cranberry vodka

If you've never made your own flavored vodka, I highly recommend you do it this holiday season. The method is simple: you combine vodka with fruit, herbs, or seasonings and let it infuse for about a week. Then you strain the mixture, and the liquid you are left with is homemade flavored vodka. My favorite kind to make is cranberry vodka. The cranberries turn the vodka the most brilliant shade of pink, and the taste of the vodka is far superior to any store-bought version. Since it's 100 percent natural, it has none of the cough syrup flavor that is sometimes associated with berry vodkas. Use the cranberry vodka in a martini recipe or put it in a fun bottle and give as an edible gift. Want the easy recipe?

Now that Thanksgiving is officially behind us, it's time to get in the holiday spirit. There's no better way to do it than with a refreshing and festive homemade cocktail. This cranberry mint martini is potent but easy to sip with a beautifully vibrant hue. It's well-balanced and not too sweet. The ingredient list calls for cranberry vodka, but if you don't have it, regular vodka is a fine substitute. It's the perfect tippler to enjoy after a long day of shopping, so get the recipe.