Summer Cocktail Series: #4: Rhubarb Cherry Hibiscus Gin Fizz
Posted: July 4, 2020 Filed under: Beverages/Cocktails (23), Cherries (15), Summer Cocktail Series (4) | Tags: Rhubarb Cherry, Rhubarb Cocktails, Rhubarb Curls, Rhubarb Syrup, Summer Cocktail Series, Summer Cocktails Leave a comment
Rhubarb. What do you do with it besides pairing it with the obvious; Strawberry. Pick anything sweet basically since it is tart. This quick and easy rhubarb syrup was a cinch to whip together. I just love the color as soon as it starts to leech out into the sugar water. I was going to use a cherry flavored seltzer when I came across the Hibiscus flavor instead. Both are subtle so you could go either way. I love pairing gin with summer flavors, but you could easily use vodka as well. Cheers to Summer!
Rhubarb Syrup
(yield ~ 12 oz. )
1 Cup filtered water
1 Cup granulated sugar
2 Cups washed and chopped fresh rhubarb
In a small saucepan place the water, sugar and rhubarb. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer and simmer for 5 minutes, then turn off the heat and let stand until slightly warm. Once cool strain into a jar and keep stored in the fridge.
For Rhubarb curls:
Take a vegetable peeler and quickly run down the length of a rhubarb stalk. Dip the strip into the warm rhubarb syrup and then twirl around a plastic straw. Let the ribbons dry on a parchment lined sheet pan. Remove/gently slide off the twirls from the straws when dry. Use inside the drink or drape over the side of the drink.
Rhubarb Cherry Hibiscus Cocktail
(one drink)
2 oz. Rhubarb syrup (cold)
1- 1.5 oz. gin (depending on how strong you like it)
crushed ice
3-4 fresh dark sweet cherries, pitted and sliced in half
Hibiscus flavored seltzer (such as La Croix brand)
Fill a Collins glass with the syrup, followed by the gin, 1/2 glass of crushed ice, cherries, and top with seltzer.
Garnish with rhubarb curls as desired.
Moscow Mules
Posted: September 18, 2018 Filed under: Apple (13), Beverages/Cocktails (23) Leave a comment
Do you like your drinks ice cold? Me too. I can’t drink a warm beer or even one that is somewhat cool-it has to be ice cold! Do you love to experiment with new cocktails? You KNOW I do by just perusing my blog. Quite often we see particular mugs or glasses associated with a certain drink. The Moscow mule drink is no different-there is actually a mug that pays homage to the drink; and it is a copper mug. They are beautiful mugs that keep your drink nice and cold as they are great conductors for cold AND heat. The traditional mule drink has fresh lime juice and a lot of people are not aware that if you drink your beverage from a mug that is lined with copper, that includes something acidic such as lime juice, the copper leaches into your drink and you are consuming copper.
When looking for copper mugs, make sure to buy one that is lined with Nickel. Check out these amazing and beautiful copper mugs that are shown here. They are hand made and lined with Nickel. I have been drinking EVERYTHING from them since I got them. I am obsessed!! I cannot describe how beautiful these mugs are. The color of the copper changes color when you add your beverage and they take on a gossimer glow. They would make a great gift for the Holidays or just to have for yourself when entertaining, they are very comfortable to hold and not heavy at all. Head on over to there to check them out. They come packaged very secure.
Fall is just a skip away so I’ve also included a recipe for an apple cider mule. The mugs are perfect for sipping spiced cider as well, as they will keep your beverage hot while you sit in front of the bonfire or fireplace. They are perfect for hot chocolate, mochas, pumpkin spice lattes or anything hot. They are truly a 4 season mug. Happy sipping!
Traditional Moscow Mule
crushed ice
1 1/2 oz. premium vodka
1/2 oz. fresh lime juice
1/2 Cup ginger beer
garnish: lime wedge
Fill a Moscow mule mug with crushed ice. Add ingredients and gently stir. Garnish with lime wedge.
Apple Cider Moscow Mule
1 1/2 oz. premium vodka
1/2 oz. lime juice
1/3 Cup apple cider
Ginger beer
Garnish: (optional) thinly sliced fresh apple and cinnamon stick
Fill a Moscow mule mug with crushed ice, then add first three ingredients. Top off with ginger beer, stir to combine. Garnish as desired.
Passionate Pear Moscow Mule
crushed ice
1 1/2 oz. Pear flavored Vodka (Such as Sky Bartlet pear)
1/2 oz. (1 Tbsp.) fresh lime juice
1/2 Cup cold ginger beer
1/2 oz. (1 Tbsp.) passion fruit syrup (Such as Monin brand or)
Fill a Moscow mule mug with crushed ice. Add ingredients and stir to combine.
Summer Cocktail Series: #3: Blueberry Mint Lemonade with Vodka
Posted: July 5, 2018 Filed under: Beverages/Cocktails (23), Blueberries (10), Summer Cocktail Series (4) | Tags: Blueberry Mint Lemonade, Blueberry Mint Lemonade with Vodka, Blueberry puree Leave a comment
We had such a lovely Fourth of July yesterday. It was a beautiful day here in Arizona and we lazed around all day and I threw together a quick blueberry puree in my ninja blender. I had quite a bit of fresh mint left in the fridge and whipped together this refreshing sipper with some store bought lemonade. Normally I make fresh lemonade when our ginormous lemon tree is in season, but I think it is yummy even with store bought. I like the brand Simply Lemonade. The great thing about this quick cocktail is the little ones can enjoy it sans vodka, so it’s family friendly. Just whip up the puree earlier in the day and keep it in the fridge with the fresh mint.
We finished off the night swimming in the pool and sipping cocktails with our friends, while watching our neighbors’ fireworks. We are lucky to have neighbors a few blocks away who shoot off fireworks every year so we stay home and swim in the pool while taking in the bright display. Stay safe and enjoy Summer everyone!
Blueberry Mint Lemonade (with optional Vodka)
Blueberry Puree
2 pints fresh blueberries, rinsed
1 Cup water
Place the blueberries and water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to a simmer and simmer for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Once cool, puree in a blender until smooth (some little bits of blueberry are fine).
How to make cocktail:
In a tall Collins glass place 1 1/2 Tbsp. of blueberry puree and mint leaves from one sprig. Smash lightly the mint with a spoon. Fill the glass with 1 oz. of vodka, one more sprig of mint, then top off with crushed ice and lemonade.
Tip for storing fresh mint: When you bring the mint home from the store, take it out of the package, rinse in cold water, and place in a glass of cold water (I use a mason jar). Make sure the sprigs are immersed in the water.
Summer Cocktail Series: #2: The Key Lime Pie Martini
Posted: June 16, 2018 Filed under: Beverages/Cocktails (23), Citrus (28), Summer Cocktail Series (4) | Tags: Key Lime Pie Martini, Summer Cocktail Series Leave a comment
I have a serious THING for key lime pie, so turning that into a martini? yeah…
Is there really anymore to say? Other than this is for my Summer Cocktail Series. Cocktail # 2
Commence with the sippin’ and the porch sittin’ !!
Key Lime Pie Martini
(serving: 1)
1.5 oz. vanilla vodka
1 oz. key lime juice
1 tsp. sugar
2 Tbsp. Coco Lopez
0.5 oz. (1 Tbsp.) pineapple juice
1 oz. heavy cream
One drop mint green (gel) food color
Fill a martini glass or coupe glass with crushed ice to chill.
On a small plate mix the graham cracker crumbs and sugar together.
Mix the martini per instructions* in the cocktail shaker.
Pour out the ice water from the martini glass and wipe dry.
Cut a small piece of lime and wipe around the rim of martini/coupe glass.
Dip the rim of the glass into the cracker mixture.
Strain the cocktail into the glass and serve immediately.
* Fill a cocktail shaker with all the ingredients then fill with ice. Shake vigourously.
Graham Cracker Rim:
1 full rectangular square graham cracker ground to crumbs in either a mortar/pestle or in a ziplock bag using rolling pin. Mix the crumbs with 2 tsp. of sugar. (You could also use cinnamon graham cracker if you prefer).
Summer Cocktail Series: # 1: The Amelia Cocktail
Posted: June 6, 2018 Filed under: Beverages/Cocktails (23), Raspberry/Blackberry (25), Summer Cocktail Series (4) | Tags: Cocktails with fresh blackberries, Cocktails with St. Germaine, Summer Cocktails, Summer Cocktails with Blackberries, The Amelia Cocktail Leave a comment
Summer
Fresh ripe juicy blackberries
Elderflower St. Germain liqueur
Warm gentle breezes
Porch sittin’
A few of your best friends
What do all of these have in common? The Amelia cocktail– named after Amelia Earhart is a wonderful, berrylicious, bright and fresh cocktail that comes together quite easily in a cocktail shaker. The end result is a gorgeous purple-maroon colored beauty. Sorry guys- this is a girly girl drink.
Summer lends itself to our creative senses when it comes to sipping on something refreshing, so I’m starting a new category called “Summer Cocktail Series” to get us in the mood. The star of this beautiful libation utilizes fresh blackberries, sugar, lemon juice and St. Germain liqueur. St. Germain is a liqueur made from elderflower and it pairs nicely with berries and lemon because of it’s citrus notes.
Mix this up ahead of time and find a pretty glass container and invite your BFF’s over for some lazy sipping on the front porch. Serve it in coupe wineglasses if you have them, (or a martini glass will do) placed on a pretty serving tray for a style reminiscent of old Hollywood glamour. You can multiply the recipe and keep it in the fridge in a pretty glass container of your choice so easy pouring and seconds will not distract you from your lazy porch sitting-slow sipping-catching up on neighborhood gossip-entertaining duties. Serve it alongside simple hors d’oeuvres and you will never leave the porch or pool side. Enjoy~
The Amelia Cocktail
recipe: adapted slightly from Nordstrom Bar
yield: two cocktails
12 fresh large plump blackberries
1 Tbsp. super fine sugar
2.5 oz. vodka
2 oz. St. Germaine liqueur
1 oz. fresh squeezed lemon juice
ice to fill cocktail shaker
Garnish: fresh blackberries, mint, super fine sugar for rimming glasses
Chill glasses ahead of time in the fridge or place ice in each glass to fill then fill with enough water to fill each glass. Right before serving, dump out the ice cold water before pouring the cocktail.
Prepare cocktail: In a cocktail shaker place the berries and sugar. Muddle the berries and sugar (with a cocktail muddler or end of a large wooden spoon) until broken down and juicy. Add the vodka, St. Germain, lemon juice and enough ice to fill the shaker. Cap the shaker and shake vigourosly about 20 times.
Prepare glasses: Remove chilled glasses from fridge (or dump out the ice water from glasses and wipe dry). Swipe a small piece of lemon around the rims of glasses and then dip the glasses in sugar (place sugar on a small plate for easy rimming). Strain the cocktail into the glasses and serve garnished with fresh mint and blackberries.
