Colorful Cranberry Cocktail

• Reasonably tart itself, cranberry juice mixed with raspberry vodka and lime juice results in a vivid red cocktail that will complement a fall or winter party menu. After stirring together 2 parts raspberry vodka and 1 part each cranberry and lime juice, pour in your favorite lemon-lime soda to add a festive fizz and sweeten the drink. Garnishing the cocktail with fresh cranberries or a slice of pineapple on a swizzle stick will allow your guests to easily stir the drink and eat the fruit. Flavored cranberry juice will add another tasty dimension to the cocktail.

Ginger Spices Things Up

• The combination of fresh berry flavor from muddled raspberries and an unexpected dash of heat from ginger syrup transforms the simple mixture of raspberry vodka and lime juice into a bold, flavorful cocktail. After muddling a few fresh raspberries in a shaker, add raspberry vodka, lime juice and a healthy spoonful of ginger syrup. Shake with ice and strain into a highball glass filled with ice. A little tonic water or a spicy ginger beer will add fizz and flavor to your cocktail.

Live It Up With Limeade

• Mix an updated version of the classic combination of vodka and lemonade for a sweet summer treat with a surprising burst of berry flavor. Using freshly squeezed or bottled lime juice and simple syrup, mix up a pitcher of limeade. Alternatively, you can use a frozen limeade concentrate. Pour equal parts limeade and raspberry vodka over ice in margarita glasses or tall iced tea glasses and stir gently, garnishing with fresh raspberries. For a less potent cocktail, use 2 parts limeade to 1 part raspberry vodka.

Spritzer Simplicity

• Spritzers, traditionally made with white wine and club soda, have branched out over the years to accommodate a variety of spirits, including flavored vodkas. A raspberry vodka spritzer, accented with fresh berries, is an appropriately light offering on a hot summer day. After combining raspberry vodka, club soda and just enough lime juice to offer the cocktail a hint of tartness, drop in fresh blueberries, raspberries or strawberries. Place skewers on the serving table so guests can neatly fish their berries out of the glasses and eat them.