Berry Good Cosmic Cocktails: Martian Sunrise

October 27, 2017 No Comments A Well Crafted Pantry

I think that many Halloween cocktails err on the side of too sweet and too kitschy. Sometimes, you just need a twist on a good, classic cocktail to get the effect that you want. I’m hosting a space themed Halloween party this year and needed some ‘spacey’ cocktail ideas. When I started created this berry cocktail I tried it with a different liquor. One taste of the drink made me realize that I was way off base and that I needed to stick with a classic.

This post is in partnership with Oregon Berries. All opinions are my own. See my other collaborations with Oregon Berries: Triple Berry Smoothie with Miso & Marionberry Champagne Cocktail.

This cocktail is a twist on a Tequila Sunrise. A traditional Tequila Sunrise consists of orange juice, grenadine, and tequila. So, I guess I’d say that this drink is a loose interpretation of the classic, but I like it even more. 😉 My big twist on this cocktail is that I use a berry syrup instead of grenadine and just a squeeze of fresh orange for orange juice. The ratio is certainly different, but the berries are brightened by the orange juice and the gold tequila really tastes great with the sweet and tart berries.

Triple Berry Simple Syrup

This triple berry simple syrup can be made to mix with cocktails or non-alcoholic drinks. I love this syrup in Italian Creme Sodas or mixed with lemonade. YUM.

Use the below portions to create a batch of syrup in any amount that you need:

1 part each type of berry
2 part water
2 part granulated sugar

Or, to make approximately 2.5 cups of syrup:

1 cup black raspberries
1 cup raspberries
1 cup Marion blackberries
2 cups water
2 cups sugar

Directions:

Put the frozen berries and water in a saucepan and cook over medium heat (stirring occasionally so it doesn’t stick) until the berries soften. Approximately 5 minutes.
Add the sugar. Stir until the sugar is dissolved. Approximately 5 minutes.
Strain the liquid from the berries. Squish the berries as you go to get all the lovely juices.
Refrigerate the berry syrup for up to two weeks

This drink doesn’t look like it so much in the photos… but, it looks like a real sunset. A friend was over testing out the drinks and as I was throwing out names she nailed it with a Martian Sunrise. Mars is quite a bit colder that here on Earth. This drink sort of touches on that fact with the shaved ice base. To shave the ice I simply threw ice cubes into my blender and blended away. I filled the rocks glass to the brim with the shaved ice.

Martian Sunrise Cocktail

Ingredients:

Shaved Ice
1 quarter medium size orange plus a slice of orange for garnish
2 oz gold tequila
1 oz of berry syrup

Directions:

Fill rocks glass to brim with shaved ice
Add tequila
Add the squeezed orange juice
Add the berry syrup slowly
Garnish with an orange slice

A Well Crafted Pantry

Berry Good Cosmic Cocktails: Dark Side of the Moontini

October 25, 2017 1 Comment A Well Crafted Pantry

Whether you just want a tasty mysteriously dark cocktail to impress your guests at a Halloween party or something fun to spice up a space themed party, this cocktail packs a punch. Dubbed the ‘Dark Side of the Moontini’ this drink utilizes a ice ball created out of a triple-berry syrup that then melts into a mixture of bourbon and splash of berry soda water.

This post is in partnership with Oregon Berries. All opinions are my own. See my other collaborations with Oregon Berries: Triple Berry Smoothie with Miso & Marionberry Champagne Cocktail.

The star of this cocktail is the slowly melting ice ball created with a triple-berry syrup. The syrup is SO easy to create. I used Stahlbush Island Farms frozen black raspberries, raspberries, and Marion blackberries. I kept to the darker berries for a rich flavor that would pair well with the bourbon, but also to make sure my drink had a very dark color to it (naturally).

Triple Berry Simple Syrup

This triple berry simple syrup can be made to mix with cocktails or non-alcoholic drinks. I love this syrup in Italian Creme Sodas or mixed with lemonade. YUM.

Use the below portions to create a batch of syrup in any amount that you need:

1 part each type of berry
2 part water
2 part granulated sugar

Or, to make approximately 2.5 cups of syrup:

1 cup black raspberries
1 cup raspberries
1 cup Marion blackberries
2 cups water
2 cups sugar

Directions:

Put the frozen berries and water in a saucepan and cook over medium heat (stirring occasionally so it doesn’t stick) until the berries soften. Approximately 5 minutes.
Add the sugar. Stir until the sugar is dissolved. Approximately 5 minutes.
Strain the liquid from the berries. Squish the berries as you go to get all the lovely juices.
Refrigerate the berry syrup for up to two weeks

Create the Berry Ice Ball:

I use the individual ice spheres (affiliate link) to create my ice balls. I literally have these in my freezer at all times with at least two ice balls ready to go for when I want a bourbon on ice. I love the way they look, but even more, I love the way that they melt. To create the berry ice ball I didn’t want it to be TOO sweet, so I first filled the ice sphere mold a third of the way with water. I then complete the sphere with my berry syrup. I do freeze my ice balls overnight so that they are pretty hard. To release from the mold I put under running water for about 30 seconds.

The berry ice ball would be great with a delicious lemonade or even a plopped into a lemon drop cocktail. However, I wanted the cocktail to be both dark in color and in flavor. I wanted something complex. So, bourbon was my go to liquor.

Dark Side of the Moontini

(A Bourbon and Berry Cocktail)

Ingredients:

1 Berry Ice Ball
2 oz of your favorite bourbon
1 oz of berry flavored soda water

Directions:

Put berry ice ball in a martini glass
Add 2 ounces of your favorite bourbon
Top with 1 ounce (or to taste) of your favorite berry flavored soda water

This drink starts of strong and as the ice melts gets sweeter. It is a sipper for sure!

Cocktails

Saturday Spirits: Cherry Limeade Cocktail

May 27, 2017 1 Comment Cocktails

A million years ago I got my first real job as a carhop at my local Sonic Drive-In. It was my first of many, many years of creating fun drinks for people to enjoy. The classic and all-time favorite soda of mine was the Cherry Limeade. Sonic just had that secret recipe that really blended the flavors just right. Of course, there was also the perfection of Sonic ice. When Wild Roots Vodka sent a beautiful bottle of their Dark Sweet Cherry Infused Vodka my mind instantly went to creating a tasty, adult-only Cherry Limeade. I didn’t have the perfect Sonic ice to set it apart, but I did have the perfect blend of cherry and lime that made for a refreshing Summer beverage.

Sonic’s—likely not-so-secret—recipe for their Cherry limeades combined freshly squeezed limes, cherry syrup, maraschino cherries and Sprite to make the sweet and sour beverage. You could really do the same with this vodka, some limes, and Sprite. However, and perhaps this is my age showing, I’ve come to enjoy drinks with just a tad less sweetness than I have had in the past. I prefer to not use Sprite in favor of lime flavored soda water.

While it is called “Dark Sweet Cherry Infused” vodka I didn’t find the liquor quite as sweet as I expected. (Perfect for me!) But, if you do prefer a sweeter drink then perhaps sub the soda water for a lemon-lime soda or add a little bit more maraschino cherry juice than called for in the recipe below.

More uses for Cherry Vodka:

In playing around testing different drinks with the Wild Roots Dark Sweet Cherry Vodka I also tested it out in some cola and made a fabulous adult Cherry Cola. Check out the Wild Roots website for more Cherry Vodka recipe ideas. (Click the plus sign next to description of the Cherry Vodka on the site.)

Dark Cherry Limeade Cocktail

This drink recipe serves one. However, you could absolutely make a pitcher of this to serve in bulk by multiplying ingredients by the number of drinks needed. If you are making ahead, then mix everything but the soda water together and chill until needed. Add the soda water right before serving.

Ingredients:

1 1/4 oz White Rum (not a flavored variety)
1/2 oz of Dark Sweet Cherry Vodka
1 oz freshly squeezed lime juice
1/2 oz Maraschino Cherry Juice (May substitute grenadine to taste if you’d prefer)
Maraschino Cherries and Lime Slices for Garnish

Directions:

Note: Build this drink over ice. If you can get nugget ice then definitely go for that! I liked building my drink where the cherry was on the bottom because it looked so pretty as the color seeped to the top. Before drinking you’ll want to give it a stir with your straw.

Pour Wild Roots Dark Sweet Cherry Vodka and Cherry Juice over ice.
Pour in the Rum and lime juice.
Add in a few lime slices.
Top with Lime Soda Water
Garnish with a few Maraschino Cherries

This drink will be next to me most of this long-holiday weekend. Hopefully as I enjoy the swimming pool!