cocktails

Parenting? It takes energy. Dedication. And some days? No matter how hard we work? We’re more than ready for the day to end. And some days? Kicking back at the end is all about celebrating what went right.

One of the ways I love to do this is making up my own mixed drinks. Here are the recipes I’ve had fun concocting. I am no bartender. I have no training. This is all about tossing together a little of this and a splash of that. Enjoy the recipes and the evenings (but please, not all at once!)
And if this page isn’t for you, I want to acknowledge that. The parent who is recovering. Or is in the process of recovery. Or who is thinking it might be the best path. Or for whom not drinking is a personal choice for any reason. For you, it isn’t about fun, or relaxing, or laughter. It is real work, every day. Day after day. I see you. And I honor you. And I respect this page isn’t for you. xoxo.

A couple of mixing notes:

Simple syrup really is that. Simple. Put a pot on the stove, heat 1 cup of water, dissolve 1 cup of sugar. Remove from heat. Chill. Can be stored in the frig for a couple of weeks.

Sweet & sour syrup. Just a variation on the above. Put a pot on the stove, heat 1 cup of water, dissolve 1 cup of sugar. Add ½ cup of lemon juice, ½ cup of lime juice. Remove from heat. Chill. Can be stored in the frig for a couple of weeks.

The ‘parts’ I refer to below really is up to you and your measuring device. A traditional jigger has two sides, one measures 1 oz., the other 1.5 oz. It all depends on how big a drink you want to make…

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RECENT COCKTAIL POSTS

Lakefair

Growing up, there was a local summer fair that I couldn’t wait to go to. As an adult, I just might drive very circuitous routes around town during the week of Lakefair to avoid my kids seeing the unmistakable silhouette of the Ferris Wheel. But tonight? The very last night of the fair? (shhhhhh…don’t tell the kids), I created a cocktail in its honor. I sent a picture of the drink to a friend, along with its name. She replied “fascinating and overwhelming, right?” exactly. So, here’s the Lakefair.

  • 1.5 oz vodka
  • 1 mini package of Nerds
  • tonic water

To mix the drink:

Pour nerds into the bottom of the glass. Drop a handful of ice cubes into your cocktail shaker. Pour vodka over the ice. Lid on. Shake away. Pour into your glass. Top with tonic. Slowly swirl you glass, watching the nerds yellow color spread throughout. When it looks done? Drink. Laugh. Remember your youth (well, once you were 21).

Would you like to check out other cocktail options? Here’s the link to the entire list!

lavender fields forever

A cocktail name sure to make my husband and our niece cringe…for opposite reasons. But for the rest of us? Pure deliciousness. Pure summer.

  • 1 oz. botanical gin (esme, bloom, etc) or vodka
  • o.5 oz  lavender simple syrup (see below)
  • juice of 1/4 lime
  • top with lavender dry soda (chez Target carries this…)

 

To make the lavender simple syrup:

Bring 2 cups of water to a boil, add 2 cups sugar, stirring until dissolved. Add in the tops? (is there a correct term for this?) of 5-8 lavender stalks, depending on how strong you’d like the lavender. Let cool with the flowers in for 15-30 minutes. Strain out the lavender.

To mix the drink:

Drop a handful of ice cubes into your cocktail shaker. Pour all ingredients (but not the fizzy one!) over the ice. Lid on. Shake away. Pour into your glass. Top with lavender soda water. Enjoy!

Would you like to check out other cocktail options? Here’s the link to the entire list!

the boozy browser

The calendar may say mid-August, but the slant of the sunlight is starting to tell a different story. And the leaves, too. Not so bright and fresh green. Oranges and reds are hovering at their tips. Time for a cocktail that tips us towards fall. From summer beach reads to thick novels. So this one is dedicated to my favorite bookstore, Browsers Bookshop. It opened in 1935 and recently was bought and brought back to life. In honor of Andrea (proprietress), it is a gin-based drink. In honor of the 30’s, something with fizz. In honor of books, something clear so if it spills, no pages will stain. In honor of stories, a splash of lemon, bright & tart. And soda to make it all sparkle.

  • 1.5 oz. gin
  • 1 oz. pear liqueur
  • 1 oz. simple syrup
  • 1 oz. lemon juice
  • soda water

To make the simple syrup:

Bring 1 cup of water to a boil, add 1 cup sugar, stirring until dissolved. Store in the frig.

To mix the drink:

Drop a handful of ice cubes into your cocktail shaker. Pour all ingredients (but not the fizzy one!) over the ice. Lid on. Shake away. Pour into your glass. Top with soda water. Enjoy!

Would you like to check out other cocktail options? Here’s the link to the entire list!

Dancing Queen

Are you a lemon? Or a lime? Based on a gin gimlet, pick the citrus of your choice. This one is inspired by my friend Stephanie. xoxo.

ingredient list:

  • 2 oz. bloom gin (or any botanical gin)
  • 2 oz. brovo + rg rose geranium liqueur
  • 1 oz. simple syrup
  • 1 oz. lemon or lime juice
  • fresh basil
  • tonic water or soda water (optional)

To make the simple syrup:

Bring 1 cup of water to a boil, add 1 cup sugar, stirring until dissolved. Store in the frig.

To mix the drink:

Begin by muddling a few basil leaves in the bottom of your cocktail shaker. Then drop a handful of ice cubes. Pour all ingredients (but not the fizzy ones!) over the ice. Lid on. Shake away. Pour into your glass. Top with the fizz of your choice. Enjoy!

Would you like to check out other cocktail options? Here’s the link to the entire list!

the spring fling

Just because ‘spring break’ looks entirely different now than when we were the kids, it doesn’t means we can’t still have some fun. So, here it is: the spring fling. Light, cool, refreshing, and oh-so-easy to drink. It adds warmth to the days (or nights) of spring break.

ingredient list:

  • 2 oz. light rum
  • 2 oz. cucumber simple syrup
  • 1 oz. elderberry liqueur
  • sprig of fresh mint
  • tonic water or soda water (optional)

To make the cucumber simple syrup:

Shred 1 cup cucumber (peal still on). Bring 1 cup of water to a boil, add 1 cup sugar, stirring until dissolved and a at a low boil. Add in cucumber. Turn off heat. Let sit for 30 minutes. Pour through a strainer. Store the syrup in the frig.

To mix the drink:

Muddle the mint in a cocktail shaker. Drop in a handful of ice. Pour all ingredients (but not the fizzy ones!) over the ice. Lid on. Shake away. Pour into your glass. Top with the fizz of your choice. Enjoy!

Would you like to check out other cocktail options? Here’s the link to the entire list!

the drink with no name

Help! My creativity has fled. I can’t think of a great (or even punny) name for this drink. All ideas are welcome! At this point, it is simply a Salted Caramel Mocha Martini.

  • 2 oz. espresso vodka
  • 2 oz. (dark) chocolate liqueur — Godiva
  • 2 oz. milk (although you are welcome to use cream or half & half)
  • caramel or dulce de leche sauce
  • coarse salt

Begin by prepping the rim of your martini glass. Using a knife, frost the edge with caramel / dulche de leche. Pour a bit of salt into your hand, twist the rim into the salt lightly. Next, drop a handful of ice cubes into a cocktail shaker. Pour in the first three ingredients. Lid on. Shake or swirl. Pour into your glass. MMmmm…mocha martini.

the winter white

simple. quiet. like snow.

  • 1 oz. creme de cacoa
  • 1 oz. vanilla vodka
  • tonic

Drop a handful of ice cubes into a cocktail shaker. Pour the first two ingredients over the ice. Lid on. Shake or swirl. Pour into your glass. Top with tonic. Enjoy!

orange et chocolat

There is a charming little grocery in Gordes, France named Orange et Chocolat. It has been years since we were in Provence, but this store still appears in my dreams. The French love affair with chocolate extends, bien sur, to Nutella. So here’s an autumn nod to France. And a warm Nutella martini. Truly, what’s not to love?

  • 2 Tablespoons Nutella
  • 2 Table spoons milk
  • 2 Tablespoons orange vodka

Warm Nutella in the microwave for 1 minute. Wisk in the milk, then wisk in the vodka. Pour into your glass. Try to make it last.