The big cocktail challenge for Saint Patrick's Day is creating a naturally green cocktail. Without using the artificially colored green liqueurs like green creme de menthe, Midori or apple puckers you have to think outside the box a little bit. So I went with what is naturally green in nature, green vegetables and fruits. Then I added booze!
Not only is this cocktail green, it's refreshingly delicious and healthy!
The
LUCKY CHARM
Cocktail
INGREDIENTS:
1-1/2 Oz. Crystal Head Vodka
1 Oz. Spinach Juice
2 Oz Cucumber Juice
1 - 2 Tbsp. Honey Créme Lavender Syrup
2 Tsp. Fresh Lime Juice
2 Dashes Frape & Sons Arugula Bitters
Ice
Garnish: Cucumber peels, Lime wheel, Spinach leaf
Tools: Juicer, Cocktail shaker, Strainer
Glass: Old Fashioned
DIRECTIONS:
Juice 5 ounces of spinach to get an ounce of spinach juice.
Juice 1/2 a small unpeeled cucumber to get 4 ounces of cucumber juice.
Prepare the Honey Créme Lavender Syrup by warming 1 heaping tablespoon of Honey Ridge Farms Honey Créme Lavender Syrup with 1 tablespoon of water for 15 to 20 seconds in the microwave, let cool.
Fill the cocktail shaker with ice then add the vodka, spinach juice, cucumber juice, lavender honey syrup and arugula bitters.
Shake until chilled then strain into an ice filled glass, garnish and serve.
Tips:
I didn't bother to clean the juicer after doing the spinach because I wanted all that green color. Besides the two juices were going to be mixed together in a few seconds anyway.
I live out in the country so I take the pulp from the juicer that's left over and I feed it to the bunnies outside. They love it.
By the way, Bailey is turning into a very respectable happy hour wing man:
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What do you do when you have fresh blackberries you need to use? Yeah, eating them is good, making a blackberry mojito is better.
BLACKBERRY MOJITO
INGREDIENTS :
2 Oz. Gubba Silver Rum
12 Blackberries
12 Large Spearmint Leaves
1 Tbsp. Honey Creme Lemon Syrup*
1 Lime, Quartered
Club Soda
Crushed Ice
Garnish: Mint Leaves, Fresh Blackberries, Lime Quarters
Tools: Muddler, Straw
Glass: Collins or Pint
DIRECTIONS:
Place the blackberry, 4 lime quarters and the lemon honey cream syrup in the bottom of the glass and muddle to release the juices.
Add the mint leaves and give them a light muddle, do press too hard or you'll release the bitterness of the herb.
Fill the glass with crushed ice, add the rum then top off with soda.
Garnish and serve with a straw.
* Honey Créme Lemon Syrup: Thin 1 tablespoon of Honey Ridge Farms Honey Créme Lemon with hot tap water until you get a syrup consistency.
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