Tag: lemon juice

vodka

The Novelist’s Garden | A Botanical & Bright Custom Cocktail for Maddie Deer

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The Novelist’s Garden is a custom cocktail I made for Maddie over at MaddieDeer.com. We recently connected on a Facebook group for female bloggers. I announced to the group that one of the services I offer is designing custom cocktails for brands and Maddie was one of the first people to reach out to me. You can check out the post that I made for her here.

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! 

Maddie Deer is a lifestyle blog that covers topics like vegan and plant-based recipes, vintage finds, DIY & crafting, travel, and fitness. She also blogs about the book writing process–she’s written a novel and is now working on her second one, hence the Novelist’s Garden. My favorite posts of hers at the moment are her 6 Superfoods to Add to Smoothies and her spring book list. I’ve recently gotten back into reading for pleasure so I love seeing what other people are reading.

I really love Maddie’s aesthetics. I had a pretty good idea of which direction I wanted to go in terms of her custom cocktail after just browsing her site, but to gain more insight into her and her brand, I sent her my Custom Cocktail Word Board. Maddie then selected several words from different categories that she felt best described her brand.

Some of the words she chose were earthy, steady, and sophisticated. If you’re familiar with her blog, you’ll see those words really align with her vibe. Let me know in a comment if you think The Novelist’s Garden does, too.

This is the cocktail I imagine Maddie sipping on while she works on her novel, surrounded by her plants in beautiful Portland, Oregon. The Novelist’s Garden is whimsical and bright with a touch of effervescence. Maddie loves plants so I wanted to utilize as many fresh herbs as possible. The basil and lavender lend a warm botanical feel without being overpowering. To impart a bit of Maddie’s refined and yet approachable style, I added a drop of orange blossom water. The bubbly citrus sparkling water keeps things light and lively.

It has been a dream to work with Maddie. She’s genuine and down-to-earth. I’m sure you’ll pick up on those vibes real fast when you browse her blog.

Maddie, thank you for trusting me to create a cocktail tailor-made for you and your brand!

The Novelist's Garden is a bright and botanical cocktail that is perfect to enjoy outdoors. The basil, lavender, and orange blossom pair perfectly with citrus to create an earthy, sophisticated drink. | cocktails with lavender | herb cocktail recipes | orange blossom water | cocktails with basil | drinks alcohol recipes | drinks with vodka | garden cocktail party | garden drinks

Ingredients for The Novelist’s Garden

  • 2 oz vodka (gin is also great in this & creates a more botanical feel)
  • 3/4 oz freshly-squeezed lemon juice
  • 3/4 oz lavender simple syrup- here’s my homemade recipe
  • 5-7 fresh basil leaves
  • splash of citrus sparkling water (unsweet)
  • 1 drop of orange blossom water– optional but it adds a floral perfume touch

How to Make The Novelist’s Garden

  1. Add the basil and vodka into a cocktail shaker and muddle the leaves. you don’t need to destroy them–just bruise them well so that they release their oils.
  2. Add a generous amount of ice, the lemon juice, the lavender simple syrup, and the DROP of orange blossom water (literally a drop, the stuff is potent. To do this, I dip a swizzle stick into the bottle and then dip it in the cocktail shaker).
  3. Shake well, 20-30 seconds.
  4. Strain into a coupe glass.
  5. Add a splash of lime sparkling water.
  6. Garnish with an extra sprig of basil.

The Novelist’s Garden

A custom cocktail created for MaddieDeer.com. This cocktail is botanical, whimsical, and bright.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 3 mins
Course Drinks
Servings 1

Ingredients
  

  • 2 oz vodka or gin*
  • ¾ oz freshly-squeezed lemon juice
  • ¾ oz lavender simple syrup (see the note on how to make your own)
  • 5-7 basil leaves
  • splash citrus sparkling water unsweetened
  • 1 drop orange blossom water** (optional)

Instructions
 

  • Add the basil and vodka into a cocktail shaker and muddle the leaves.
  • Add a generous amount of ice, the lemon juice, the lavender simple syrup, and the DROP of orange blossom water*.
  • Shake well, about 20-30 seconds.
  • Strain into a coupe glass.
  • Add a splash of lime sparkling water.
  • Garnish with an extra sprig of basil.

Notes

*Using gin in place of the vodka will create an even more botanical feel.
**To do this, I dip a swizzle stick into the bottle and then dip it into the cocktail shaker.
To make your own lavender simple syrup, check out my recipe here.
Keyword basil, lavender, Novelist’s Garden, orange blossom water, sparkling water, vodka

If you enjoy using herbs in your cocktails check out these other recipes:

Desert Elixir

vodka + mint + lime + sparkling coconut water

earthy & not very sweet

South Side

gin + mint + lemon + simple syrup

Campari To-Kill-Ya

tequila + Campari + mint + orange + lime + soda

vodka

Golden Pothos Cocktail| A tantalizing vodka or gin cocktail with turmeric & cardamom

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The Golden Pothos cocktail is a Girl & Tonic original. It’s a tantalizing (if I may say so myself) vodka cocktail with turmeric and cardamom. It’s a whole slew of adjectives: bright, effervescent, bitter, earthy. My husband, who is not a big cocktail fan, actually liked it. He liked it. He actually said “Hmm, pretty good.” If that doesn’t compel you to try making one, I don’t know what will.

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’re a fellow plant lover, you’ll recognize the name of this cocktail and know why I picked it, based on the color of the drink. Actually, I don’t know if I can call myself a plant lover. I think I’m verging on plant hoarder. I have 17 houseplants, a propagation station, a dozen outdoor plants, and a [humble] vegetable garden. Here’s a selection of some of my favorites (I actually say “This one’s my favorite” about all of them, but don’t tell them that):

Now, don’t misunderstand me. I may be a plant lover but I am NOT a plant expert. Many a plant has died under my care, but as the years pass I’m getting better at figuring out what each one needs. That, and I have a pretty awesome plant bestie that helps me with troubleshooting from time to time.

We frequently swap plants, give each other cuttings, go plant shopping together, and send each other detailed videos of our plants’ growth. For real. I’ve given her cactus cuttings, only to have to get a cutting from that cutting because my original died a sad death in an unexpected freeze. Plants are the gifts that keep giving.

The Golden Pothos is a tantalizing vodka cocktail with turmeric and cardamom. It's bright, effervescent, earthy, and a touch bitter. If you're a fellow plant lover, you'll recognize the name of this cocktail and know why I picked it, based on the color of the drink.

Actually, that plant bestie is also my cocktail bestie. She and I began exploring craft cocktails together in Reno years ago. We had our own special happy hour several days a week in her beautiful midcentury home. Yep, those were the days. Now we live in different cities but we still share pictures of our cocktails (and plants) frequently. Moral of the story: get you a plant/cocktail bestie.

If you’re looking to get into houseplants or you’re wanting to liven up your living space with some green, check out golden pothos (sometimes called Devil’s Ivy). It’s pretty hard to kill, does well in low and bright light, and is easy to propagate. Or just make yourself a Golden Pothos cocktail instead.

The first several times I made this cocktail, I made it with vodka. And it was great. Then one day I decided to use gin and wow. WOW. I also made it with a citrus tonic and that combination made all the flavors in this cocktail come. to. life. If you can find citrus tonic, please please please try it in this recipe. And try this recipe with both vodka and gin and then let me know which one YOU prefer in a comment or over on my IG.

The Ingredients for a Golden Pothos Cocktail

How to Make a Golden Pothos Cocktail

Combine all ingredients except the tonic water into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well. Pour into a lowball glass with ice and top off with tonic water. Alternatively, you could pour it into a coupe glass and add just a splash of tonic. It’s great both ways.

The Golden Pothos cocktail is a craft cocktail with cardamom, turmeric, and tonic. It's perfect for people who don't like sweet drinks.

Lemon Drop
vodka

Lemon Drop

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The Lemon Drop is a classic vodka cocktail best made with only 4 ingredients. Freshly-squeezed lemon juice makes all the difference in this simple cocktail.

I’m bringing you yet another classic cocktail that’s been abused and misconstrued. The Lemon Drop, commonly referred to as a martini riff, is actually not a martini at all in the technical sense. The only similarity a Lemon Drop cocktail and a martini have in common are the glasses they’re traditionally served in. Now honestly, I don’t care if you wanna call it a Lemon Drop martini but *some* people out there would be quick to correct you. I can respect their desire to protect the martini’s integrity but sometimes keeping your mouth shut protect’s your own.

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! 

Keeping with the theme of integrity, I feel that I should be forthcoming with y’all and let you know this was my first time ever having a Lemon Drop. I’ve been on a kick with simple classic cocktails lately (thanks to the #2020pandemic) and was trying to think of another drink that required few ingredients. Lemons and limes are something I always have on my grocery list, pandemic or not. Utilizing fresh citrus juice & zest in cooking makes a world of difference and the same goes for mixed drinks.

This recipe uses vodka, orange liqueur, fresh lemon juice, & simple syrup. But truthfully you could skip out on the orange liqueur. Some recipes on the ~interwebs~ call for it, others don’t. You do you. I personally love adding orange liqueur to cocktails because it adds a layer of sweetness & boosts your drink’s flavor complexity. It is the liqueur I think every home bar should have on hand. You’ll use it in margaritas (wow, can’t believe I haven’t posted a margarita recipe yet), sidecars, cosmos, mai tais, sangria, and a bunch of other drinks.

The Lemon Drop is a classic vodka cocktail best made with only 4 ingredients. Freshly-squeezed lemon juice makes all the difference in this simple cocktail.

While we’re talking about orange liqueur, I’ll take this opportunity to teach you the distinction between liquor and liqueur. You might be rolling your eyes at such an elementary topic, but there was a time in everyone’s life where they learned the difference between the two words. Before I got into craft cocktails, I thought “liqueur” was just some peoples’ way of saying “liquor” in a fancy way. Hand-on-heart. I should be embarrassed to admit that, but I’m kinda known in my family for mispronouncing words so 🤷🏻‍♀️.

There are only 6 categories of liquors (whiskey, rum, gin, vodka, tequila, brandy) while there are countless liqueurs. Technically speaking, liqueur could fall under the title “liquor” because by definition liquor is a distilled spirit. The biggest distinctions between the two are that liquor typically has a higher ABV (alcohol by volume) and is not sweetened. Liqueur, on the other hand, is sweetened with sugar, oils, and extracts and usually has a lower ABV. Here’s a super helpful infographic from The Spruce Eats:

A helpful infographic from The Spruce Eats for distinguishing the difference between liquor and liqueur.

So if you’re looking to add, say, raspberry flavor to your drink but don’t want to make it super boozy, add a raspberry liqueur. If you’re wanting a slow-sipper, you can use two types of liquor, like gin & vodka, and utilize fresh raspberries to introduce the flavor.

Try making a Lemon Drop with orange liqueur and one without. You can see what your preference is. I think you’ll notice the difference.

Rim the glass of your Lemon Drop with superfine sugar and lemon zest.

Ingredients for a Lemon Drop

  • 1 1/2 oz vodka
  • 1/2 oz orange liqueur (*if you don’t have this, you can increase the vodka to 2 oz*)
  • 1 oz freshly-squeezed lemon juice (Fresh. Please. For the love of all things holy)
  • 1/2 – 1 oz simple syrup, depending on how tart you want it
  • superfine sugar– optional

How to Make a Lemon Drop

First, pour your superfine sugar onto a plate or in a shallow dish. You can zest some lemon into it to make it even better. Rub the rim of a martini or coupe glass with a lemon. Then dip the rim into the sugar. The lemon juice will make the sugar adhere to the glass. Now put your martini or coupe glass into the freezer. It’s a small extra step that’ll make your drink colder & fancier. Ideally, you would do this step 15+ minutes before making the drink so that the glass had time to get super chilled. But a few minutes is better than none.

Juice your lemon. Pour the vodka, orange liqueur, lemon juice, & simple syrup into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously until your arm is burning and your hand is freezing. Take the glass out of the freezer and pour the Lemon Drop in. Garnish with a lemon twist.

The Lemon Drop is a classic vodka cocktail best made with only 4 ingredients. Freshly-squeezed lemon juice makes all the difference in this simple cocktail.
Whiskey Sour
whiskey

Whiskey Sour

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The whiskey sour gets a bad rap. To be honest, prior to creating the one you see in the picture, I’d only had one once… and that was the LAST one I ever planned on having. A friend bought it for me at a bar so I politely sipped until, Oh wait, someone’s calling me– hang on! *quickly places down drink & feigns sadness when it disappears a few minutes later* Don’t act like you’ve never been saved by a fake phone call.

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! 

Most whiskey sours at your typical bar are going to be made with a whiskey sour mix. Y’all. Syrup-y mixes are rarely good. And if you’re the type who loves whiskey sour mix (no minimal judgment), I think you’ll enjoy a real whiskey sour ten times more. Fresh is always best. Change my mind.

One way that traditional whiskey sours are different from frat party whiskey sours is that the traditional version calls for an egg white. Truthfully, anytime I saw “egg white” as a cocktail ingredient, I kinda shuddered. I knew enough to know that they’re added to create foam and give drinks a silky texture… but the mental block was too great. Perhaps the apprehension stems from a childhood of banned raw cookie dough and a fear of Salmonella.

BUT I recently learned that only 1 in 20,000 eggs have Salmonella and that the average consumer will encounter 1 contaminated egg every 84 years. I’m not a big math person, but those numbers made me feel a lot more comfortable about using a raw egg white in a cocktail.

Plus, I also have my own backyard chickens so that puts me even more at ease. Although a healthy-looking chicken can still have Salmonella pop up in their eggs, it’s rare. But if you’re really freaked out by the possibility, just buy pasteurized egg whites in a carton. If you just need additional information before you can proceed, here’s a great article to read. Didn’t mean for that to rhyme but that was cool.

Here’s the little lady that made this classic cocktail possible. Internet, meet Helen. Helen, meet Internet. She’s a cochin (excuse her dirty feet feathers, but aren’t they adorable?) and is sweet as can be. She’s one of the more timid chickens my husband and I have had over the years but I absolutely love looking out the window and seeing her little cotton ball butt running across the yard.

If you’re starting to get serious about making cocktails at home, make this classic recipe and use a raw egg white. I double-dog dare you.

The Ingredients

  • 2 oz whiskey (I used a corn whiskey because it’s 100% gluten-free but you can use whatever you like)
  • 3/4 oz freshly-squeezed lemon juice
  • 1/2 oz simple syrup
  • 1 egg white – optional
  • 1-2 dashes Angostura bitters – optional

How to Make a Whiskey Sour

If you’re not using an egg white, just add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake. If you are feeling adventurous, or you already know you love an egg white in your drink, add all ingredients to your cocktail shaker WITHOUT ice. (This is called a “dry shake”.) Shake for 30-45 seconds. Then, add ice and shake for another 30-45 seconds. Your arm is going to be screaming but the more you shake, the better the egg white will incorporate into the drink and the more foam you’ll get. Strain into a coupe glass.

As the drink settles, the foam will rise to the top. Garnish with a few more dashes of bitters. Besides just looking fancy, they actually add to the aromatic experience of the drink.

Sidecar | A Classic Cocktail
brandy

Sidecar | A 3-Ingredient Classic Cocktail

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The Sidecar is a classic prohibition-era cocktail made with only 3 simple ingredients: brandy, orange liqueur, and lemon juice.

The Sidecar is another classic cocktail with only 3 ingredients. As many classic drinks do, it’s got itself a muddled history. Some claim it was invented in Paris during World War I, while others say it was first created in London. No matter who created it or where, it’s arguably the most well-known and well-loved brandy cocktail.

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! 

It was originally served with a sugared rim but is rarely served that way today. So, if you like your drinks a little more sweet, consider tracing the rim of your coupe glass and dipping it into some sugar before making your drink. Personally, I skip the sugar as the Sidecar is my go-to drink when I’m looking for something tart.

The Sidecar is a classic prohibition-era cocktail made with only 3 simple ingredients: brandy, orange liqueur, and lemon juice.

The first time I ever had a Sidecar was at my friends’ house. They consider themselves cocktail aficionados and they introduced me to this classic when I first started delving into cocktails (as in, I had ordered maybe 2 cocktails prior to this point). I was instantly hooked on the tartness.

My friend told me I could easily make them at home and for a fraction of the cost that a bar would charge. He then proved this by pulling up an Excel spreadsheet that had all the information you could ever think of having. It was honestly impressive. He had created formulas to determine the cost per drink of several, several cocktails. Anytime he bought a new bottle of liquor, he would insert the cost & volume of the bottle so that all the numbers stayed accurate. I mean. Impressive. I guess that’s what happens when you combine an engineer and a cocktail enthusiast.

The Sidecar is a classic prohibition-era cocktail made with only 3 simple ingredients: brandy, orange liqueur, and lemon juice.

Truthfully, those friends and that spreadsheet were the catalysts for my drink-making journey. I might not have realized how cost-effective it is to invest in a home bar if it weren’t for them. So cheers to you, Brian & Catherine. Thanks for the Sidecar all those years ago.

The Sidecar is a classic prohibition-era cocktail made with only 3 simple ingredients: brandy, orange liqueur, and lemon juice.

The Ingredients

*These ratios are also disputed, but here is how I make one*

  • 1 1/2 oz brandy**
  • 3/4 oz orange liqueur
  • 3/4 oz lemon juice (freshly-squeezed, mind you! when you only have 3 ingredients in a cocktail, skimping on the fresh lemon juice will cost you)

The How-To

Fill your cocktail shaker with ice and add all ingredients. Shake shake shake. Pour into a coupe glass. Garnish with a large swath of lemon peel. (Twisting or squeezing the peel over your drink will release some delicious oils and take everything up a notch.)

**A quick note about brandy and cognac: Cognac is brandy, but not all brandy is cognac. Brandy can only be called Cognac if it comes from the Cognac region in France. So, Cognac : brandy :: Champagne : sparkling wine. (anyone else a fan of analogies?)

The Sidecar is a classic prohibition-era cocktail made with only 3 simple ingredients: brandy, orange liqueur, and lemon juice.

Looking for other 3-ingredient cocktails? Check out the Daiquiri, the Moscow Mule, and the Dark & Stormy.

Diamond