Football season is here. That means it’s time for parties and tailgating. We have some great ideas for cooking recipes and vodka drinks that are sure to win over the home team every time.

Vodka Drinks
Gogh Deep
1 oz. Van Gogh Acai - Blueberry Vodka
1 oz. Van Gogh Raspberry Vodka
Splash of cranberry juice
Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously for five seconds. Strain into shot glasses.

Extra Point Shot
1 oz. Van Gogh Double Espresso
1 oz. Creme de cacao
Float Gran Marnier
Combine vodka and creme de cacao in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously for five seconds. Strain into shot glasses. Hold a cherry by the stem into the shot glass and carefully pour the Gran Marnier over it so that it floats on top of the shot.

Cooking Recipes
Vodka Tomato Salsa
6 plum tomatoes, diced
2 oz. Van Gogh Vodka
1 can tomato paste
juice of 2 limes
2 tbsp. Cilantro, chopped
1 jalapeño, seeded and diced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 shallot, minced
Mix ingredients into bowl. Cover tightly and let sit overnight.

Pineapple Mango Salsa
2 fresh mangos, diced
2 oz. Van Gogh Pineapple Vodka
1/4 cup of crushed pineapple
2 tbsp. of chopped fresh cilantro
2 tbsp. of fresh lime juice
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
1/4 chopped green bell pepper
1 seeded and minced jalapeño pepper
2 tbsp. of extra virgin olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
salt and pepper
Mix ingredients together in a bowl. Can be enjoyed immediately or let it sit and soak up the flavor overnight.

Totally Tailgating Wings
2 oz. Van Gogh Vodka
1 tbsp. garlic powder
1 cup sugar
1 large bottle (15 oz.) soy sauce
1 cup orange juice
Chicken wings

Mix all ingredients together and marinate wings overnight. (If making a large quantity of wings, increase marinate recipe enough to cover the chicken). Bake chicken at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until completely cooked. Turn over half way through. Great for parties!

Van Gogh’s Double Chocolate Brownies
Van Gogh Dutch Chocolate Vodka
Van Gogh Vanilla Vodka
Chocolate Liqueur
1 1/2 cup flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2/3 cup butter
1 1/2 cup sugar
4 cups chocolate chips
4 eggs
2/3 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In a small saucepan combine butter, sugar, and 4 tbsp. Van Gogh Dutch Chocolate Vodka. Bring to a boil and remove from heat. Add 2 cups of chocolate chips and 2 tsp. Van Gogh Vanilla Vodka. Stir until chips melt and mixture is smooth. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually blend in the flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir in the remaining chocolate chips and the nuts. Spread mixture into a greased 9″ x 13″ baking pan. Bake 40-45 minutes (bake longer if you prefer less chewy brownies). Cool for 1/2 hour. Poke holes with the tines of a fork throughout the brownies. Combine 8 tbsp. Van Gogh Dutch Chocolate Vodka and 4 tbsp. chocolate liqueur and pour evenly over brownies. Cool completely.

If you are planning a party, or simply need to bring a dish to one, Van Gogh Vodka has some great suggestions for both cocktails and cooking recipes sure to please everyone.  Our flavored vodkas truly spike the menu.

Labor Free Punch
3 cups Van Gogh Pineapple Vodka
½ gallon Fruit Punch
1 can frozen orange juice concentrate
1 qt. ginger ale
Several scoops of orange sherbet

Mix vodka, punch and orange juice concentrate in a large container until orange juice is dissolved. Place mixture in a freezer safe container, with a lid. Continue shaking every 20 minutes until it becomes slushy. Just before the party pour mixture into a large punch bowl and add ginger ale then add scoops of sherbet and slices of lemon.

Coconut Soaked Ambrosia
½ cup Van Gogh Coconut Vodka
2 grapefruits
3 oranges
2 tangerines
½ cup sugar
½ cup shredded coconut

Peel and cut up fruit into a separate bowl.
Place half of the fruit into a serving dish: sprinkle with ½ the coconut and ½ the sugar then pour ½ the vodka into bowl. Add remaining fruit, sugar, coconut and vodka. Stir and chill overnight.

Vodka Tomato Salad Dressing
1 tomato, quartered
1 garlic clove, minced
2 basil leaves
1/8 cup Van Gogh Vodka
1/3 cup grape seed oil
¼ cup red wine vinegar
Salt and freshly ground pepper (to taste)

Mix ingredients together except for the oil in a food processor or blender until smooth.
Slowly add oil while machine is running. Refrigerate and serve with a mixed salad.

Vodka Tomato Bruchetta
6 Roma tomatoes, finely diced
2 garlic cloves crushed and minced
2 green onions, finely shredded
½ cup Basil Leaves, finely chopped
2 teaspoons of 80-proof Van Gogh Vodka
4 teaspoons olive oil
Salt & Freshly ground pepper

Combine all ingredients together and sit for one half hour before serving on sliced and toasted baguette.

Penne Pineapple Vodka Pasta
Courtesy of celebrity chef Jon Ashton
¼ cup Van Gogh Pineapple Vodka
1-pound Penne Pasta
3-teaspoons olive oil
1 large onion, diced
4 garlic cloves, sliced
½ pond left over ham, diced
1-cup chicken broth
2 tablespoons butter
½ cup grated parmesan reggiano cheese
Salt and Pepper

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Cook pasta until al dente, about 10-12 minutes.

In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook until it has softened slightly and turned a golden color, about 3-5 minutes. Add sliced garlic and ham.

Increase heat to high and continue cooking until garlic and ham begin to brown, about 4 minutes. Add Van Gogh Pineapple Vodka and chicken broth, reduce heat to medium and simmer until the liquid is reduced by a third, about 3-4 minutes. Drain pasta and add to skillet. Stir to combine, and then add butter, cheese and salt and pepper to taste.

Simple Pineapple Vodka Shrimp Kabobs
Courtesy of celebrity chef Jon Ashton
Marinade:
½ cup Van Gogh Pineapple Vodka
2 tablespoons minced ginger
3 cloves garlic, minced
¼ cup olive oil
1 tablespoon sesame oil
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro

1 bunch scallions, 1 inch slices
1 large red pepper
2 lbs large peeled shrimp

In a large bowl, whisk together ginger, garlic, Van Gogh Pineapple Vodka, lime juice, oil, sesame oil, and cilantro. Add shrimp. Toss to coat shrimp; cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. Remove shrimp from marinade. Pour marinade into a small sauce pan. Bring to a boil for one full minute. Remove from heat. Alternately thread shrimp, scallions, and peppers onto skewers*.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Place skewers in a baking dish. Bake 4 to 6 minutes until shrimp turn pink and opaque, turning once halfway trough cooking time, and basting with reserved marinade. Serve warm over Chinese Noodles.

Makes 6 servings
Presoak skewers in water an hour before using to keep them from burning.

Grilled Pina Colada Salmon
1 lb Salmon (skin peeled away)
½ cup Van Gogh Coconut Vodka
¼ cup Van Gogh Pineapple Vodka
¼ cup duck sauce
1 pineapple slice

Soak Pineapple slice in half of the coconut vodka for 1 hour.
Marinate salmon in remaining coconut vodka with pineapple vodka. Refrigerate for 1 hour.

Heat duck sauce on medium until warm.
Spray grill with cooking spray.
Grill Salmon on medium heat for 4 to 6 minutes on each side.
Grill pineapple slice. Approx. 2 minutes on each side.
Place salmon on serving dish top with grilled pineapple and warm duck sauce.

Grilled Fruit Kabobs with an Espresso Caramel Sauce
Courtesy of celebrity chef Jon Ashton
Ingredients:
2 ripe bananas
2 ripe Peaches
12 strawberries
1 cup chopped pineapple
1 tbsp. of sugar

Directions:
Preheat your grill. Fruit Thread fruit onto bamboo skewers*. Spray kabobs with cooking spray and place on grill 2 inches away from hot coals. Cook for 4 minutes on each side. Do not overcook. Remove from heat and serve immediately with ricotta cheese and espresso caramel sauce.

Double Espresso Vodka Caramel Sauce
1 cup granulated sugar.
1 cup heavy whipping cream
8 tablespoons unsalted butter
½ cup Van Gogh Espresso Vodka

Put the sugar in a medium sized pan, place pan over medium heat to let sugar caramelize. Sugar will liquefy. When it turns a dark golden color, then add Van Gogh Double Espresso Vodka (carefully) and cream, and reduce heat. Stir in butter. Let butter melt, and remove from heat.

Blueberry Compote
1 ½ oz. Van Gogh Acai - Blueberry Vodka
1 pint of blueberries
½ cup sugar
4 oz. unsalted butter
In a medium sized pan heat ingredients. Slightly smash blueberries with a fork to release more of the flavor. Heat until sugar is dissolved. Refrigerate for one hour.

Pour compote over your favorite New York Style Cheesecake recipe or even ice cream.

Van Gogh Vodka knows there is not just one type of martini. Today, even the traditional martini can mean many different things. In this episode of our Gogh Cast, we explain the different types of traditional martinis and offer a few hints along the way.

Classic Martini
3 oz Van Gogh Gin
Hint of dry vermouth
Garnish with olives or lemon twist

Luxury Martini
3 oz Van Gogh 80-proof Classic Vodka
3 large olives pre-soaked in vermouth

Naked Martini
3 oz Van Gogh 80-proof Classic Vodka
3 large olives

Garlic Martini
3 oz Van Gogh 80-proof Classic Vodka
Hint of dry vermouth
3 garlic stuffed olives

Hot & Dirty Cajun Martini
3 oz Van Gogh 80-proof Classic Vodka
1/2 oz olive juice
3 dashes tabasco hot sauce
Garnish with jalapeno stuffed olive

In this Gogh Cast episode, we share several vodka drinks that are a real treat for after dinner. These dessert cocktails feature great tastes and unique combinations of flavored vodka with fruit and ice cream.

Van Gogh Vodka Drink Recipes
Walk on the Beach
2 oz Van Gogh Pineapple Vodka
Your favorite sliced fruit: pineapple, watermelon, oranges, and strawberries
Combine ingredients in bowl and serve

Key Lime Pie Martini
2 oz Van Gogh 80-proof Vodka
1/2 oz Licor 43
1/2 oz fresh squeezed lime juice
1/2 oz Roses lime juice
Splash of cream
Combine, shake and serve.
Rim glass with graham cracker crumbs. Garnish with lime wedge.

Lemon Cake Martini
2 oz Van Gogh 80-proof Vodka
1 oz Limoncello
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 oz simple syrup
1 tbl. lemon zest
1 tsp. whipped topping
Combine, shake, serve. Top with whipped cream.

Black Forest Cake
1 oz Van Gogh Black Cherry Vodka
1 oz Van Gogh Dutch Chocolate Vodka
1/2 oz Irish Cream
1/2 oz Godiva Chocolate Liqueur
1/2 oz Creme de Cacao
Splash of Maraschino Cherry juice
Splash of cream
Combine, shake, serve. Garnish with a cherry.

Espresso Mint Chocolate Chip Treat
1 oz Van Gogh Espresso Vodka or Van Gogh Double Espresso Vodka
2 scoops Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream
Pour vodka over ice cream and enjoy.

We hope you enjoy these dessert drinks featuring our flavored vodkas. Please send us your vodka drink recipes ideas.

If you are planning a Memorial Day celebration or summer picnic, Van Gogh Vodka has some tips to make it easy and fun.

Gogh Juice
1 cup Van Gogh Vodka
1 cup Van Gogh Gin
1 cup Rum, light
1 gal. fruit punch
1 cup Pineapple Juice
1 cup Sprite
Pour ingredients a large punch bowl. Add ice and fruit. Then Enjoy the Party!! Garnish with slices of various fruit.

Wicked Watermelon
750 ml. Van Gogh Vodka
1 whole watermelon
Cut a whole in the top of the watermelon and pour vodka in the watermelon. Put the watermelon hole upwards in the fridge for one day before eating.

JellO Jiggler Shots
Gogh have a blast at the party with this delicious treat!!
1 1/4 cup Van Gogh Vodka
1 large box JellO any flavor
2 unflavored gelatin packets
1 1/4 cups boiling water
Mix JellO and unflavored gelatin in bowl, add 1 1/4 cups of boiling water. Stir,wait a few minutes to cool and add vodka.Pour into pan and refrigerate until solidified. Cut with a cookie cutter. It works best if you dip the cutter in warm water. To remove shapes simply dip bottom of pan in warm water. Enjoy the party!!!