Tag Archives: cocktail

Thirsty Thursday | Rosemary Greyhounds

18 Thursday Feb 2016

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IMG_1147

Here we go again with herb-infused syrups! It really is the easiest way to make a regular old cocktail a little more fancy…

I first had a drink like this at a place I used to work near…I don’t want to call it a bar, I don’t want to call it a restaurant, it wasn’t quite a chain but there was definitely more than one location in the greater Seattle area…but a guy we worked with just called it the “close and gross” and it was so true but so good at the same time. Thank God we at least had somewhere within walking distance that had alcohol. And alcohol is always good, especially after work (or during your lunch hour). The Close and Gross had a Rosemary Greyhound that blew me away when I ordered it. Luckily I was able to recreate the drink at home and conjure up some old memories from a city and job well past.

Recipe Notes: I found that using grapefruit vodka mellowed the drink out a little, but regular vodka works fine too. The rosemary syrup has a pretty strong flavor as well, so go easy on it and decide how much you like in your drink. I think this cocktail could also benefit from a small splash of cranberry juice to make the drink a little more pink and level out some tartness.

Recipe
Rosemary Greyhound
By Baked Northwest
Makes 1 Cocktail

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces Grapefruit Vodka
  • 2 ounces Grapefruit Juice
  • 1/2 ounce rosemary syrup (recipe follows)
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 7-8 fresh rosemary sprigs

Directions

1. Make the rosemary syrup: In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup water, 1 cup sugar, and 4-6 rosemary sprigs . Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved, then reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes. Let cool, then strain out herbs.

2. Add vodka, grapefruit juice, rosemary syrup, and ice to a cocktail shaker. Shake, strain into a martini or a rocks glass, and garnish with rosemary sprigs.

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Thirsty Thursday | Thyme Gimlets

14 Thursday Jan 2016

Posted by in Boozy, Entertaining, Thirsty Thursday

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Thyme Gimlets

There’s nothing quite like a good homemade cocktail – it’s a lot more economical than going out and I’m not above drinking something fancy while wearing sweatpants.

The thing about homemade cocktails is they have to have few ingredients and be relatively simple to make. When I see a cocktail recipe I’ll typically dismiss it if there are tons of special liqueurs and ingredients. I’ll leave the flaming coffees to the professionals…I want something easy to make that is a little more elevated than mixing booze with soda. Usually all you need is alcohol + simple syrup + a mixer, the more natural and less sweet the mixer, the better!

Thyme Gimlets

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Thirsty Thursday | Juice of a Few Flowers

09 Thursday Jan 2014

Posted by in Easy, Entertaining, Thirsty Thursday

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Juice of a Few Flowers

Back in December, we made Candied Citrus Peels and they essentially changed life as we know it. They are an amazing gift, portable, last a long time (I’m still enjoying one of our batches!) and taste freaking amazing. Oh, and you are also left with this ridiculous citrus simple syrup once you are done making the peels. Heaven knows we can’t let that go to waste!

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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.

Cranberry Shrub Cocktails

11 Sunday Nov 2012

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

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Cranberry Shrub Cocktail. Photo from: Jeffery Cross, Sunset Magazine

Cranberry juice and booze. Not my favorite combination in the universe. I think I ordered a cosmo once when I was 21. I have a friend who uttered the phrase, “I’ll have a vodka cran” for the span of about 3 years. She sticks with vodka sodas now. Let’s face it: The days of Cosmos and Sex and the City are looong gone.

waiting for the cranberries to burst!

Fast forward to the November 2012 issue of Sunset magazine – a recipe for a Cranberry Shrub, a “curiously refreshing fruity vinegar syrup, originally used to preserve in-season fruit.” I was immediately intrigued. There were so many different suggestions for what to mix with the shrub syrup, and hello, Thanksgiving is upon us. I had to try it. Cranberry and booze, welcome back to my life. This easy recipe makes a world of a difference from scary store bought cranberry juice cocktail.
Recipe
Cranberry Shrub
Makes about 3 1/2 cups
Ingredients
  • 12 ounces fresh or frozen cranberries
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 3/4 cup red wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice

Preparation

  1. Bring all ingredients to a simmer with 2 cups water in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring often. Reduce heat to low and cook 5 minutes until most cranberries have burst.
  2. Spoon out a few whole cranberries and set aside for garnishing drinks if you like.*
  3. Strain mixture, pressing liquid out of pulp using the back of a spoon. Discard pulp. Chill at least 1 hour. Store for up to 3 months.
  4. *Roll the berries in sugar, skewer on toothpicks, and set across tops of drinks. Use that day.

Ways to Shake up a Shrub!

  • Pour over ice and top with club soda…and vodka if you’re feeling frisky.
  • Make a Shrub mimosa with Champagne.
  • Muddle with an orange slice and ice. Add bourbon and top with club soda.
  • Fill a tall glass with ice, layer in a splash of shrub, then add equal parts orange juice and tequila…If you are me, add vodka.
  • Shake with ice and equal parts shrub, gin and sweet vermouth. Strain into a glass.