from the comfort of home. Scroll down and cheers!
Pumpkin Runner
From Burlock Coast, The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale
What you need:
- ½ oz. Crop spiced pumpkin vodka
- 1 oz. freshly brewed espresso
- ¾ oz. house-made vanilla syrup
Vanilla Syrup ingredients:
- ¼ cup water
- 2 vanilla beans
- 2 cups sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Process:
- Blend water and vanilla beans until beans are fully ground.
- Pour through a fine-mesh strainer into a small saucepan.
- Add sugar and salt to the saucepan.
- Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until sugar is dissolved and all the ingredients are combined.
- Add espresso, vodka and syrup into a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Shake and strain into a martini glass.
- Garnish with vanilla beans and ground espresso.
Photo courtesy of Burlock Coast
Pumpkin Spice Old Fashioned
From Chef Adrianne’s Vineyard Restaurant & Bar
What you need:
- 2 oz. bourbon
- 1 oz. pumpkin spice syrup
- 4 dashes of orange bitters
- 1 Luxardo cherry
- 1 large ice cube
- 1 cinnamon stick
Process:
- Combine bourbon, syrup and orange bitters in a cocktail mixing glass.
- Add ice and stir for 20 seconds.
- Strain and pour into a rock glass with a large ice cube.
- Garnish with cinnamon stick and cherry.
Photo courtesy of Maximum Flavor Hospitality
Sleepy Hollow
Available at Ocean Grill, The Setai
What you need:
- 2 oz. Stiggin’s pineapple rum
- 2 oz. piña colada mix (coconut cream and pineapple juice)
- 1.25 oz. pumpkin spice syrup
- 1 oz. citrus float of Zacapa 23 rum
- pumpkin spice sugar (mix of cinnamon spice, ground nutmeg and light brown sugar)
Process:
- Set aside Zacapa 23 rum and pumpkin spice sugar.
- Combine all other ingredients in a blender with ice.
- Pour into a frozen glass.
- Add a float of Zacapa 23 rum.
- Sprinkle desired amount of pumpkin spice sugar on top.
Photo courtesy of Ocean Grille
Pumpkin Patch Margarita
From Lightkeepers, The Ritz-Carlton, Key Biscayne
What you need:
- 2 oz. Tequila Blanco
- 0.75 oz. Cointreau
- 0.75 oz. lime juice
- 1 oz. pumpkin spice syrup
- cinnamon sugar spice (or mix ground cinnamon with granulated sugar)
- 1 cinnamon stick
Process:
- Place the cinnamon sugar seasoning on a flat surface. Take a lime wedge and run it around the edge of your glass. Dip the rim of the glass into the seasoning mixture.
- Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice.
- Strain into glass with ice.
- Garnish with the cinnamon stick.
Spiced Lychee Martini
Available at Jaya, The Setai
What you need:
- 1.5 oz. ALB vodka
- 0.5 oz. St-Germain
- 0.75 oz. lychee purée
- 0.5 oz. pumpkin spice syrup
- 0.25 oz. citrus
- 1 fresh lychee
- pumpkin spice sugar
Process:
- Combine vodka, St-Germain, lychee purée, pumpkin spice syrup and citrus in a shaker with ice, stir and set aside.
- Rim a frozen martini glass with pumpkin sugar.
- Pour contents into the prepared glass.
- Garnished with a pumpkin spice sugar-dipped lychee.