What We're Making: BĒT Vodka's Spice Is Nice Cocktail

Sparkling wine makes everything feel celebratory. Add some premium vodka produced from sugar beets, spiced pear liqueur, and homemade bitters, and you have a pleasingly complex cocktail that’s perfect for a festive winter evening. Created by the pioneers behind BĒT Vodka (pronounced “beet”), the “Spice Is Nice” is a lively drink that’s also wonderfully warming thanks to the surprisingly smooth vodka and spiced liqueur. Here’s how to make it at home:

The “Spice Is Nice” Cocktail

Ingredients:
1 ounce BĒT Vodka
1/4 ounce St. George Spirits Spiced Pear Liqueur
1 drop Easy & Oskey Grapefruit Bitters (or to taste)*
5 ounces excellent quality dry sparkling wine
Lemon

Instructions:
Express lemon on the inside of an empty coupe or martini glass. Combine BĒT Vodka, pear liqueur (if you’d prefer a drier cocktail, use just a teaspoon), and bitters in the glass, and top with sparkling wine. Garnish with a lemon twist and additional drop of bitters if desired, and enjoy with a slice of pear tarte tatin on the side. *Note: While grapefruit bitters made from Easy & Oskey’s kit are preferred, bottled bitters will do in a pinch.

Crafted from the hearts of sugar beets harvested from a farm cooperative in Minnesota, BĒT Vodka is just as enjoyable when sipped straight as it is when incorporated into a cocktail. Plus, the bottle looks beautiful on a home bar. It’s available in 225 stores throughout Minnesota and North Dakota, but it can be shipped anywhere in the U.S. via these retailers. Those worried about the spirit tasting too sugary can rest assured that while it has a sweet note, it’s far from syrupy. So stock up and start looking forward to sharing this discovery with friends.

BĒT Vodka is featured in The Scout Guide Minneapolis.