Cool Summer Cocktails

Posted on May 31, 2013 by Marcia Simmons

Peach Margaritas from Boulder Locavore

Summer is here! And where I am, it’s a hot one. But fear not, summer cocktails are here to cool you down. ‘Tis the season for fresh cocktails!

Blackberry Mojito ~ It isn’t a summer drinks roundup without some kind of Mojito. This one uses fresh blackberries for a sweet and tart flavor and beautiful color.

Sour Cherry Gin Cocktail ~ If you have pie cherries left over, muddle them up in this seasonal, cooling cocktail. Don’t be afraid to add a little mint.

Peach Margarita ~ Fresh peaches in a traditional-style Margarita. Need I say more?

Summer Evening Garden Chiller ~ Cucumber, basil, and tequila … I feel the temperature dropping already.

Mai Tai ~ Pretend you’re in Hawaii with the iconic tropical drink. Umbrella optional.

Cocktails Made With Vegetables

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Marcia Simmons

The Roquette from Matt Biancaniello

Make your mama proud and add more vegetables to your diet! Veggies aren’t just for dinner. They can add a fresh and flavorful touch to cocktails, too. It may sound weird, but it tastes good … and that’s all that matters.

The Sweet Pea ~ Peas are sweet, so why not use them in a cocktail? Just muddle the peas with sugar and lemon then add vodka and shake over ice.

Sweet Corn Cocktail ~ Just like the Sweet Pea cocktail, this one muddles in some sweet veggies—except with dark rum and mole bitters for a spicy depth.

Barefoot in the Garden ~ Celery-infused tequila pairs well with elderflower liqueur and Lillet Blanc for a light and refreshing cocktail that’s perfect the thing to sip as you enjoy the budding blooms.

What’s Up, Doc? ~ This carrot and gin cocktail with a hint of ginger is a good brunch drink. Add a little cinnamon on top, and it’s almost like drinking an alcoholic carrot cake.

The Roquette ~ The unique bite of arugula is tasty in this veggie-inspired take on the classic Gimlet, created by Matthew Biancaniello (whose site is filled with colorful photos, like the one above, of his creations).

Kumquat Cocktails

Posted on March 6, 2013 by Marcia Simmons

Kumquat Whiskey Sour from Serious Eats

Sunny weather keeps tricking me into thinking it’s spring. But yesterday’s rain reminded me that winter ain’t over yet. Even though there isn’t as much fruit to choose from in these months, we have all manner of exciting citrus to fuel our cocktail creativity. Kumquats, the tiny yet delectable little sweet-and-sour guys, are amazing for shaking up your cocktail-shaking routine. Here are a few seasonal recipes to try.

Kumquat Mojito ~ You can get a lot of (delicious) mileage out of the traditional Mojito recipe by subbing in other fruits. Swapping in this unusual citrus really adds flair to an already great drink.

Strawberry and Kumquat Caipirinha ~ Caipirnha is a Brazilian cocktail that’s often compared to a Mojito. The Brazilian drink is made with cachaça—a spirit that is a lot funkier and more unusual than rum. This twist with strawberries and kumquats sounds like a winner.

Taste of Life Cocktail ~ This is a complex drink made with Aperol and Pimm’s (yum!) that combines sweet, sour, salt and a little bitterness for a truly original cocktail inspired by Asian flavors.

Kumquat Champagne Cocktail ~ Truly simple and truly tasty! Just slice up those kumquats and you’ve done all the work necessary for a sophisticated sparkling tipple.

Kumquat Whiskey Sour ~ A fresh new take on the Whiskey Sour that has all the solid appeal of the original while taking advantage of the uniqueness of kumquats.

Cocktails with a touch of cinnamon

Posted on October 23, 2012 by Marcia Simmons

Maple Leaf Cocktail from Leite’s Culinaria

Of all the spices and flavorings, cinnamon is probably the Falliest (that’s a word I made up that means “appropriate for Fall,” since I use the word autumnal way more than I should). Whether using a cinnamon syrup, a few dashes as an accent, or a cinnamon stick garnish, this spice can really, well, spice up any drink. Here are some new ways to add cinnamon to your drinking:

Scottish Dream ~ This one is smoky, spicy, and sweet all at once with black mission fig bitters from Brooklyn Hemispherical Bitters, cinnamon simple syrup, grapefruit juice, and blended Scotch whiskey.

Maple Leaf Cocktail ~ Bourbon, cinnamon, and maple syrup … that combination just shouts out FALL.

Kakkoii ~ A very unusual combination of gin, cinnamon syrup, plum wine, and lemon makes for a fun cocktail.

Nui Nui ~ Another Tiki drink that uses an autumnal spice, this one mixes the complex flavors of cinnamon, allspice, and vanilla mixed with rum and fresh juices.

The Street Cocktail ~ Green apple and tarragon are refreshing partners for the spiciness of cinnamon in this vodka-based cocktail. It’ll surprise you.

Apple Cocktails

Posted on October 17, 2012 by Marcia Simmons

Sparkling Apple Cocktail from Andrea Meyers

Hurray for Fall! I’ve been saying that a lot lately, but it needs to be said because Fall is wonderful. This is the season for apples, so I’ve rounded up some great apple cocktails. Many use applejack (aka apple brandy), which is a spirit that you should try if you haven’t already. (If you’d like to try more applejack-based cocktails, check out this post.)

Addams’ Apple ~ This is a very autumnal drink indeed, with applejack, apple cider, allspice dram, and a few dashes of orange bitters. If you’ve been playing along at home with some of my DIY drinks projects, you could use homemade allspice dram and DIY orange bitters.

The Sidewalker ~ I love maple syrup in cocktails, so mixing it with applejack, lemon, and apple cider vinegar and then topping off with some wheat beer is a totally intriguing idea to me. Sounds like a good afternoon sipper.

Apple Toddy ~ Possibly the coziest drink in the world, this warm cocktail includes baked apples and your choice of applejack, Cognac, or bourbon. If you don’t have a fireplace, you should probably put one in so you can drink this in front of it.

Sparkling Apple Cocktail ~ Who can say no to a drink made with Cognac, apple, and sparkling wine? The answer is no one, that’s who. Sounds like a Thanksgiving cocktail option to me!

Portero Buck ~ It’s not just about applejack and Cognac this season. This drink combines gin, apple juice, lime, ginger beer, and basil for a unusual but totally addictive Fall cocktail.

Fall Cocktails

Posted on October 11, 2012 by Marcia Simmons

Autumn Spice from the Kitchn

It finally feels like Fall around these parts, so it’s time for cocktails that match the season. Here’s to sweaters, crunchy leaves, autumn colors, and drinking!

Pumpkin Old Fashioned ~ You can have this one now, or save it for after Halloween, when you have a lot of pumpkin to use up. Orange, pumpkin, maple syrup, and bourbon blend together for a new take on an old classic.

Autumn Spice ~ Apple and ginger … it doesn’t get much more autumnal than that. This cocktail calls for Domaine de Canton ginger liqueur, which is fabulous. But you could also make your own ginger liqueur for the occasion.

Cognac Sparklers ~ Leave it to good old Martha Stewart to develop such a simple yet elegant recipe. Cognac topped with sparkling cider (or hard cider) with a few dashes of bitters—I’ll take one now, please.

Fig Cocktail No. 1 ~ Vodka lovers, you can’t say I don’t take care of you. This one combines figs, lemon, rosemary simple syrup with vodka for a delightful drink to sip on by the fire or as you watch the sunset. (Or really any other time. I am not the boss of you. Though, I wouldn’t recommend drinking it at breakfast.)

Jalisco Pear~ This is how Margarita aficionados drink in Fall. Tequila, allspice dram, and pear liqueur are great together, which was a surprise to me. You can use St. Elizabeth allspice dram, or make your own.

Plum Cocktails

Posted on August 22, 2012 by Marcia Simmons

Summer Sage from the Kitchn

Summer is coming to an end. And while I’m happy to get rid of the heat, I will miss summer fruit. Plums are the best! They’re the sweetest and juiciest summer fruit. They’re also perfect for cocktails, though we don’t often use them that way. If you have a messy overripe plum, it’s actually ideal for cocktailing! Plum’s deep sweetness is contrasted with a little bit of a wine-like undertone. Fancy fancy. Try these plum drinks:

Plum Smash ~ Smash up some juicy plums for this simple and satisfying cocktail. A little lemon and thyme adds a little contrast to the plum flavor, while bourbon plays up the fruit’s sweetness. PLUM SMASH! (Said in Hulk voice.)

The Summer Sage ~This is another take on a Plum Smash, made with sage and rye for a bit of a spicier flavor.

Plum Blossom ~ I’m a sucker for Champagne cocktails, and this one is a really unique one that combines fresh plums with Aperol. Very sophisticated!

Plumpkin ~ Basically, this is a Plum Mojito. So … I say yes to that. You can make it with plums or their cousin the pluot.

Sugar Plum Dreams ~ Plum reduction and pisco come together for a new twist on an old cocktail from the 1800s.

Watermelon Cocktails

Posted on August 15, 2012 by Marcia Simmons

Summer Hoedown from Chow

Watermelon is an essential part of summer. Essential, I say! It’s also a surprisingly flexible ingredient, pairing well with sweet, spicy, herbal, savory, and bitter flavors. So when you’re slicing up a big old watermelon for a cookout, don’t forget to try one of these unusual watermelon cocktails while you’re at it.

The Merchant’s Wife ~ Watermelon, gin, Aperol, lemon juice, and a splash of club soda combine to make a light and sparkling watermelon cocktail that’s not too sweet.

Watermelon-Cucumber Refresher ~ This is one of the recipes from my book, tested out by the Kitchn. Fresh watermelon and cucumber are a great match to beat the summer heat … with a little boozy help from vodka. As they note, this one works great with tequila, too.

Watermelon Cooler ~ One of the fun things about watermelon is how well it goes with spices and herbs. In this case, a little black pepper and basil gives a little extra something to this gin cocktail.

Watermelon Kicker ~ Watermelon with cayenne and salt? Is there nothing that this refreshing fruit can’t do? Just a wee bit of heat and savoriness brings out the oomph of the tequila.

Summer Hoedown ~ White beer and maraschino liqueur are two more unusual partners for our friend the watermelon, in this intriguing summer drink.

Watermelon Kicker

Posted on July 2, 2012 by Marcia Simmons

I used to think my dad was crazy when he put salt on his watermelon. Though I still wouldn’t do that while eating it, I’d definitely recommended it when drinking it. This watermelon cocktail with a touch of salt and spice is perfect for July. So grab a watermelon and get to it!

I’m editor of Liqurious, and this recipe was part of a series of “market fresh” seasonal cocktail recipes we developed for Patron’s Cocktail Lab a while back.

Watermelon Kicker
5 one-inch cubes of fresh watermelon
a pinch of kosher salt
a pinch of cayenne
3/4 oz. lime juice
3/4 oz. agave nectar
2 oz. silver tequila

Muddle the watermelon, salt, and cayenne. Add lime juice, agave nectar, and tequila along with ice and shake. Pour into a chilled cocktail glass rimmed with a mixture of salt and cayenne.

Mojitos for Summer

Posted on June 25, 2012 by Marcia Simmons

Raspberry Mojito from A La Carte Kitchen

Summer means it’s Mojito time! While the traditional Mojito made with mint and lime always satisfies, this is the season to play around with fruit in our drinks. So here are a few Summer Mojitos to cool you down:

Watermelon Mojito ~ This is just a no-brainer. Seriously. Make yourself one right now.

Peach Mojito ~ Speaking of no-brainers … it’s hard to go wrong with peaches.

Lemongrass Ginger Mojito ~ With an exotic flavor that sets it apart from the usual, this Mojito variation can make any day feel a bit tropical.

Raspberry Mojito ~ By far one of the prettier Mojitos, with the naturally wonderful flavor of fresh raspberries.

Blackberry Mojito ~ As soon as the blackberry bushes are full around here, I’m going blackberry picking so I can make one (or more) of these!

DIY Cocktails

A Simple Guide to Creating Your Own Signature Drinks

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