While many reach for classic hot cocktails like the Irish Coffee and Verte Chaud over the holidays, some prefer to lean into the frosty nature of the season with ice-cold vodka. France’s Grey Goose is an ideal candidate in this scenario and the go-to option for many bartenders when crafting holiday cocktails. Its crisp, clean palate makes it smooth when pulled out of the freezer, and it pairs effortlessly with seasonal fruits like cranberry and pear.
So what’s the perfect way to use a bottle of Grey Goose this holiday season? We asked industry pros from across the country to share their expert advice on how they incorporate the versatile spirit in their favorite festive cocktails and why they love it for this time of year.
From traditional Martinis to seasonal punches, here’s why Grey Goose is the best vodka for your holiday menu, according to nine bartenders.
“The flavors of Grey Goose give me fresh rolled dough with a nuance of vanilla — almost like a birthday cake. And like a birthday, it makes me want to celebrate! An ice cold Martini with Grey Goose vodka and a lemon twist is hard to beat on a menu. Its richness can hang with any flavor profile, being a first choice for a bold Espresso Martini or a tropical cocktail.” —Nigal Vann, head bartender, Chicago
“Grey Goose is the ultimate vodka for the holiday season because of its exceptional purity and rich, silky texture, especially when served in a Naked Martini. It has a calm, clean palate that highlights the spirit’s craftsmanship, making it a favorite among true Martini drinkers who value flavor over flash. For those who stick to one vodka, Grey Goose is often the choice. When winter starts to feel as intense as a Thailand summer, it’s time to pour a Grey Goose Martini, served ice-cold, straight from the freezer, no vermouth needed.” —Chacha Suwincha, beverage director, NYC
“Grey Goose has this crisp, clean aroma with just a touch of citrus and florals that makes it incredibly versatile for fall and winter cocktails. Last season, I made a spiced pear syrup and paired it with Grey Goose — the vodka added this silky, luscious texture, and the citrus notes really made the pear pop. It’s smooth, slightly sweet, and honestly just plays so well with cozy, seasonal flavors.” —Carolina Gonzalez, beverage director, Chicago
“Vodka is often seen as a ‘blank canvas,’ and while that can be true, I prefer using Grey Goose for more than just its clean, crisp flavor. It offers a subtle citrus zest and a deep spice note on the mid-palate, making it an ideal choice to complement the bold flavors of fall and winter.” —Rachelle Merlo, beverage consultant, Oakland, Calif.
“Grey Goose offers a clean palate to add a lot of depth to your cocktail. It adds an incredible smooth texture that brings an [appealing] mouthfeel during the colder months.” —Ben Yabrow, head bartender, NYC
“Grey Goose, being produced by a French Cognac cellar master, François Thibault, adheres to a level of excellence not often seen in the world of vodka. The use of soft French winter wheat and pristine spring water creates a consistent, soft, and palatable product that plays well with winter flavors. Holiday ingredients such as cranberry, orange, cinnamon, pomegranate, rosemary, all play well with Grey Goose. This vodka will form an excellent template for cocktails that tend to have more nuanced and subtle holiday flavors like white chocolate, chestnut, or even bubbles. Grey Goose is a brand that people will recognize and trust which will help elevate any cocktail menu that features it.” —Elias Kassner, bartender, San Jose, Calif.
“Grey Goose is an easy choice for vodka around the holidays because it blends well in any drink while still showcasing its smooth and beautiful palate. It’s an iconic bottle that looks beautiful on your back bar or on your bar cart at home while hosting holiday parties. I tend to use vodka as a base for different holiday-style punches — a go to for me is making a punch bowl with Goose as the base, cranberry, ginger, lime juice, orange, and fresh rosemary. I also find myself reaching for the Grey Goose La Poire around Fall or Thanksgiving and making 50/50 freezer Martinis or just shaking the pear up with apple and cinnamon flavors in a sour style cocktail. Grey Goose is an easy choice when you want a quality vodka to shine in your drinks.” —Jeremy Barrett, bar owner, Chicago
“We have an awesome holiday Martini on the menu called the Mistletoe Martini. We use a strongly flavored gin and bay laurel liqueur to make you feel like you’re sitting next to a Christmas tree sipping a classy drink. While those ingredients are doing well to push the narrative of the drink, we use Grey Goose to serve as the backbone of the Martini because of the beautiful weight and texture that it provides to stirred cocktails.” —Miguel Salehi, bar manager, San Francisco
“If you want holiday berry and winter citrus flavors to shine in your cocktails, then choose a spirit like Grey Goose Vodka. You can infuse your vodka with cranberries overnight, for example, for even more flavor.” —Erin Birmingham, bar manager, NYC
This article is sponsored by Grey Goose Vodka.
