Bourbon Cider Fizz

I like simple, elegant cocktails. I don’t typically want my drinks to have lots of frills but I still want to feel a little fancy when I’m holding it in my hand. That’s why I love taking classic cocktails and dressing them up a bit. This particular cocktail was inspired by a French 75, but I swapped some things out. Instead of champagne or Prosecco, I used a dry hard cider for festive bubbles. Instead of gin, I used bourbon. Instead of lemon juice, a teeny teaspoon of my homemade cranberry sauce (could also use cranberry juice). A little orange zest ribbon and a couple floating cranberries later, the Bourbon Cider Fizz was born! Perfect for Thanksgiving or basically anything worth celebrating in 2020. I mean it. We need all the reasons to celebrate right now, am I right?

Bourbon Cider Fizz

Makes 2 cocktails

• One 12 oz can or bottle of dry hard cider, chilled

• 2 oz bourbon

• 2 teaspoons homemade cranberry sauce* OR a splash or two of unsweetened cranberry juice

• 2 teaspoons spiced simple syrup (recipe here)

• fresh cranberries and orange zest for garnish

1. In two low ball glasses or champagne flutes, combine the bourbon with the cranberry sauce and simple syrup. Stir until combined. Slowly pour the hard cider into the glass. Stir once or twice to combine. Add garnishes. Sip and enjoy!

Cocktail Friday: Winter Gin & Tonic

If ever there was a time to get Cocktail Friday back in gear, it has to be this stage of 2020.

With an election looming and a pandemic raging, we are all looking for solace and ways to mark the end of a long week. Happy hour at home has always been a favorite way of mine to simply sign off at the end of the week. No need to get all dressed up to go out (although that is something I miss). Instead, I splash my face with some water, put on some beautiful music, light a couple candles, and mix up a fun cocktail.

In different times, I would also occasionally invite friends over to partake in a beautiful beverage and some tasty snacks.

This year, unlike most for me, I’m having a hard time fully letting go of summer. So I’m bringing a little winter vibe to a traditionally summer cocktail that I think is going to become a favorite for a lot of you!

I start with a flavorful simple syrup that showcases flavors that conjure thoughts of cozy nights by the fire, like star anise, all spice, black pepper and cinnamon. Then, it is all about the garnishes. Thinly sliced wheels of citrus (anything goes here- lemon, lime, grapefruit, clementine, orange) float around amid the dancing bubbles from the tonic water. And suddenly I hear Billie Holiday singing in the background and I sip on this piney, spiced cocktail and all is right with the world.

Side note: did you know you can use spruce sprigs to garnish a cocktail? Yep. It’s true. I’m doing this forever and ever because it is gorgeous and the scent goes perfectly with gin! Can’t find spruce sprigs? Rosemary or thyme are both excellent as well.

Winter Gin & Tonic

Makes 2 cocktails

For the simple syrup:

• 1/3 cup sugar

• 1 cup water

• 2 star anise pods

• 4 whole allspice berries (or juniper berries if you can find them)

• 5 black peppercorns

• 1 stick cinnamon

For the cocktail:

• 4 oz gin

• 1 - 2 oz simple syrup (depends on how sweet you prefer your g&t)

• tonic water

• sliced citrus for garnish

• star anise pods for garnish

• allspice or juniper berries for garnish

• spruce sprig or rosemary sprig for garnish

1. Begin by making the syrup. Combine the sugar, star anise, allspice, black peppercorns, cinnamon, and water in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer. Allow to simmer for 5 minutes, stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Then remove from the heat and let steep for an hour. Transfer the syrup to a glass jar and refrigerate until ready to use and up to 2 weeks.

2. To make the cocktail: in a cocktail shaker or pitcher filled with a some ice, combine the gin and simple syrup. Squeeze a little juice from whatever citrus you are using into the pitcher as well. Stir well with a long spoon or stir stick.

3. Pour the gin mixture into two cocktail glasses filled with ice (I like glasses with stems but they have to be large enough to hold ice along with the cocktail). Top with tonic water, then garnish with anise pods, allspice or juniper berries, and a spruce sprig.

*Note: this is VERY easy to make in larger quantities. Simply stir all the ingredients together, then strain into a pitcher WITHOUT ICE. Store in the fridge until ready to serve!

Nectarine Mojito with Basil

Cocktail Friday is here! It’s been ages. There’s a big cocktail shaped hole in my heart. Or there was...until TODAY! The boys and I walked to the park this morning, played for about 15 minutes, and got rained on. So we booked it home, hopped in the car, and went to the grocery store. The moment we walked through the automatic doors, I was hit with the sweet scent of stone fruit from a gigantic display in the produce department. I picked up some perfect nectarines, followed by bright green basil, and knew I had to make something as soon as possible with my treasures. So, this nectarine basil mojito was born! It has no added sugar and a light, fresh flavor that is perfect for the dog days of summer when you think the heat might actually make you pass out.

I’m not a fan of super sugary cocktails, so this mojito makes me particularly happy. If you want it to be a little sweeter, you can add some maple syrup or agave when you muddle the ingredients in the glass. Also, if you have an issue with texture-y things in your drinks, feel free to make a purée out of your nectarines. Just peel, add to a blender with the basil rum, and give it a whirl until smooth. Then follow the recipe as written!

Cheers, friends! I hope everyone has something to look forward to this weekend.

Nectarine Mojito with Basil

makes 1 cocktail

• 1/3 of a very ripe nectarine, thinly sliced*
• 1 1/2 oz white rum (coconut rum is also tasty)
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 1 large basil leaf, julienned
• 3 mint leaves
• sparkling water
• crushed ice
• basil leaves, nectarine slices, and lime slice for garnish

In the bottom of a glass, muddle the nectarine slices with the rum, lime juice, mint and basil leaf (this is also where you would add any sweetener, if using).

Add ice to the glass, followed by a splash of sparkling water.

Garnish and serve!

*It is important that the nectarine is very ripe. This ensures as much flavor and sweetness as possible.