Kristen's Recipes

Classic Bloody Mary

1 Lemon wedge

1 Lime wedge

2 oz Premium Vodka

4 oz Tomato juice

2 dashes Tabasco Sauce

2 tsp. Prepared horseradish

2 dashes Worcestershire sauce

1 pinch Celery salt

1 pinch Ground black pepper

1 pinch Smoked paprika

1 Celery stalk and lime wedge

 

Pour some celery salt onto a small plate. Rub the juicy side of the lemon or lime wedge along the lip of a pint glass. Roll the outer edge of the glass in celery salt until fully coated. Fill with ice and set aside.   Squeeze the lemon and lime wedges into a shaker and drop them in. Add the remaining ingredients and fill with ice. Shake gently and strain into the prepared glass. Garnish with a celery stalk and a lime wedge.

 

Early Start

1 1⁄2 oz Krogstad Festlig aquavit

1⁄2 oz Fresh lime juice

1⁄2 oz Orgeat syrup

1 Egg white

1 French sorrel leaf

Red-veined sorrel leaf

Muddle the French sorrel leaf in a mixing tin. Add the rest of the ingredients, dry-shake, then shake with ice. Fine-strain into a coupe. Garnish with a red-veined sorrel leaf.

Bunny Mary

1 1⁄2 oz Vodka or aquavit

3 oz Carrot juice

1⁄2 oz Fresh lemon juice

1⁄2 oz Honey syrup (equal parts honey and water)

1 tsp. Crystal hot sauce

1 tsp. Caper brine

Pimenton salt rim*

Parsley sprig

 

Coat the rim of a Collins glass with the pimenton salt and fill with ice. Combine all of the ingredients, and stir until chilled. Garnish with a parsley sprig. *Pimenton salt rim: Combine 1 tbsp smoked sweet paprika, 1 tbsp salt and 1/2 tbsp cayenne pepper in a small bowl, enough to rim 14 glasses.

Sparkling December Sunsets

 

3 C. Guava or Passion Fruit Juice

1 Bottle White Wine or White Grape Juice

16 oz. Sparkling Water

 

Mix all ingredients in 2-quart pitcher.  Serve over ice.

Spicy Devil’s Brew

 

3 chopped jalapeños

1 1/2 cups vodka

2 cups triple sec

1 1/2 cups cranberry juice cocktail

1/2 cup fresh lime juice

Rims of the glasses

3 tbsp. kosher salt

1 tsp. ground chili powder

Lime wedge

Fresh chiles

 

For the Spicy Devil’s Brew: In a large bowl, muddle 3 chopped jalapeños. Add 1 1/2 cups vodka and let sit for 15 minutes to infuse. Mix in 2 cups triple sec, 1 1/2 cups cranberry juice cocktail and 1/2 cup fresh lime juice. Refrigerate until chilled.   For the rims of the glasses: Toss 3 tbsp. kosher salt with 1 tsp. ground chili powder. Rub a lime wedge around the rims to moisten; dip in the chili salt and garnish each glass with fresh chile “horns.”

 

How about a mocktail instead?  On a small plate, mix 3 tbsp. kosher salt and 1 tsp. ground chili powder.  In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, vigorously shake 1/3 cup sugar with 1/3 cup water and 2-3 jalapeños until sugar dissolves; strain the jalapeño syrup.   In a large pitcher filled with ice, mix the jalapeño syrup, 3 ½ cups pomegranate juice, 3 ½ cups ginger beer and 1/2 cup lime juice.   Rub a lime wedge around the rims of 8 glasses to moisten; dip in the chili salt.   Strain the drink into 8 glasses; garnish each with chili horns.

 

Rosemary Greyhound

 

Juice of 1 grapefruit

2 T. rosemary needles

½ tsp. honey

1 ounce vodka

Ice

Sparkling water

Sprig of rosemary for garnish

 

Place grapefruit juice, rosemary needles and honey in a cocktail shaker. Muddle and let sit for 15 minutes. Add vodka and ice. Shake and strain into a glass filled with ice. Top with sparkling water to taste and garnish with a sprig of rosemary.

24 Street Spritz

 

An herbaceous, refreshing—and alcoholic—take on Dr. Brown’s Cel-Ray soda.

 

4 celery stalks, chopped

1 C. sugar

¼ C. celery seeds

 

1½ C. gin

⅓ C. fresh lemon juice

Seltzer or club soda

8 celery heart stalks (from 2 bunches)

8 lemon wedges

 

CELERY SYRUP: Bring celery, sugar, celery seeds, and 2 C. water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Reduce heat and simmer until celery is soft and liquid is reduced by half, 30–35 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a small bowl, pressing on solids. Strain celery syrup again, if desired, through cheesecloth-lined sieve (to make liquid clearer). Syrup can be made 2 weeks ahead. Cover and chill.

 

COCKTAIL: Stir gin, lemon juice, and 1 C. celery syrup in a large pitcher. Divide among glasses filled with ice and top off with seltzer. Garnish with celery stalks and lemon wedges.

15 ounces (1 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons) brewed Bellocq White Nixon tea, cooled
1 1/4 cup fresh Ruby Red grapefruit juice (from 2 grapefruits)
10 ounces vodka, iced
5 ounces Domaine de Canton ginger liqueur
Garnish: grapefruit peel and candied clementines

Fill 8 highball glasses with ice. Stir together tea, grapefruit juice, vodka, and ginger liqueur in a serving vessel. Pour cocktail over ice in glasses, and garnish with grapefruit peel and candied clementines.

2 ½ C. pear vodka (Grey Goose or Absolut)
2 C. pear nectar (such as Kerns)
1 ½ C. St. Germain Elderflower liqueur
1 C. freshly squeezed lime juice
½ large cucumber
½ bunch fresh mint (plus more for garnish)
1 C. water
1 lime to make twists
Ice
Garnish: Mint sprigs and lime twists

Mint Water: Combine 1 C. water with ½ bunch fresh mint in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer. Turn off heat and let macerate for 10 minutes. Strain and allow strained mint water to cool. Cocktail: Cut the cucumber into thin slices and place in pitcher. Add vodka, pear nectar, Elderflower liqueur, lime juice and mint water. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours to allow the flavors to meld. Pour into lowball glasses filled with ice. Garnish with cucumber slices from the pitcher, fresh mint and a lime twist.

2 oz. Rum
¾ oz. Lemon juice
¾ oz. Pineapple
¾ oz. Orgeat
2 dashes Peychaud’s bitters
Amarena cherries as needed

Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

2 slices jalapeño or serrano
2 ounces silver tequila, such as Peligroso
4 ounces blood orange juice
1 ounce orange liqueur, such as Cointreau or triple sec
Freshly squeezed juice of 1/2 lime

Muddle jalapeño or serrano with silver tequila in a shaker. Add ice and blood orange juice (or other juices, such as tangerine or mango), orange liqueur and lime juice. Shake well and serve on the rocks in a tumbler.

Fill a glass with ice, then add:

2 leaves Thai basil, plus more for garnish
2 slices cucumber, plus more for garnish
2 ounces agave nectar or simple syrup
Juice of 2 limes
1 1/2 to 2 ounces silver tequila, such as Peligroso
Splash of ginger ale
Black pepper

Combine Thai basil and two slices of cucumber in a shaker and muddle with the agave nectar or simple syrup. Add the fresh lime juice and tequila with crystal clear ice. Shake vigorously and pour over the rocks. Finish with a splash of ginger ale. Garnish with a cucumber slice on the side with a sprig of basil. Throw just a small pinch of black pepper on top.

2 cups Granulated sugar
2 cups Fresh lemon juice
1 750ml bottle dry white wine
1 750ml bottle champagne
2 Large bottles of soda water
1/4 cup Orange liqueur
1 Pineapple quartered, grated

In a large punch bowl, combine sugar, lemon juice, white wine, champagne, soda water liqueur and grated pineapple. Mix together well. Put in a large block on ice and garnish with additional pineapple and other fresh fruits such as strawberries. Let mixture chill and serve in small glasses.

Juice of 1/2 lime
1 tsp. granulated sugar
2 to 3 sprigs fresh mint
1 1/2 ounces white rum
Crushed ice
Soda water

Mix the lime juice with the sugar in a highball glass until the sugar dissolves. Drop in the mint and add the rum and ice. Stir. Fill the glass with soda water. Finish with another sprig of mint.

1 T. sugar

Lemon wedge

1 C. crushed ice

6 T. chilled lemon-flavored vodka

2 T. chilled lemon-flavored liqueur

4 tsp. lemon juice

2 thin strips (3 in. long) lemon peel

 

Pour sugar onto a small, rimmed plate. Rub rims of two martini glasses with lemon wedge to moisten, then dip rims into sugar to coat. Place ice in a cocktail shaker. Add vodka, liqueur, and lemon juice. Shake until mixture is very cold, about 10 seconds. Strain into glasses. Garnish each with a twist of lemon peel.

1 1/2 oz Pear Vodka

3 oz Pineapple Juice

1 oz Cranberry Juice

In a chilled rocks glass filled with ice, add your vodka and pineapple juice. Top with a splash of cranberry juice.

Juice of 1/2 lime
4 or 5 ice cubes
2 ounces lime-flavored rum
1/2 C. cola beverage
1 lime wedge

Pour the lime juice into a chilled Collins glass. Add the ice cubes. Pour in the rum, then fill with the cola. Stir for 20-30 seconds and garnish with the lime wedge.

In a 2-quart pitcher combine thawed orange and grapefruit juice concentrates, rum, and orange liqueur. Gently stir in carbonated water. Serve at once over crushed ice. If desired, garnish with orange or grapefruit wedges. Makes 8 (about 7-ounce) servings.

 

1 C. orange juice, chilled

1 bottle (750 ml.) sparkling wine, chilled

 

In a large pitcher (at least 2 1/2 qt.), combine cranberry juice, orange juice, and sparkling wine. Serve immediately, in champagne flutes.

 

Yield:

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2 navel oranges

1 lemon

1 lime

6 T. Cointreau orange liquor

4 T. Triple Sec

12 T. good quality tequila (preferably 100% agave-reposado)

4 T. superfine sugar

8 C. ice cubes

 

Cut the citrus into three-quarter inch pieces. Push the whole fruit through a juicing machine. The resulting juice will be a mixture of the juice and oils in the peel. Strain the juice into a medium-size mixing bowl. Mix in the Cointreau, Triple Sec, tequila and superfine sugar. This mixture can be made up  to one day in advance of serving and should be kept in the refrigerator until service. Put half of the ice cubes into a large blender then pour the mixture over the ice. Pulse the ice a few times then blend at high speed until it is mixed with the juice. Add the remaining ice cubes then continue to blend until the margarita mixture is smooth and can be poured, about two minutes. Pour into frozen glasses. Salted rim optional!

 

Yield:

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A seasonal cocktail with spiciness, bright acidity and the subtle sweetness of real fresh fruit; light and refreshing and entirely sippable as we head into the fall and winter seasons.

 

For Two Green Apple Ginger Martini Cocktails:

4 oz/120ml ginger infused vodka (recipe below)

4 oz/120ml fresh green apple lime juice (recipe below)

1 Tablespoon/15ml maple or honey simple syrup (made by mixing equal parts of maple syrup or honey with filtered water until fully dissolved)

Crushed ice

 

For the Ginger Infused Vodka:

1/2 cup/4oz//120ml quality vodka

1 inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and grated

 

For the Green Apple and Lime Juice:

1 large tart green apple, cored and cut into slices (ex. granny smith)

¼ cup/60ml filtered water

The juice of 1 large or 2 small limes

Apple slices for garnish (optional)

 

Make the Ginger Infused Vodka:   Place the vodka in a re-sealable jar along with the grated ginger and seal. Shake gently and set aside for two or more hours until infused. (The longer you let the vodka sit with the ginger the stronger the flavor will be.) Strain pressing on solids to extract all the liquid and set aside.  Place cocktail glasses in the freezer to chill.

 

Make the Green Apple and Lime Juice:   Add the apple slices to a high speed blender along with the water and lime juice and blend on high until smooth. Strain through a fine mesh strainer pressing on the pulp to get all of the juice and set aside. (If you have a juicer run the apple through and then add the freshly squeezed lime juice to it and omit the water.)

 

Make the Green Apple Ginger Martini:  Add the apple and lime juice, the vodka and the maple syrup to a cocktail shaker. Fill the shaker halfway with ice and shake vigorously until the shaker turns frosty.

Strain into the chilled glasses. Garnish with the reserved apple slices if desired.

 

Notes

*I prefer to use a non-grain based vodka like Ciroc (made from grapes) or Chopin Black Label (made from potatoes).

 

8 oz triple sec

12 oz tequila

splash of orange juice (ca. 1-2 oz, to your taste)

 

Prepare margarita glasses by moistening the edgewith a lime sliver, then dipping in coarse salt. Combine  in a quart container, shake vigorously, add a few ice cubes and shake again. Serve over lots of ice in the salt-rimmed glasses. Drop in a sliver of fresh lime.

3 T. freshly grated horseradish, plus more for garnish

4 oz. vodka

2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

2 T. soy sauce

Juice of 1 lemon

1 tsp. freshly ground pepper, plus more for garnish

1 dash Tabasco Sauce, optional

Celery, for garnish

Lemon wedges, for garnish

 

Combine tomato juice, horseradish, vodka, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, lemon juice, pepper, and Tabasco in a pitcher. Stir well to combine. Pour into glasses full of ice; garnish with grated horseradish, pepper, celery, and lemon wedges. Serve.

 

Yield:

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1/2 oz. Triple Sec

1 1/2 oz. Pineapple juice

1 1/2 oz. Orange Juice

1 dash of Grenadine

 

Shake with cracked ice: strain into old-fashioned glass; top with a 1/2 ounce dark rum.

 

1 1/2 oz tequila

1 1/2 oz creme de cacao

3/4 oz. red food coloring

Rocks glass

Cocktail shaker

Ice

 

Pour tequila and creme de cacao into a cocktail shaker.

Add ice to cocktail shaker and mix.

Pour red food coloring into the bottom of the rocks glass.

Pour the contents in the cocktail shaker into the the rocks glass. Do not stir.

 

1/2 glass tomato juice

1/2 glass beef bouillon

1 slice lime

1 lemon wedge

 

Coat the rim with seasoned salt. Pour vodka, tomato juice, and beef bouillon over ice in a highball glass and stir. Add the slice of lime and the wedge of lemon and an olive and serve.

 

Yield:

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1 C. water

2 T. sugar

1 T. honey

Zest and juice of 1/2 lemon

Zest and juice of 1/2 lime

12 leaves lemon verbena

2 1/2 ounces citrus rum or citrus vodka

Verbena leaves, for garnish

 

In a large pot, add wine, water, sugar, honey and the lemon and lime zest and juice and bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Add verbena leaves and steep at least 12 hours. This makes enough verbena syrup for 25 drinks. For 1 verbena martini, mix 1 ounce of the verbena syrup with the citrus rum or citrus vodka. Shake and strain into martini glass. Use extra verbena leaves for garnish.

 

Yield:

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Pretty in Pink

 

2 parts sweet and sour

Splash of cranberry juice

1 oz simple syrup

1 oz lime juice

2 large lemon slices squeezed and discard

1/2 oz triple sec

 

Blend and serve in a sugar rimmed glass. Garnish with a lemon wheel.