Tag: Vodka Drink

Introducing My *Summer Crush* – a Tantalizing Late Summer Cocktail!

It’s Labor Day!  The official End of Summer!  But, are you ready for summer to end?  Because I. Am. Not!  With Covid restrictions and travel bans, it feels like this summer never even got off the ground.

Luckily for us there is still a ton of great summer produce at your local Farmers Market – perfect for cocktail making!

This week at my Market I picked up some beautiful sunflowers, amazing tomatoes, and the stars of this cocktail – a new jar of Honey (local honey is amazing! If you haven’t given it a try yet, you need to!) and a perfect Watermelon! 

This cocktail combines some of my favorite summer flavors – it is perfect for sipping in the shade on a hot July day or enjoying with friends while watching a mid-September sunset.  You will need fresh juiced watermelon, blackberries, honey, lime juice, Club Soda, and the vodka of your choice.  I used one of my favorites, Ohio’s own Buckeye Vodka.  This is super simple and absolutely delicious – I hope you enjoy!

  • *Summer Crush*
  • 1.5 oz Buckeye Vodka
  • .5 oz Lime Juice
  • .75 oz Blackberry-Honey Simple Syrup*
  • 3-4 oz Watermelon Juice*
  • 2 oz Club Soda

In a 16 oz Mason Jar, fill with ice and combine Buckeye Vodka, Watermelon Juice, Lime Juice, and Blackberry-Honey Simple.  Place the lid on the jar and shake to combine.  Top with Club Soda and garnish with blackberries, mint leaves, lime wheel, or whatever you have on hand. 

I love making cocktails in mason jars, you can build the drink and serve in the same glass – no extra dirty dishes!  Plus, if you have guests coming you can prebuild the cocktail then ice and garnish just as your company arrives! 

And you know that I am all about versatility!  This drink is delicious with vodka – but also amazing with your favorite tequila (maybe add a salt rim, for a little extra oomph) and also delicious with rum!  Remember, recipes are just guidelines, tweak to make the final product your very own masterpiece!

*Blackberry-Honey Simple Syrup – In a pot over medium heat combine 6 oz Blackberries with 6 oz of local Honey and 6 oz of water, stirring occasionally to help honey dissolve.  It should come to a low simmer for about 10 minutes.  Remove from heat and allow to cool 15 minutes.  Pour through a fine mesh strainer into a sealable container and refrigerate until ready to use.  (This is also amazing in ice tea or over ice cream!)

*Watermelon Juice – Load up your blender with chunks of de-rinded watermelon, and pulse until it is liquified.  Pour through a fine sieve into a pitcher and refrigerate.

Make Mother’s Day Great Again!

Mother’s Day is here!  And after weeks of lockdowns, quarantines, homeschooling, working from home, and more, the Mother’s in your life deserve something extra special.  I’m going to walk you through mixing up two very special cocktails that mom is sure to love!

When I was growing up my mom didn’t necessarily want gifts.  Don’t get me wrong, if we didn’t get her a card and something special to open, she would not have been happy.  But more than THINGS she wanted to make MEMORIES with us.  I don’t remember ever going to brunch or making breakfast in bed.  What I do remember is when my brother and I were little we would go to Kings Island, our local amusement park.  It was usually our first visit of the year and because it was Mother’s Day the park would be almost empty. 

When we got a little older my mom decided that she wanted to go to the horse track and bet on the ponies.  I remember perfect, warm spring days sitting the sunshine while watching the races all day.  And other years, we would go for just one or two races because of the cool, rainy spring days we can have.  We make $2 bets and have nachos and popcorn.  It is fun and silly.  And that is a tradition that we’ve carried through to this day. 

Well, not this day, technically.  See we’re still in lockdown, stay-at-home, social distancing, and whatever else you want to call it.  The racetrack isn’t open.  Restaurants aren’t open.  We’re still not allowed to gather together to celebrate.  Like so many of our celebrations, Mother’s Day is looking a little bit different this year.

One thing that I (and you) can do, is drop a gift, a meal, a treat, and (of course) a cocktail off to mom.  Do what you can to make this an extra special day.  Really celebrate HER and all the hard work she has done. 

Let’s start with the perfect brunch/breakfast in bed cocktail.  If you want to keep this drink alcohol free, just sub her favorite coffee creamer for the Bailey’s.  And if you don’t have Hot Chocolate Mix, you can substitute Chocolate Syrup or even Fudge topping for ice cream!

Mother’s Day Mocha

  • 1.5oz Bailey’s Irish Cream
  • 1tbsp Hot Chocolate Mix
  • A few drops of Vanilla Extract
  • Fresh Brewed Coffee
  • Whipped Cream
  • Chocolate Shavings, optional

In her favorite coffee mug combine Bailey’s, Hot Chocolate mix, and Vanilla.  Stir well to combine.  Add Coffee to an inch from top of mug.  Stir again, make sure everything is combined.  Top with Whipped Cream and Chocolate Shavings. 

*Tastes best served in bed. 

This cocktail is one of my favorites because it is super customizable!  It works beautifully with Vodka, Gin, Bourbon, Tequila, of Rum (but I would stick to white rum, like Bacardi).  So, grab a bottle of mom’s favorite spirit, a handful of her favorite berries, and her favorite mixer and let’s make this

Mother’s Day Smash

  • 1.5 oz Hendrick’s Gin Midsummer Solstice (or her favorite Spirit)
  • 2-3 Strawberries (and/or blueberries, blackberries, raspberries)
  • 2-3 Basil Leaves
  • .25-.5oz Honey (sweeten to taste)
  • Half a Lemon (more or less to taste)
  • Club Soda, Tonic, or Sparkling Wine

In a Mason Jar add berries, honey, and squeeze in the juice from the lemon.  Muddle to release juices and to combine ingredients.  Add Gin and ice.  Put on the lid and shake to combine.  Add a more ice to fill and top with Club Soda, Tonic, or Sparkling Wine.  Garnish with a lemon wheel, fresh berry, and basil leaf. 

*Best enjoyed with her feet up, in the sunshine, while someone else is preparing dinner.

Lucky 36

There are so many celebrations that we are missing out on in this topsy-turvy, social distancing, quarantined world.  Birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, graduations and more.  Opportunities to see and celebrate with family- opportunities that, even if postponed, are gone forever.  As we find our way in what is becoming the new “normal” we find ways to make those moments special.  My birthday was at the end of March.  And it will definitely be one that I will always remember.

I’ve had some pretty amazing birthdays.  Last year, when I turned 35, my Partner-In-Crime planned an overnight to one of the Casino Riverboats in Indiana and surprised me with a stop at the Neely Family Distillery for a tasting and I got to bottle my own bourbon. 

The year before we went to Columbus for another overnight.  After stopping on the way at Hardees for my favorite Hot Ham and Cheese, I knew we weren’t rushing to a restaurant.  After checking in to the hotel, he rushed me out the door and surprised me (with help from one of our most fantastic liquor reps) with a private tour of Middle West Spirits Distillery and dinner at their restaurant.  They are, hands down, one of my favorite distilleries ever- you have to try their Oyo Vodka, especially the Honey-Vanilla Bean. 

My 30th was a trip to Las Vegas.  Super, over-the-top, fancy-pants seafood buffets.  Blackjack.  And a Battleground Vegas 80’s Action Movie shooting experience.

My birthday this year was just as memorable, if not more so.  This year, my 36th Birthday happened on day 3 of Ohio’s “Shelter-in-Place” order.  No surprise trips.  No fabulous restaurant meal.  No distillery visit.  Not even a get together at O’Neal’s with my amazing friends. 

This year was quiet.  Was slow.  It was a time to look around and really think about everything I’ve accomplished in the past year.  This year the weather was warm, a spring breeze was blowing.  Change and growth were in the air.  And all I wanted was to go for a walk and have a picnic.  I wanted to enjoy the fresh air and get a nice dose of Vitamin D.

 My Partner-in-Crime took me to Fresh Market, we got a rotisserie chicken that they very kindly cut into pieces for us, the best chocolate chip cookies, mac’n’cheese, risotto cakes, and spicy crab- cucumber sushi.  All of my favorites!  Then we went to a local park and we watched the ducks and picnicked in the sun.  We finished the experience with a cake/card hand off with my parents.  It was so nice to see them, even at a distance.

Once back home I knew I wanted to make myself a super extra-special Birthday Cocktail. 

I call this one-

*Lucky 36*

  • Bubbly Brut Cuvee
  • 1 small scoop Aglamesis Champagne Italian Ice
  • 2-3 drops Lemon Bitters
  • 3-4 drops Orange Flower Water

In your favorite coupe glass, place scoop Champagne Italian Ice.  Fill glass with Brut Cuvee.  Top with Bitters and Orange Flower Water.  Garnish with a fresh strawberry or raspberry, if you have one.

It was my birthday; I couldn’t have just one.  So next one I made was a riff on one of my all time guilty pleasure drinks.

*Not-So-Cosmo*

  • 1.5 ounces Tito’s Vodka
  • 4-5 Drops Orange Flower Water
  • 3-4 Drops Lemon Bitters
  • 2.5 ounces Ocean Spray Pink Cranberry Juice

In a mixing glass combine all ingredients, add ice and stir to combine.  Strain into a chilled coupe and garnish with a lime wheel.  Enjoy in the Springtime sun!

*** I want to make certain to note that my birthday adventure 2020 occurred before the stricter Shelter-In-Place recommendations by the CDC and State of Ohio went in to place. 

Candy Cane Shooters

‘Tis the Season for Good Tidings and Good Cheer!  And I have tons of ways to help you shake up your favorite Spirits to help you get into the Holiday Spirit! 

Vodka is awesome.  It is one of my favorite spirits to play around with.  It mixes well with just about everything.  It’s delicious chilled with some olives or a lime wedge.  It is great as a base for creating infusions.  Like a Candy Cane infusion. 

Yes, Candy Cane infused Vodka.  Delicious in some hot chocolate with tons of whipped cream.  Or a simply chilled and garnished with crushed canes for a Candy Cane Martini.  Or mixed with a few other ingredients to make something extra special.  Extra, extra special.

One of my absolute favorite Christmas cookies from my childhood were Candy Cane Cookies.  Traditional Sugar Cookie mix and pink Peppermint spiked Sugar Cookie mix twisted together in the shape of a Candy Cane.  I loved these things.  So I used my Candy Cane infused vodka to recreate my favorite Christmas Cookie!  I hope you like it as much as I do!

  • Candy Cane Cookie
  • -1.25 oz Candy Cane infused Vodka
  • -.5 oz French Vanilla Coffee Creamer
  • -about ½ a teaspoon of Krusteaz Sugar Cookie Mix

Combine all ingredients in a shaker tin, add ice, and shake!  Double strain into a shooter glass or a martini glass if your feeling fancy.  Garnish with a mini Candy Cane and enjoy!

*Candy Cane Infused Vodka

You can infuse the entire bottle or just a couple of cups.  The choice is yours. 

Combine your vodka and Candy Canes in a sealable container. 

For every 2 cups of vodka add about 3 Candy Canes.  Shake container every hour or so.  Once Candy Canes completely dissolve in the vodka it’s ready to use.  For the entire bottle I would use 7 full size Candy Canes.