Tag: sugar

gin

Gin Campari Sour | A Bold Campari Cocktail That Actually Tastes Good

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Gin Campari Sour | A Bold Campari Cocktail That Actually Tastes Good. The Gin Campari Sour is the perfect drink for the adventurous and sophisticated cocktail lover. It's unique, simple, and far from sweet.

Maybe you’re already a fan of Campari cocktails, but I’m new to the Campari train. And honestly, it was not love-at-first-sip like it is for many others. The Gin Campari Sour is the first cocktail I’ve made with Campari that I actually enjoyed. I tolerate a Boulevardier and I detest Negronis. But this Gin Campari Sour… this cocktail could change everything.

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 bought my first bottle of Campari a few weeks ago. I was STOKED to try it. I’d had an Aperol Fizz a few years back at Liberty Food & Wine Exchange when I lived in Reno and loved the bitterness, so I assumed I would love a Negroni. I love me some wonky, unusual flavor profiles. Olives, tonic, extra dry red wine, sauerkraut. Yes, please. I knew Campari was supposed to be bitter and funky and is considered to be an acquired taste, and I felt CON-FI-DENT I’d acquired it at birth.

Oof, I was wrong. I love bitter. I love weird. Why don’t I love Campari? I was disappointed in myself. I kept sipping my Negroni, willing myself to like it and each time found myself hating it more and more. “I don’t like Campari!” I frantically texted some friends. “Why don’t I like it?!” To which they all replied in unison “Yeah, that stuff is gross.”

Gin Campari Sour | A Bold Campari Cocktail That Actually Tastes Good. The Gin Campari Sour is the perfect drink for the adventurous and sophisticated cocktail lover. It's unique, simple, and far from sweet.

Okay, maybe that’s not what they said verbatim but that was the general feel. I did feel validated by my friends but I could not confess such a fault to the Instagram world of cocktail bloggers. Campari is the cool trendy liqueur that all the cool trendy kids use in their cool trendy cocktails. I wanna be a cool trendy kid, at least in the cocktail world. So I tried some different drinks utilizing Campari and they were all meh or flat-out yuck.

But the Gin Campari Sour has opened me up to a whole new world–one for filled with the bitter-red liqueur I previously scorned. This… this is my gateway cocktail into Campari.

While Negronis and Gin Campari Sours share 50% of the same ingredients, its the egg white that makes all the difference. I recently used a raw egg white in a cocktail for the first time and experienced the silky-smooth texture it gives. I knew right after seeing the recipe for the Gin Campari Sour on a fellow Instagrammer’s profile that an egg white could be the element I needed. It really mellows out the bitterness of Campari, the dryness of the gin, and the tartness of the lemon juice.

Thanks to COVID-19 and the stay-at-home orders, I’ve only got a bottle of spiced gin– incredible, but probably not the most ideal choice for Campari cocktails. The most recommended gin for Negronis and other Campari cocktails is Tanqueray, but you can check out this article for several gin options that pair well with it. I also only have Angostura bitters so I used those in place of the orange bitters. We do what we gotta do, right?

This cocktail is definitely still bitter, but it’s accessible. If you’ve disliked other Campari cocktails, give this Gin Campari Sour recipe a try.

If you're a fan of Campari cocktails, you're sure to love the Gin Campari Sour. If you detest Campari, this may be the cocktail that wins you over.

Ingredients For a Gin Campari Sour

  • 1 1/2 oz gin
  • 3/4 oz Campari
  • 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 oz simple syrup
  • 1 egg white
  • 1-3 dashes of orange bitters

How To Make A Gin Campari Sour

Chill your coupe glass for 30 minutes or more beforehand, if you remember. Or just always keep one in the freezer for such an occassion.

In a cocktail shaker without ice, combine all ingredients. Shake until combined.* Shaking without ice is called a dry shake. Then, add egg white and a lot of ice. Shake vigorously for 30-45 seconds. This is the hardest part about this cocktail but the foam will be worth.it. Strain into your coupe glass. As the drink rests, the foam will rise to the top.

*If you’re using a 3-piece metal cocktail shaker, you might notice that it leaks during a dry shake. This is because without ice to make the metal cold, it won’t contract & form a tight seal. So just be a little careful and shake over your sink OR shake some ice in your cocktail shaker and then dump it out before starting your dry shake.

Need a cocktail shaker? This one is gorgeous and high-quality:

Out of all the Campari cocktails out there, the Gin Campari Sour is my favorite by far.
simple syrup

6 Simple Syrup Recipes to Spice Up Your Cocktails, Coffee, Tea, & Sparkling Water

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Think flavored syrups are for professional bartenders and baristas? These simple syrup recipes will up your drink game with seriously minimal effort. Simple syrups are my favorite way to add excitement to otherwise every-day drinks.

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!

Pour these in your coffee for a gourmet treat. Add a splash to your iced tea. Make an easy mocktail by adding some to sparkling water with some citrus juice. Use it in any cocktail recipe that calls for simple syrup–or make your own cocktail and use one as the sweetener. Incorporate them into baked goods. The possibilities might be limitless.

While ALL of these simple syrup recipes are easy (hence the name ‘simple’), I’m listing these by the ingredients that are easiest to find. None of them are obscure, thanks to Amazon, and you might even have them in your pantry already. (Remember those cardamom pods you bought awhile back when you were on a chai tea kick?)

All of these simple syrup recipes should last 1-2 months in the fridge. I always make small batches because I typically don’t use a ton within one month. Feel free to double the recipes. I always have a ton of flavored simple syrups in my fridge. These little glass containers are perfect for storing all your syrups and make everything look organized.

Honey Simple Syrup

Honey Simple Syrup | 7 Simple Syrup Recipes to Spice Up Your Cocktails, Coffee, Tea, & Sparkling Water

Okay. You can probably make this one TODAY. Honey simple syrup is the best way to use honey in iced drinks like iced tea and iced coffee. If you’ve tried using regular honey in the past, you’re familiar with its tendency to clump up and take forever to dissolve into your drink. You can also use honey simple syrup in margaritas, a Pick 6, any variety of jam cocktail, or in place of traditional simple syrup in a Daiquiri.

The Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup water

The How-To

Pour the honey and water into a small saucepan. Heat them up until the honey is well dissolved. Pour into your container of choice and let cool completely. Store in the fridge.

Read my original post here.

Lavender Simple Syrup

Lavender Simple Syrup

Of all the simple syrup recipes on here, this one is probably the most versatile. My favorite ways to enjoy this syrup are in lattes and in lieu of regular simple syrup in a Tom Collins cocktail (a Lavender Collins). Your extra lavender buds can be used in baked goods, too.

The Ingredients for Lavender Simple Syrup

The How-To

Bring all ingredients to a boil in a small saucepan. Boil until the sugar is dissolved. Allow the syrup to cool in the saucepan before pouring it into a mason jar or small covered container. Strain out the lavender buds if desired. I personally like to leave a few of them in so they can further infuse the syrup as it sits in the fridge.

Read my original post here.

Matcha Simple Syrup

Matcha simple syrup is a great way to invigorate your iced tea, sparkling water, or a cocktail.

Oh man. This one is delicate and delightful. Not to mention it’s green, my fav color. The obvious thing to do with this simple syrup rendition is to use it in hot or iced tea for an extra boost. But I dare you to use it in a traditional cocktail like a Gimlet for an exotic layer of flavor. Or if you’re wanting a totally green cocktail, check out Rub of the Green.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 teaspoon matcha powder (it’s pricey but a little goes a long way, even if you’re using it for tea)
  • 1/4 cup sugar (you could use stevia, coconut sugar, or agave to make this much healthier, but the ratios will be different)
  • 1/4 cup water

How to Make Matcha Simple Syrup

Add the sugar and water to a small saucepan and bring to a boil, or until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and add the matcha powder. It will clump so whisk well. I whisked it as well as I could before pouring it into my container. Then I put the lid on and shook it again. That’s what finally got the last remaining clumpies out.

Read my original post here.

Rose Simple Syrup

Rose simple syrup | 7 Simple Syrup Recipes to Spice Up Your Cocktails, Coffee, Tea, & Sparkling Water

Perhaps not for everyone, and maybe best used in small doses, this rose simple syrup delivers a floral punch. Okay, maybe not a punch and more like a “love tap”. Anyone else tell your parents that, no, you weren’t hitting your brother–it was a love tap? Rose simple syrup is divine in chamomile tea and exquisite in a Rose Darling.

The Ingredients for Rose Simple Syrup

  • 2 Tablespoons dried rose petals (pleeease make sure you are using food grade petals)
  • 1/4 cup + 1 Tablespoon water
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon rosewater (this stuff is POTENT- don’t say I didn’t warn you)

How to Make Rose Simple Syrup

Boil the rose petals in the water on the stove for 1-2 minutes. You’re essentially making rose tea. There won’t be much water in the pot so be careful to make sure the petals don’t scorch. Strain the liquid and discard the petals. Pour the rose tea back into your saucepan and add the extra tablespoon of water. Add the sugar and stir to dissolve. Remove from heat and add the rosewater & stir again. Allow it to cool completely before storing it in the fridge.

Read my original post here.

Beet Simple Syrup

Beet Simple Syrup | 7 Simple Syrup Recipes to Spice Up Your Cocktails, Coffee, Tea, & Sparkling Water

Now, you could definitely chop up some beets and boil them in sugar. It would produce an especially-fresh beet syrup. However, I like going the easy route sometimes and already have beet powder on hand for naturally dyeing baked goods and for using in smoothies. Plus you’ll get an even more gorgeous pink color when using beet powder. It looks dark in the jar but when you pour into your beverage, it’s lighter.

Beet simple syrup is perfect for using when you want to sweeten a drink without making it too sweet. The earthy flavor of beets can bring balance to an otherwise too-sweet cocktail. Check out my Passionfruit Paloma with beet syrup. Mmmm.

The Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup sugar (or honey!)
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 teaspoon beet powder

The How-To

Add all three ingredients to a small saucepan. Bring to a boil to dissolve the sugar. Pour into a small container like a mason jar. Let it cool completely before you put the lid on and stick it in the fridge.

Read my original post here.

Cardamom Simple Syrup

Cardamom simple syrup is an effortless way to add warmth and complexity to a cocktail, coffee, or tea.

I love adding cardamom simple syrup to my coffee. It also pairs well with Earl Grey tea. It’s also a key ingredient in my Golden Pothos cocktail. Cardamom is such a unique spice that’s hard to describe. You just have to try it.

The Ingredients for Cardamom Simple Syrup

The How-To

Crush the cardamom pods with a mortar and pestle if you have one. If you don’t, you can use a bowl and the bottom of a glass. No need to obliterate the pods– just apply enough pressure to crack the pods and release the seeds. Add the crushed cardamom, water, and sugar to a small saucepan. Bring it to a light boil and leave it boiling for 3-5 minutes. Allow it to cool completely. You can either strain the pods & seeds out before pouring it into a glass container or you can store the syrup with some of the pods.

Read my original post here.

There really are countless ideas for simple syrup recipes. You could make jalapeño syrup, rosemary syrup, turmeric, chamomile syrup, etc. You could even get crazy and combine two.

What’s your favorite? I’d love to hear your simple syrup recipes down below.

Royal Rose - Organic Simple Syrup
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.
Cardamom simple syrup is an effortless way to add warmth and complexity to a cocktail, coffee, or tea.
simple syrup

Cardamom Simple Syrup

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Cardamom simple syrup is an effortless way to add warmth and complexity to a cocktail, coffee, or tea.

Cardamom simple syrup is an effortless way to add warmth and complexity to a cocktail. But what is cardamom?

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! 

Cardamom (also spelled cardamon) is a spice commonly known for its presence in Indian cuisine, although it’s used in traditional dishes throughout the world. If you’ve ever had chai tea, you’ve most likely tasted cardamom as it’s one of the key spices found in traditional chai. Cardamom comes in two varieties: green and black. Both have rich, distinctive flavors but green is more commonly seen.

Cardamom simple syrup is an effortless way to add warmth and complexity to a cocktail, coffee, or tea.

Cardamom is the third most expensive spice by weight, but thankfully you don’t need a lot to impart its unique flavor. Grocery stores will usually have bottles of it for about $5 but I’d turn to Amazon and spend a few extra dollars for much better quantity and quality.

Besides using your cardamom pods to make cardamom simple syrup, you can also lightly crush a pod or two and put them in your coffee or tea for a unique layer of flavor. Or, just pour in some of your cardamom simple syrup. You can also use the cardamom to make your own cardamom-infused vodka. Mmmm, imagine using that in a Moscow mule. Wow. Gotta remember that idea for later.

Cardamom simple syrup is an effortless way to add warmth and complexity to a cocktail, coffee, or tea.

Whenever I make any flavored simple syrup, I typically make smaller batches because I know I won’t use much before it goes bad. I’d say this stuff will keep for 1-2 months in the fridge. If your cardamom simple syrup starts looking cloudy, throw it out and make a fresh batch.

The Ingredients for Cardamom Simple Syrup

The How-To

Crush the cardamom pods with a mortar and pestle if you have one. If you don’t, you can use a bowl and the bottom of a glass. No need to obliterate the pods– just apply enough pressure to crack the pods and release the seeds. Add the crushed cardamom, water, and sugar to a small saucepan. Bring it to a light boil and leave it boiling for 3-5 minutes. Allow it to cool completely. You can either strain the pods & seeds out before pouring it into a glass container or you can store the syrup with some of the pods. I personally like leaving the pods in it to further infuse the simple (and because I think it looks cool).

Inspired by all the flavoring possibilities of homemade syrups? Check out these other options:

Cardamom simple syrup is an effortless way to add warmth and complexity to a cocktail, coffee, or tea.
Royal Rose - Organic Simple Syrup