Tag Archives: gin

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 | Autumn Gin Sour

18 Thursday Sep 2014

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Autumn Gin SourWell, the leaves have changed, the air is crisp…and all of the usual stuff everyone says about fall. However, I have never had someone serve me this awesome autumn cocktail. No, it does not reek of pumpkin spice, apples, cinnamon, or any of the fall flavors that are so overplayed now that you just kind of wince. This cocktail is just…a nice way to ease into the season.Autumn Gin Sour

Recipe
Autumn Gin Sour
adapted from Bon Appétit
Serves 2

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup dry gin (I used Portland’s Aviation Gin)
  • ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
  • ¼  cup Grand Marnier, Cointreau, or triple sec
  • 1 large egg white
  • 2 tbsp. orange marmalade

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a large cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously, until very frothy, at least 1 minute. Strain into the fancy (or autumn-esque) cocktail glass of your choice.

Note: See link for Bon Appétit’s version, their recipe is 12 servings and takes a little more TLC. Our take on it is the need-it-now-I’m-so-thirsty version. Still Good.

Autumn Gin Sour

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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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.