Lemon Jerrys

This week I decided to make some Lemon Jerrys as an excuse to drink my last bottle of 2009 Roche Late Harvest Chardonnay, since I brought some Topaz 2011 Late Harvest Table Wine (Viognier) back from Sonoma two weeks ago (practicing a little FIFO).

This fun wine cocktail has become a favorite of ours since first discovering it last year on our annual wine trip and visiting Roche Winery in Sonoma. We nicknamed it Lemon Jerry, in honor of the wonderful man who poured for us - Jerry - and the creative serving idea for this delicious dessert wine.

A couple of fresh lemons, ice and club soda or sparkling water and you have yourself the most refreshing drink! That is all you need, don't let the simplicity deter you.

First put some ice in your wine glass, then squeeze half a lemon over the ice. Fill your glass with the wine, leaving just enough room to float some sparkling water on the top. It is crisp, a little sweet, light, refreshing and wakes up your palate with the fresh lemon. I dare you to drink just one! 

Vanilla Old Fashioned

A creative twist on this classic cocktail caught my attention. An Old Fashioned, with vanilla bean? Sign me up!

Also, it was an opportunity to purchase Orange Bitters and I love a good excuse to procure new cocktail accoutrements ;-) Boy am I glad we tried this recipe! It was so delicious and very relaxing after a long work week! 

We altered it from the recipe I found on Food & Wine's website  because we found it to be a little overwhelming with bourbon. We upped the simple syrup and added a dash of sprite (ginger ale would also be good)

You will need: 

Vanilla beans - we used 2 whole beans for a few cocktails. One cut into 1" pieces (and split) and the 2nd cut in half to be used as swizzle sticks. 

1" piece of orange zest (per drink)

1/4 oz simple syrup (we upped this to about 2 oz)

2 dashes orange bitters (we upped this to about 4 dashes)

2 oz bourbon 

ice 

orange wheels 

In a rocks glass, muddle the vanilla bean and orange zest with the Simple Syrup and bitters. Add the bourbon and ice, stir and garnish with the orange wheel.

It made a beautiful cocktail, I think. Particularly with the vanilla bean swizzle stick ;-) 

The bourbon added a very sweet, malty and almost maple flavor; the orange flavor added interest and the vanilla bean added a creamy and almost buttery flavor (in my humble opinion). We added a splash of sprite to lighten the bourbon flavor and add some effervescence. 

Would it be bad to confess I had three? No, I didn't think so. 

Notorious R.O.B. rated it: 2 Black Sabbath Devil Horns (Yeah, I didn't get it, either...)

Watermelon Basilitos

Holy, moly - was this ever good! 

I was a little skeptical about the basil, but now I am a believer! This was fresh, a little tangy and definitely woke up our taste buds! 

I found this recipe on My Gourmet Connection and it looked so summery and refreshing, I couldn't resist. 

Ingredients ~
5 or 6 1-inch chunks of watermelon
4 large basil leaves, torn into pieces
1 ounce lime juice
1-1/2 ounces white rum
1/2 ounce simple syrup
1/2 ounce grenadine
Basil sprig for garnish

Directions ~
Thoroughly muddle the watermelon and basil together with the lime juice in the bottom of a mixing glass.

Transfer to a rocks glass and top with ice. Shake the remaining ingredients with ice and strain into the glass with the watermelon.

Garnish with a sprig of basil.

Tasting Notes:

I followed this recipe exactly and it couldn't have turned out better! The fresh squeezed lime juice really perked this up. Combined with the refreshing fresh watermelon, it was a good pair. I also cut fresh watermelon into little cubes and froze them to make 'ice cubes', so the drink would not dilute. It didn't have a chance to, we downed two rounds of them without delay 

The basil in this recipe really wakes up the drink. It pairs nicely with the lime juice & watermelon. It adds a little something without being obvious. 

Green Apple Fairies....Absinthe Anyone?

Documentary: http://absinthefilm.com

Ingredients:

2/3 oz absinthe herbal liqueur
2/3 oz apple vodka (I used Van Gogh Green Apple Vodka)
3 oz sparkling apple cider

Directions:

For this recipe, make some apple juice ice cubes before you start. Then add 3 apple juice cubes to a cocktail glass. Add absinthe and apple vodka, and fill with cider.

Tasting Notes:

This one was.....well, EW! If you like black licorice, you would love Absinthe. I do not. Even though, I  HAD to try Absinthe --- I've heard so much about it. It's a different kind of sensation, not your typical alcohol buzz. 

So, for the second round, I nixed the Absinthe, upped the Van Gogh Green Apple vodka, apple juice ice cubes and sparkling apple cider and it was devine! Very round, smooth sweet red apple flavor and very relaxing. 

Santa Maria - Tequila

A light & refreshing tequila cocktail

Ingredients ~

1-1/2 ounces Silver Tequila
1 ounce white port (I used Pinot Grigio)
1/2 ounce Velvet Falernum (I used Captain Morgan's Spiced Rum)
1/2 ounce simple syrup (I used ginger syrup)
1 ounce fresh lemon juice
1/2 ounce ginger beer (did you know this is nonalcoholic? Me, either!)

Directions ~

In a cocktail shaker, combine all ingredients except ginger beer. Fill with ice, shake and strain into a high ball glass over ice, adding ginger beer as you pour. Garnish with a lemon wheel. Don't forget the stylish cocktail napkin....

Tasting Notes:

This tasty beverage reminded us a lot of a margarita. The fresh lemon juice made it a little tart, so the ginger syrup balanced it out. With the fresh citrus, it was rather refreshing on a 100-plus degree day. For the second round, I added more ginger beer than the recipe calls for (1/2 oz, really? Why bother?)

The only thing missing was Pee Wee Herman dancing

For nibbles, we had whipped feta with fresh peaches and balsamic glaze drizzle and whipped blue cheese with caramelized onions & mushrooms. Smooth & creamy with nice crunch - one savory, one sweet!

Pineapple Ginger Martinis

Refreshing, fruity and zippy from the ginger!

This is the first in what we plan will be a weekly tradition to kick-start the weekend. Each weekend, a new cocktail recipe. I am soooo looking forward to this. 

The beauty of this recipe is the homemade ginger syrup! As Ferris Bueller would say --- there is no substitute. We used Little Black Dress Pineapple Vodka, but you can use any flavored or infused vodka that pairs well with ginger (pear would be divine, I'm sure). 

With the leftover ginger syrup, you can make your own ginger ale by adding it to club soda! See? It's a win-win for everyone. Now, roll up your sleeves and make that syrup!!


4 servings

Ginger Simple Syrup:


1 cup water
1 cup sugar
1 4-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and diced into 1/4-inch pieces

For the syrup: In a small saucepan, combine the water, sugar, and ginger over medium heat. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has dissolved. Remove the pan from the heat and allow the mixture to cool, about 20 minutes. Cover the pan and refrigerate for 4 hours.

Select a few of the best ginger slices to make a candied ginger garnish. Blot off syrup, toss in sugar and let dry. 


Ice
1 cup pineapple-flavored vodka
1/2 cup sparkling water, chilled
1 cup ginger syrup
Garnish: candied ginger & pineapple slices

Chill 4 martini glasses in the freezer. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the vodka, ginger syrup, and sparkling water. Shake for 10 seconds and strain the mixture into the prepared glasses. Garnish with candied ginger and pineapple slice and serve.

Adapted from Giada's Ginger Lemon and Lime Martini

After one of these, you'll forget the stress of the work week. I'm not going to lie....after two, we're pretty much sideways ;-)