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Posted by on Aug 18, 2013 in muddled | 0 comments

miami mimosa

miami mimosa

  Orange juice is underutilized as a cocktail ingredient, in my opinion. The screwdriver and mimosa are appealing in their simplicity, but there are many other uses for this breakfast beverage. In my miami mimosa, I have replaced with champagne with citrus-infused rum, and fresh muddled cilantro adds a bright floral note that makes it a great cocktail any time of the day. The name gives a nod to the Florida state fruit, as well as the Latin flavors that make this classy cocktail much more than a mere mimosa. I understand some people don’t like cilantro, and there is evidence to suggest there is a genetic defect – uh, I mean genetic predisposition – to finding the taste of cilantro “soapy” and therefore unpleasant (there is even an online community called ihatecilantro.com). For the vast majority of the rest of us, however, this cocktail should be wonderfully delicious and refreshing, especially with brunch. A good morning, indeed! miami mimosa about 15 cilantro leaves 1 shot citrus-infused light rum 4-5...

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Posted by on Aug 14, 2013 in muddled | 0 comments

tomodka sipping shot

tomodka sipping shot

  The cocktail potential of tomatoes goes far beyond the Bloody Mary. This is good news for those of us who love tomatoes but don’t care for that particular beverage. It’s August, and a wide variety of cherry tomatoes are in season (maybe even in your own backyard!). Looking across our seven giant tomato monster plants, I decided it was time to experiment a little with this sweet summer staple that I just can’t get enough of. I hope you tried my mexican mexican coke recipe. And I hope that you trusted me when I said that if you purchased the Absolut Cilantro it called for, I would make it worth your investment. Here is another use for it. This is a refreshing late summer cocktail that gives off a wonderful aroma before you’ve even taken your first sip. It’s called a sipping shot, but of course I won’t judge you if you decide to imbibe it entirely in one swig. It’s healthy, after all! tomodka sipping shot 4-5 cherry tomatoes (preferably...

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Posted by on Aug 12, 2013 in infused | 0 comments

herbed spiked lemonade

herbed spiked lemonade

  Summer requires lemonade. Preferably, one that’s really refreshing. By this point in the summer, though, you’re probably bored with it – probably because you’ve had one too many glasses of boring lemonade. Fresh herbs provide a bright, invigorating flavor that is just plain perfect for beating the summer heat. This recipe will renew your faith – and interest – in lemonade. This recipe can be made with or without alcohol. If you are making the adult version, you have a lot of options, as infused vodkas are proliferating at a deliciously fast rate. I love mango, so I often use Three Olives Mango in this recipe (if you like mango vodka, try it in my sassy summer sangria, too!). You also could use a cilantro-, berry-, or other fruit-infused vodka. Here in Columbus, our beloved Middle West Spirits makes a fantastic stone fruit vodka that is good with pretty much everything I’ve ever paired it with. I encourage you to explore the infused vodkas that grab your eye – and if you want recipes that will help you use the...

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Posted by on Aug 8, 2013 in shaken | 0 comments

nutty vodka gimlet

nutty vodka gimlet

  The vodka gimlet was my very first cocktail. When my parents had guests over, there was always a pitcher on hand, and I would sneak a sip when I could. I don’t know if it was the lime or the hazelnuts that I found more appealing. Yes, you read that correctly: Hazelnuts. After pouring a glass, one or two hazelnuts were dropped in, to be enjoyed at any point during the imbibing process. Once I became old enough to have my own, I would put three or four hazelnuts in my glass. While developing my own vodka gimlet recipe, I wanted to get even more of their flavor incorporated into this drink. Toasting them helps bring out the flavor-intensive oils, as does bashing them around with some ice and an acid in a cocktail shaker. If you’re a little doubtful, trust me on this one – you’ve just got to try it. (Unless, of course, you’re allergic to nuts – then please, don’t try it.) The hazelnut flavor is subtle but enhances both the aroma...

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Posted by on Aug 5, 2013 in muddled | 0 comments

fuzzy gin fizz

fuzzy gin fizz

  It’s a shame that any cocktail with fruit in it isn’t considered “manly” by a large portion of the male population. If a gorgeous orange color and some tasty peach goo are too frou-frou for you, then I won’t seek to convert you. But I do recommend trying it before dismissing this tasty and sophisticated cocktail as “too girly.” (And keep in mind that if you’ve ever drank gin before, you’ve already ingested the floral aroma and essence of juniper berries. Sounds kinda girly if you ask me…) This cocktail takes advantage of the peach’s summer sweetness and balances it with tartness, while the gin keeps it grounded and instantly reminds you this is an adult beverage. It does not taste like a sweet fruit juice. Don’t worry – this cocktail isn’t actually fuzzy! The peach gets peeled before it gets muddled. fuzzy gin fizz 1/2 fresh peach, peeled and sliced 1 tsp fresh lemon juice 1/8 tsp sugar (more if you like it sweeter) 1 shot gin lemon-lime soda Put the peach slices and lemon juice in a...

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