It’s Thanksgiving here in the old U.S. of A and I’m thankful for far more than I could list here, partially because I am blessed in ways I don’t even realize but mostly because I’m full of turkey and feeling a bit nappish. So, in the interest of tryptophan induced brevity, won’t you join me now as we stand and make the Pumpkin Pie Martini.
Nope, it’s not really a martini, but we are used to this by now. The recipe appears in Southern Living and was shared with me by my dear sainted mother who not only hates pumpkin pie, but will judge you for your open-mindedness. We are enjoying the holiday with our in-laws in Northern Virginia with no tools at all, but after a quick trip to the ABC store we are going to make it work. First step is to make some pie spice syrup, so add 1/4 teaspoon of pie spice to 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup of water. Heat, while stirring, till incorporated and bottle for later use.
Grab your tins, well, in this case a mason jar and pop in 2 ounces…hmmmm…no jigger. OK, so we are going to do parts instead of measurements. I’m going with a novelty shot glass. Toss in 2 parts of Rumchata, 1 part Vanilla vodka, I went with Smirnoff Vanilla and 1 part pie spice syrup. Add some ice right out of the fridge door into your mason jar pop the lid on and give it a good shake to “I Want to Thank You” by Otis Redding. When well chilled, strain into a cocktail glass, garnish with some pie spice and serve.
Sure it is sweet, what of it. This is a decadent drink for decadent times. It’s not terribly complex, but it goes just fine with some homemade pumpkin pie and time with family. The ladies enjoyed drinking them, I enjoyed making them and my mother enjoyed thumbing her nose at my love of pumpkin pie, probably.
So, that’s a not terribly nuanced win, all the way around and I kind of love that. This is not a day for fancy exotic delicacies, this is a time for tried and true too sweet, too savory, too carbalicious, too much everything. Tomorrow, we can go back to exotic bitters and drinks that stretch our palates, but for today, let’s be thankful for simple pleasures and for time spent with family and friends. That’ll be enough. Stay safe, stay hydrated and stay sane, my friends.
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