Pumpkin Spice Martini - Cocktail of the Week

It occurred to me this week that while I have done a pumpkin pie martini before, I've somehow never done the more obvious pumpkin spice martini!

So, here we go!

Paul Grecaud, Thinkstock

It obviously will include the pumpkin pie spice (cinnamon, clove, ginger, allspice, and nutmeg) but quite like my pumpkin pie martini, also includes actual pumpkin. (I know, it sounds weird, but trust a girl!) The pumpkin puree adds an amazing creaminess and flavor to the drink.

Add a few other touches and voila! Your favorite fall flavor just got a boozy upgrade!

Note: If you've never heard of/tried Rumchata, you're about to be so happy...it's available in every liquor store, and basically tastes like the milk at the end of a bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Amazing.

Ingredients:

2 oz. Rumchata
1 oz. vanilla vodka
2 Tbls. canned pumpkin pie filling (or equivalent amount of plain canned pumpkin plus sugar and pumpkin pie spice to taste)
pumpkin pie spice, to garnish
sugar, to garnish

Mix equal parts sugar and pumpkin pie spice, and use to rim a chilled cocktail glass. Shake the vodka, Rumchata, and pumpkin very well over ice, then strain into rimmed glass. Garnish with a dash of pumpkin pie spice or plain cinnamon.

Throw on your new boots, zip up the North Face, and enjoy this most BASIC of cocktails, while snapping an Insta of the autumn leaves, obvi!

Switch it up:

If the thought of fresh pumpkin in the drink grosses you out, use a pumpkin/pumpkin spice flavored syrup.
Try a different flavored vodka like cinnamon, ginger, or caramel.
Try adding a little freshly brewed coffee or espresso to make it taste a little more like the popular pumpkin spice latte.
Throw all the ingredients in the blender with a little milk for a frosty treat!