Recipes

Sweet and Smoky is the jest of this one. An intoxicating and powerful drink, its silky and sultry texture with its sweet and smoky vibe, allows one to forget the intoxication factor while experiencing summer’s luscious blackberry offerings.

Makes one drink

Ingredients

1 ounce tequila  blanca (*Espolon)
1 ounce mescal (*Del Maguey Minero)
1 ounce elderflower liquor
1  ounce Blackberry-Sage Hibiscus Syrup (recipe follows)
½ ounce lemon juiceSweet Smoke Sage Salt (recipe follows)
Blackberry & sage leaf  garnish
2 drops of Bittermans Burlesque bitters

Directions

Shake in a shaker filled with ice and strain into a martini glass or coup.  Garnish with a floating, fresh blackberry rolled in the Sweet Smoke Sage Salt and a fresh sage leaf laid over the top of the glass.

Blackberry-Sage Hibiscus Syrup

Makes 2 cups of syrup

Ingredients

1   cup water
¾  cup honey
1 tablespoon dried hibiscus flowers
3 tablespoons fresh sage leaves
¼ cup fresh blackberries

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan, gently whisk to incorporate honey.  Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer and let infuse and cook for about 7-8 more minutes.  Take off heat and let cool completely.  Blend the mixture in a blender until smooth and strain so that a smooth and silky syrup is created.  Refrigerate.

Sweet Smoke Sage Salt

Makes about  ½ cup of salt

Ingredients

1 tablespoon fresh sage leaves
2 teaspoons lemon zest
2 tablespoons turbinado sugar
1 tablespoon smoked black salt ( coarse)
A few drops of Bittermans Burlesque Bitters

Directions

Using a mortar and pestle, grind the sage leaves, the lemon zest and the sugar until a granular powder is formed.  Add the salt and grind gently, only to incorporate the flavor and only to slightly grind up the salt.  Add the drops of bitters and mix well.  The final product should be a granular and wet sand like mixture.

*Espolon Tequila is a boutique brand of Tequila made in Arandas, Jalisco, Mexico.  It was started by an ex Herradura employee and has quickly become one of the best cocktail tequilas on the market, lesser known in the USA. This soft and silky tequila is a bit citrusy with some black pepper notes.

*Del Maguey is a brand that produces ORGANIC “single village” mescals in the Oaxaca region of Mexico. Each village produces their own sub brand that is unique to their lands and their techniques, using ancient practices that the indigenous people have been using since before the Spanish conquest.  A distinct character results from each village.  The Minero sub-brand has a nose of flower essence, vanilla and figs with a burnt honey flavor and a bit of lemon.  Its deep and warm and sweet all the way to the finish.

Grapefruit Fennel Frond Soda

Makes 1 pitcher

Ingredients

2 tablespoons fresh mint leaves
2 tablespoons fresh ginger, peeled and chopped fine
½ cup sugar
¾ cup water
1 cup fresh grapefruit juice
½ cup fresh fennel juice (juiced with fennel fronds) 
Ice
Seltzer water

Directions

In a medium sauce pan combine the mint, ginger, sugar and water.  Bring to a boil while stirring to dissolve all the sugar.  Reduce heat and simmer for about 5-10 minutes.  Take of the heat and set aside to cool completely.  Strain.  In a large pitcher filled with ice, place the ginger syrup, carrot and lime juice and stir well, fill with seltzer to taste.

Ingredients

Grapefruit Zest  Pink Rim Salt*
Ice3  ounces vodka
4 ounces fresh grapefruit fennel juice ( 1 grapefruit, ¼ cup fennel, handful of fennel fronds)

Directions

Place the zested salt on a small flat plate, moisten the entire circular rim of a highball glass and then gently dip the rim in the salt until the salt is lining the rim, shake off any excess.  Fill the glass with ice.   Pour in the vodka, then the grapefruit juice and stir!

*Grapefruit Zest Pink Rim Salt- Combine 2 teaspoons fresh grapefruit zest with 1/4 cup pink flak salt and stir well.

Ingredients

2 ½  ounces  fresh star fruit and celery juice ( 1 star fruit, 2 stalks celery, leaves and all)
2 ounces Titos vodka
½ ounce lime juice
½ ounce lovage and lemon thyme syrup*
Star Fruit Garnish
Brooklyn Hemispherical Lemon Bitters
The Bitter Truth Celery Bitters

Directions

In a large glass filled with ice, place the juice, vodka, lime juice and syrup and stir well.  Strain into a martini style glass.  Add two drops of lemon bitters and two drops of celery bitters, garnish with a thin slice of the star fruit.

*Lovage and Lemon Thyme Syrup- combine a handful of Lovage ( or celery leaves) and lemon thyme in  a sauce pan with 1 cup water and 1 cup white sugar and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer for about 5 minutes.  Take off heat, let cool completely.  Strain and refrigerate.

Ingredients

1 teaspoon black peppercorns, cracked
1 teaspoon black mustard seeds
1 cinnamon stick
2 teaspoons fresh rosemary leaves
¾ cup aged white balsamic vinegar
¼ cup water¾ cup turbinado sugar
½ teaspoon pink salt
1 ½ cups red or black grapes
1 ounce fresh red or black grape juice (juicer)
2 ounces Brueckelen Distilling Glorious Gin
1 tablespoon sweet vermouth
Rosemary Stick with Leaves ( garnish)

Directions

In a small and thin toasting pan, toast the spices; peppercorns, mustard seeds and cinnamon until they begin to char and smoke a little.  Remove from heat.  In a small sauce pan combine the spices, the rosemary leaves, vinegar, sugar, water and salt and bring to just before a boil. Whisk until all the sugar and salt is totally dissolved.  Allow mixture to cool completely.  In the meantime take the grapes and with a toothpick poke a tiny hole in where the grape was attached to the stem, allowing the toothpick to enter into the grape about ½ way.  Place the grapes in a large mason jar and put the brine over the top of the grapes.  Refrigerate overnight.

In a shaker filled with ice, combine 2 ounces of gin, 2 ounce of fresh grape juice, vermouth and about 2 tablespoons of the brine from the pickled grapes.  Double strain into a martini style glass and garnish with a rosemary stick with a few grapes skewered through it.

Ingredients

2 parsnips, chopped
¼ cup turbinado or raw sugar
3 tablespoons maple syrup
2 tablespoons fresh rosemary leaves
1 cup water
Soda Water

Directions

Pre-heat oven to 390°F. In a mixing bowl combine the parsnips, sugar, maple syrup and 1 tablespoon of rosemary leaves, toss together until coated and mixed. Arrange the parsnips on a baking sheet and roast for about 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned. Scrape the baking sheet and all its remnants into a sauce pan and add water. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat and simmer for about 5-7 minutes. Take off heat, cool, strain and refrigerate until syrup is ice cold. Place ½ an ounce of the syrup in the bottom of a glass and fill with soda water and stir. Place a tiny pinch of *Rosemary Dust over the top of the glass.

*Rosemary Dust-In a spice grinder, coffee grinder or with a mortar and pestle, grind up 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary leaves and 2 tablespoons sugar until a fine powder is created.

Ingredients

1 ounce Seneca Drums Gin (Finger Lakes Distilling Co.)
1 ounce Cynar
½ ounce *Salsify Orange Syrup
½ ounce Amberthorn Dry Vermouth (New York Astby Co)
Oven Dried Salsify Stick Garnish

For the Salsify Orange Syrup:
2 salsify roots, chopped
1 cup water
Juice of 1 orange
Zest of 1 orange
½ cup sugar

Directions

In an old fashioned glass filled with ice place the gin and the cynar, add the syrup and vermouth and stir, garnish with a dried salsify stick.

*Salsify Orange Syrup- Combine two chopped salsify roots in a medium saucepan with 1 cup of water, the juice of 1 orange, the zest of 1 orange and ½ cup of sugar. Bring to a boil and reduce heat and simmer for about 8-10 minutes. Take off heat and cool. Chill.

Ingredients

1 lemon, halved and sliced thin
1 lime, halved and sliced thin
1 orange, halved and sliced thin
1 mandarin, halved and sliced thin
8 kumquats, halved
1 medium celery root, peeled and cubed small
2-3 kaffir lime leaves
1 bottle Dorothy Parker Gin (New York Distilling Co.)
*Rosemary Sugar Salt
*Rosemary Syrup
Fresh pink grapefruit juice
Aperol

For the Rosemary Sugar Salt:
1 tablespoon turbinado sugar
2 tablespoons pink Himalayan salt
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary leaves

For the Rosemary Syrup:
1 large handful fresh rosemary leaves
½ cup water
½ cup sugar

Directions

In a large mixing bowl mix together the citrus slices, kumquats, celery root, and kaffir lime leaves. Distribute the mixture equally into two large mason jars and fill with gin. Let stand in an ambient temperature dark place for about a week to infuse the flavors.

Rub the rim of a tall glass with a citrus segment and dip into the *Rosemary Sugar-Salt. Place 2 ounces of the infused gin in the glass and add ½ ounce *Rosemary Syrup. Fill with fresh pink grapefruit juice and add a splash of aperol.

*Rosemary Sugar Salt– Mix together 1 tablespoon turbinado sugar with 2 tablespoons pink Himalayan salt. Place the salt and sugar mixture on a cutting board and add 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary leaves. Chop the rosemary together with the salt until a fine, granular mixture comes together.

*Rosemary Syrup-Combine 1 large handful of fresh rosemary leaves together with ½ cup water and ½ cup sugar and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for about 6-9 minutes. Take off heat, cool and strain. Chill.

Ingredients

2 tart apples, peeled and chopped
½ cup raw or turbinado sugar
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon caraway seeds
¾ cup apple cider vinegar

Directions

Mash together the apples, sugars, and caraway seeds until a rough applesauce has been formed. Place the mixture in a mason jar and let sit over night in the refrigerator. Add the apple cider vinegar, shake and keep refrigerated for another 5-7 days.

Ingredients

1 bottle of aquavit
1 rutabaga, cubed (about 2 cups worth max)
Lemon juice
*Caraway Syrup
Fresh Apple Shrub
Soda Water
Apple Slice Garnish

For the Caraway Syrup:
2 tablespoons caraway seeds, toasted
1 piece lemon peel
½ cup water
½ cup sugar

Directions

In a large mason jar, combine the aquavit and the rutabaga. Let stand in an ambient temperature dark place for about a week to infuse the flavors.

In a shaker filled with ice, combine 2 ounces of the infused aquavit, ½ ounce of lemon juice, 1 ounce caraway syrup, 1 ounce of apple caraway shrub and 1 ½ ounce of soda water and shake vigorously. Strain into a highball glass filled with ice. Garnish with a slice of apple.

*Caraway Syrup- In a small sauce pan, combine 2 tablespoons toasted caraway seeds, a lemon peel, ½ cup water, and ½ cup sugar and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for about 6-9 minutes. Take off heat, cool and strain. Chill.

Ingredients

1 sweet potato, peeled and cubed small
1 vanilla bean
1 cinnamon stick
1 bottle Basil Hayden’s Bourbon Whiskey
*Balsamic Syrup
*Black Pepper Sugared Pecans

For the Balsamic Syrup:
½ cup balsamic vinegar (high quality)

For the Black Pepper Sugared Pecans:
1 tablespoon butter
½ cup pecans
1 tablespoon raw or turbinado sugar
2 teaspoons black pepper, cracked

Directions

In a large mason jar, place the sweet potato, vanilla bean and the cinnamon stick, fill with the bourbon. Let stand in an ambient temperature dark place for about a week to infuse the flavors into the bourbon.

In a rocks glass pour 2 ounces of the infused bourbon and a tiny drizzle of the balsamic syrup. Garnish by adding a black pepper sugared pecan.

*Balsamic Syrup-Place the balsamic vinegar in a small sauce pan on medium high heat. Reduce by about half until a thick syrup is created, about 6-8 minutes. Set aside and allow to cool to room temperature.

*Black Pepper Sugared Pecans-In a small sauté pan on medium heat, melt the butter, add the pecans and sauté about a minute. Sprinkle the sugar and black pepper over the buttered pecans and continue to stir and sauté for another minute. Place on a plate and allow the sugar to harden and the pecans to cool completely.

Makes 3 cups

Ingredients

2 cups water
¾ cup white vinegar
3 tablespoon kosher salt
2 fresh bay leaves
1 tablespoon coriander seeds, cracked
3-4 turnips, peeled and chopped
1 turnip, peeled and sliced in wheels
1 red beet slice
3 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced thin

Directions

In a small sauce pan combine the water, vinegar, and salt and heat until the salt dissolves. To the salt brine add the bay leaves, coriander seeds, turnips, beet slice, and garlic. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat and simmer for 3- 5 minutes or until the turnips are just beginning to be tender. (The beet slice will give the pickled turnips a pink hue, in order to keep the hue white omit the beet slice.) Allow the mixture to cool, place in a large jar and refrigerate overnight. Shake the jar periodically.

Ingredients

3 ounces gin
½ ounce dry vermouth
½ ounce pickled turnip brine
Pickled Turnip Wheels
Cilantro leaves for garnish

Directions

In a glass filled with ice, add the gin and vermouth and stir. Add the turnip brine liquid and strain into a martini glass. Place one pickled turnip wheel to float on the top with a cilantro leaf on top of the wheel.

Ingredients

2 orange beets, peeled and chopped
1 sprig of fresh tarragon, a few leaves reserved
Juice of 1 orange
1 tablespoon of orange zest
¼ cup sugar
½ cup water
Champagne or sparkling wine
1 navel orange for garnish

Directions

Combine the beets, tarragon, orange juice, zest, sugar, and water in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 8-10 minutes. Take off the heat and allow to cool. Strain and refrigerate the syrup until ice cold. Place ½ an ounce of the syrup in the bottom of a champagne flute and fill with champagne. Garnish with one tarragon leaf and an orange-peel twist, releasing the oils over the flute while twisting.

Ingredients

2 parsnips, chopped
¼ cup turbinado or raw sugar
3 tablespoons maple syrup
2 tablespoons fresh rosemary leaves
1 cup water
Champagne or sparkling wine

Directions

Pre-heat oven to 390°F. In a mixing bowl combine the parsnips, sugar, maple syrup and 1 tablespoon of rosemary leaves, then toss together until coated and mixed. Arrange the parsnips on a baking sheet and roast for about 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned. Scrape the baking sheet and all its remnants into a sauce pan and add water. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat and simmer for about 5-7 minutes. Take off heat, cool, strain and refrigerate until syrup is ice cold. Place ½ an ounce of the syrup in the bottom of a champagne flute and fill with champagne. Place a tiny pinch of *Rosemary Dust over the top of the glass.

*Rosemary Dust-In a spice grinder, coffee grinder or with a mortar and pestle, grind up 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary leaves and 2 tablespoons sugar until a fine powder is created.

Makes 1 big pumpkin’s worth of punch

Ingredients

2 cups turbinado or raw sugar
2 cups water
2 cups fresh concord grapes, smashed
3 cardamom pods, crushed
2 cinnamon sticks, cracked
2 teaspoons nutmeg, freshly grated
1 inch piece of ginger, sliced thin
Large Jack O Lantern, seeds removed and cleaned but not carved ( just top)
1 -2 liter seltzer water
Concord Grapes for Garnish
*Concord Grape Balsamic Syrup and Vodka for the adult version

Directions

In a medium saucepan combine sugar, water, grapes, and spiced and stir. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer for about 10 -15 minutes. Take off of heat and allow to cool. Push the liquid through a fine sieve strainer until all liquid moves through. Pour the liquid in the cleaned out pumpkin filled with ice and fill with seltzer water.  Garnish with fresh concord grapes.

*Concord Balsamic Vinegar- In a medium sauce pan, combine  ½ cup water, ½ cup sugar, 1 -2 handfuls of sage leaves, 1 tablespoon lemon zest, ½ cup concord grapes, 1 tablespoon black peppercorns (crushed coarsely) and 1 cup balsamic vinegar.  Bring the mixture to a boil and allow to boil gently for about 10 minutes. The mixture should reduce by about one fourth.  Turn off the heat and allow to cool completely.  Strain and chill.

2 ounces mango infused gin*
1 ounce campari
1/2  ounce sweet vermouth
Mango slice garnish

In a rocks glass stir together the gin, campari and sweet vermouth.  Fill with ice and garnish with a slice of mango.

*Mango infused Gin-Place one ripe mango (chopped)  in a mason jar and fill with gin and allow to infuse for 3-4 days.

2 ounces white rum
1 ounce lime juice
1 ounce fresh Raspberry Mint Syrup*

Shake all ingredients together in a shaker. Strain into a chilled rocks glass. Garnish with a fresh mint leaf and fresh raspberry.

* Fresh Raspberry Mint Syrup – Combine 1 cup of water, 1 cup of sugar and 1 teaspoon of lemon zest in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce the temperature to low and simmer for about 5 minutes. Allow the mixture to cool completely. Add 2 handfuls of fresh raspberries and a handful of fresh mint leaves. Blend the mixture in a blender until ultra smooth.

1.5  ounces Jalapeño Infused Tequila*
.75  ounce Sweet Cilantro Syrup*
1 ounce  ounces watermelon agua fresca*
.5 ounces fresh lime juice
Watermelon Slices (thin and round)
Sugared Jalapenos*

Place all the ingredients except the watermelon slices and sugared jalapenos in a shaker filled with ice and shake.  Strain into a coupe or martini style glass. Garnish with a watermelon slice float with a few sugared jalapenos on top of the watermelon float.

*Jalapeño Infused Tequila-place 3 sliced (round) jalapenos in a large mason jar filled with tequila repasado and let infuse for 4 days.

*Sweet Cilantro Syrup-Place 1 cup water and 1 cup white sugar in a sauce pan and bring to a boil. Let simmer for five minutes and take off heat and cool.  While cooling add the zest and juice of one lime.

*Watermelon Agua Fresca– Blend 2 cups watermelon with 2 cups of water until the mixture is totally smooth

*Sugared Jalapenos– Take the jalapenos that were soaking in the tequila an place in a jar with 1 cup of turbinado sugar.  Shake gently until totally covered.  Let macerate in the sugar for about 2 hours, genetly shaking the jar every 30 minutes or so.

Makes 1 pitcher

Ingredients

1 large bunch of fresh mint leaves
1 tablespoon lemon zest
½ cup lemon juice
¼ cup fresh grated ginger
1 cup Honey Syrup*
Water

Directions

Combine all ingredients except water in a pitcher and stir well. Add ice and then fill with water.

*Honey Syrup – Whisk together 1 cup honey with ¼ cup hot water until emulsified. Cool.

Makes 1 pitcher

Ingredients

1 cup water
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon lemon zest
½ cup lemon juice
1 large bunch fresh sorrel leaves
4-6 cups seltzer water
Lemon wheel garnish

Directions

Combine water, sugar, lemon zest and lemon juice in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce the temperature to low and simmer for about 5 minutes. Allow the mixture to cool slightly. Add fresh sorrel leaves (about 15-20 leaves only, no stems). Blend the mixture in a blender until ultra smooth and strain through a fine mesh strainer or cheese cloth. Allow to cool. Place in a pitcher with ice and add about 4-6 cups seltzer and stir well. Place a few lemon wheel garnishes in the pitcher.

©Nissa Pierson, Ger-Nis Culinary & Herb Center, Gowanus Brooklyn

Ingredients

1 cup simple syrup
½ cup fresh mint leaves
2 tablespoons fresh parsley leaves
3 fresh strawberries, de-stemmed and chopped
2 teaspoons lemon zest
Juice of one lemon

Directions

Combine all the ingredients in a blender and blend until a smooth pesto-like sauce is created. Add about a half of a tablespoon of the sweet pesto to the top of 1 ounce of New York Distilling Company Gin. Gently Swirl the elixir down.

©Nissa Pierson, Ger-Nis Culinary & Herb Center, Gowanus Brooklyn

Ingredients

1 cup turbinado sugar simple syrup*
½ cup fresh lemon thyme leaves
1 tablespoon mint leaves
1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
2 tablespoons lemon zest
Juice of one lemon
1 ounce New York Distilling Company Rye

Directions

Combine all the ingredients in a blender and blend until a smooth pesto-like sauce is created. Add about a half of a tablespoon of the sweet pesto to the top of 1 ounce of New York Distilling Company Rye. Gently swirl the elixir down.

©Nissa Pierson, Ger-Nis Culinary & Herb Center, Gowanus Brooklyn

Ingredients

1 bunch fresh mint
1 bunch fresh parsley
1 teaspoon lemon zest
2 ounces gin (New York Distilling Company – Dorothy Parker)
½ ounce Gran Classico
1 ounce Rhubarb Pink Peppercorn Honey Nectar*
½ ounce lemon juice
Lemon wheel garnish
Pink Peppercorn Parsley Sugar*
Brooklyn Hemispherical Rhubarb Bitters

Directions

Gently muddle about 10 mint and 10 parsley leaves along with lemon zest in a mixing glass until all the oils from the herbs are released, about 5-8 seconds. Add the gin, Gran Classico, Rhubarb Pink Peppercorn Honey Nectar and lemon juice. Fill the shaker with ice and shake vigorously for about 10 seconds. Strain into a chilled coupe or martini style class. Float the lemon wheel on top of the drink and sprinkle a tiny bit of the Pink Peppercorn Parsley Sugar on the wheel. Drop three to four drops of Brooklyn Hemispherical Rhubarb Bitters onto the lemon wheel.

*Rhubarb Pink Peppercorn Honey Nectar – In a sauce pan combine 2 pounds fresh rhubarb (chopped) with ½ cup sugar, 1 tablespoon lemon zest, 2 cups water, 1 tablespoon pink peppercorns (crushed), small hand full fresh mint leaves and large handful of fresh parsley leaves and bring to a boil. Reduce and let simmer for 10-12 minutes. Take off heat and strain. Add the honey to the warm mixture and mix well. Cool completely.

*Pink Peppercorn Parsley Sugar – Mix together 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped superfine, 1 teaspoon pink peppercorns (crushed) and 1 tablespoon turbinado sugar. Squeeze two drops of rhubarb bitters to sugar mixture to moisten.

©Zachary Sharaga, Louis 649, Alphabet City Manhattan

Ingredients

2 ounces white rum
1 ounce lime juice
1 ounce fresh sorrel simple syrup*

Directions

Shake all ingredients together in a shaker. Strain into a chilled flure glass. Garnish by inserting a blade of sorrel vertically into flute. (Break stem off of sorrel blade so that an approximately 1-inch tip sticks out above the washline.)

*Fresh Sorrel Simple Syrup – Combine 1 cup of water, 1 cup of sugar and 1 teaspoon of lemon zest in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce the temperature to low and simmer for about 5 minutes. Allow the mixture to cool completely. Add 2 handfuls of fresh sorrel (about 20  leaves – leaves only, no stems). Blend the mixture in a blender until ultra smooth and strain through a fine mesh strainer or cheese cloth. Use immediately in order to keep the bright green color.

©Brendan Casey, Quarter Bar, South Slope Brooklyn

Ingredients

1½ ounce gin (New York Distilling Company-Dorothy Parker)
½ ounce Carpano Antica Vermouth
2 drops of lavender infused green chartreuse*
½ ounce lemon thyme
½ ounce lemon thyme brown sugar syrup*
Lemon peel

Directions

Add all the ingredients into a shaker filled with ice and double strain into a chilled coupe or martini style glass. Garnish with a large lemon peel, releasing the oils over the cocktail before submerging it into the glass.

*Lavender Infused Green Chartreuse – Combine in a small mason jar 2 ounces of green chartreuse with 1 teaspoon of dried lavender flowers. Seal the jar and let infuse for 3 days, shaking once per day. Strain out the lavender flowers prior to use.

*Lemon Thyme Brown Sugar Syrup – Combine 1 part organic brown sugar, 1 part water and a large handful or bunch of lemon thyme in medium sauce pan and bring to a boil while stirring. Let boil for about 5 minutes in total taking it on and off the heat the entire time. Cool, strain and bottle.

©Justin Briggs, Barbes, Park Slope Brooklyn

Ingredients

5-8 fresh Thai basil leaves
.25 ounces demerara-ginger syrup*
2 ounces Martinique Rum Agricole or Smith & Cross
.5 ounces Madeira Meio Doce (medium sweet)
1 ounce lime juice
Ginger beer
Candied Ginger

Directions

Muddle together in a mixing tin Thai basil leaves and demerara-ginger syrup. Add the rum, Madeira and lime juice and shake with vigor. Strain over ice into a collins or highball glass. Top with ginger beer and garnish with a piece of candied ginger and Thai basil leaf.

*Demerara-Ginger Syrup – Combine 8 ounces fresh ginger juice, 16 ounces demerara sugar, 8 ounces water, 1 star of anise and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Bring to a boil and simmer for about 10 minutes. Strain, cool and chill.

*Regular basil leaves can be substituted for Thai basil in a pinch!

©Rafael Hasid, Wolf & Deer, Park Slope Brooklyn

Ingredients

6-8 fresh mint leaves
2 ounces vodka
1 ounce wiki-dandelion puree*
1 ounce lemon thyme & mint syrup*
1 ounce lime juice
Lemon peel
Meyer Lemon Brooklyn Hemispherical Bitters

Directions

Muddle the mint leaves in a shaker until all the oils are released from the mint. Fill the shaker with ice, kiwi-dandelion puree, vodka, lemon thyme & mint syrup, and lime juice and shake vigorously. Strain into a chilled coupe or martini style glass and serve garnished with a lemon peel, after releasing the oils over the glass. Place a few drops of Meyer Lemon Brooklyn Hemispherical Bitters over the top.

*Kiwi-Dandelion Puree – In a blender mix 1 cup dandelion greens (no stems), one kiwi (peeled), one handful of mint leaves and ½ cup water. Blend until totally smooth. Strain with a fine mesh strainer and chill.

*Lemon Thyme & Mint Syrup – Combine 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water in a saucce pan and bring to a boil. Add a small handful of fresh lemon thyme and a handful of fresh mint and allow the syrup to simmer for about 8 minutes. Take off heat and strain. Allow the syrup to cool completely before use.

©Regina Christiansen, Blueprint, Park Slope Brooklyn

Ingredients

25 ounces honey syrup*
Brooklyn Hemispherical Icelandic Bitters
2 small fresh tarragon sprigs
2 ounces gin (New York Distilling Company-Dorothy Parker)

Directions

In a mixing glass combine honey syrup, 1 full dropper of Brooklyn Hemispherical Icelandic Bitters and 1 sprig of fresh tarragon. Muddle gently in order to release the oils from the herb, making sure not to pulverize the herb. Add the gin and ice and stir slowly to chill. Fine strain into a chilled rocks glass (without ice) and garnish with another small sprig of fresh tarragon, making sure to slap it between your hands before placing it into the glass in order to release the oils from the herb.

*Honey Syrup – Whisk together 1 cup honey with ¼ cup hot water until emulsified. Cool.

Serves 6

Ingredients

½ cup cranberries
½ cup sugar
½ cup water
1 few fresh thyme sprigs
1 cinnamon stick
Sparkling water or sparkling wine
Cranberries and thyme leaves for garnish

Directions

Combine the cranberries, sugar, water, fresh thyme and cinnamon stick in a small saucepan and heat to high heat. Stir until the sugar dissolved and bring the mixture to a boil. Once the mixture is at a boil reduce heat to a simmer and cook for about 5-8 minutes or until the liquid turns thick and syrupy; stirring occasionally throughout the process. Let the mixture cool and discard the thyme sprigs and cinnamon stick. Blend te mixture in a blender until smooth and strain.

Place about 1 ounce of the syrup in a champagne flute and fill with sparkling water or wine. Garnish with a cranberry and a few fresh thyme leaves.

Ingredients

2 ounces prune infused gin (recipe follows)
2 ounces hum liquor
1 ounce lemon juice
1 ounce cardamom ginger black pepper syrup (recipe follows)
Sparkling Wine
“Moroccan” Spiced Brown Sugar (recipe follows)
Gin Infused Prunes

Directions

In a shaker filled with ice, place the gin, hum liquor, lemon juice, and syrup and shake vigorously. Strain into an old fashioned martini style glass and top with sparkling wine. Garnish with a gin infused prune rubbed with Moroccan Spiced Brown Sugar on a toothpick.

Prune Infused Gin

Ingredients

1 liter of gin
12 prunes, halved

Directions

Place the prunes and the gin in a large mason or glass jar. Allow to infuse for about 3-4 days in a cool dark place. Remove the prunes and reserve for cocktail.

Cardamom Black Pepper Syrup

Makes 2 cups

Ingredients

1 cup turbinado sugar
1 cup water
1 tablespoon black peppercorns, cracked
5 cardamom pods, crushed (whole pod)

Directions

Place all the ingredients in a medium sauce pan and bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves completely. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 5 minutes. Take off heat and let stand for 15 minutes, strain.

“Moroccan” Spiced Brown Sugar

Makes 1 cup

Ingredients

1 tablespoon Ras El Hanout (traditional recipe follows)
½ cup turbinado sugar
¼ cup brown sugar

Directions

Place all the ingredients in a bowl and mix well.

Serves 6

Ingredients

1 tablespoon fresh lemon grass bulb, sliced thin
1 inch ginger, peeled and sliced super thin
2 tablespoons lemon grass (grass)
1 green tea bag
3 tablespoons turbinado sugar

Directions

In a large French press, place all ingredients and cover with hot (just before boiling) water. Allow to steep for about 8 minutes. Drink warm or cool and serve over ice.

Serves 6

Ingredients

2 pears, peeled, seeded and chopped
½ cup fresh cranberries
2 tablespoons brown sugar
Prosecco

Directions

In a small saucepan over medium heat, add pears and cranberries and cook until soft; 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool, then add to blender. Blend until smooth and strain through a fine mesh strainer. Pour a small amount of strained pear/cranberry mixture into champagne glasses and top with Prosecco.

Makes 1 liter

The toffe, praline, vanilla and dried fruit tones in the initial rush of tasting bourbon elixir and charred oak barrels give the Bourbon and spicy firmness that blends in well with this Middle Eastern inspired elixir!

Ingredients

1 tablespoon, coriander seeds, cracked fine
1 teaspoon black pepper, cracked fine
1½ cups bourbon, Makers Mark 46 preferred
½ cup dark chocolate, semi sweet, chopped fine
½ cup honey
2 cups sweetened condensed milk
1 cup heavy cream
½ cup whole milk
½ cup tahini
½ vanilla bean, seeds scraping
½ teaspoon almond extract

Directions

Place the coriander and the black pepper in a small mason jar of bourbon (about ½ cup) and let infuse for about 4 days in a dark cool place. In a double broiler place the chocolate, honey, coriander & black pepper bourbon infusion and slowly melt the chocolate, storing until smooth. Set aside to cool. In a blender place the remainder of the bourbon, condensed milk, heavy cream, milk, tahini, vanilla bean and the almond extract and blend until smooth. (The blending part may need to be done in two batches) Bottle and refrigerate!

In a glass filled with ice mix 1 ounce of fennel seed syrup with 2 ounces fresh orange juice and fill with seltzer and stir!

Fennel Seed Syrup

Makes 2 cups of syrup

Ingredients

¾ cup sugar
1½ cups water
¼ cup orange juice
1 tablespoon orange zest
1 tablespoon fennel seed, crushed

Directions

Place all the ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar. Reduce heat and simmer for about 5 minutes. Cool and strain.

In a glass filled with ice mix 1 ounce of pomegranate black pepper molasses with 2 ounces fresh pomegranate juice and gill with seltzer and stir!

Pomegranate Black Pepper Molasses

Makes 2 cups

Ingredients

5 cups pomegranate juice
1 cup sugar
¼ cup lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 tablespoon cracked black pepper

Directions

Place all the ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar. Reduce heat and simmer for about 5 minutes. Cool and strain.

Ingredients

3 ounces Kraken rum
½ ounce lemon juice
½ ounce orange juice
2-3 mint leaves
1 ounce orange peel black pepper syrup (recipe follows)
2 ounces homemade ginger ale
Sparkling wine
“Moroccan” Spiced Candied Kumquats (recipe follows)

Directions

Mix together the kraken, lemon juice, orange juice, mint leaves, ginger ale and syrup and pour into an old fashioned or short class. Fill the glass with extra ice if needed and top with sparkling wine. Garnish with the candied kumquats and a mint leaf.

Orange Peel Black Pepper Syrup

Makes 2 cups

Ingredients

1 cup turbinado sugar
1 cup water
1 tablespoon black peppercorns, cracked
Peels of 1 orange
3-4 kumquats halved
1 cinnamon stick

Directions

Place all the ingredients in a medium sauce pan and bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves completely. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 5 minutes. Take off heat and let stand for 15 minutes, strain.

Moroccan Spiced Candied Kumquats

Makes 2 cups

Ingredients

1½ cups kumquats, halved
½ cup orange liquor
½ cup turbinado sugar
½ cup honey
¼ cup water
2 star anise
2 cloves
3 all spice berries
10 black peppercorns
1 cinnamon stick
1 teaspoon nutmeg, freshly grated
1 vanilla bean, split and seeds removed

Directions

Place all the ingredients in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring to make sure sugar dissolves. Reduce the heat to a low simmer and continue to cook for about 15-20 minutes. Making sure to stir often while the liquid thickens and the kumquats shrivel up. Cook until most the liquid is cooked down. Take off heat and allow to cool, making sure to discard the anise, cloves, allspice, peppercorns, cinnamon stick and vanilla bean shell. Store in a glass jar or container in the refrigerator for up to 2 months. Take out of the refrigerator and bring to room temperature before serving.

Ingredients

2 ounces prune infused gin (recipe follows)
2 ounces hum liquor
1 ounce lemon juice
1 ounce cardamom ginger black pepper syrup (recipe follows)
Sparkling Wine
“Moroccan” Spiced Brown Sugar (recipe follows)
Gin Infused Prunes

Directions

In a shaker filled with ice, place the gin, hum liquor, lemon juice, and syrup and shake vigorously. Strain into an old fashioned martini style glass and top with sparkling wine. Garnish with a gin infused prune rubbed with Moroccan Spiced Brown Sugar on a toothpick.

Prune Infused Gin

Ingredients

1 liter of gin
12 prunes, halved

Directions

Place the prunes and the gin in a large mason or glass jar. Allow to infuse for about 3-4 days in a cool dark place. Remove the prunes and reserve for cocktail.

Cardamom Black Pepper Syrup

Makes 2 cups

Ingredients

1 cup turbinado sugar
1 cup water
1 tablespoon black peppercorns, cracked
5 cardamom pods, crushed (whole pod)

Directions

Place all the ingredients in a medium sauce pan and bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves completely. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 5 minutes. Take off heat and let stand for 15 minutes, strain.

“Moroccan” Spiced Brown Sugar

Makes 1 cup

Ingredients

1 tablespoon Rad El Hanout (traditional recipe follows)
½ cup turbinado sugar
¼ cup brown sugar

Directions

Place all the ingredients in a bowl and mix well.

Ras El Hanout (Traditional)

Makes approx 10 ounces

Ingredients

1 nutmeg ball, crushed
1 cinnamon stick, crushed
½ tablespoon black peppercorns
1 tablepsoon white peppercorns
1 tablepsoon poppy seeds
1 tablespoon rose bud petals, dried
1 tablespoon lavender buds, dried
½ teaspoon anise seeds
1 tablespoon coriander seeds
1 tablespoon cumin seeds
1 teaspoon allspice berries
6 green cardamom pods
3 whole cloves
1 teaspoon black mustard seeds
1 teaspoon fenugreek seeds
1 teaspoon saffron
1 tablespoon turmeric, ground
1 tablespoon mace, ground
1 teaspoon red chili peppers, crushed
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 tablepsoon ginger, ground
1 tablespoon dried galangal root pieces (optional)
1 tablespoon dried orris root pieces (optional)

Directions

In a ziplock bag or plastic, crush the nutmeg and cinnamon sticks with a mallet, hammering and pounding until small chunks are formed. Take all of the seeds and non powder items and grind in a spice grinder or coffee grinder, until pulverized. You may have to do this in batches if your grinder is small. Place the ground items in a medium mixing bowl. Take the remainig powdered items as well as the root pieces and mix into the ground items until totally mixed. Store in an airtight container in a cool dark and dry place, will keep for about 4-5 months.

Ingredients

3 ounces bourbon
½ ounce lemon juice
1 ounce cinnamon stick black pepper syrup (recipe follows)
1 ounce sweet cinnamon vinegar (recipe follows)
1 tablespoon fig compote (recipe follows)

Directions

Place all the ingredients in a shaker filled with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into an old fashioned martini glass and garnish with a lemon peel.

Cinnamon Black Pepper Syrup

Makes 2 cups

Ingredients

1 cup turbinado sugar
1 cup water
1 tablespoon black peppercorns, cracked
2 cinnamon sticks, smashed

Directions

Place all the ingredients in a medium sauce pan and bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves completely. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 5 minutes. Take off heat and let stand for 15 minutes, strain.

Sweet Cinnamon Vinegar

Makes 1 cup

Ingredients

1 cup apple cider vinegar
2 cinnamon stick, smashed
½ cup dark brown sugar

Directions

Place the apple cider vinegar and cinnamon in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Turn the heat down to a rolling low boil and let reduce by half. Add the brown sugar and stir well. Bring to a boil again and then again reduce heat but this time to a slow simmer. Allow to simmer for about 10 minutes until the mixture is thick. Take off heat and let stand to cool for 5-10 minutes and then strain. Store in the refrigerator for up to five weeks.

Fig Compote

Makes 2 cups compote

Ingredients

1 pound fresh black figs, ripe & sweet, de-stemmed & chopped
1 cup simple syrup
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 cinnamon stick
2 teaspoons fresh rosemary leaves, chopped fine (optional)

Directions

Place all ingredients in a small sauce pan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered, stirring often for about 1 hour. Remove from heat and discard the cinnamon stick. Store in a covered jar in the refrigerator for up to three weeks.

Ingredients

3 ounces gin
½ ounce mint infused dry vermouth (recipe follows)
½ ounce preserved lemon liquid (recipe follows)
2-3 drops harissa (recipe follows)
Preserved lemon garnish
Mint leaf garnish

Directions

In a glass filled with ice place the gin and the vermouth and stir. Add the lemon preserved liquid and strain into a martini glass. Place one preserved lemon segment and a mint leaf in for garnish and drop 2-3 drops harissa in the center.

Quick Preserved Lemons

Makes 3 cups

Ingredients

10 lemons, scrubbed of any wax or residue
3 tablespoon kosher salt
3 tablespoons sugar
½ cup lemon juice

Directions

Slice lemons, including peel, removing as many seeds as possible. Put the lemons and their juice in a bowl, and sprinkle with the salt and sugar. Toss well, and transfer to a jar. Let the mixture sit for at least 3 hours at room temperature, shaking the jar periodically. It can be served at that point or refrigerated for up to a week.

Ger-Nis Harissa

Makes 2 cups

Ingredients

8 dried guajillo chilies, stems removed, broken
5 dried red chilies, stems removed, broken
1 dired chili de arbol
1 cup boiling water
2 teaspoons cumin seeds, toasted
1 teaspoon coriander seeds, toasted
1 teaspoon caraway seeds, toasted
4 garlic cloves
1 bell pepper, roasted & peeled
1 tablespoon lemon zest
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons fresh mint leaves (optional)

Directions

Place the dried chilies in a medium bowl and cover with the boiling water, let stand for about 15 minutes, allowing the chilies to soften. Grind the toasted seeds until a powder is formed. Transfer the softened chilies, the spices, the garlic, the red pepper, the lemon zest and juice, the salt and the olive oil into a food processor and process until smooth. At this stage add the fresh mint leaves and process until all the mint is chopped and incorporated. Season with salt to taste. Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.

Mint Infused Vermouth

Ingredients

1 bottle dry vermouth
20 fresh mint leaves, torn in half

Directions

In a mason jar or large jar combine the vermouth and the mint and allow to infuse, turning upside down periodically, for 2 days. Strain.

Ingredients

1 ounce Spicy Bourbon Fig Honey (recipe follows)
Sparkling wine
Black Peppercorn Garnish

Directions

In a champagne glass place 1 ounce of the syrup and fill with sparkling wine. Garnish with freshly grated nutmeg dust and a dried fig.

Spicy Bourbon Figs Honey

Makes 2 cups

Ingredients

½ cup bourbon
½ cup dried figs, chopped
1 cinnamon stick
2 teaspoons black peppercorns, cracked
1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
½ cup simple syrup
1 cup honey

Directions

In a mason jar or other container, combine bourbon, dried figs, cinnamon stick and black peppercorns and allow to infuse for about 1 week. After the concoction has infused combine all remaining ingredients as well as the infusion in a sauce pan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and allow to simmer for about 8-10 minutes. Cool and strain.

Ingredients

1 ounce orange juice
1 ounce fennel seed syrup (recipe follows)
Cava
Cinnamon dusting

Directions

Place one ounce of the orange juice and one ounce of the fennel seed syrup in a champagne glass and fill with cava. Garnish with a dusting of freshly grated cinnamon.

Fennel Seed Syrup

Makes 2 cups of syrup

Ingredients

¾ cup sugar
1½ cups water
¼ cup orange juice
1 tablespoon orange zest
1 tablespoon fennel seed, crushed

Directions

Place all the ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar. Reduce heat and simmer for about 5 minutes. Cool and strain.

Ingredients

1 cup brown sugar
1 cup water
¼ cup dried cherries, chopped
¼ cup dried blueberries, chopped
Sparkling wine

Directions

In a small saucepan over medium heat, add cranberries, apples, water and sugar. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat. Let simmer gently for about 5 times. Cool, blend and strain. Place 1-2 ounces in a champagne class and add some bubbly!

Ingredients

1 cup brown sugar
1 cup water
¼ cup frozen cranberries, chopped
1 apple, cored and chopped fine

Directions

In a small saucepan over medium heat, add cranberries, apples, water and sugar. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat. Let simmer gently for about 5 minutes. Cool, blend and strain. Place 1-2 ounces in a champagne glass and add some bubbly!

Ingredients

2 tablespoons fresh rosemary leaves
¹/₄ cup sugar
1 cup water
1 cinnamon stick
1 ripe plum, deseeded and chopped
1 bottle sparkling rose

Directions

Combine the rosemary leaves, sugar, water, cinnamon stick and plums in a medium saucepan, stir well and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and allow to simmer for about 5-7 minutes. Discard cinnamon stick and allow to cool. Blend until smooth and pour through a fine mesh strainer. Chill. Place about 1-2 ounces of the chilled syrup in the bottom of a champagne glass and fill with sparkling rose and stir.
Garnish with a sprinkle of fresh cinnamon.

Makes a few drinks

This sweet and spicy cocktail is not for the meak and meager, bold flavors with a hint of sweetness showcases the hip comeback of ryes.  Unlike bourbon sweet disposition and scotch’s smoky temperament, rye is all about being bold and spicy, this drink is perfect for a crisp fall evening amongst friends, a bit extra special with a few steps, but well worth it!

Ingredients

½ cup fresh pumpkin or butternut squash, chopped fine
½  cup turbinado sugar
1 cup Newcastle brown ale or similar style beer
¼ cup sage leaves
Rittenhouse 100 Rye
Lemon juice
Angostura bitters
Ice
Maple Syrup
Sage leaves with about 2-3 inches of stem

Directions

In a sauce pan combine the pumpkin, sugar, beer and sage and bring to a boil, stirring well.  Reduce the heat to a simmer and let simmer for about 8 minutes.  Take off the heat and allow to cool completely.  Strain and set syrup aside.  In an old fashioned style glass filled with ice place about 1 ½ ounces of rye, 1 ounce of the pumpkin syrup and ¼ ounce of lemon juice and a dash of bitters, stir well.  Dip the stems of the sage leaves in maple syrup and place stem side down, in the glass for garnish.  The potent scent of the sage is the first magic to the drink!

Makes a bunch of drinks

Ingredients

1 cup concord grapes
1 cup turbinado sugar
1 cup water
¼ cup fresh thyme leaves
2 teaspoons ginger, chopped fine
Pear infused vodka
ice
Fresh lime juice
Concord grapes and thyme leaves for garnish

Directions

In a sauce pan combine and mix together the concord grapes, sugar, water, thyme leaves and ginger and bring to a boil.  Reduce the heat and allow to simmer for about 8 minutes.  Take of the heat and cool.  Process in a blender until smooth and place in a squeeze bottle or jar with pouring spout.  In a shaker filled with ice place 3 ounces of pear vodka, 2 ounces of Concord grape syrup, and one ounce of lime juice. Shake vigorously and strain into a martini style or low ball glass.  Garnish with a whole concord grape and a few floating thyme leaves.

Makes 1 drink

Ingredients

2 ounces apple pie syrup (recipe follows)
Prosecco

Directions

Place about 2 ounces of the apple pie syrup in a champagne flute (less for less sweet) and fill with Prosecco, garnish with a bit of grated fresh cinnamon, stir and enjoy!

Apple Pie Syrup

Makes 2 cups

Ingredients

1 cup apple cider
1 cup sugar
Juice of ½ lemon
2 cinnamon sticks

Directions

Place all ingredients in a medium saucepan and stir. Heat to a boil and then reduce to a simmer for about 4-5 minutes or until mixture is thick. Set the cinnamon sticks aside. Allow to cool.

Makes 1 drink

Ingredients

1 cup water
1 tablespoon lavender flowers
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1 cup sugar
2 ounces pastis (ricard)
4 ounces cold water

Directions

Make the simple syrup by adding the water, lavender, lemon zest and sugar into a medium saucepan and bring to a slow boil, reduce heat and simmer for about 5 minutes. Take off heat and strain, let cool. In a low ball glass place 2 ounces of pastis, 1 ounce of the simple syrup and 3-4 ounces cold water, stir and drink.

Makes One Pitcher

Ingredients

2 chunks of fresh ginger the size of a small sized hand each
2 cups fresh basil leaves
1 cup sugar
3-4 lime juiced
2 liters seltzer water
2 cups water

Directions

Wash and scrub ginger well, remove skin by scraping ginger with a spoon, not worrying too much about getting peel off. Chop ginger up into small chunks, lime chopping an onion roughly. In a medium sauce pan place ginger, basil leaves and 2 cups water and bring to a boil, let simmer for about 15 minutes. Take off burner and let rest until room temperature. Strain and discard ginger basil pulp. Add 1 cup of sugar and place back on burner, bring to a boil and then reduce temperature to simmer about 5 minutes. Cool mixture completely.

In a pitcher combine ginger basil syrup and lime juice and 1-2 liters seltzer water, until desired sweetness and taste. Chill & serve over ice.

Makes 1 sparkler

Ingredients

½ ounce concord grape puree
Sparkling Rose

Directions

Place ½ ounce of concord grape puree in a champagne class and fill with sparkling rose. Stir.

Makes one cocktail

Ingredients

½ ounce apply honey syrup
Cava

Directions

Place the honey syrup in the bottom of a champagne glass and fill with cava. Stir and garnish with a teaspoon of apple pre soaked in honey syrup, chopped fine.

**apple honey syrup: place ½ cup honey, 1 apple, chopped fine and ½ cup of water in a sauce pan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes. Strain.

Makes 1 cocktail

Using a sweeter fuller bodied gin similar to the Old Tom style is perfect for this cocktail highlighting spicy, black pepper and vanilla note. This cocktail is delicate and complex at the same time, like a true Gingy is.

Ingredients

2 ounces pear infused old tom gin
1 ounce Canton ginger liquor
½ ounce lemon juice
1 ounce of ginger spiced simple syrup
Dry sparkling wine
Asian Pear Slices for garnish
Cinnamon

Directions

In a shaker filled with ice, combine the gin canton liquor, lemon juice and simple syrup and shake vigorously. Strain into a martini style class and fill with sparkling wine. Garnish with a sliced pear float and a pinch of cinnamon.

**Pear infused gin: place 1 Asian pear sliced thin in a quart of gin and let stand in a cool dark place for 3 days.

**Ginger spiced syrup: place ¹⁄₃ cup honey, ½ cup light brown sugar, ½ cup water, 2 tablespoons fresh ginger, 2 teaspoons freshly grated cinnamon, 1 teaspoon cracked black peppercorns, and a sliced open vanilla bean. Stir, bring to a boil and let simmer on low for 8-10 minutes. Cool and strain.

Makes 1 cooler

Ingredients

2 ounces cardamom infused bourbon
1 ounce lemon juice
2 ounces honey plum syrup
Seltzer
Rosemary Sugar
Ice
Cardamom garnish

Directions

Place the gin, lemon juice and plum syrup in a shaker filled with ice and shake. Pour entire contents into a tall glass rimmed with rosemary sugar and fill with seltzer. Garnish with a cardamom pod.

**Cardamom infused gin: place the crushed seeds 15 cardamom pods into a quart of bourbon and let infused for at least 5 days and up to 8.

**Honey plum syrup: place 1 cup brown sugar, 1 cup plum puree, peeled and chopped, 1 cup water, 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary and ½ cup honey in a sauce pan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for about 10 minutes. Strain.

**Rosemary sugar: Mix together 1 cup turbinado sugar with 3 tablespoons rosemary chopped super fine.

Serves 6

Ingredients

Directions

Place the tea leaves and sugar in a bowl and place the 3 cups of hot water over the leaves. Let stand for about 5 minutes or until steeped. Strain the mixture and allow to cool completely. Place the tea equally in 6 large glasses (about ¾ full) filled with ice. Fill up the remaining parts of the glass with the condensed milk. Stir before serving.

Makes 1 soda

Ingredients

Herbal melon ice cubes
Juice of 1 lime
2 ounces basil lime syrup
Soda water
Melon ball ice cubes

Directions

Squeeze the juice of 1 lime into a large glass filled with herbal melon ice cubes. Place 2 ounces of the basil lime syrup inside and fill with soda water and stir. Add more syrup for added sweetness. Garnish with a basil leaf.

Basil Lime Syrup

Makes 1 cup

Ingredients

1 tablespoon lime zest
Juice of 3 limes
½ cup sugar
½ cup water
½ cup fresh basil leaves

Directions

Combine the lime zest, lime juice, sugar, water and basil leaves in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer and cook for about five minutes. Take off heat, cool and strain.

Herbal Melon Ice Cubes

Makes 2 cups

Ingredients

2 cups melon of choice
½ cup basil lime syrup
½ cup fresh basil leaves, chopped fine

Directions

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour in cube trays and freeze.

Makes 4-6 drinks

Ingredients

Directions

In a large sauce pan place the tea bags, orange zest, juice, thai basil leaves, sugar and 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil and reduce heat and simmer for about 5-7 minutes. Strain out the tea bags, leaves and zest and add the remaining water and stir. Allow to cool. In a glass filled with ice, fill the cup about 75% with the tea mixture and fill with coconut milk.

Makes 1 drink

Ingredients

Directions

In a 10-12 ounce glass filled with ice pour 1 ounce of lemon juice and 2 ounces of berry syrup fill with seltzer and stir well. Garnish with a berry of choice.

Makes one pitcher of lemonade

Ingredients

Directions

In a medium sauce pan place the fresh herbs (leave the reserved herbs aside), water and sugar, stir and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and let simmer, stirring occasionally for about 5 minutes. Allow to cool and blend in a blender. Strain through a fine mesh strainer and reserve syrup for later. In the mean time, in a blender, place 1 cup syrup, 1½ cups ouzo, 1 cup lemon juice, one tablespoon lemon zest, and 3 tablespoons of the reserved herbs and fill with ice. Blend until smooth and slushy. Place in a glass and drizzle the herbal syrup over the top, garnish with a fresh herb leaf of choice!

Makes 1 gallon

Ingredients

Directions

Mix together the herbal syrup and the lemon juice and fill pitcher with ice and water, garnish with herb leaves!

Makes 1 pitcher

Tarragon and mint have a history of being a truly refreshing duo in the dead of summer’s heat. The addition of summer sweet peaches only makes for a sweeter ad perhaps more sultry experience!

Ingredients

Directions

In a medium saucepan combine the herb, peaches, sugar and water and bring to boil. Reduce heat, place the two tea bags in the syrup and let simmer for about 5 minutes. Take off heat and continue to let steep for about 10 more minutes or until the mixture is slightly darker and clearly infused. Leave the mixture on strained however you can strain the mixture if desired. Pour the syrup in a large pitcher filled with ice and add water! The peaches and herbs float to become the garnish.

Makes 1 large pitcher

Ingredients

Directions

In a medium saucepan combine the flowers, sugar, orange zest, orange juice, lemon juice and water and bring to boil. Reduce heat, place the two tea bags in the syrup and let simmer for about 5 minutes. Take off heat and continue to let steep for about 5 more minutes or until the mixture is dark. Strain the mixture and allow to cool. Pour the syrup in a large pitcher filled with ice and add water! Garnish with orange twists.

Makes 1 pitcher

Ingredients

¼ cup fresh lavender flowers
2 ripe peaches, chopped
1 cup turbinado sugar or raw unprocessed sugar
1 cup water
Ice
Water

Directions

In a medium saucepan combine the flowers, peaches, sugar and water and bring to boil. Reduce heat, and let simmer for about 5 minutes. Take off heat and continue to let steep for about 5 more minutes. Allow the mixture to cool and blend until smooth. Pour the syrup in a large pitcher filled with ice and add water!

Serves 4-5

Ingredients

1 teaspoon fresh lavender flowers
½ cup wildflower honey
Peach syrup
Lavender wands
Cold sparkling wine

Directions

In a small sauce pan combine the lavender flowers with the honey and heat on low. Let infuse warmly for about 10 minutes. Let stand for another 10 minutes and then scoop out the flowers and discard. Let the lavender infused honey stand at room temperature, do not place it in the refrigerator. In a champagne class pour one ounce of the peach syrup and fill with cold bubbly. Drizzle a little of the lavender honey with a honey want into the class of COLD champagne. Garnish with a lavender wand with the flower part sticking up out of the glass!

Makes ½ Gallon

Ingredients

1 cup lavender lemon sugar syrup, recipe below (see note*)
1 cup lemon juice (10 to 12 big juicy lemons)
1 tablespoon fresh lavender flowers
5 cups water
2 cups sparkling water

Directions

In a one gallon pitcher combine lavender lemon sugar syrup, lemon juice, lavender flowers, water, and sparkling water, stir well. Serve over ice with lavender wand.

Lavender Sugar Syrup

Ingredients

1 cup sugar
1 cup water
2 tablespoons lemon zest
½ cup fresh lavender flowers or 2 tablespoons dried

Directions

In a medium saucepan, over medium-low heat, add sugar, water, lemon zest and lavender flowers warm through until sugar is dissolved. Take syrup off heat and let cool until ready to use.

*Note: If not using sugar syrup, you can simply pour hot water over sugar and stir until dissolved.

Serves 4-5

Ingredients

1 teaspoon fresh lavender flowers
½ cup wildflower honey
Lavender wands
Champagne, Prosecco or Cava, cold

Directions

In a small sauce pan combine the lavender flowers with the honey and heat on low. Let infuse warmly for about 10 minutes. Let stand for another 10 minutes and then scoop out the flowers and discard. Let the lavender infused honey stand at room temperature, do not place it in the refrigerator. In a champagne class filled with cold bubbly drizzle a little of the lavender honey with a honey wand into the glass of COLD champagne. Garnish with a lavender wand with the flower part sticking up out of the glass!

Makes one gallon of non alcoholic mixer

Ingredients

Directions

In a big jug mix all ingredients and stir well. Pour in ice. For alcoholic drink place 2 ounces of cucumber gin in a glass and fill with mutton holler swamp cooler juice!

Ingredients

Directions

Place water, sugar and lovage leaves in a medium saucepan over high heat. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for a few more minutes. Take off heat and allow to cool. Strain through a fine mesh strainer. Bottle and refrigerate.

*To assemble the sodas place 1-2 ounces of the lovage syrup in a champagne glass and fill with sparkling wine, garnish with a lovage leaf and a small lemon peel.

Ingredients

5 ripe black figs, ripe, sweet and quartered
½ cup turbinado sugar
1 cup water
Soda water
Ice

Directions