This vanilla vodka cocktail recipe is cool and refreshing! It is smooth, sweet and tangy! This is THE cocktail to have when you are craving a tropical drink!
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I’m proud to have partnered with Princess Cruises to bring you this recipe.
This Vanilla Sky Vodka cocktail recipe is my version of the Vanilla Sky cocktail I enjoyed during my Caribbean cruise on board the Caribbean Princess. I was first introduced to this cocktail at “Good Spirits at Sea” which is a bar area located onboard.
The Good Spirits Bar has an array of craft cocktails that tell a story and is an all-encompassing experience. Each cocktail featured comes from a port around the world. The bartender mixes shakes and pours cocktails all while giving a little history about each one. For example, he would talk about Puerto Rico (one of our stops) and tell us how to create an authentic Puerto Rican Mojito and share how great it would taste served with an authentic Puerto Rican Mofungo dish (both enjoyed on this Caribbean Cruise!)
Patrons can request to taste any cocktail from the menu of specialty cocktails, and while I tried a few (this Watermelon Margarita was FANTASTIC, as was the), the Vanilla Sky was my favorite!
The story behind the Vanilla Sky has quite a bit to do with dueling vanilla and pineapple flavors of the cocktail. Pineapples are international symbols of hospitality. According to myth, vanilla was created in the after of a forbidden love affair between a mortal and a goddess. Both the vanilla and the pineapple are associated with the island of Tahiti and BOTH flavors work well in this tropical cocktail!
What Is A Vanilla Sky Vodka Cocktail?
This recipe starts with vanilla flavored vodka and orange curacao. Curacao, coming from the island with the same name, is a liqueur that is made with dried citrus peels that are found only on the island.
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You may be more familiar with its blue counterpart which is artificially colored to give it that ocean blue hue.
Orange Curacao is slightly tinted or clear, the liqueur will not lend this cocktail much color.
This cocktail is also made with almond syrup or Orgeat syrup (which is common in tropical cocktails like Mai Tais). Orgeat syrup is made with almonds, sugar and orange flower water which enhances the vanilla and citrus flavors of this mixed drink.
Lemon juice and pineapple juice round out the citrus in this cocktail.
How To Make This Vodka Cocktail
Grab a cocktail shaker and fill it with ice. Combine all ingredients in the shaker and pour the mixture in a tall glass also filled with ice and garnish with a pineapple wedge and fresh mint just before serving.
You could also serve this cocktail in a martini glass or a copper mug just like a Moscow Mule. I like that a clear glass lets the color shine through!
Which Is The Best Vodka For Cocktails?
I don’t have a clear answer for this one. Like anything, the vodka you use will depend upon your tastes.
I love tasting cocktails at restaurants and if I find one I like, I try to record the vodka brand name.
Trial and error, as well as budget constraints, will determine which vodka you use. Just make sure you use vanilla flavored vodka.
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Are There Substitutions?
If you make too many substitutions then this turns into a completely different cocktail.
However, if you cannot find Orange Curacao, then Triple Sec or Cointreau will work.
Also, feel free to make your own simple syrup (I share how to make your own simple syrup in this Blackberry Vodka Gimlet Recipe). It is easy to do and stores nicely. If you cannot find the almond syrup (I ordered my from Amazon) vanilla syrup would be fine.
This Vanilla Sky cocktail was the perfect cocktail to enjoy while sitting on the deck watching the ocean around us. I ordered it often using my OceanNow app, (and my cocktail would appear in minutes, just like magic) which is the BEST way to Cruise The Caribbean!
The sunny, fresh, sweet flavors in this cocktail make it THE cocktail to enjoy this summer!
If vodka cocktails seem to be your thing, then please try Cherry Lime Vodka Lemonade, Pineapple Upside Down Vodka Cocktail, Key Lime Vodka Collins, and this Blueberry Vodka Lemonade!
To learn more about the Caribbean Princess and Princess cruises visit them at familycuisine.net.
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