Grow Your Own: The Mixologist Simple Syrup Collection
My cocktail-loving friends at Log House Plants have put together a collection of plants that are particularly worth growing for infusing in simple syrups and for making infused vodkas and liqueurs. They’re a wholesale nursery, so they’re growing the plants for sale at retail garden centers and gourmet grocery stores on the West Coast. Look for them in your local indie garden center/grocery store, or order them online from the Territorial Seed Company, who has joined in this effort and put together a great collection of cocktail-friendly plants and seeds. Here’s what we...
Read MoreChampagne Mojito
1 oz white rum .5 oz simple syrup (see note) .5 oz fresh-squeezed lime juice 2-3 sprigs fresh spearmint 3-4 oz sparkling wine (A dry Spanish cava works well. Segura Viudas is an excellent affordable option. Please don’t use Cooks or another rock-bottom cheap brand) Fresh or frozen strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries. Fruit can be left whole, but if the strawberries are large, slice them. Crushed ice Note: To make simple syrup, heat equal parts sugar and water until the sugar melts. Allow to cool. Keep refrigerated and use within 1-2 weeks. Don’t buy bottled...
Read MoreClassic Mint Julep
2 oz bourbon (I like Maker’s Mark) 3-4 tablespoons superfine sugar (see note) Generous handful of fresh spearmint Crushed ice Into a silver julep cup, mason jar, or highball glass, press 2 tablespoons of sugar with a small amount of water to create a paste. Add a layer of fresh mint leaves and crush gently. Top it with a layer of crushed ice. Sprinkle sugar and another layer of mint leaves, then top with another layer of crushed ice. Continue until the glass is full, then pour in bourbon. Note: Superfine sugar dissolves quickly, but regular sugar is fine too. Don’t use...
Read MoreAgave y Sandia
1.5 oz 100% agave tequila .5 oz Combier or another orange liqueur 4-5 chunks fresh watermelon ¼ fresh lime 3-4 sprigs‘Margarita’ spearmint or rosemary Optional: fresh jalapeño slice Reserve a chunk of watermelon or herb sprig for garnish. Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and crush with a muddler or wooden spoon, being sure to release all the watermelon juice. Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Add garnish.
Read MoreLemongrass Mojito
1.5 oz white rum .5 oz lemongrass simple syrup ¼ lime 3-4 sprigs ‘Mojito’ mint or another spearmint 1 stick lemongrass 4-6 oz club soda Crushed ice Reserve one sprig of mint for garnish. Make simple syrup by heating equal parts sugar and water until the sugar melts, then add the lemongrass allow to cool and steep for one hour. Combine rum, simple syrup, mint, and lemongrass in a cocktail shaker, then squeeze lime juice into shaker and drop the lime in. Using a muddler or a wooden spoon, gently crush all ingredients to release...
Read MoreThe Berry Patch
1.5 oz white rum .5 oz simple syrup ‘Mojito’ Mint Strawberries, raspberries, or blueberries ½ lime, fresh-squeezed Optional: Soda or sparkling wine Reserve one mint sprig or berry for garnish. Squeeze lime into a cocktail shaker and add the other ingredients. Gently crush the berries and herbs with a muddler. Shake over ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Top with soda or sparkling wine if desired, then add garnish. Watch a video about the Berry Patch...
Read MoreGrow Your Own: The Old Havana Rum Garden Collection
Is it summer yet? My friends at Log House Plants have put together a collection of plants based around the flavors in rum. They’re a wholesale nursery, so they’re growing the plants for sale at retail garden centers and gourmet grocery stores on the West Coast. Look for them in your local indie garden center/grocery store, or order them online from the Territorial Seed Company, who has joined in this effort and put together a great collection of cocktail-friendly plants and seeds. Here’s what’s in our Old Havana Rum Garden collection: Alpine strawberry ‘Golden...
Read MoreSpearmint
Indispensable in mojitos and juleps, and generally useful in any drink that combines fruit and alcohol, mint adds a little botanical complexity to what can otherwise taste like a juice box for adults. Look for spearmint, not peppermint or any other kind of mint. Grab ‘Kentucky Colonel’ if you can; it produces large, fragrant leaves and isn’t quite as invasive as other mints. Keep it in a pot against the house where it gets some protection from frost and you’ll probably have mint all year long. ‘Mojito Mint’ is another good variety to try–according to the catalog copy, it...
Read MoreGrow Your Own: The Heart of Agave Tequila Garden
Tequila! I could go for some right now. So of course, the folks at Log House Plants also put together a collection of plants based around the flavors in tequila. They’re a wholesale nursery, so they’re growing the plants for sale at retail garden centers and gourmet grocery stores on the West Coast. Look for them in your local indie garden center/grocery store, or order them online from the Territorial Seed Company, who has joined in this effort and put together a great collection of cocktail-friendly plants and seeds. Here are the plants in our Heart of Agave Tequila...
Read MoreGrow Your Own: The Southern Belle Whiskey Garden
That’s what I like about the south! Whiskey, that is. It was an interesting challenge to work with the people at Log House Plants to put together a collection of plants based around the flavors in whiskey. My top choices, peaches and cherries, don’t exactly fit in a six-pack at the garden center! Anyway, Log House is a wholesale nursery, so they’re growing the plants for sale at retail garden centers and gourmet grocery stores on the West Coast. Look for them in your local indie garden center/grocery store, or order them online from the Territorial Seed Company, who...
Read MoreBooks by Amy Stewart
The Drunken Botanist
Recent Comments