Category: vodka

mocktail

Cardamom Citrus Coffee Spritzer | A Unique 4-Ingredient Sparkling Iced Coffee Drink for Craft Cocktail Lovers

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Revamp your afternoon pick-me-up with this Cardamom Citrus Coffee Spritzer, a delicious & refreshing sparkling iced coffee drink with a layer of complexity and warmth thanks to the cardamom simple syrup.

This Cardamom Citrus Coffee Spritzer recipe from Recipe Fiction is dang good. I was on the fence about all the sparkling iced coffee drinks I’ve been seeing but when Recipe Fiction’s recipe showed up in my Pinterest feed, I knew I had to give it a shot.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy a product via my affiliate link, I will receive a commission. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I actually like! 

I’ve seen recipes* that claim to be “the cocktail for coffee lovers!” but this, my friends, is the sparkling iced coffee drink for cocktail lovers. It’s the perfect bridge to carry you from your morning coffee to your evening cocktail.

*It’s me. I’ve claimed it. Check out these coffee cocktails: the White Russian & the Colorado Bulldog.

This Cardamom Citrus Coffee Spritzer has got the elements of a well-crafted cocktail– the citrus, the flavored simple syrup, the bubbles– plus the caffeine kick of java. It’s the best of both worlds. Well, it doesn’t have alcohol and I’m sure some folks would definitely include that in the category of “best”. That can easily be remedied by adding in some vodka and/or coffee liqueur.

For a lower ABV drink, just add 3/4 oz of coffee liqueur. If you want it ~actually~ boozy, add in an ounce of vodka in addition to the coffee liqueur.

Revamp your afternoon pick-me-up with this Cardamom Citrus Coffee Spritzer, a delicious & refreshing sparkling iced coffee drink with a layer of complexity and warmth thanks to the cardamom simple syrup.

You could use this same recipe as an outline for other coffee spritzer variations but personally, I love this one. Cardamom is one of my favorite flavors and I’ve long loved it paired with coffee. I lived with a Mexican-American family in a Tibetan village (long story) for a time and one of my favorite memories is enjoying freshly roasted coffee with a few crushed cardamom pods tossed in. If you’ve never had cardamom before, it’s got a beautiful warm complexity to it. I’d describe it as a little fennel-y, a little clove-y, and even a little fruity. If you’ve ever had chai tea before, you’ve had cardamom. You can read more about this unique spice in this short post.

Purchasing pre-made cardamom simple syrup is an option, but if you’ve got the patience to wait for an Amazon Prime package, 5 spare minutes, and enjoy saving a few bucks, I highly recommend you make your own.

If you’re not into cardamom, you can still try making a delish coffee spritzer by using demerara simple syrup, honey simple syrup, or even lavender simple syrup instead.

Have you had a coffee spritzer? What flavors have you tried? If you try out this Cardamom Citrus Coffee Spritzer, be sure to let me know in a comment or by tagging me on Instagram!

Revamp your afternoon pick-me-up with this Cardamom Citrus Coffee Spritzer, a delicious & refreshing sparkling iced coffee drink with a layer of complexity and warmth thanks to the cardamom simple syrup.

Ingredients for a Cardamom Citrus Coffee Spritzer

  • 4 oz cold brew coffee
  • 1/4 – 1/2 oz freshly-squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 oz cardamom simple syrup
  • sparkling water or club soda

How to Make a Cardamom Citrus Coffee Spritzer

Add ice to a highball glass. Pour in the cold brew coffee, lemon juice, and cardamom syrup. Top off the rest of the glass with sparkling water. Stir gently to combine. Garnish with a fresh or dehydrated lemon wheel.

Cardamom Citrus Coffee Spritzer

Revamp your afternoon pick-me-up with this delicious & refreshing sparkling iced coffee drink with a layer of complexity and warmth thanks to the cardamom simple syrup.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 3 mins
Course Drinks
Servings 1

Ingredients
  

  • 4 oz coldbrew coffee
  • ¼-½ oz freshly-squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 oz cardamom simple syrup*
  • sparkling water or club soda

Instructions
 

  • Add ice to a highball glass.
  • Pour in the cold brew coffee, lemon juice, and cardamom syrup.
  • Top off the rest of the glass with sparkling water.
  • Stir gently to combine.
  • Garnish with a fresh or dehydrated lemon wheel.

Notes

*Cardamom simple syrup: learn how to make it yourself in just a few minutes or purchase some from Amazon.
Keyword cardamom, cardamom simple syrup, coffee, coffee spritzer, cold brew coffee, lemon, lemon juice, sparkling iced coffee

Looking for other ways to use your cardamom simple syrup? Try it out in these recipes:

vodka

Vodka Gimlet | An Effortless 3-Ingredient Variation of a Timeless Classic Cocktail

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The Vodka Gimlet is a variation of the classic Gimlet using-- you guessed it-- vodka in lieu of gin. It's fresh, vibrant, and elegant. This rendition is perfect if you're looking to change things up, test drive a new vodka, or as an alternative for the imbiber who doesn't fancy the strong distinct taste of gin.

The Vodka Gimlet is a variation of the classic Gimlet using– you guessed it– vodka in lieu of gin. It’s fresh, vibrant, and elegant. This rendition is perfect if you’re looking to change things up, test drive a new vodka, or as an alternative for the imbiber who doesn’t fancy the strong distinct taste of gin.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy a product via my affiliate link, I will receive a commission. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I actually like! 

If you’ve been following along with me on my Instagram, receive my newsletter, or saw this Stork Club recipe post, you’ll know that I’ve been expecting a baby. Well, that baby is HERE!

While I was pregnant, I compiled a list of cocktail recipes made by my #drinkstagram friends. They all looked SO good and I was eagerly awaiting the day when I could safely enjoy them. That day has come. Technically. But the reality is that by the time evening comes around and both kids are in bed, I’m beat.

I have no physical or mental energy to spare on homemade ingredients and infusions. I don’t have the time for liquor store runs to purchase additional liqueurs and bitters, nor do I have extra cash laying around to pay for them. (Babies aren’t free– have you heard?)

I know one day I’ll be able to make all those recipes I’ve been drooling over. But for now, I’m at peace with my limitations. Limitations which are: minimal time + minimal ingredients.

Wouldn’t you know that classic cocktails are just that.

One of my all-time favorite cocktails is the gimlet. I was going to make myself one but then saw a new bottle of vodka sitting on my bar that has been waiting to be opened for months now.

Vodka is one of those spirits that I want to learn more about. I know that it can be distilled from a variety of ingredients (potatoes, wheat, grapes…) but it still mostly all tastes the same to me.

The Vodka Gimlet is a variation of the classic Gimlet using-- you guessed it-- vodka in lieu of gin. It's fresh, vibrant, and elegant. This rendition is perfect if you're looking to change things up, test drive a new vodka, or as an alternative for the imbiber who doesn't fancy the strong distinct taste of gin.

Howeverrrrr, when I opened up a bottle of vodka made from quinoa, my tune changed. The stuff tastes entirely unique. It’s got a unique earthy, mineral taste not common in vodka.

The best way to get a feel for a new-to-you spirit, after sipping it neat, is to use it in a classic cocktail. I plan on making a Lemon Drop using this quinoa vodka but thought that a Vodka Gimlet would be fun, too.

This was actually my first time trying a Vodka Gimlet and it was great. The quinoa lends some unique metallic notes to the drink while maintaining the tartness and crispness that I love in a classic Gimlet. I’ll definitely be trying out my other vodkas in a Vodka Gimlet to see how they all compare.

If you’re into the idea of a Vodka Gimlet, check out these other classic cocktail variations I’ve tried:

Have you ever made a Vodka Gimlet? Have you found that vodkas distilled from different ingredients produce a wildly different final product? Let me know in a comment– I’d love to hear your thoughts.

The Vodka Gimlet is a variation of the classic Gimlet using-- you guessed it-- vodka in lieu of gin. It's fresh, vibrant, and elegant. This rendition is perfect if you're looking to change things up, test drive a new vodka, or as an alternative for the imbiber who doesn't fancy the strong distinct taste of gin. | easy vodka recipes | classic vodka recipes

Vodka Gimlet

The Vodka Gimlet is a simple variation of the Gimlet, a classic cocktail. It's fresh, vibrant, and elegant. Since this drink only has 3 ingredients, using fresh lime juice will make all the difference.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 3 mins
Course Drinks
Servings 1

Equipment

  • cocktail shaker

Ingredients
  

  • 2 oz vodka
  • ¾ oz freshly-squeezed lime juice
  • ¾ oz simple syrup*

Instructions
 

  • Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker that's filled with ice.
  • Shake well, about 20 seconds.
  • Strain into a coupe glass.
  • Garnish with a lime wheel.

Notes

*Making your own simple syrup is all too easy. Just add equal parts water and white sugar to a sauce pan. Heat until dissolved and let cool. 
Keyword gimlet, lime, lime juice, simple syrup, vodka, vodka gimlet

Ingredients to Make a Vodka Gimlet

  • 2 oz vodka
  • 3/4 oz freshly-squeezed lime juice (fresh makes all the difference)
  • 3/4 oz simple syrup (more or less to your liking)

How to Make a Vodka Gimlet

Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker that’s filled with ice. Shake well, about 20 seconds. Strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with a lime wheel.

vodka

Blackberry Rose Mule | The Ultimate Springtime Cocktail and Mocktail Recipe

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Say hello to spring with this Blackberry Rose Mule. This drink recipe is the perfect blend of fruity, floral, and spicy. Enjoy it without vodka for a delicious & flavorful mocktail.

Say hello to spring with this Blackberry Rose Mule. This drink is the perfect blend of fruity, floral, and spicy. I actually enjoyed this as a mocktail (still pregnant) but it would be great with vodka, too. You could also add any other berries you have on hand, too.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy a product via my affiliate link, I will receive a commission. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I actually like! 

As you may or may not know, I’m expecting baby #2. Several weeks back, I reached out to a fellow cocktail lover (@da_gin_joint) on Instagram whose wife had just had a baby. I knew Eric must’ve been making mocktails for her throughout her pregnancy so I asked him for some mocktail recipes. Sure enough, he’d had a whole Mocktail Monday series going on that I totally missed. (Thanks, Instagram algorithms.)

He sent me a few different recipes but his Cool as a Mule really caught my eye. It’s a Blackberry Mule! I love mules of all kinds but had never had one with blackberry.

I’d also recently got some rose simple syrup in the mail and figured I’d try combining them. I wasn’t sure if the blackberry, rose, lime, mint, and ginger flavors would play nicely together or not but figured it was worth a try. And it worked! Honestly next time, I’d probably add a drop or two of rosewater for extra rose notes but it’s def good without.

If you’re a fan of ginger beer, I suggest you try this Blackberry Rose Mule. I enjoyed it without vodka but go ahead and add some to make it a true mule.

Say hello to spring with this Blackberry Rose Mule. This drink recipe is the perfect blend of fruity, floral, and spicy. Enjoy it without vodka for a delicious & flavorful mocktail.

Interested in other mule recipes? Check out my Green Tea Moscow Mule, Mother Mule (using a ginger honey shrub!), Orange Cassidy (a citrus & sage mule), and the classic Irish Mule. And if you haven’t had the OG, you’ve gotta try your hand at making a Moscow Mule at some point. It’s one of the easiest cocktails to make at home and you prob always have the ingredients on hand. Well, if you keep ginger beer on hand, which is an essential item around here.

If you make this Blackberry Rose Mule, be sure to tag me on Instagram and leave a comment below. Seeing your re-shakes of my recipes always makes my day!

Ingredients for a Blackberry Rose Mule

  • 1 1/2 oz vodka (omit for a truly delish mocktail)
  • 1/2 oz lime juice
  • 1/2 oz rose simple syrup (buy it or make your own)
  • 5 blackberries
  • 5-7 mint leaves
  • 3+ oz ginger beer

How to Make a Blackberry Rose Mule

Add the vodka, lime juice, rose simple syrup, mint leaves, and blackberries to a cocktail shaker. Muddle gently but muddle well. Add ice to the cocktail shaker and shake well. Strain into a copper mug or glass that’s filled with crushed ice. Top off the rest of the glass with ginger beer. Stir to incorporate. Garnish with additional blackberries and mint.

Blackberry Rose Mule

Say hello to spring with this Blackberry Rose Mule. This drink recipe is the perfect blend of fruity, floral, and spicy. Enjoy it without vodka for a delicious & flavorful mocktail.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 3 mins
Course Drinks
Servings 1

Equipment

  • cocktail shaker
  • muddler

Ingredients
  

  • 1½ oz vodka (omit for a truly delish mocktail)
  • ½ oz lime juice, freshly squeezed
  • ½ oz rose simple syrup*
  • 5 blackberries
  • 5-7 mint leaves
  • 3+ oz ginger beer

Instructions
 

  • Add the vodka, lime juice, rose simple syrup, mint leaves, and blackberries to a cocktail shaker.
  • Muddle gently but muddle well.
  • Add ice to the cocktail shaker and shake well.
  • Strain into a copper mug or glass that's filled with crushed ice.
  • Top off the rest of the glass with ginger beer. Stir to incorporate.
  • Garnish with additional blackberries and mint.

Notes

You can buy some rose simple syrup on Amazon or you can learn how to make your own.
Keyword blackberries, cherry limeade, ginger beer, lime juice, mint, mocktail, moscow mule, rose, rose simple syrup
Say hello to spring with this Blackberry Rose Mule. This drink recipe is the perfect blend of fruity, floral, and spicy. Enjoy it without vodka for a delicious & flavorful mocktail. Blackberry Moscow Mule
mocktail

Green Tea Moscow Mule | A Refreshing Cocktail or Mocktail Recipe Made with Green Tea

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This Green Tea Moscow Mule is a refreshing and unique take on the original. If you go the mocktail recipe route, you won’t even miss the alcohol thanks to the flavorful ginger, lime, and green tea juice concentrate.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy a product via my affiliate link, I will receive a commission. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I actually like! 

The Moscow Mule is one of the most classic–and popular– cocktails out there, and for good reason. It’s crisp, refreshing, and a breeze to make. There are a lot of Moscow Mule riffs out there. I’ve shared a few on the blog in the past. You can check them out here:

The original Moscow Mule recipe calls for 3 simple ingredients: vodka, lime juice, and ginger beer. They require no cocktail shaker or special tools and are really cost-effective to make at home since none of the ingredients are expensive or obscure.

This Green Tea Moscow Mule is just as easy and requires only one more ingredient: green tea concentrate. The one I used, which you can see in the picture below, was actually a Ginger Lime Moscow Mule tea concentrate and is part of their Mixology line. (This post is not sponsored by the way– I wish it was! hi Tazo, hmu). On the label, it says it has green tea, ginger, lime juice, and mint and it recommends serving it with seltzer. But I mean, how can you see a Moscow Mule-flavored tea and not make a Moscow Mule with it?

I bought it at Walmart but if you’re looking to order something from Amazon, I bet their green tea matcha latte concentrate would be pretty good in this recipe, too. Then you can muddle some fresh ginger and mint in it to give it all the flavors that the Moscow Mule tea has.

I made one cocktail version and one mocktail version. They were both amazing. In fact, I could hardly taste the difference between the two! But perhaps that’s because vodka typically doesn’t have a very overt flavor.

If you can find the Tazo Moscow Mule green tea concentrate at your store, buy it. And then make this Green Tea Moscow Mule recipe. I’m quite confident you’ll enjoy it.

Ingredients for a Green Tea Moscow Mule Recipe (and Mocktail Recipe Option)

  • 1 1/2 oz vodka (optional– leave out for a flavorful mocktail)
  • 2 oz Tazo Moscow Mule green tea concentrate*
  • 3/4 oz fresh lime juice
  • 3 + oz ginger beer
  • Garnish: fresh mint & lime wheel

*if you can’t find Tazo’s Moscow Mule green tea concentrate that’s part of their Mixology line, use a green tea concentrate instead and muddle a couple of slices of fresh ginger and mint before adding the ice and ginger beer to your glass.

How to Make a Green Tea Moscow Mule Recipe

Fill a copper mug with crushed ice. Add fresh lime juice, green tea concentrate, & vodka (optional). Top off the rest of the mug with ginger beer. Stir to incorporate. Garnish with fresh mint and a lime wheel.

Green Tea Moscow Mule

This Green Tea Moscow Mule is a refreshing and flavorful take on the original recipe with earthy green tea, zesty ginger, bright lime juice, and fresh mint.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 2 mins
Course Drinks
Servings 1

Ingredients
  

  • 1½ oz vodka (optional– leave out for a flavorful mocktail)
  • 2 oz Tazo Moscow Mule green tea concentrate*
  • ¾ oz fresh lime juice
  • 3+ oz ginger beer

Instructions
 

  • Fill a copper mug with crushed ice.
  • Add fresh lime juice, green tea concentrate, & vodka (optional).
  • Top off the rest of the mug with ginger beer.
  • Stir to incorporate.
  • Garnish with fresh mint and a lime wheel.

Notes

*if you can’t find Tazo’s Moscow Mule green tea concentrate that’s part of their Mixology line, use a green tea concentrate instead and muddle a couple of slices of fresh ginger and mint before adding the ice and ginger beer to your glass.
Keyword cucumber-infused vodka, ginger beer, green tea, green tea concentrate, green tea moscow mule, lime juice, moscow mule

If you love the taste of a Moscow Mule, try out its rum cousin, the Dark & Stormy. And if you already know you love Dark & Stormy’s check out one of my all-time favorite cocktails: the Sea Monster.

mocktail

Ocean Water Cocktail & Mocktail Recipe | A Healthy 4 or 5-Ingredient Drink Made with Spira Electric Sky Natural Blue Pigment

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This Ocean Water cocktail and mocktail recipe are based on Sonic's famous beverage with the same name.And this one is naturally-colored thanks to Spira's Electric Sky pigment. It's well-balanced between tart and sweet and is healthier than the original version. Keep reading to find out how to make Sonic's famous blue coconut-flavored drink at home.

This Ocean Water cocktail and mocktail recipe are based on Sonic’s famous beverage with the same name. And this one is naturally-colored thanks to the Spira Electric Sky pigment. It’s well-balanced between tart and sweet and is healthier than the original version. Keep reading to find out how to make Sonic’s famous blue coconut-flavored drink at home.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions of Spira are my own. Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy a product via my affiliate link, I will receive a commission. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I actually like! 

If you’ve ever been to Sonic, you’ve heard of (& most likely tried) their famous Ocean Water. It’s super refreshing. A little tart, a little sweet. A perfect touch of tropical coconut. But there’s one problem I have with it. It’s blue.

When I was real young– I’m talking 5 or 6– blue-colored things didn’t bother me. I wouldn’t think twice before swiping a sour blue raspberry gel while waiting in line at Blockbuster to rent the latest Mary Kate and Ashley movie. But it didn’t take me too long to realize that the vibrant blue used in various foods and beverages is NOT natural. Raspberries aren’t blue. Neither are coconuts.

Now, I know that most red dye is not natural either. But my brain can make allowances because red foods like strawberries are pretty dang red. But blue stuff? No. I just can’t. Even blueberries and blackberries don’t make stuff that color blue.

It’s an unfortunate thing that Sonic uses blue coconut in their famous drink because I love the flavor of Ocean Water. In the past, I’ve ordered it and closed my eyes while I drank it. But eventually, I stopped that because I couldn’t abide that much artificial coloring. It’s the same reason I renounce all the tropical blue cocktail drinks.

This Ocean Water cocktail and mocktail recipe are based on Sonic's famous beverage with the same name.And this one is naturally-colored thanks to Spira's Electric Sky pigment. It's well-balanced between tart and sweet and is healthier than the original version. Keep reading to find out how to make Sonic's famous blue coconut-flavored drink at home.
Photo courtesy of Spira and Sasha Fishman

But then…. then I learned that there actually IS a naturally-derived electric blue pigment. What?! A natural blue? That I can put in foods and drinks? Turns out Spira discovered how to turn spirulina algae into a bright blue. They sent me a sample of their Electric Sky pigment and I am forever grateful. Now I’ll not only have a way to make fun blue cocktails, but I can use it to safely dye my kid’s cupcakes, play doughs, homemade bath fizzies, and anything else I want!

Y’all. Spira’s Electric Sky could replace Blue Dye #1 one day. How awesome would that be? No more fake dyes in our foods. No more synthetic dye sensitivities or allergies. This stuff could revolutionize the industry. Beyond the fact that it’s free of the fake stuff, it’s also plant-based, vegan, is sustainably-produced with no petroleum-based ingredients (🙌), and even has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits. Yep. It looks cool and it’s good for you, too. Can’t get much better than that.

Seeing as how this is a cocktail blog, I figured I would make a boozy version of my old childhood go-to. This Ocean Water cocktail is sure to refresh you and remind you of warmer days. And if you want to keep things real refreshing, just leave out the booze. I actually made it without alcohol the first time and it was amazing.

Like I mentioned, this Ocean Water cocktail (or mocktail) is healthier than it’s namesake (I mean… minus the alcohol). Instead of using coconut flavoring, I used real coconut water. I did try making this with lime sparkling water instead of Sprite and it was alright– I definitely preferred the Sprite version. But you can use sparkling water if you want it to be healthier. And the star of the show, the Electric Sky pigment, kept me from having to use artificial blue dye #1 to get the original blue look.

This Ocean Water cocktail and mocktail recipe are based on Sonic's famous beverage with the same name.And this one is naturally-colored thanks to Spira's Electric Sky pigment. It's well-balanced between tart and sweet and is healthier than the original version. Keep reading to find out how to make Sonic's famous blue coconut-flavored drink at home.

To order your own natural blue pigment, head here to Spira’s website.

Ingredients for an Ocean Water Cocktail or Mocktail

  • 1 1/2 oz white rum or vodka (optional)
  • 2 1/2 oz sweetened coconut water
  • 3 oz Sprite or lemon-lime soda
  • juice from 1/2 a lime
  • 1/8 teaspoon Spira Electric Sky (natural blue pigment)

How to Make an Ocean Water Cocktail or Mocktail

Add all ingredients to a highball glass without ice. Stir well until the Spira Electric Sky pigment is dissolved. Slowly add ice to fill the glass. Garnish with a lime twist and a paper straw.

Ocean Water Cocktail or Mocktail

A healthier version of Sonic's famous Ocean Water drink made with Spira's Electric Sky all-natural blue pigment. Make it boozy by adding alcohol or enjoy it without.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 2 mins
Course Drinks
Servings 1

Ingredients
  

  • 1½ oz white rum or vodka (optional)
  • 2½ oz coconut water, sweetened
  • 3 oz Sprite or lemon-lime soda
  • â…› teaspoon 1/8 teaspoon Spira Electric Sky (powdered natural blue dye)

Instructions
 

  • Add all ingredients to a highball glass without ice.
  • Stir well until the Spira Electric Sky pigment is dissolved.
  • Slowly add ice to fill the glass.
  • Garnish with a lime twist and a paper straw.
Keyword lemon-lime soda, lime, lime juice, natural blue dye, natural blue pigment, ocean water, ocean water cocktail, sparkling coconut water, Spira, Spira Electric Blue, Sprite
This Ocean Water cocktail and mocktail recipe are based on Sonic's famous beverage with the same name.And this one is naturally-colored thanks to Spira's Electric Sky pigment. It's well-balanced between tart and sweet and is healthier than the original version. Keep reading to find out how to make Sonic's famous blue coconut-flavored drink at home.

If you’re looking for another easy mocktail recipe, check out my Grapefruit Rosemary Spritzer.