Summer Cocktail Series: #4: Rhubarb Cherry Hibiscus Gin Fizz

Posted: July 4, 2020 | Author: | Filed under: Beverages/Cocktails (23), Cherries (15), Summer Cocktail Series (4) | Tags: , , , , , | 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.

 

 

 

 

Summer Cocktail Series: #3: Blueberry Mint Lemonade with Vodka

Posted: July 5, 2018 | Author: | Filed under: Beverages/Cocktails (23), Blueberries (10), Summer Cocktail Series (4) | Tags: , , | 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 | Author: | Filed under: Beverages/Cocktails (23), Citrus (28), Summer Cocktail Series (4) | Tags: , | 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 | Author: | Filed under: Beverages/Cocktails (23), Raspberry/Blackberry (25), Summer Cocktail Series (4) | Tags: , , , , | 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.