Vodka 14 Winter Drinks

• Vodka 14 is an organic vodka made with the natural spring waters of Colorado's Rocky Mountains. The uniquely distilled spirit is used in a slew of vodka drinks made specifically for winter, including the February 14er, which combines 3 oz. of vodka and 1 1/2 oz. of Ficklin's Chocolate Passport, a liqueur. Served in a martini glass, the drink can be ornamented with chocolate and is perfect for Valentine's Day. Other wintry drinks using Vodka 14 include Pomegranate and Mint 14, which mixes pomegranate juice and vodka, and Organic Classic Cosmo 14, Vodka 14's take on the traditional favorite.

Winter Sunshine Martini

• The Winter Sunshine Martini is a winter cocktail made with Absolut Citron, one of the many flavored vodkas offered by the Swedish brand of vodka. It is made with 2 parts of Absolut Citron, a citrus-flavored vodka, and with equal parts of gingerbread liqueur and triple sec. The ingredients are then shaken with ice and strained, and served in a martini glass with a garnish of the drinker's choosing, such as a lemon peel to accentuate the sunshine part of the drink's name, or a candy cane to emphasize the holiday spirit of winter. The drink can be perfectly accommodated by many of the treats associated with winter, such as a gingerbread house or cake.

Gingerbread Apple Cocktail

• Another martini-style winter drink that uses the gingerbread theme and flavoring is the Gingerbread Apple Cocktail. Served in a chilled martini glass, the drink combines any vanilla-flavored vodka with ginger-flavored liqueur Domaine de Canton and apple cider. The apple cider gives the drink fall overtones, while the vanilla and ginger flavors combine to add that winter holiday taste. To complete the recipe, several drops of squeezed lemon juice and agave syrup are added, and the drink is commonly garnished with a orange zest, or orange peel.

Belvedere Toffee (Candy) Apple

• Belvedere Vodka, a Polish brand of vodka, offers their own take on the winter cocktail. The company advertises several winter drinks on their website, including the Belvedere Toffee (Candy) Apple, which combines vodka and toffee sauce, strained into a martini glass, and completed with an apple wedge. Other winter favorites marketed by Belvedere include the Spice Pumpkin Martini, the ingredients of which include an actual peeled pumpkin layered with honey, and the Bitter Rhubarb Martini, a perfect complement to the bitter cold of winter, which is made by charring an orange peel and serving it with strained and chilled Belvedere vodka.