Tag Archives: Vodka

Girls Night Out Cocktail: Harvest Moon

Posted on May 15, 2013 | Leave a comment

Girls Night Out sometimes comes with a few misconceptions. It isn’t necessarily a gab fest of complaints about significant others, how the office queen is trying to ruin our next step up the ladder of success or how little Tommy just graduated from tricycle to training wheels. Often it’s about breathing a much needed sigh of relief, not worrying about anyone else and countless laughs for a few hours. And if we look good in a smokin’ hot dress and high heel shoes while having a good time, all the better.

Ditch the Cosmo, howl at the moon! Enjoy Girls Night Out, Ladies!

Harvest Moon

2 ounces American Harvest

1/2 ounce Le Combier Triple Sec

1/2 ounce Fresh Lemon Juice

1/4 ounce Grenadine

Lemon Twist Garnish

Combine liquids in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into chilled coupe glass. Garnish with lemon twist.

Girls Night Out is also synonymous with wine tasting evenings in. Wine Chateau has a large selection of wines, including fine Italian wines, currently priced to fit every budget.

Post sponsored by Wine Chateau – All commentary and opinion by Cheri Loughlin

cocktail recipe and photo provided by representatives of Sidney Frank Importing Company, Inc. & American Harvest – American Harvest on Facebook – @AHOrganicSpirit on Twitter

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Posted in Cocktails, Sponsored Posts

Tagged American Harvest, Fresh Lemon, Girl's Night Out, Grenadine, Harvest Moon, Le Combier Triple Sec, Sidney Frank Importing Company Inc, Sponsored Post, Triple Sec, Vodka, Wine Chateau

American Harvest Farm to Table Cocktail Recipes

Posted on April 1, 2013 | Comments Off

I am a tried and true vodka lover. I sip it on the rocks; with or without a lime peel. In an extremely Dry Martini with lemon twist; extremely dry means just vodka shaken or stirred with ice only please. No complicated drink recipe there. In the case of American Harvest Organic Spirit, I would even choose equal parts vodka to gin on the rocks or martini style. What I’m saying is American Harvest is easily sippable. I think it’s a great value for the money and it will be a winner when mixed in an abundance of cocktail recipes.

Speaking of cocktails and drink recipes, American Harvest launched fully prepared. They have some great recipe suggestions for spring with more cocktail recommendations in the future. The two recipes below utilize garden fresh herbs, vegetables and berry fruits for the freshest farm to table cocktails. Read on and stay tuned.

Local Harvest

2 ounces American Harvest Organic Spirit

4 Fresh Basil Leaves

3 Lime Wedges

3 Thin Slices Cucumber

1/4 ounce Agave Nectar

Basil Leaf & Cucumber Slice Garnish

Muddle basil, lime and cucumber in mixing glass. Add American Harvest, agave nectar and ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice. Garnish with basil leaf and cucumber slice.

Very Berry Harvest

2 ounces American Harvest Organic Spirit

4 Fresh Mint Leaves

4 Blackberries

4 Raspberries

1/4 ounce Agave Nectar

Ginger Beer

Crushed Ice

Blackberries, Raspberries & Mint Sprig Garnish

Muddle mint leaves and berries in mixing glass. Add American Harvest, agave nectar and crushed ice. Gently swizzle. Top with ginger beer. Garnish with berries on a cocktail pick and mint sprig.

What is American Harvest Organic Spirit?

Organic Vodka & Organic Flavor. Snake River USA

American Harvest is handcrafted in small batches from organic winter wheat grown on a family owned and sustainably managed American farm. It is distilled and bottled in Rigby, Idaho using water from aquifers deep beneath the Snake River plain. American Harvest is the creation of Sidney Frank Importing Company, Inc., a third generation family business that is 100% US owned and operated.

American Harvest has no artificial additives or preservatives and is produced with a continuous column distillation process and charcoal filtration to ensure the integrity and purity of the spirit. The American Harvest Distillery is USDA Certified Organic by Oregon Tilth. – American Harvest media materials

80 Proof / 40% alcohol

Suggested Retail Price: $23.99

American Harvest Tasting Notes

Color: Clear

Aroma: Faint hint of peppercorn. White pepper maybe. Roundness like vanilla, but not quite as lush.

Tasted Neat: Definite vanilla. Rich vanilla. Hints of sweetness like buttery butterscotch, but the spirit isn’t sugared. Bit of nut skin like macadamia nut oiliness. Pink peppercorn maybe. Barely any burn. Rolls over the tongue nicely. Perhaps a wee hint of coffee. Proves that vodka is no longer the “tasteless” spirit. Almost brings the vodka and rum categories a little closer together where taste and flavor are concerned.

Mouth Feel: Excellent viscosity. Lingering flavor.

Comparable Spirit: The premium vodka category is becoming more affordable and less comparable from one brand to another. Like I mentioned, once considered a completely blank slate spirit, vodka is lifting the veil and allowing consumers to discover there’s more to it than raucous burn.

Review sample courtesy representatives of Sidney Frank Importing Company, Inc. & American Harvest – American Harvest on Facebook – @AHOrganicSpirit on Twitter

Cheri Loughlin Beverage Consultant & Photography Services

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Posted in Cocktails, Reviews

Tagged Agave Nectar, American Harvest, Basil, Blackberries, Cucumber, Farm to Table Cocktails, Fresh Lime, Ginger Beer, Local Harvest, Mint Leaves, Organic, Organic Cocktails, Organic Spirit, Raspberries, Sidney Frank Importing Company Inc, Very Berry Harvest, Vodka

2 Blood Orange Vodka Spring Drink Recipes

Posted on March 31, 2013 | Comments Off

SKYY Infusions Blood Orange Vodka Bottle with Tasting Glass 097

The classic Negroni cocktail recipe is always a personal favorite go-to drink for summer or winter sipping enjoyment. When it was time to review the SKYY Infusions Blood Orange Vodka, a variation of the Negroni instantly came to mind. Blood orange and grapefruit flavors both go rather nicely with the Negroni flavor profile. They seem to thin the drink recipe out a bit for warmer weather sipping. This makes the drink a great refresher. The cocktail recipe variation below just might be the ticket for soaking up a little sunshine.

By the way, March 31 is Oranges and Lemons Day. A Vodka infused with orange or blood orange would be perfect for the day!

Blood Orange Negroni

1 ounce SKYY Infusions Blood Orange Vodka

1/2 ounce Campari

1/2 ounce Sweet Vermouth

2 ounces Club Soda

Orange Slice Garnish

Fill highball glass two thirds full with ice. Add liquids to glass in order given, topping with club soda last. Garnish with orange slice.

If you feel like sipping something a little different (Orange Sorbet, Prosecco, SKYY Blood Orange Vodka and Orange Juice), then check out the Blood Orange Sgroppino drink recipe photographed and described in great visual detail on the Italian La Bella Vita blog. This cocktail looks amazing and sounds delicious!

Orange Breeze

2 ounces SKYY Infusions Blood Orange Vodka

1/2 ounce Pineapple Juice

1/2 ounce Cranberry Juice

1/2 ounce Lemon Juice

Orange Twist or Orange Slice Garnish

Combine liquids in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with orange twist or orange slice garnish. (More drink recipes like this one provided by Campari America on flickr in the SKYY Infusions Blood Orange tag.

What is SKYY Infusions Blood Orange Vodka?

Vodka infused with natural blood orange flavors. SKYY Infusions Blood Orange is made with real blood oranges and SKYY Vodka. It is carefully infused with all-natural ingredients with the goal of irresistibly crisp, fresh taste and lusciously sweet blood orange. – Information printed on bottle label

70 Proof / 35% alcohol

Suggested Retail Price:$15 to $19 range depending on area

Availability: Main market area is United States and Canada.

SKYY Infusions Blood Orange Vodka Tasting Notes

Color: Clear

Aroma: Reminds me of opening a fresh bag of candy sweet tarts. Powdery sweet with bit of sugary tartness. Makes my mouth water a little. No burn.

Tasted Neat: Sweetness, though it is minimal. Very little burn. Orange with hint of bitter, like the oily skin of orange. Not lush. Bit fruity like you might expect from cocktail fruit juice, but not as sweet. Definitely reminds me more of candy flavor rather than natural fruit flavor. Slightly artificial tasting as it doesn’t seem to roll over the tongue with layered lushness. Seems a bit one dimensional in its streamlined flavor.

Review sample courtesy representatives of Campari America

Cheri Loughlin Beverage Consultant & Photography Services

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Posted in Cocktails, Daily Holidays, Reviews

Tagged Blood Orange Negroni, Blood Orange Sgroppino, Blood Orange Vodka, Campari, Campari America, Club Soda, Cranberry Juice, Fresh Lemon, La Bella Vita, Negroni, Orange Breeze, Orange Vodka, Oranges and Lemons Day, Pineapple Juice, SKYY Infusions Blood Orange Vodka, SKYY Vodka, Sweet Vermouth, Vodka

Drink in the Beaches of Blue Hawaii

Posted on March 20, 2013 | Comments Off

With Spring Break in full swing for some, yet the beautiful beaches out of reach for the vast majority it seems appropriate to bring Hawaii to the masses in the form of drink. Perhaps Hawaii is better known for more unusual drinks using ingredients such as papaya or Li Hing Mui, but the Blue Hawaiian is the cocktail with the namesake.

Happy 1st Day of Spring! What better way to celebrate spring than dream about catching a few Hawaiian waves. YouTube video posted by gdaniels32. Be sure to click through and subscribe to the original feed and look up the photography at www.beachboyphotography.com.

In researching the Blue Hawaiian, so many versions surfaced it was difficult to decipher which one was the “real” Blue Hawaiian and which ones were the imposters. What also came to the forefront is another drink often confused for the Blue Hawaiian; the Blue Hawaii. These two drinks share a name so similar it is no wonder they are often confused by many a bartender and patron alike. So let’s break down the difference.

A true Blue Hawaiian never contains vodka, but rather rum. It also uses cream of coconut rather than sweet and sour mix. Adversely, the Blue Hawaii uses vodka instead of rum and sweet and sour mix, but no cream of coconut. Both however share something in common always; Blue Curacao.

Blue Curacao is essentially an orange liqueur infused with the dried peels of the Larahas plant which is derived from the Valencia orange. The difference between Blue and Orange Curacao is the color. Substituting one for the other in a drink will only change the color, not the taste.

The Blue Hawaii has an advantage over the Blue Hawaiian in that it makes for quite the easy party punch as well as individual cocktail drink. Since the Blue Hawaiian traditionally calls for cream of coconut which needs thorough stirring, shaking or blending, it is not conducive to a punch bowl setting.

So, you decide. Pour over ice, stir, shake, or put the blender on puree. Set your sights on the sandy beaches of Hawaii, sit back and sip a tall, cool one. Choose one or try them all.

Blue Hawaiian

1 ounce Light Rum

2 ounces Pineapple Juice

1 ounce Blue Curacao

1 ounce Cream of Coconut

Pineapple Chunks Garnish

1 cup Ice

Combine liquids and ice in blender. Blend until all ice is thoroughly blended in cocktail. Pour into highball glass or decorative glass. Garnish with skewered pineapple chunks.

Blue Hawaii

1-1/2 ounce Vodka

1 ounce Blue Curacao

1 ounce Sour Mix

1 ounce Pineapple Juice

2 to 3 ounces Orange Juice

Pineapple Chunks & Maraschino Cherry Garnish

Combine liquids in highball glass over fresh ice. Stir to blend. Garnish with pineapple chunks and maraschino cherry.

Blend both worlds by trying the Blue Hawaii Cocktail.

Blue Hawaii Cocktail

1 ounce Vodka

1/2 ounce Blue Curacao

1/2 ounce Coconut Rum

1-1/2 ounce Pineapple Juice

3/4 ounce Lime Juice

Lemon Twist

Combine liquids in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with lemon twist.

See alternative reader version of the Blue Hawaii drink.

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Posted in Cocktails

Tagged Blue Curacao, Blue Hawaii, Blue Hawaii Cocktail, Blue Hawaiian, Coconut Rum, Cream of Coconut, Fresh Lime, Orange Juice, Pineapple, Pineapple Juice, Rum, Sour Mix, Spring, Spring Cocktails, Spring Equinox, Video, Vodka

Aperitif & Wine Cocktails

Posted on March 7, 2013 | Comments Off

So many cocktails are created with the foundation of strong spirits such as vodka, gin, whiskies, etc. It’s easy to forget there are other spirited choices for cocktail creation. The industry is seeing an upswing in beer cocktails, wine based cocktails and the inclusion of aperitif based cocktails.

Next time you’re in the mood for something a little off the beaten track, pick up an aperitif or bottle of wine and start mixing.

Holiday that celebrates wine ~ February 18 is National “Drink Wine” Day

Heights Cobbler – Jack the Horse Tavern, Brooklyn, NY

1/2 Lemon Wheel

1/2 Orange Wheel

6 Fresh or Thawed Frozen Cranberries

2 Pineapple Spears (1 peeled)

2 ounces Ruby Port

1/2 ounce Grand Marnier

2 dashes Bitters

Muddle lemon, oranges, 3 cranberries and peeled pineapple in bottom of cocktail shaker. Add port, Grand Marnier, bitters and ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice. Garnish with remaining 3 cranberries and unpeeled pineapple spear.

Paris Sunset – CAV, Providence

3/4 ounce Dubonnet Rouge

3 drops Angostura Bitters

1-1/2 teaspoon Sugar

3 ounces Champagne – chilled

Combine Dubonnet, bitters and sugar in mixing glass. Stir to dissolve sugar. Add ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into chilled champagne flute. Top with champagne.

Ice Wine Martini – Blue Martini, Birmingham, MI

10 large seedless Green Grapes

2 ounces Ice Wine

2 ounces Vodka

2 Green Grapes Garnish – Halved

Place 10 grapes, vodka and wine in blender. Blend until smooth. Strain through tea strainer into ice filled cocktail shaker. Shake to chill. Strain into chilled martini glass. Garnish with skewered grape halves.

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Posted in Cocktails, Wine Cocktails

Tagged Angostura Bitters, Aperitif, Bitters, Champagne, Cranberries, Dubonnet, Fresh Lemon, Grand Marnier, Grapes, Heights Cobbler, Ice Wine, Ice Wine Martini, Orange, Pineapple, Port, Premium Orange Liqueur, Sugar, Vodka, Wine

Oreo Cookie Cocktail & Shot

Posted on March 6, 2013 | Comments Off

For many a day doesn’t get much better when it begins as National Oreo Day. It doesn’t matter if you eat them directly from the package. Who can do that by the way?! If you’re a twist, lick and dunk in milk sort of person. Or if your must have Oreo is the super double stuffed kind. *Raising hand* on that one. The honest to goodness truth is there isn’t a wrong way to consume an Oreo. And yes, that includes enjoying the Happy Hour kind.

March 6 is National Oreo Day

Oreo Cookie Shot 3 photo copyright Cheri Loughlin

Oreo Cookie – 2 shots or 1 cocktail

3/4 ounce Vodka

3/4 ounce Coffee Liqueur

3/4 ounce Crème de Cacao

3/4 ounce Irish Cream

Oreo Cooke Garnish

Dip rims of two shot glasses coffee liqueur. Dip into crushed Oreo cookies. Set aside. Place liquids in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into prepared cookie rimmed shot glasses. Alternative: Shake and strain into chilled martini glass. Serve with Oreo cookie on the side.

Oreo Cookie Shot

1/2 ounce Kahlua Coffee Liqueur

1/2 ounce Crème de Cacao

1/2 ounce Baileys Irish Cream

Splash of Vodka

Layer liqueurs in order given. Layer by gently pouring each liqueur over back of bar spoon one on top of the other. Top with thin layer of vodka.

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Posted in Cocktails, Daily Holidays, Shot-tails, Shots & Shooters

Tagged Baileys, Coffee Liqueur, Creme de Cacao, Irish Cream, Kahlua, National Oreo Day, Oreo Cookie, Oreo Cookie Shot, Shot-tails, Vodka

Banana Cream Pie Shots

Posted on March 2, 2013 | Comments Off

Traditional banana cream pie calls for buttery graham cracker crust or flaky baked dough crust, layers of freshly sliced bananas, topped with creamy custard and fresh whipped cream or meringue. But quick fix Banana Cream Pie served in a shot glass is way more my speed. Dessert in a glass. Sipping dessert. Just the way I like it. How about you?

March 2 is National Banana Cream Pie Day

Keep in the spirit of a traditional layered Banana Cream Pie with a layered shot.

Layered Banana Cream Pie

1/2 ounce Coffee Liqueur

1/2 ounce Licor 43

1/2 ounce Banana Liqueur

Layer chilled spirits in large shot glass or shooter glass. Layering can be achieved by gently pouring spirits over back of bar spoon one on top of the other. Order heaviest weighted spirits to lighter weighed spirits.

It’s always more fun to share dessert. It’s even more fun to share a shot of dessert. This Banana Cream Pie shot recipe is slightly different, shaken rather than layered and built for sharing. Party on!

Banana Cream Pie – Serves 2

1/2 ounce Banana Liqueur

1/2 ounce White Crème de Cacao

1/2 ounce Vodka

1/2 ounce Half & Half

Combine liquids in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into two shot glasses.

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Posted in Daily Holidays, Shot-tails, Shots & Shooters

Tagged Banana Cream Pie, Banana Liqueur, Coffee Liqueur, Creme de Cacao, Half & Half, Layered Banana Cream Pie, Layered Shot, Licor 43, National Banana Cream Pie Day, Shot-tails, Vodka

6 Easy Two Ingredient Duo Drinks

Posted on February 5, 2013 | Comments Off

The Godmother drink is classified as a “Duo” drink. Duo drinks mix a base spirit with liqueur. In this case amaretto and vodka are used. In the case of the Godfather duo drink, scotch and amaretto are used in the same ratio. Other variations include the Royal Widow and Widow’s Cork. Find the base spirit to liqueur ratio you prefer for the most enjoyable experience.

Godmother

2 ounces Vodka

1 ounce Amaretto

Combine liquids in Old Fashioned glass over fresh ice. Stir.

Royal Widow

1-1/2 ounce Canadian Whisky

1-1/2 ounce Amaretto

Combine liquids in Old Fashioned glass over fresh ice. Stir.

Widow’s Cork

1 ounce Irish Whiskey

1 ounce Amaretto

Combine liquids in Old Fashioned glass over fresh ice. Stir.

Another common Duo drink can be found bottled at your local liquor store or you can mix it in a glass yourself. The B & B cocktail was one of the first RTD (ready to drink) bottled cocktails on the market way back in the day.

B and B

1 ounce Brandy or Cognac

1 ounce Benedictine

Combine liquids in Old Fashioned glass over fresh ice. Stir. Or… Place liquids in snifter and serve neat.

One could say the Green Hornet and Stinger cocktails are one in the same. They both contain the same base spirit, same liqueur and in the same recipe ratio. The difference is the Green Hornet contains green crème de menthe and the Stinger uses white crème de menthe. The ultimate taste ends up the same no matter if you use white or green crème de menthe. Of course there are variations in exact recipe amounts depending on personal taste. Play around with the recipe and tweak it to your liking.

Green Hornet

3 ounces Brandy

1 ounce Green Crème de Menthe

Combine liquids in cocktail shaker with ice. Stir or shake according to preference. Strain into chilled cocktail glass. Or… Combine liquids in large rocks glass over fresh ice. Stir.

Another exceedingly popular liqueur ingredient in Duo drinks is coffee liqueur. The Black Russian is an excellent example. Variations include the Dirty Mother with brandy and the Brave Bull with tequila.

Dirty Mother

1-1/2 ounce Brandy

1/2 ounce Coffee Liqueur

Combine liquids in Old Fashioned glass over fresh ice. Stir.

Another delicious Duo drink that should make any “must try” drink list is the Rusty Nail. The Rusty Nail is an excellent crowd pleaser drink that’s easy to make and serve. It contains scotch and Drambuie.

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Posted in Cocktails

Tagged 2 Ingredient Drinks, Amaretto, B and B Cocktail, B&B Liqueur, Benedictine, Black Russian, Brandy, Brave Bull, Canadian Whisky, Coffee Liqueur, Cognac, Creme de Menthe, Dirty Mother, Duo Drink, Godfather, Godmother, Green Hornet, Irish Whiskey, Royal Widow, RTD, Rusty Nail, Stinger, Two Ingredient Cocktails, Vodka, Widow's Cork

Bloody Mary Sunday

Posted on February 3, 2013 | Leave a comment

Sundays usually bring to mind family time, relaxation, and tradition. For me, no matter where I am, Sunday mornings remind me of my oldest brother. He’s a bachelor living in this great two bedroom house that he fixed up with the best wooden floors and this fabulous front porch meant for drinking coffee and working on crossword puzzles, which is exactly what he does on Sunday mornings until the coffee pot runs dry. When the coffee pot is empty he announces that it is Bloody Mary time. It isn’t just any Bloody Mary. No. It is my brother’s Bloody Mary. It is an event. It is a meal to be savored and enjoyed.

The Bloody Mary had never been among my favorite drinks or even top twenty or hundred for that matter, until I tried one that my brother made. I liked tomato juice. I liked V8 juice. I like vodka. I like spicy. So I couldn’t figure out how combining all of those things never worked out in a drink. It didn’t make sense to me. This was a drink I tried over and over again, because I really wanted to like it. It seemed pretty basic with a shot of vodka, some pepper, Tabasco, celery salt and Bloody Mary mix. Basic was all wrong. Sometimes basic is just getting by. Just getting by is rarely ever fun. The recipe I am sharing today is a blend of a vodka infusion I learned, my brother’s recipe, and some tweaks I added along the way.

Garnishing is the key and there is so much more than the mere celery stick. I like to use a skewer of queen sized jalapeño stuffed olives in addition to the celery stick to stir with. A pickle spear does quite nicely as well. A few cocktail shrimps speared and dunked go rather nicely with this drink. Go wild! As I said, the Bloody Mary is not just a drink. It is an event, a meal even. If you can find a spicy coarse salt for the rim garnish that would give this drink extra punch as well.

Bloody Mary Vodka Infusion

For the vodka infusion you will need a jar with lid large enough to hold the contents of the following:

1 Bottle Tito’s Vodka

1 Fresh Red Bell Pepper – seeded & sliced

1 Fresh Jalapeno Pepper – seeded & sliced

5 Peeled Garlic Cloves

5 Whole Black Peppercorns

Funnel & Cheesecloth

Combine all of the above ingredients in a jar. Seal and place in the refrigerator for at least 48 hours. Ingredients may be left longer if desired, but this is not necessary. I recommend keeping the original liquor bottle for returning the infused vodka to later. After 48 hours, remove the infusion from the refrigerator. Double up cheesecloth over the funnel and place funnel inside the Tito’s vodka bottle. Strain infusion into the original bottle, throwing out the peppers, garlic and such. Place infused vodka in the refrigerator or freezer for storage. Do not keep infused vodka at room temperature as it may mold.

Bloody Mary Recipe – created by Cheri Loughlin

2 measures Infused Vodka

1/2 Fresh Lime – Squeezed

6-8 dashes Worcestershire Sauce

4-6 dashes Tabasco Sauce

2-3 dashes Classic Bitters

3 dashes Celery Salt

2 dashes White Pepper

2 dashes Garlic Powder

2 dashes Onion Powder

Clamato Juice

Coarse Salt Garnish

Slice lime around rim of highball glass. Dip into salt. Fill with ice. Season ice with peppers, salts, seasoning and sauces. Add infused vodka. Top with Clamato juice. Squeeze in 1/2 fresh lime and drop into glass. Garnish with celery, olives, bell pepper slices, etc…

Tito’s is a handmade vodka crafted in an old fashioned pot still by Texas’ first and oldest distillery. It is distilled six times, making for an incredibly clean finish. If you would like more information about Tito’s vodka go to www.titos-vodka.com.

Reprinted from previous Intoxicologist site.

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Posted in Classic Cocktails

Tagged Bloody Mary, Clamato, Clamato Juice, Classic Bitters, Classic Cocktail, Fresh Lime, Garlic, Infusion, Jalepeno, Pepper, Peppercorns, Red Bell Pepper, Tabasco, Tito's Vodka, Tomato Juice, Vodka, Worcestershire Sauce

Homemade Orgeat Syrup

Posted on January 31, 2013 | Leave a comment

Orgeat Syrup, almond flavored syrup, is a standard ingredient in the popular classic Mai Tai drink. It is also another one of those difficult to find syrups. Not every liquor store or grocer carries Orgeat Syrup, but that doesn’t mean it has to be omitted from any cocktails you might like to try. Just take a little time and make your own. This particular recipe yields a little over half a gallon of Orgeat Syrup making this an excellent gifting or sharing idea.

Orgeat Syrup has a tendency to separate whether store bought or made at home. Simply shake before use.

Try your hand at a few of these cocktail recipes with Orgeat Syrup inclusion.

Orgeat Syrup

1 pound Blanched Almonds – no salt

3/4 pound Demerara Sugar

3/4 pound Granulated Sugar

1 tablespoon Orange Flower Water

2 teaspoons Almond Extract

11 ounces Water

32 ounces Water – Boiled

2 ounces Vodka – optional

Place almonds and 11 ounces of water in blender. Blend until almonds are roughly chopped. Pour into wide mouthed, heat resistant glass jar. Add 32 ounces boiling water. Stir. Allow to stand for approximately three hours. Double strain through cheesecloth into large saucepan. It may be necessary to press liquid mixture through cheesecloth with wooden spoon. Fold ends of cheesecloth up around remaining pulp mixture and squeeze out all remaining liquid. Do not skip this step since the pulp contains a fair amount of flavor. Discard cheesecloth.

Add sugars to liquid mixture in saucepan. Heat over low heat until all sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat. Allow to cool. Add in orange flower water and almond extract. Add vodka if desired. Vodka acts as a preservative in this case. Funnel mixture into bottle with lid. Store Orgeat Syrup in refrigerator.