Elegant Kumquat & Thyme Vodka Cocktail

This stunning Kumquat and Thyme Cocktail is simple, unfussy, and elegant. Kumquats and thyme get muddled together with a dash of honey then shaken with vodka and ice until chilled. A splash of ginger beer adds effervescence, sweetness and slight spice to create a dimensional and crowd-pleasing citrus vodka cocktail.

Kumquats are a tiny sweet-tart fruit that I like to refer to as nature’s sweet and sour candy. This mini citrus fruit is eaten peel and all. To say they’re packed with flavor is an understatement.

How to make a kumquat cocktail

Kumquats are small but mighty, and in order to tap into their bold flavor you've got to muddle them. I recommend halving or slicing the kumquats before adding to a glass to muddle—it may seem like an extra step but it makes muddling much easier.

And don't worry about their little seeds, you'll stain them out before serving.

Here are the basic steps to making this citrus cocktail:

1. Slice the kumquats and add to a cocktail shaker with thyme sprigs and honey.
2. Muddle the kumquats and thyme until juices are released.
3. Add vodka and fill the cocktail shaker with ice. Secure lid and shake vigorously until thoroughly chilled.
4. Add ginger beer, stir to chill, then strain cocktail into champagne flutes.
5. Garnish with kumquats and thyme sprigs, if you desire.

Variations on this citrus cocktail:

• For more citrus, use lemon thyme instead of thyme.
• Make it floral by swapping out the ginger beer for a splash of club soda and some St. Germain.
• Make this as a pitcher by using fresh lemon juice, thyme simple syrup, vodka, and club soda. Garnish with kumquat slices and fresh thyme to keep it festive.

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This recipe was originally posted on December 1, 2016.