Tag: sage

tequila

Salted Sage Paloma | An Easy & Unique Cocktail Recipe With A Delicious Alcohol-Free Option

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This Salted Sage Paloma was originally created as a no-ABV drink by Nanda Kampmark of Slow Mixology. She made it as a mocktail recipe and I enjoyed it as such, but it's delicious with tequila, too. If you're looking for a refreshing drink that's unique and not overly sweet, this is the one for you.

This Salted Sage Paloma was originally created as a no-ABV drink by Nanda Kampmark of Slow Mixology. She made it as a mocktail recipe and I enjoyed it as such, but it’s delicious with tequila, too. If you’re looking for a refreshing drink that’s not too sweet, this is the one for you.

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 originally saw this recipe on my friend Jake’s Instagram page. A long time ago. And I’ve thought about it several times since then and finally got around to making it. Now I’m just kicking myself for waiting so dang long.

I think part of the reason I waited is that if I’m honest, the thought of salt in a cocktail–and not just around the rim of one– freaked me out. I’ve long seen a pinch of salt or # drops of saline as ingredients in fancy craft cocktails. And I knooowww that a smidgeon of salt really just enhances existing flavors instead of overruling them with saltiness. But I was still afraid. And if that’s you, too, I’m here to say Don’t worry, I promise you won’t feel like you’re licking a block of salt when you drink this recipe.

This Salted Sage Paloma was originally created as a no-ABV drink by Nanda Kampmark of Slow Mixology. She made it as a mocktail recipe and I enjoyed it as such, but it's delicious with tequila, too. If you're looking for a refreshing drink that's unique and not overly sweet, this is the one for you.

The salt in the sage syrup is actually the perfect complement to the earthy sage and the bitter grapefruit. Ugh. Really, why didn’t I embrace this sooner? Now I wanna go around sprinkling sea salt in all my syrups.

Using herb simple syrups brings a lot of complexity to mocktails– you won’t miss the alcohol! This recipe is pretty similar to my Grapefruit Rosemary Spritzer. Be sure to check that one out, too, if you’re down for mocktails that don’t only taste like juice. If you’re a big fan of sage, be sure to check out my Avendesora and Autumm in Tuscany recipes, too.

How to Make Salted Sage Simple Syrup

To make the salted sage simple syrup, add 3 tablespoons of water, 3 tablespoons of sugar, 1 teaspoon of sea salt, and a handful of sage leaves to a small saucepan. Warm over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved. Let it cool. Remove the sage leaves. Store in an airtight container (these are perfect for small batch simple syrups) and place in the fridge until ready to use.

Ingredients for a Salted Sage Paloma (with Alcohol-Free Option)

  • 1 1/2 oz tequila reposado (omit for a 100% amazing mocktail)
  • 1/2 oz salted sage syrup*
  • 2 oz freshly-squeezed grapefruit juice
  • 1/2 oz freshly-squeezed lime juice
  • 1+ oz soda water

How to Make a Salted Sage Paloma Cocktail & Mocktail

Add all ingredients except the soda water into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well. Strain into a lowball glass that has a couple large ice cubes in it. Top off the rest of the glass with your soda water. Garnish with a slice of grapefruit juice and a sprig of sage.

Salted Sage Paloma (w/ Mocktail Option)

This Salted Sage Paloma was originally created as a no-ABV drink by Nanda Kampmark of Slow Mixology. She made it as a mocktail recipe and I enjoyed it as such, but it's delicious with tequila, too. If you're looking for a refreshing drink that's unique and not overly sweet, this is the one for you.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 3 mins
Course Drinks
Servings 1

Equipment

  • cocktail shaker

Ingredients
  

  • 1½ oz tequila or tequila alternative (omit for a 100% amazing mocktail)
  • ½ oz salted sage simple syrup*
  • 2 oz grapefruit juice, freshly squeezed is best
  • ½ oz lime juice
  • 1+ oz club soda

Instructions
 

  • Add all ingredients except the soda water into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
  • Shake well. Strain into a lowball glass that has a couple large ice cubes in it. Top
  • Top off the rest of the glass with your soda water.
  • Garnish with a slice of grapefruit juice and a sprig of sage.

Notes

*How to Make Salted Sage Simple Syrup
To make the salted sage simple syrup, add 3 tablespoons of water, 3 tablespoons of sugar, 1 teaspoon of sea salt, and a handful of sage leaves to a small saucepan. Warm over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved. Let it cool. Remove the sage leaves. Store in an airtight container (these are perfect for small batch simple syrups) and place in the fridge until ready to use.
Keyword club soda, grapefruit, grapefruit juice, lime juice, paloma, sage, salted sage simple syrup
This Salted Sage Paloma was originally created as a no-ABV drink by Nanda Kampmark of Slow Mixology. She made it as a mocktail recipe and I enjoyed it as such, but it's delicious with tequila, too. If you're looking for a refreshing drink that's unique and not overly sweet, this is the one for you.
vodka

Autumn in Tuscany | A Fall-Inspired Lemon Drop with Rosemary Sage Simple Syrup

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Autumn in Tuscany is an elegant yet simple cocktail with bright citrus and warm herbs. It's an unexpected fall twist on a classic Lemon Drop cocktail.

Autumn in Tuscany is an elegant yet simple cocktail with bright citrus and warm herbs. It’s an unexpected fall twist on a classic Lemon Drop 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’s officially fall now and even though temperatures are alternating between pleasant and rather warm here in Texas, I’m embracing all the cozy things. Autumn-scented candles, chai tea, toasty blankets, apple cider, alllll the soup recipes. I learned long ago that if I wait to do all the fall things when it actually feels like fall outside, I’ll have about 3.25 days to enjoy it. Ah, the joys of living in a state that has 2 seasons.

Last week, I made an incredible rosemary sage simple syrup to go in the Cowboy Cure-All. I loved how autumnal the syrup tasted and was eager to play around with it. Anytime I make a new simple syrup, I try it out in a few classic cocktails. As I’ve said time and time again, the easiest way to revamp a drink recipe is to switch out the simple syrup flavor.

Autumn in Tuscany is an elegant yet simple cocktail with bright citrus and warm herbs. It's an unexpected fall twist on a classic Lemon Drop cocktail.

I began to think about what would pair well with rosemary and sage. Lemon. Definitely lemon. It would keep the herbs from being too heavy. I ran down the list of classic cocktails that had lemon. Oooh… a Lemon Drop. Now that could be good. I was a little unsure about how the orange liqueur in it would interact with the sage and rosemary but DANG! It’s good!

I made an Autumn in Tuscany for the first time with my friend who is as equally into cocktails as I am. She’s also a fantastic cook so I respect her opinion when it comes to all things edible and drinkable. So when she says a drink is really good, I know it must be.

Autumn in Tuscany is an elegant yet simple cocktail with bright citrus and warm herbs. It's an unexpected fall twist on a classic Lemon Drop cocktail.

She’s also the one who gave me the idea for the name. She informed me that rosemary, sage, and citrus are all hallmark flavors in Tuscan cuisine. I’m not much of a cook but now I want to start researching Tuscan dishes to serve up with this Autumn in Tuscany.

If you make an Autumn in Tuscany, be sure to tag me on Instagram (@girlandtonic_)! I love sharing y’all’s re-shakes of the drinks I post.

Cheers to the thought of spending autumn in Tuscany.

Ingredients for an Autumn in Tuscany

  • 1 1/2 oz vodka
  • 1/2 oz orange liqueur or triple sec
  • 3/4 oz lemon juice, freshly squeezed
  • 3/4 oz rosemary sage simple syrup (add more or less depending on how sweet you like your drinks)

How to Make an Autumn in Tuscany

Add vodka, orange liqueur, fresh lemon juice, rosemary sage simple syrup, and ice to a cocktail shaker. Shake well, about 20 seconds. Strain into a coupe glass.

Autumn in Tuscany

A cozy fall twist on a classic Lemon Drop cocktail.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 3 mins
Course Drinks
Servings 1

Equipment

  • cocktail shaker

Ingredients
  

  • 1½ oz vodka
  • ½ oz orange liqueur
  • ¾ oz lemon juice, freshly squeezed
  • ¾ oz rosemary sage simple syrup*

Instructions
 

  • Add vodka, orange liqueur, fresh lemon juice, rosemary sage simple syrup, and ice to a cocktail shaker.
  • Shake well, about 20 seconds.
  • Strain into a coupe glass.
  • Garnish with a sage leaf.

Notes

*For the easy rosemary & sage simple syrup recipe, click here.
Keyword lemon, lemon drop, lemon juice, rosemary, rosemary sage simple syrup, sage, simple syrup, vodka
Autumn in Tuscany is an elegant yet simple cocktail with bright citrus and warm herbs. It's an unexpected fall twist on a classic Lemon Drop cocktail.
whiskey

Cowboy Cure-All | An Easy Fall Cocktail Recipe

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The Cowboy Cure-All is an easy fall cocktail recipe that's bright, warm, and slightly sweet. This recipe was made in collaboration with Death Valley Nails, my favorite nail polish company.

The Cowboy Cure-All is an easy fall cocktail recipe that’s bright, warm, and slightly sweet. This recipe was made in collaboration with Death Valley Nails, my favorite nail polish company.

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 follow me on Instagram or if you’ve read my Desert Elixir post, you know how much I love Death Valley Nails. Death Valley Nails is a vegan, cruelty-free, and non-toxic nail polish and candle company based out of Fort Worth. Before I say anything more, I’ve gotta let you know that this post is NOT sponsored. I simply love & believe in this company.

I have several bottles of nail polish from DVN and I love them all. They are all 10-free and non-toxic. The colors are also completely unique because DVN sources their own pigments, unlike other companies that use the same pigment sources as one another. This nail polish lasts for dayysss. Even without a topcoat.

The Cowboy Cure-All is an easy fall cocktail recipe that's bright, warm, and slightly sweet. This recipe was made in collaboration with Death Valley Nails, my favorite nail polish company.

Death Valley Nails is most well-known for their nail polishes, but they also sell candles and body glitter.

Their candles are made out of 100% soy wax and come in a hand-poured concrete vessel that can be repurposed once the candle’s been used up. You can check out their custom blended fragrances here. I’ve yet to purchase one of these myself but now that fall has arrived, I can’t think of many things I’d rather do besides sip on my Cowboy Cure-All while a cedar + cardamom candle burns warmly next to me.

Death Valley Nails also makes biodegradable glitter paste. I love how ethical and responsible DVN is. All of their products are responsibly made from ethically-sourced ingredients, and everyone who has a hand in the creation of their products is paid well. You gotta love that.

Are you a DVN fan yet? Now you can see why I’d never need to be sponsored by them– I’ll be singing their praises until my voice gives out. And when that happens I guess I’ll make some posters.

When Death Valley Nails approached me about making a cocktail recipe to put on their fall postcards, I didn’t hesitate for a second. I had previously partnered with them in creating their summer postcard cocktail recipe (you can check out the recipe and the postcard design here) and it was a lot of fun working with both Jenn from DVN and Sara Beth Baca.

This time around, I got to work with Krista Perry. She really brought the vibes of both Death Valley Nails and the Cowboy Cure-All to life in her illustration. I mean… just check it out:

The Cowboy Cure-All is an easy whiskey cocktail created specifically for Death Valley Nails. Artwork designed by Krista Perry.

Isn’t it gorgeous? Super Texan, too. Perfect since Jenn, the founder of DVN , and I are both native Texans. If you order anything from Death Valley Nails in autumn, you’ll receive a postcard with this graphic on the back. It’s perfect for displaying on your fridge, sticking in your recipe card box, or mailing it off to a friend.

The idea behind all the recipes I make for DVN is that they’re accessible for most people and would hopefully be palatable to most people. Feel free to use your favorite type of whiskey for this recipe. I used 100% corn whiskey but this would be great with bourbon or rye, too. You can also add more of the rosemary sage simple syrup if you prefer your drinks on the sweeter side.

The Cowboy Cure-All is an easy fall cocktail recipe that's bright, warm, and slightly sweet. This recipe was made in collaboration with Death Valley Nails, my favorite nail polish company. Baby Blue corn whisky is a great whiskey to use in this easy whiskey cocktail recipe.

Jenn is the one who came up with the name “Cowboy Cure-All” for this cocktail recipe. You can see from the nail polish names that she’s pretty good at naming stuff. Maybe I should ask her to come up with all of Girl & Tonic’s cocktail names. 🤔

Ingredients for the Cowboy Cure-All

How to Make a Cowboy Cure-All

Add lemon juice, sage, and rosemary to a cocktail shaker. Muddle gently with a muddler or wooden spoon. Add the whiskey, rosemary sage simple syrup, and ice to the cocktail shaker. Shake for 10-20 seconds. Strain into a lowball glass filled with a large ice cube. Garnish with additional sage & rosemary.

Cowboy Cure-All

An easy whiskey-based cocktail made with rosemary sage simple syrup.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 3 mins
Course Drinks
Servings 1

Ingredients
  

  • 2 oz whiskey
  • ½ oz lemon juice, freshly squeezed
  • ¼ oz rosemary sage simple syrup*
  • 1 sprig rosemary
  • 1 sage leaf

Instructions
 

  • Add lemon juice, sage, and rosemary to a cocktail shaker. Muddle gently with a muddler or wooden spoon.
  • Add the whiskey, rosemary sage simple syrup, and ice to the cocktail shaker. Shake for 10-20 seconds.
  • Strain into a lowball glass filled with a large ice cube.
  • Garnish with additional sage & rosemary.

Notes

*Learn how to make the rosemary sage simple syrup here. It’s easy. Promise.
Keyword beet simple syrup, lemon juice, rosemary, rosemary sage simple syrup, sage, whiskey, whisky
vodka

Orange Cassidy | A Freshly-Squeezed Take on a Moscow Mule

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I have quite the schpeel to go with this Moscow mule modification. There’s a slim chance you know the name Orange Cassidy already. If you do, I love you for it. If not, well…. hopefully you’ll still love me after this is all over with.

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! 

My schpeel starts with a confession and ends with exciting news. Okay. Are you ready? I… am a huge wrestling fan. But it hasn’t always been this way, or at least not for a while. I grew up begging my parents to let me watch WWF and WCW with my brother, probably like most kids in the 90s. I loved me some DDP and Sting. And then I remember learning that it was “fake” and feeling crushed. Deceived. Betrayed. How could this be true????

Orange Cassidy, a cocktail inspired by AEW's too-cool-to-care Orange Cassidy

My husband was a fan, too, and he even had his own persona in his neighborhood wrestling league as a kid. When he told me that a new wrestling league, All Elite Wrestling, was premiering several months ago, I didn’t really care. The night it premiered, he was hooping and hollering from the other room and truthfully I gave him a hard time about it. This is fake, you know, I told him, how are you into this again? Well, joke’s on me because the next week I was watching with him and couldn’t get enough. I have a confession, I muttered the next morning, I can’t stop thinking about AEW.

Now here we are, 5 months later, heading to our first-ever live wrestling event. (I’ll keep the price of the tickets to myself to hold on to what remaining pride I have left.) To say I’m stoked would an understatement. I’M FLIPPING OUT. Make fun of me all you want, but the skill that these people have is insane. The extra drama just makes it even more entertaining. Is it cheesy? Oh totally. But I am HERE FOR IT. Every Wednesday (and Tuesday). It’s a thrilling blend of pure athleticism and theatre. Pure entertainment, I tell ya.

Confession: dropped. News: shared. Now I can tell you about the drink. Orange Cassidy is the name of one of these wrestlers. His shtick is that he’s too cool to take himself seriously. Check out the vid to get an understanding of this joker:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lGdYtaclkk

I wanted to think of a drink that embodied his “can’t be bothered to care” attitude. It’s simple, down-to-earth, and has a slight zing to it. Just like Orange Cassidy.

Orange Cassidy | All Elite Wrestling Cocktail Series A Moscow mule variation that captures Orange Cassidy's "can't be bothered to care" attitude. It's simple, down-to-earth, and has a zing to it. Just like Orange Cassidy.

The Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 oz vodka
  • 1/2 oz orange liqueur
  • 1/2 oz freshly-squeezed orange juice
  • 1/2 oz freshly-squeezed lemon juice
  • 1/2 oz freshly-squeezed lime juice
  • zest from orange & lemon
  • 1 fresh sage leaf
  • dash of bitters (optional)
  • ginger beer

The How-To

Pour the vodka into a cocktail shaker. Muddle the sage in the shaker with a muddler or the back of a spoon to release that earthy goodness. Add ice some ice and zest the orange and lemon into the shaker. Add the freshly-squeezed Orange Cassidy orange juice, lemon juice, and lime juice. Dash that bitters. Shake. Pour into a copper mug or lowball glass filled with ice. Top off with your ginger beer. Garnish with an orange slice and Orange Cassidy’s signature aviators.

**This cocktail will be the first of many in my AEW cocktail series. Brace yourself. I’ve got a notepad filled with inspiration.**

Wedding Gifts Copper Mugs Moscow Mules
Orange Cassidy, a Moscow mule cocktail inspired by AEW's too-cool-to-care Orange Cassidy

Intrigued by AEW? Check it out on Wednesday 7pm CST on TNT and on Tuesdays 6pm CST on YouTube. If you have Hulu, you can get yourself caught up on all the previous eps. Just in time for the upcoming pay-per-view on February 29th. (Do I sound like a paid representative yet? …One can wish.)

Orange Cassidy

A freshly-squeezed take on a Moscow Mule.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 3 mins
Course Drinks
Servings 1

Ingredients
  

  • 1½ oz vodka
  • ½ oz orange liqueur
  • ½ oz freshly-squeezed orange juice
  • ½ oz freshly-squeezed lemon juice
  • ½ oz freshly-squeezed lime juice
  • zest from orange or lemon
  • 1 sage leaf
  • 2+ oz ginger beer

Instructions
 

  • Add the vodka & sage leaf into a cocktail shaker.
  • Muddle the sage with a muddler or the back of a spoon to release that earthy goodness.
  • Add ice some ice, the juices, and zest the orange and/or lemon into the shaker.
  • Shake well.
  • Pour into a copper mug or lowball glass filled with ice.
  • Top off with your ginger beer.
  • Garnish with an orange slice and drink while wearing Orange Cassidy's signature aviators.
Keyword ginger beer, lemon, lime, orange blossom water, orange liqueur, sage, vodka
Copper Mugs Moscow Mules
Avendesora Cocktail
tequila

The Avendesora | A Reposado Tonic Cocktail with Sage

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The Avendesora, a Wheel of Time cocktail

If you’re a Wheel of Time fan, the name of this drink caught your eye. But I’m sure few of you out there are… for now. Amazon Prime recently announced and began filming for a Wheel of Time series. As any book fan would be, I’m equally stoked and skeptical. Few on-screen adaptations live up to the glory found in the pages of their books. But one can hope!

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! 

Avendesora is the name of the last-remaining Chora tree in Wheel of Time lore. The name means “Tree of Life” and it plays a special role in the story. Perhaps once the series comes out, or if you’ve read the books, you’ll understand why I chose this name for this bitter/sweet/earthy cocktail.

The Avendesora is a Girl & Tonic original and is my absolute fav libation to date. It’s incredibly easy, refreshing, unique, and not sweet. It does require some more specific ingredients to make, but don’t worry– I list a modification if you can’t find the Fever Tree Lemon Tonic which, in my opinion, makes the drink.

The Avendesora, a Wheel of Time cocktail

Ingredients for an Avendesora Cocktail

  • 2 oz tequila reposado (my husband gifted me Corzo and it’s the smoothest tequila I’ve had but $$$)
  • 1/2 oz orange liqueur
  • 1/2 oz+ freshly squeezed orange juice
  • 2 oz+ lemon tonic water**
  • fresh sage

**Modification: If you can’t find lemon tonic water, use regular tonic and squeeze in some lemon juice.**

How to Make an Avendesora Cocktail

Add the tequila & 3-4 fresh sage leaves to a cocktail shaker. Muddle the sage with a muddler or the back of a spoon to bruise the leaves and release their flav. Add ice, pour in the orange liqueur and orange juice. Shake. Pour into a low-ball glass that’s filled with ice. Top with lemon tonic water & stir to mix. Garnish with a lil sage leaf.

Avendesora

A bright and earthy tequila cocktail recipe.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 3 mins
Course Drinks
Servings 1

Ingredients
  

  • 1½ oz tequila reposado (Corzo is an incredible brand)
  • ½ oz orange liqueur/triple sec
  • ½+ oz freshly-squeezed orange juice
  • 2+ oz lemon tonic water (see note for substitution)
  • fresh sage

Instructions
 

  • Add the tequila & 2-3 fresh sage leaves to a cocktail shaker.
  • Lightly muddle the sage with a muddler or the back of a spoon, just enough to bruise the leaves.
  • Add ice, the orange liqueur, and orange juice to the shaker.
  • Shake well, about 30 seconds.
  • Pour into a lowball glass that's filled with ice
  • Top off the glass with the lemon tonic water & stir to mix.
  • Garnish with a sage leaf and slice of orange.

Notes

If you can’t find lemon tonic water, you can use regular tonic water and 1/2 oz of fresh lemon juice.
Keyword avendesora, ginger beer, orange blossom water, sage, tequila
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