All posts filed under: vodka

Gnarly Tomato Water Bloody Mary with Hot Pepper Infused Vodka

Published by

I will be the first to admit that Bloody Marys have always been a bit of a mystery to me. Is it soup? Is it breakfast? Is it a non-pharmaceutical hangover cure? Aside from the Bloody Mary that one of my favorite restaurants in town makes (they serve them up spicy with a big piece of peppered bacon as a garnish), I’ve never really enjoyed them. If I’m really honest, that big piece of bacon is a major reason why I like that one! Until now, I was prepared to accept the fact that like the Negroni, the Bloody Mary would forever be a mystery to me. So, when I saw a recipe for a Tomato Water Bloody Mary in the pages of Food and Wine Magazine this month, first, I was intrigued and then a lightbulb went off in my head!   Since I’m already a chronic over-purchaser of certain items (in-season tomatoes, limes, and lemons, for example) and after last weekend’s baby shower, I ended up with an insane amount of leftover cocktail tomatoes! Added to that, we harvested what was left of …

Lavender-Thyme Lemonade Fizz

Published by

It’s hot out here!  Ok, it’s not hot enough for me to complain about it yet, but it’s still pretty toasty with temperatures hovering in the triple digits.  I’ll reserve my complaints for when it’s around 110 degrees in the shade; but for now, I’ll just relax and have something refreshing, like this Lavender Thyme Lemonade Fizz. It’s bright and crisp and refreshing, like lemonade always is, but made special with fresh thyme and lavender from the garden! This very grown-up lemonade is a lovely sipper that’s not too strong and perfect for weekends spent in the hot summer sun! Remember a few weeks ago when we made Lavender-Vanilla Infused Vodka? Well, you’re going to need it for this recipe, so run and go get it now!  I’ll wait… Ok, now that you have it in hand, you’ll need about a half of a cup of lavender infused vodka for this recipe. If you like a stronger drink, add additional plain vodka–lavender is a very assertive flavor so a little goes a long way. Along with …

The Infusion Project – Homemade Infused Vodkas and Flavored Simple Syrups

Published by

  I live in Las Vegas.  And if you know anything about my town, it’s that good drinks ain’t free.  A nicely crafted cocktail in a lounge on the Las Vegas Strip will likely set you back at least $18, and that’s before a tip and that’s part of the reason why I started learning how to make cocktails at home!  Another reason for learning how to mix cocktails at home is that it’s just plain fun and in my opinion, it kind of makes you look like a bad-ass!  My approach to cocktail mixing is really similar to the way I approach cooking: using fresh, homemade ingredients and really good quality spirits! Lately, I’ve been thinking of ways to “up my game” in the home cocktail mixing arena.  I have a couple of really great cocktail books at home, but I found that each time I wanted to make something from them, a key ingredient for the cocktail should have been made…last week!  And that key ingredient was often an infused spirit.  That scenario occurred enough that I finally decided …

Raspberry Lemon Martini

Published by

How great is this cocktail?  It’s so great that you just might forget that there is any alcohol in it and maybe drink it way too fast and then wonder where you left your shoes!  I found the recipe for this Raspberry Lemon Martini on my friend Lori Rice’s blog during the week and I knew I had to make it immediately!  The color was bright and springy and I just happened to have come home that day with a carton of beautiful raspberries and a bag of lemons! It was serendipity!  It was so easy to prepare, so tasty and delicious, that I actually heard myself mumbling “yum, yum, yum” as I drank it!  I really did drink it too fast, but I was at home, so it was all good–I just couldn’t remember where I put my shoes… As with any cocktail, you’ll want to choose the freshest ingredients and use a good quality spirit.  I used Grey Goose for this one.  It comes together so quickly that you’ll be enjoying this one outside on your patio in …

Happy Independence Day! America-tini!

Published by

It’s been a while since I posted a cocktail and since there’s no time like the present, Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you my latest creation:  The America-tini! To make this summery drink, scoop out the flesh of a small seedless watermelon and gently pulse it in a food processor of blender.  Place the pulp and juice in the freezer for a few hours until frozen, then remove it and with a fork, break it up into a slush. For each drink add 1/2 cup of the slushy watermelon mixture to a cocktail shaker along with: 1 1/2 ounce good vodka, like Grey Goose1 ounce simple syrup (or less if you prefer it less sweet)1/2 ounce creme de cassis (currant liqueur) This is optional, but very tasty1 ounce lime juice1 tablespoon of frozen blueberries The frozen watermelon and frozen blueberries keep it nice and cold so there’s no need to add additional ice unless you prefer it. Give it a few quick shakes and pour into a glass that has been rimmed with sugar. …

Kiwi Strawberry Caipiroska

Published by

If you thought I was going to go another week without posting a delightfully potent, yet pretty cocktail, then you would be wrong!  I’ve been foraging for new cocktail recipes to try and I stumbled upon a recipe for a caipiroska.  The drink is similar to the Brazilian caipirinha, but instead of using cachaca, it is prepared with vodka, which I had on hand.  There seem to be many different versions of the drink, but the common denominator seems to be lime, sugar and vodka.  During a particularly fruitful forage on Pinterest, I stumbled across this kiwi caipiroska recipe.  The picture was so very pretty and the drink looked so refreshing; perfect for a hot day like today (it was 95 degrees)!  So, off the the grocery store I went and since both kiwi fruit and strawberries were on sale, it seemed like a match made in cocktail heaven. By the way, I am drinking the caipiroska as I write, which is, once again, proving quite difficult!  I should call myself The Tipsy Blogger! For each …