[ French 75 champagne cocktail [ striped straw found here ] ]
[ Essential bar tools ]
In celebration of Michael’s birthday, I’m going to talk cocktails. Recently, he has taken up a fun, new hobby: bartending. We’ve been experimenting with the freshest ingredients & all different kinds of spirits. I thought I despised gin. Turns out, I don’t hate the juniper tasting liquor at all when it’s used properly. Below are the recipes for four DIY cocktails with fresh, skinny ingredients. Happy birthday, hunny!
Skinny Cocktail List:
+ French 75:
1.5 ounce gin [ my preference Hendrick’s gin ]
1/2 ounce of simple syrup [ we make our own- see below for recipe ]
1/2 ounce fresh squeezed lemon juice
3 splashes of French champagne
+ Instructions: over ice, in a tall glass, add simple syrup, gin, & lemon juice. Stir gently together. Top with champagne. Garnish with lemon peel.
+ Gin-Gin Mule:
2 ounces gin
3/4 ounces fresh squeezed lime juice
1/2 ounce ginger syrup [ DIY recipe below ]
Ginger beer [ to taste ]
8 fresh mint leaves
+ Instructions: add mint leaves, ginger syrup, & lime juice to a mixing glass. Muddle until mint aroma is released. Add gin & ice. Shake until cold. Strain into an ice-filled Collins glass. Add ginger beer & garnish with fresh mint.
+ Clover Club:
1.5 ounce gin
1 ounce simple syrup
3/4 fresh squeezed lemon juice
6 raspberries
1 egg white [ yes, an egg white ]
+ Instructions: add simple syrup & raspberries to a shaker & muddle gently. Add lemon juice, gin, and egg white to a shaker. Dry shake with no ice to mix egg in. Add ice, shake until cold, double strain into cocktail glass with ice. Garnish with lemon peel.
+ Grapefruit Tom Collins:
2 ounces gin
1/2 ounce of fresh squeezed lemon juice
1/2 ounce fresh squeezed grapefruit juice
1 ounce simple syrup
3 ounces of Perrier sparkling water
+ Instructions: add gin, lemon juice, grapefruit juice, & simple syrup to mixing glass. Add ice, shake, and strain over ice-filled Collins glass. Add Perrier sparkling water and stir gently. Garish with a grapefruit wheel, halved.
P.S. Use real fruit to make your fresh juices! And here are the fresh syrup recipes:
++ Simple Syrup:
1 cup organic sugar
1 cup of water
+ Instructions: add water & sugar to a saucepan and boil over low heat. Stir until all the sugar dissolves & it’s clear. Bottle the syrup [ a funnel does wonders here ] & put it in the refrigerator.
++ Ginger Syrup:
2 ounces fresh ginger, thinly sliced
1 cup organic sugar
1 1/2 cup water
+ Instructions: combine ginger, sugar, & water in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and stir until sugar is dissolved. Continue simmering for thirty to forty minutes or until syrup smells gingery. Remove from heat and cool completely. Strain the syrup through a fine sieve, transfer to a bottle, & refrigerate. [ Recipe adapted from Cocktailia ].
Cheers!
[ Gin-Gin Mule ]
[ The Clover Club ]
[ Grapefruit Tom Collins ]
[ Happy birthday to my love! ]
I love these recipes!!! now i need a drink!
These look delicious. I am always trying to find the best drink to consume without over doing it with the calories, and I try to stay away from beer. Lately my drink of choice has been wine but these I must try!
These are awesome. If you have any non-gin options I’d love to hear more!
You can sub vodka for all of them ; ). X
Mouth watering drink recipes
I often mix red or white wine with spices to sip during a meal,the drink can be warmed up and makes a nice Christmas Gloogi
YUM!
Just came across this! We should try these out soon. Fit drinks are in season. 🙂 Thanks for sharing!