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!

A Well Crafted Pantry

Halloween Cocktail and NA Beverage with Red Vines

October 25, 2016 12 Comments A Well Crafted Pantry

This Halloween drink post is sponsored by RedVines. #RedVines candy is always fat-free and made without preservatives. It is “made in small batches, using artisanal techniques passed down through five generations, RedVines candy has a rich heritage built on our dedication to consistent quality, flavor and freshness.” All opinions are my own. To learn more about my posting policies regarding sponsored posts please visit my policies page. As always, thank you for reading more about the companies that help support this blog.

(This post contains affiliate links marked with *)

If you haven’t been able to tell from previous Halloween posts… I like vampires. I was the kid dressed in black reading Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles* throughout most of my formative years. It certainly lead right into my love of Halloween. (Check out these fun Halloween Vampire Portrait free printables!) When creating a recipe out of my favorite red licorice it was an easy jump to vampires. I love how the little bite-sized RedVines Twistettes* made perfect little “vampire bites” on the rim of the glasses.

Halloween is an all-ages holiday in my book, so I wanted to make sure that I had a fun non-alcoholic version of the Vampire Bite drink so that the kids could get into the fun.

Halloween Cocktail – Vampire Bite Cocktail with Red Vines

As with all of my cocktail recipes this is intended for people of legal drinking age. Keep scrolling if you’d like to find a fun non-alcoholic version of this drink. As always, practice safe drinking.

Ingredients:

-3/4 oz of Cranberry Juice (or Cranberry Grape Juice)
– 1 and 1/4 ounces of your favorite vodka
– 1 oz of your favorite orange liquor
– 1.5 oz of dry cherry soda (must be a clear soda)
– 1.5 oz of dry blood orange soda (clear soda again)
– RedVine Twistettes to garnish rim
– Shaker with Ice
– Chilled Martini glass that can hold approximately 6-8 oz of liquid (don’t want it too full!)

Directions:

Garnish the chilled martini glass with the RedVines Twistettes about 1.5 inches apart (should be approximately where the canine teeth would go in the mouth).
Pour 3/4 oz of cranberry juice into a chilled martini glass.
In a shaker full of ice pour the orange liquor and vodka. Shake well to chill. Strain into glass.
Top drink with equal parts of blood orange and cherry dry soda.
Enjoy!

Halloween Drink – Vampire Bite Non-Alcoholic Beverage with Red Vines

Sometimes you just don’t want to drink alcohol or you want to give the kiddos a special treat as well. This non-alcoholic versions of the Vampire Bite cocktail is DELICIOUS and pairs perfectly with the little Twistette bites on the rim of the glass.

Ingredients:

– RedVines Twistettes for the rim of the glass
– 2 oz Cranberry Juice or Cranberry Grape Juice
– 3 oz Dry Cherry Soda (must be clear)
– 3 oz Dry Blood Orange Soda (must be clear)
– Glass with ice and a straw

Directions:

Build the drink on ice by first garnishing the glass with RedVines Twistettes to resemble a vampire bite.
Pour in the cranberry juice so that it sinks to the bottom of the glass.
Top with equal parts of Cherry and Blood Orange Dry Soda.
Pop in a straw and Enjoy!