Category: Cocktails

Spiced Holiday Gin Fizz Cocktail

spiced-holiday-gin-fizz

Nothing kicks the holiday season off better than a homemade craft cocktail to serve your guests or sip on as you decorate the house and listen to Christmas music. I love creating from scratch mixers for cocktails rather than purchasing store bought mixers. It gives so much more control over the quality of ingredients and is a fun way to experiment and put your signature twist on the drinks your guests will imbibe in.

For this holiday inspired gin fizz cocktail, I created a syrup using Demerara sugar with a deep molasses flavor. The syrup is simmered with fresh whole cloves, ginger, and cinnamon to add a spicy background along with sweetness to the cocktail. I used Hendricks gin because of its bright herbal flavor, but you can use your favorite brand or even whiskey would be amazing paired with this spicy syrup. The cranberry and rosemary garnishes are the icing on this holiday cocktail and give a super festive look.

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Spiced Holiday Gin Fizz

Spiced Holiday Gin Fizz

Ingredients

  • 2 oz gin
  • 2 oz spiced syrup
  • Club soda
  • Sprig of rosemary
  • Fresh cranberries
  • FOR SPICED SYRUP
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup Demerara sugar
  • 6 whole cloves
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 tbsp fresh grated ginger

Instructions

  1. Combine ingredients for spiced syrup in a saucepan over medium/low heat. Bring to a simmer. Stir and reduce heat. Simmer 15 minutes uncovered.
  2. Strain syrup over a small bowl. Pour syrup into a mason jar and refrigerate 2 hours.
  3. To a cocktail glass, add ice or 1 large ice cube, gin, and spiced syrup. Stir. Top with club soda water and garnish with rosemary and cranberries.
http://freshandfit.org/spiced-holiday-gin-fizz-cocktail/

 

 

Grapefruit and St. Germain Paloma

Paloma Main Image

Summer is in full swing and the Fourth of July is in just a few days. The Fourth of July is one of my favorite times of the year to celebrate with loved ones and create memories. In my house, the barbecue is a constant cooking tool all summer long, but particularly on the Fourth of July. I grill fresh fruit to kebobs and everything in between. There is just something so nostalgic to me about a table full of grilled seasonal staples. I am going to be sharing a number of delicious, simple and healthy dishes you can make to share with your friends and family this weekend and the rest of summer.

BBQ 1

No good barbecue starts without a cocktail– so first up, the Grapefruit and St. Germain Paloma. This cocktail has all the flavor of a great margarita, but with a touch of elderberry from the St. Germain liqueur. It adds that certain something to any cocktail that makes it memorable. It also happens to be a gorgeous cocktail, perfect for summertime sipping.

Paloma 3

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Grapefruit and St. Germain Paloma

Ingredients

  • 1.5 oz tequila
  • 1 oz St. Germain Liqueur
  • 3 oz grapefruit juice
  • Splash of club soda
  • Sea salt or sugar for rim
  • Sprig of fresh mint
  • Lime wedge

Instructions

  1. Rim cocktail glass with a lime wedge and gently press into sea salt. You can pour salt on a small saucer or plate for easy rimming.
  2. Fill cocktail glass with ice. Combine tequila, St. Germain Liquor and grapefruit juice. Stir.
  3. Top with soda and a Sprig of mint. Garnish with lime.
http://freshandfit.org/grapefruit-and-st-germain-paloma/

 

Strawberry Basil Lemonade Cocktail

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This Strawberry Basil Lemonade Cocktail is a great make-ahead cocktail to have at a party. Having a big batch prepared ahead of time saves you from having to muddle cocktails when you can be mingling with guests. It also looks really pretty set out and would be a refreshing libation for a summer bbq. Unfortunately, it is still the middle of winter here in Chicagoland- but a girl can pretend, right? You can serve it with 1.5 ounces of your favorite spirit or even with a float of champagne. Cheers and Happy New Year!!

1 cup organic sugar
4 cups water
4 lemons
1 cup strawberries
5 large basil leaves (plus additional leaves for garnish)

In a small sauce pan, bring 2 cups water and sugar to a boil. Simmer until sugar dissolves. Pour into a jar and refrigerate 1 hour.

Remove rind from lemons and run through juicer. Juice strawberries and basil. Run 2 cups water through juicer to clear out any bits left behind. Refrigerate until simple syrup is chilled.

Combine simple syrup and juice in a large pitcher. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Pour into glasses over ice, add spirit of your choice and garnish with a basil leave.