The Perfect Pumpkin Martini Recipe for Thanksgiving

Are you planning your Thanksgiving celebration? What is one item you don’t want to forget? A celebratory cocktail! I have the perfect pumpkin martini recipe for Thanksgiving. Your friends and family will love it.

For years, Sweet Shark has been making a Pumpkin Martini to toast the turkey before we sit down to our Thanksgiving meal. I think this is the perfect Pumpkin Martini Recipe. I should know because I’m the cocktail taste tester.

Sweet Shark had another Pumpkin Martini recipe that he used for several years. Then he made one that he thought was easier to make and would taste even better. He was right. This version is the perfect Pumpkin Martini for three reasons.

Treating your friends or family to a fun pumpkin-flavored cocktail sets the tone for a holiday we love to celebrate. A feast day like Thanksgiving deserves its own special drink.

If you are a novice bartender or you want to know what Sweet Shark keeps in his bar or you need a list of possible Christmas gifts for the bartender in your life, be sure to sign up to receive my Bar Essentials Checklist Printable below.

Why is this the Perfect Pumpkin Martini?

Let me share what we love about this Thanksgiving cocktail.

Reason Number One

The first reason that this is the perfect Pumpkin Martini recipe is that it has just three ingredients.

• Vanilla Vodka – Sweet Shark used SKYE vodka.
• Bailey’s Irish Creme – something that should be in every bartender’s tool box.
• In the past, Sweet Shark has used Hiram Walker Pumpkin Spice Liqueur – the must-have ingredient to make a Pumpkin Martini. However, that ingredient has become hard to find at the liqueur stores. He discovered a new pumpkin-flavored alternative – Torani Pumpkin Syrup. He also has Pumpkin Spice Liqueur by Mr. Stacks in his bar.

TIP: Keep your vodka in the refrigerator or freezer for extra good drinks.

NOTE: Hiram Walker Pumpkin Spice Liqueur is not always easy to find. Call your liqueur store and ask first. We have had them order it for us.

Reason Two

The second reason that makes this the perfect Pumpkin Martini Recipe?

The ingredients are in equal portions – no remembering how much of which ingredient – they are all the same. One serving uses 1 1/2 ounces of each ingredient. Just double to make two cocktails.

Reason Three

The third reason that this is the perfect Pumpkin Martini?

To serve this Pumpkin Martini, you can use your prettiest martini glasses. This is the plain version.

We received these cut crystal glasses as a wedding present.

Dressing Up Your Pumpkin Spice Martini

If you like to make your Pumpkin Martini extra special, you can rim the glass with sugar – I love this.

The cocktail looks extra festive and that little taste of sugar is so yummy as you taste that first delicious sip of Pumpkin Martini. These are HIS and HERS Pumpkin Martinis. Guess which one is mine?

For even more fall flavor, a bit of freshly grated nutmeg adds a delicious fall aroma to the cocktail just before you take that first sip.

Sweet Shark keeps a teeny tiny box grater in his bar just for this task. You can usually find whole nutmeg in the spice aisle of your grocery store, but if not this would be a source for nutmeg. The flavor of freshly grated nutmeg is much better for drinks than ground nutmeg that you use for baking.

If you are wondering, we bought the gold cocktail shaker at Paris Market in Savannah, Georgia, one of my favorite stores in the world. It is a 1-drink size shaker.

In this newest version, Sweet Shark sprinkled ground nutmeg and cinnamon on the pumpkin martini.

If you want to make two Pumpkin Martinis (You do want to share with your guests, right?), double the recipe and use a standard-size cocktail shaker.

Here’s an idea: give your favorite bartender a pretty package with the gold cocktail shaker, the mini-box grater, and a bottle of the Pumpkin Spice Liqueur as a Christmas present. I bet he would make you a Pumpkin Martini as a “thank you”.

Bar Tools for Making the Pumpkin Martini (and Stock Your Bar)

Pumpkin Martini

Don’t forget these other Pumpkin Recipes.

Hope you enjoy making and sipping this Perfect Pumpkin Martini Recipe. Lift a glass and toast Sweet Shark.

You don’t want to forget this perfect Pumpkin Martini recipe so be sure to PIN it. I have a Pinterest Board, Beverages and Cocktails, that I bet you’ll like.

Cheers! And Happy Thanksgiving.