Tag Archives: Agave Syrup

DIY Ready-to-Drink Frozen Cocktails

No Blender Frozen Modern Margarita is a DIY Ready-to-Drink frozen cocktail – recipe and photo by Mixologist Cheri Loughlin, The Intoxicologist

No Blender Frozen Modern Margarita is a DIY Ready-to-Drink frozen cocktail – recipe and photo by Mixologist Cheri Loughlin, The Intoxicologist

You can make your own Ready-to-Drink frozen cocktails. It’s easier than you think. Once you start making your own, you may never buy prepackaged cocktails again! The only problem you might run into is running out too fast because they are so good!

Make Your Own Ready-to-Drink Frozen Cocktails

Ready to freeze pouches are frozen until ready to serve for blender style drinks without actually needing a blender. Fabulous idea! Good blenders are expensive. Cheap blenders usually don’t blend ice fine enough for cocktails. There are a few problem areas in freezing cocktails though. Alcohol and sugar don’t like to freeze. Consider recipes meant for blender use first when choosing recipes to use as Ready-to-Drink frozen cocktails. These will be the easiest recipes to convert for freezer pouch use.

A portion of the difference in volume between the base ingredients and a shaken cocktail needs to be added into the recipe to create a Ready-to-Drink frozen cocktail.

A portion of the difference in volume between the base ingredients and a shaken cocktail needs to be added into the recipe to create a Ready-to-Drink frozen cocktail.

An ordinary cocktail is put together in a cocktail shaker with ice. Let’s say there are 4 to 5 ounces of cocktail liquids that go into the shaker to build the cocktail. The cocktail is shaken until it is well chilled. Let’s say 20 seconds. Remember, we do not like a lazy shake! The liquid is strained into the cocktail glass. There is now a larger volume of liquid than the 4 to 5 ounces that went into the shaker due to ice melt. If that finished cocktail liquid were measured it would be more than the original measurement. THAT difference in volume is the key to making your own Ready-to-Drink frozen cocktails. A portion of the difference in volume between the base ingredients and a shaken cocktail needs to be added into the recipe to create a Ready-to-Drink frozen cocktail.

DIY No Blender Frozen Modern Margarita

The drink that inspired me to create a no blender necessary Ready-to-Drink frozen cocktail is served at one of my favorite Mexican restaurants. Roja Grill in the Omaha Old Market serves an amazing fresh Modern Margarita with fresh squeezed lime and grapefruit juice. Bartenders Manny, Brynne and Jaymee do an amazing job behind the bar at Roja. They also make some of the best, freshest Margaritas in the Old Market. Skip the Margarita machine and let the bartenders make a fresh Margarita for you. It’s well worth it!

I’ve never asked the bartenders at Roja for their Modern Margarita recipe. My recipe might not taste exactly like the one there. You will still need to go to Roja and sample the real thing! This recipe is an adapted version for freezer purposes.

No Blender Frozen Modern Margarita is an adapted version of the Roja Grill Modern Margarita - photo and frozen recipe by Cheri Loughlin, The Intoxicologist

No Blender Frozen Modern Margarita is an adapted version of the Roja Grill Modern Margarita – photo and frozen recipe by Cheri Loughlin, The Intoxicologist

No Blender Frozen Modern Margarita – recipe by Cheri Loughlin, The Intoxicologist

Makes 1

2 ounces Blanco Tequila

1-1/4 ounce Fresh Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice

1 ounce Fresh Lime Juice

1/2 ounce Premium Orange Liqueur

1/4 ounce Agave Syrup

1 ounce Bottled Water

Combine liquids in freezer safe container. Stir. Seal container. Freeze until ready to use. Mixture will freeze mostly solid within 4 to 5 hours depending upon how cold your freezer gets. Remove from freezer when ready to drink. Allow to slightly thaw for a few minutes. Shake to mix up contents. Pour into salt or sugar rimmed glass if desired. Garnish with lime wedge.

Ready-to-Drink Frozen Cocktails Tips & Tricks

Just a quick minute to thaw & shake is all you need for a wonderful icy, blended style frozen Margarita. No blender necessary. EASY! - photo and recipe by Cheri Loughlin, The Intoxicologist

Just a quick minute to thaw & shake is all you need for a wonderful icy, blended style frozen Margarita. No blender necessary. EASY! – photo and recipe by Cheri Loughlin, The Intoxicologist

Makes only one?!? I know. There is a reason frozen cocktails are sold in single pouches rather than party pouches. I did multiply the recipe and froze it in a container that held five servings. There is a bit of settling that goes on as the cocktail freezes. It’s possible to freeze multiple cocktails within one container.  However, the entire container has to thaw for a few minutes so it can be shaken to remix the contents due to settling. It’s much easier to freeze individual drinks.

I’ve used zip style freezer bags for my frozen cocktails. They work in a pinch but they sometimes leak and they are difficult to stack until the liquid is completely frozen. Then I found the Ball 8 ounce Plastic Freezer Jars at a local grocery store. They are wonderful! They are the perfect size for an individual cocktail. There is a “fill to” line marked on the container allowing proper space for the drink to expand as it freezes. The containers are stackable which saves freezer space. They seal perfectly, so no worries about plastic bag punctures. When it’s time to thaw the cocktail, it’s super easy to shake and pour.

Add Your Comment: What DIY Ready-to-Drink Frozen Cocktail recipes would you like to learn how to make?

Cheri Loughlin Photography - Cocktail Development & Photography Services

All content ©2013 Cheri Loughlin, The Intoxicologist. All Rights Reserved. Chat with Cheri @Intoxicologist on Twitter and facebook.com/Intoxicologist or str8upcocktails@gmail.com

Berried Treasure

Delicate tartness balances with fruited sweetness in this deeply lush blackberry and raspberry cocktail. Sipping to the last drop is definitely savoring fresh Berried Treasure.

Berried Treasure – created by Cheri Loughlin

Berried Treasure - Cheri Loughlin Cocktail Development Services2 measures Camarena Silver Tequila

8 Fresh Blackberries

1/2 measure Lemon Juice

1/2 measure Raspberry Liqueur

1/4 measure Agave Syrup

Place six blackberries and lemon juice in mixing glass. Muddle. Add remaining liquid ingredients with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Double strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with remaining two blackberries.

Cocktail Recipe commissioned by Camarena Tequila Representatives

Cheri Loughlin is a leading cocktail and photography resource for beverage companies, event planners, businesses and individuals. High resolution cocktail and beverage stock photography images are available in downloadable digital format in the newly redesigned Stock Photography Gallery at www.cheriloughlin.com.

Twitter, Facebook, StumbleUpon – str8upcocktails @ gmail.com – ©2012 Cheri Loughlin-The Intoxicologist, All Rights Reserved. All opinions, reviews and spirits’ coverage are the personal opinion and decision of Cheri Loughlin.

Burgundy & Gold Cocktails Rally Washington Team Spirit

Washington, D.C., is home to seven professional sports teams which include men and women athletes who work and play hard.  Though basketball, soccer, hockey and baseball rank high in the world of professional sports, there is nothing like the excitement of Monday Night Football to keep the chill of fall at bay when winter’s frost waits eagerly in the Gold Rushing Shot photo copyright Cheri Loughlinshadows.  Tonight enjoy a few colorful burgundy and gold cocktails for spirited football fun while watching the Washington Redskins take on the Philadelphia Eagles.

Gold Rushing Shot – adaption by Cheri Loughlin

1 part Goldschlager

1 part Tequila

Chill spirits. Combine in shot glass.

Burgundy & Gold Margarita – created by Cheri Loughlin

Burgundy and Gold Margarita - photo copyright Cheri Loughlin2 ounces Reposado Tequila

3/4 ounce Premium Orange Liqueur

1/2 ounce Agave Syrup

1 ounce Lime Juice

1/4 ounce Blackberry Brandy

Lime Wedge Garnish

Salt

Rim chilled cocktail glass with salt if desired. Set aside. Place tequila, Cointreau, agave syrup and lime juice in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill thoroughly. Strain into prepared cocktail glass over fresh ice. Float blackberry brandy over top.Wine Glass copyright Cheri Loughlin

Burgundy Cocktail

2 parts Dry Red Wine

1 part Cognac

1/2 to 3/4 part Crème de Cassis

Place liquids in mixing glass with ice. Stir until completely chilled. Strain into large wine glass.

Cheri Loughlin is a leading cocktail and photography resource for beverage companies, event planners, businesses and individuals. High resolution cocktail and beverage stock photography images are available in downloadable digital format in the newly redesigned Stock Photography Gallery at www.cheriloughlin.com.

Twitter, Facebook, StumbleUpon – str8upcocktails @ gmail.com – ©2012 Cheri Loughlin-The Intoxicologist, All Rights Reserved. All opinions, reviews and spirits’ coverage are the personal opinion and decision of Cheri Loughlin.

Twist on a Classic Cocktail: Almond Old Fashioned

This is an interesting take on a classic Old Fashioned cocktail.  The tequila version of the Almond Old Fashioned would be much better if it did not carry so much sweetness.  My recommendation would be to skip the agave syrup completely to balance out the flavor of this unique recipe.  Oro Tequila’s pepper tones shine with the addition of the Amaretto nuttiness.

Almond Old Fashioned - Oro Tequila classic - photo copyright Cheri LoughlinAlmond Old Fashioned

2 ounces Oro Reposado Tequila

1/4 ounces Amaretto

1/4 ounces Agave Syrup

3 dashes Orange Bitters

Orange Twist Garnish

Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice.  Shake to blend.  Strain into an old-fashioned glass over fresh ice.  Garnish with fresh orange twist.

Oro Reposado Tequila Neat - photo copyright Cheri LoughlinOro Reposado Tequila: This tequila has fabulous color.  The flavor is very spicy, reminding me a little of pepper without the drying bite.   It is a bit thin and watery making it easily mixable.  This one does not linger with sweetness in a round caramel or vanilla sort of way as some reposado tequilas do on the tongue.  Hardly any sweetness if any at all.  Quite nice.  Good flavor.  Stands up well in a cocktail.

Cocktail recipes using Tequila may be found by following the Tequila tag or look for specific brands in the Tags section.

Oro de Jalisco Tequilasample for review courtesy representatives of Oro de Jalisco Tequila.

Cheri Loughlin Photography - Cocktail Development & Photography Services

Twitter, Facebook, StumbleUpon – str8upcocktails @ gmail.com – ©2012 Cheri Loughlin-The Intoxicologist, All Rights Reserved. All opinions, reviews and spirits’ coverage are the personal opinion and decision of Cheri Loughlin.

Pineapple Serrano Margarita

Looking for something a little less traditional yet fun, fruity and delicious for Cinco de Mayo? Try this heated little Tequila Cazadores number: Pineapple Serrano Margarita. Fresh pineapple and Serrano chili peppers muddled together give this margarita spicy kick.

Lovers Margarita - photo copyright Cheri LoughlinPineapple Serrano Margarita

1-1/2 parts Tequila Cazadores Blanco

4 pieces fresh Pineapple – muddled -or- 3 parts Pineapple Juice

2 slices Serrano Chili Pepper – muddled

1 part Simple Syrup –or- 3/4 part Agave Nectar

1 part Lime Juice

Muddle fresh pineapple, chili pepper, syrup and lime juice in mixing glass. Add tequila and ice. Shake to blend and chill. Pour into rocks glass or strain into rocks glass over fresh ice to reduce floating pieces of fruit and pepper.

Recipe provided by Tequila Cazadores representatives

Cheri Loughlin Photography - Cocktail Development & Photography Services

All content ©2013 Cheri Loughlin, The Intoxicologist. All Rights Reserved. Chat with Cheri @Intoxicologist on Twitter and facebook.com/Intoxicologist or str8upcocktails@gmail.com