Pumpkin Spice Martini

Substitutes:

• Vanilla Vodka: If you don't have vanilla vodka, you can use regular vodka as a substitute. You can also make your own vanilla vodka at home: simply take a whole vanilla pod, make an incision to open it to reveal the inside, and drop it into a bottle of vodka. Leave it to infuse in a dark place for at least two weeks (the longer, the better). For a stronger flavor, you can also add another pod and repeat the process. If you don’t have any vodka at all, you can also use rum (white or dark) or gin as an alternative. Both will give a different flavor profile but still work well with the other ingredients.
• Pumpkin Spice Liqueur: If you can't find pumpkin spice liqueur or syrup, you can make your own syrup: infuse pumpkin spice in hot water (1 part) for a few hours, filter, and add sugar (1 part) to the mix. Warm it up over low heat and mix well to dissolve the sugar. If you want, you can also add a few drops of vanilla extract for an added layer of flavor. Alternatively, you can use a combination of pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice mixed with a bit of simple syrup.
• Irish Cream Liqueur: If you're out of Irish cream liqueur, you can substitute it with half-and-half cream and a splash of vanilla extract.
• Angostura Bitters: if you’re out of Angostura, you can use chocolate bitters as a substitute or simply omit the bitters altogether.
• Granulated sugar & cinnamon rim: Feel free to experiment with the way you rim your glass! Popular options include vanilla sugar or even Graham crackers: crush the crackers, blend in a bit of cinnamon, wet the rim of the glass with Baileys or condensed milk, and dip it in the cracker powder for an extra layer of fall deliciousness.

Making a Pitcher of Pumpkin Spice Martini:

• Scale: To make a pitcher that serves 8, multiply all the ingredients by 8. That would be 16 oz of vanilla vodka, 4 oz of pumpkin spice liqueur or syrup, 4 oz of Irish cream, and 8 dashes of Angostura bitters.
• Mix: In a large pitcher, combine the Angostura bitters, vanilla vodka, pumpkin spice liqueur/syrup, and Irish cream liqueur. Add ice and stir well.
• Serve: Strain to remove the ice and serve immediately in Martini glasses rimmed with sugar & cinnamon. If you have some leftovers, be sure to keep them in the fridge (make sure no ice cubes are left inside) in an airtight container and for no longer than 2 months.

Making it Non-Alcoholic:

• Vodka Substitute: Use a non-alcoholic vodka substitute; these are available in most supermarkets and do a good job mimicking vodka's flavor. For this recipe, you can also use apple juice or apple cider as a substitute.
• Pumpkin Spice Liqueur Substitute: Opt for a non-alcoholic pumpkin spice syrup. You can find this in most grocery stores during the fall season, or you can easily make it at home (see above, “substitutes” section).
• Irish Cream Liqueur Substitute: Use a non-alcoholic Irish cream syrup or make your own by combining half-and-half cream with a splash of vanilla extract.
• Angostura Bitters: You can simply omit the bitters when making a non-alcoholic version of this recipe. However, please note that 2 dashes of bitter in an otherwise alcohol-free drink won’t raise the overall ABV of the drink. The drink will indeed chemically contain a drop of alcohol, but won’t make you intoxicated at all. Depending on your reason for not drinking alcohol and your degree of tolerance on the topic, this can also be a suitable option.
• Proceed As Usual: Use these non-alcoholic substitutes instead of the regular ingredients, and follow the original steps; just keep in mind that if you choose to use both pumpkin spice syrup and Irish cream syrup, you may have to slightly adjust the quantities or your drink may get too sweet.

Making it Vegan:

• Vegan Vodka: Most vodkas are already vegan (including vanilla vodkas), but it's always best to check the brand to be sure.
• Pumpkin Spice Liqueur or Syrup: Make sure that the brand you’re using is offering vegan products. If you’re not sure, you can easily make your own pumpkin spice syrup at home (see the above, “substitutes” section).
• Irish Cream Liqueur Substitute: Vegan versions of Irish cream are available on the market. Alternatively, you can make your own by blending canned coconut milk with a splash of vanilla extract and sweetening it with agave nectar or another vegan sweetener.
• Angostura bitters: This bitter is already vegan-friendly.
• Proceed As Usual: Use these vegan substitutes instead of the regular ingredients, follow the original steps, and enjoy a vegan version.