Ginger Lemon

1 part ginger infused vodka
1 part mint infused vodka
2 parts lemonade

This cocktail not to be confused with Lemon Ginger.

Lemon Ginger

1 part lemon infused vodka
1 part fennel infused vodka
2 parts ginger ale

This cocktail not to be confused with Ginger Lemon.

Brimley's Breakfast

1 part oatmeal infused vodka
1 part cinnamon infused vodka
1 part honey vodka
3 parts apple cider

This cocktail reminds you of simpler times. When "Morning in America" went down smooth and creamy, and came out like toothpaste:

Caramel Apple Cocktail

2 parts caramel vodka
1 part lemon infused vodka
2 parts apple cider

Okay I haven't actually tried this yet, but don;t see how it could possibly go wrong.

Apple Pie Cocktail

1 part Cinnamon infused vodka
1 part Caramel vodka
1 part Lemon infused vodka
3 parts apple cider



If I do say so myself, I make a mean apple pie. When people insist on me giving them the recipe, I generally leave out the secret ingredient, which is the juice of one lemon squeezed over the apples after they are peeled and sliced. The lemon juice makes the apples more tart and keeps them from turning brown.

I do not generally put vodka in my apple pie. Whiskey is better. But for the purposes of this cocktail, the lemon-infused vodka does the same thing that the lemon juice does in the pie. Most apple cider from the store is too sweet, and the lemon vodka brings back the tart flavor that brings this drink together. And the caramel vodka suggests tha flavor of the sugar that turns brown on the edge of the pie pan.

Works well with sweet or hard cider.

Zollschlager

1 part Ginger infused vodka
1 part Cinnamon infused vodka
1 part Caramel vodka
1 part Fennel infused vodka
1 part Mint infused vodka
1 part Lemon infused vodka
1 part Cola

As soon as you smell the fennel infused vodka you understand the potential. The other flavors add some nice depth. I am sure we could come up with additional flavors that would continue to improve matters. The cola is not entirely necessary but adds color and a bit of sweetness.

The first thing you will note when you try this stuff is that - well - it doesn't hurt. This maybe a disappointment if you appreciate the suffering that comes along with drinking Jag shot after Jag shot. I will concede that I experienced a moment of disappointment myself. But the combination of flavors soon left me wondering what all of that suffering was worth.

Pasty Pole

1 part coffee infused vodka
1 part cinnamon infused vodka
1 part caramel infused vodka
2 parts milk

Use organic whole milk if you can.

Ginger-Mint Lemonade

1 part Mint Infused Vodka

1 part Ginger Infused Vodka

2 parts Lemonade

Honestly I did not think I would make the mint infused vodka more than once.  The ginger lemonade is an obvious and delicious combination.  A guest last weekend threw in some of the mint vodka and I really thought she would take a sip and leave the rest of the glass.  On the contrary, she was soon making a round for everyone in the house.

Bacon-Chocolate Shot

1 part bacon infused vodka

1 part chocolate vodka

salted rim (optional)

Pour the bacon vodka first. When you pour in the cocolate vodka, it will sink below the bacon. This is not a drink for sipping - you really need to mix the two flavors to make this work.

A couple of years ago my ex-brother-in-law gave me a bacon-chocolate bar for Christmas. It was good, but mostly my reaction was that it could have been a lot better. Then, last summer, state fairs across the country introduced America to thick-cut, chocolate-dipped bacon chunks. As a Minnesotan of some girth, that just felt self-destructive. Which of course did not stop me.

The bacon-chocolate shot is a drink that is greater than the sum of its parts. The bacon infused vodka on its own is somewhat greasy and salty and has little to mask the vodka burn in the back of your throat. And the chocolate vodka alone is sort of muddy and syrupy (I could probably improve on that). But when combined these two are like some sort of superhero team in which each member's skills cannot be fully appreciated without the other.

Pink Hoo-Ha

3 oz hard cider
1 oz raspberry-infused vodka

Serve on rocks.

Sticky Floor

1 oz Lemon Juice
1 oz Honey
Ginger
2 oz Vodka

Mix equal amounts honey and lemon juice. Add some ginger if you like. Combine two ounces of this mixture with two ounces of vodka. Shake and serve up.

Brazilian Barbie

2 oz Rhubarb Tea
2 oz Vodka

Shaken and served up.