Shake Up Happy Hour at Home with these 6 Clever Cocktail Hacks!

Making a clever cocktail at home is a lot more accessible than you might think! Sure, the pros at secret speakeasies know their tricks of the trade; however, all it truly takes is a delicious recipe, quality booze and a gorgeous garnish to make a top-notch beverage.

That’s why So Yummy partnered with Absolut® Vodka to bring you innovative hacks that make it easy to craft a cocktail that is bold, original and creative — right at home! A key component to a delicious cocktail is to chill the drink before it is served. Artisan cocktails are often made in a metal shaker with ice to make the drink cold. If you don’t have a shaker at home, do not fret! So Yummy and Absolut® will show you how to hack a canning jar into a shaker so you can serve up an ice-cold drink, just like it’s done at your favorite local spot.

However you choose to garnish and serve, Absolut® Vodka is the perfect alcohol for your at-home cocktails because of its exceptionally smooth mouthfeel. It goes great with any mixer of your choice. Treat yourself to something special by trying out one of these clever cocktails, right from the comfort of your own home.

ENJOY RESPONSIBLY. ABSOLUT® VODKA. PRODUCT OF SWEDEN. 40% ALC./VOL. DISTILLED FROM GRAIN. © 2020 IMPORTED BY ABSOLUT SPIRITS CO., NEW YORK, NY. This material relates to the promotion of alcohol and should not be viewed by anyone below the legal age of alcohol purchase in the country of viewing.

Lime Flower Cosmo

Serves 1 person responsibly

Ingredients: 

• 2 oz Absolut® Vodka
• Splash of cranberry juice
• 1 oz lime juice
• 1 oz Cointreau
• Ice
• 1 slice lime, for garnish

Directions: 

1. Using a thick slice of lime, insert clean fingers into the center of the lime, press inward, and twist the slice inside out. Set “lime flower” aside.
2. Combine vodka, cranberry, lime and Cointreau in a cocktail shaker with ice. Cover and shake until the outside of the shaker is cold, and covered in condensation.
3. Double strain cocktail into a glass. Garnish with lime flower.

Cucumber Spiral Garnish with Kiwi Lime Cucumber Fizz

Serves 1 person responsibly  

Ingredients: 

• 2 oz Absolut® Vodka
• 1 kiwi, peeled
• 1 oz lime juice
• 1 small persian cucumber, halved lengthwise
• ½ oz simple syrup
• Sparkling water, to top off
• Crushed ice
• 1 wooden skewer

Directions:

1. To make the cucumber spiral garnish, begin with a persian cucumber that is halved lengthwise. Using a peeler, shave off the very top layer of the cucumber peel. Remove about ½ inch – 1 inch of the ends of either side of the cucumber (depending on your cucumber’s length) and set aside.
2. Slice the cucumber into small, even slices. Skewer through the sliced pieces with a wooden skewer, on the side closest toward you. Then, carefully twist and maneuver each slice until it is slightly out-of-line with the piece adjacent to it, until all pieces are twisted into a spiral design. Set aside.
3. For the Kiwi Lime Cucumber Fizz, in a shaker, muddle together the peeled kiwi and remaining cucumber ends you set aside earlier. Follow with lime juice, simple syrup, Absolut® Vodka, and ice. Shake and double strain into a pyrex measuring cup.
4. If desired, scoop muddled cucumber and kiwi remains back into the bottom of your serving glass. Fill a glass with crushed ice and pour in the strained cocktail. Top off with sparkling water and Cucumber Spiral Garnish.

Layered Strawberry Lemon Drop

Serves 1 person responsibly

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Absolut® Vodka
• Lemon, halved crosswise
• 1 oz simple syrup
• Strawberries, small handful
• Raspberries, small handful
• Ice
• Sparkling water, (preferably raspberry or strawberry flavored)

Directions:

1. Find a cocktail glass with a width that fits your halved lemon snugly in the center of the glass. Into the glass, juice the halved lemon and set aside the remaining lemon rind.
2. To the glass, add strawberries and raspberries and muddle together. Pour in simple syrup, Absolut® Vodka, and ice. Stir to combine.
3. Take the remaining lemon rind and slowly lower into the glass, making sure that the lemon half fits tightly, right above the top of the cocktail.
4. Once secure, top the drink with sparkling water. To serve, carefully push the lemon half aside with a straw and stir drink together.

Slanted Ice Vodka Sodas

Serves 1 person responsibly

Ingredients:

• 1 ounce Absolut® Vodka
• 4 oz club soda
• 1 lime wedge
• Water
• Muffin tin

Directions:

1. Using a muffin tin, set a tall highball glass into the cavity of one pocket in the tin, until it sits slanted on it’s side. Fill carefully with water until the water reaches the rim of the glass. Freeze until solid, about 4 to 6 hours.
2. Once frozen, fill glass with Absolut® Vodka, club soda, and a lime wedge.

Color Changing Cocktail

Serves 1 person responsibly 

Ingredients:

• 3 oz Absolut Vodka
• Butterfly Pea Flowers, small handful
• 1 oz lemon juice
• 1 oz Cointreau
• ½ tbsp honey
• Sparkling water, (preferably blackberry flavored)
• Ice

Directions: 

1. Pour vodka into a small jar and top with Butterfly Pea Flowers. Allow to steep until deep blue, about 30 minutes.
2. Into a shaker with ice, add lemon juice, Cointreau and honey. Shake until honey dissolves.
3. Double strain Butterfly Pea Flower vodka into a martini glass. Pour lemon, Cointreau and honey from the shaker and watch as color changes from dark blue to bright purple/fuschia.
4. Top off with blackberry sparkling water and garnish with fresh Butterfly Pea Flowers, if desired.

DIY Shaker + Strainer with Gingery Mango Lime Smash

Serves 1 person responsibly 

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Absolut® Vodka
• ½ mango, cubed
• ½ lime
• 1 slice fresh ginger
• 6 oz pineapple juice
• Crushed ice
• 1 canning jar
• Plastic wrap

Directions: 

1. Into a canning jar, muddle mango, lime and ginger. Top with ice cubes and pour in Absolut® Vodka and pineapple juice. Top jar with a small piece of plastic wrap, pull tightly and seal lid with the metal rim of the canning jar. Shake until combined.
2. Using a small knife, slice a hole on either side of the plastic wrap (one hole for pouring, one hole for ventilation.) Pour cocktail into a glass filled with crushed ice, garnish with pineapple leaf if desired!