Tag Archives: club soda

Thirsty Thursday | The New England Express

12 Thursday Dec 2013

Posted by in Boozy, Easy, Entertaining, Events, Holidays, Thirsty Thursday

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New England Express

A classy punch recipe can be hard to find. I cringe just a little bit every time I see a punch recipe with a gallon of sherbet in it. Just…why would you do that? Luckily, the good people over at Bon Appétit know making a cocktail in bulk is awesome around the holidays, and this drink was a great addition to our Thanksgiving menu.

New England Express

Although the drink was great with dark rum, I just had to try it with bourbon since that’s the universally preferred dark liquor of choice in our family…and it was even better! (According to us).

The New England Express

One of the greatest things about this drink is you can make the simple syrup way in advance, and mix the drink in a pitcher or punch bowl before everyone arrives. The recipe can easily be doubled for a larger crowd. It’s also great served warm. Leave out the club soda if you aren’t into getting fizzy with it. Geez, can we get any more versatile with this drink?!?

The New England Express

Recipe
The New England Express
adapted from Bon Appétit 
serves 8

INGREDIENTS

THYME SYRUP

  • ⅓ cup sugar
  • ⅓ cup water
  • 8 sprigs thyme

ASSEMBLY

  • 2 cups apple cider
  • 1½ cups dark rum or bourbon
  • 1/2 cup fresh lime juice
  • 1 teaspoon Angostura bitters
  • Club soda
  • 8 sprigs thyme
  • 8 lime slices

directions

THYME SYRUP

  • Bring sugar and ⅓ cup water to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring to dissolve sugar. Remove from heat, add thyme sprigs, and cover. Let stand 10 minutes, then strain into a small jar. Let cool.
  • DO AHEAD: Syrup can be made 1 month ahead. Cover and chill.

ASSEMBLY

  • Mix thyme syrup, cider, rum, lime juice, and bitters in a pitcher. Divide among rocks glasses filled with ice; top off with club soda. Garnish with thyme sprigs and lime slices.
  • DO AHEAD: Thyme syrup, cider, rum, lime juice, and bitters can be mixed 4 hours ahead. Cover and chill.

Friday.

09 Friday Mar 2012

Posted by in Boozy, Easy, Entertaining

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I don’t think I have ever been happier that it’s Friday. This has been one of the slowest moving weeks of my life, mixed with a combination of random crappiness. You have no idea how relieved I was when I came home and realized I had the makings for a particularly delicious drink:

The makings for a Friday.

Good Vodka. Some frozen limeade. Some frozen blueberries next to it. Club Soda. I could barely line up this photo before guzzling half of my drink. Yes, it was a rough week…

This is a dangerously summery drink, but please notice the gross rainy Seattle weather outside. When in Rome…

If you were cool and awesome and an amazing blogger/photographer (not me) you would have added a lime slice and a sprig of rosemary to make it look completely and utterly incredible. Yeah…..that’s not happening at the end of a week like this.

The recipe below was made on a whim for 1 (yes, I realize as I continue to write I am sounding more lame/pathetic…) BUT everything here works together so well I plan on figuring out a concoction where you use the entire can of limeade and make a batch for a larger group.

Recipe

The “Friday”

  • 3 oz (shots) soda water/club soda
  • 2 oz (shots) vodka or gin
  • 1 oz (shot) frozen limeade concentrate, to taste
  • fresh or frozen blueberries

Pour all ingredients in a rocks glass over ice, stir with a spoon until well mixed. Adjust limeade/soda/vodka to preference. Enjoy, because it’s FRIDAY!

Limeade, vodka, club soda, frozen blueberries. I'm not bartender, but this cocktail tastes pretty damn good to me...