tequila

Tangerine Ginger Cocktail

To the poor suckers who suffer from too much painful puckering while eating ginger... I am so sorry. Because ginger is an ah-maz-ing addition to basically any flavor scenario, adding a spicy proud zing to balance out an otherwise too-sweet palate. This can be especially useful when making cocktails, often weighed down with simply syrups and fruit juices. 

For this drink, ginger did its job just fine along side the sugary tangerine and pomegranate flavors. The final spritz of of tart lime rounded out the cocktail for a smooth finish that didn't have you feeling stuck on a Caribbean cruise ship during each sip. 

Ingredients (serves 2)

1/4 c pomegranate juice
4 slices fresh ginger
1 fresh squeezed lime
1 tangerine (or 1/4 c juice)
blanco tequila (100% agave)
candied ginger for garnish

Method

1. Muddle well the fresh ginger slices and tangerine slices together in your cocktail shaker.

2. Add in a few ice cubes, tequila, lime juice, and pomegranate juice. Shake well for 15 seconds.

3. Strain into glass. Garnish with ginger (I used both freshly sliced and the candied because hello I love ginger). Enjoy! 

Summer Here We Kum(quat)

Nothing brings on more summer vibes than getting creative with your hydration of booze. Like how many ice-cold refreshing, deliciously fresh, garden grown, fruity sweet flavor combos can one come up with on the fly? Never enough.

Had a real treat waiting around in my pantry for use - homemade kumquat jam gifted to me by E. Kumquats are the perfect tart and so as a jam offer wide range of random uses. Reduced to a simple syrup, this could go far with so many different drinks. Fresh citrus to hold up the tart syrup, the subtle, peppery flavor of homegrown basil is what really did the trick. Take those super flavors and add just a bit of seltzer and our favorite fruit mixer *tequila - so easily you have the ultimate summer cocktail that only a crazy person would have to dislike.

Ingredients:

1 tbsp kumquat jam (more or less depending on taste) 
2 oranges, we used navel
1/4 cup candied ginger
4 to 5 basil leaves
2 bottles sparkling orange seltzer
tequila

*makes two drinks

Method:

1. Reduce kumquat jam and diced candied ginger on low heat until syrup consistency.

2. Squeeze oranges and pour into mixer. Add cooled kumquat syrup and tequila and shake thoroughly.

3. Evenly pour between both glasses, and then add orange seltzer. Top off with basil leaves.

4. Garnish with orange slice and leftover candied ginger.

Ginger Prickly Pear & Basil Cocktails, for the Prickly of Heart

Here in Tallahassee, we're pretty lucky to have some pretty incredible ladies providing the community with fresh, organic, produce- as part of their independently run business Ten-Speed Greens.

We stopped by their market this past weekend and picked up one of their homemade jams: ginger prickly pear jam. Yes, it sounds EVEN BETTER than you would imagine. The sweetness of the pear (...and sugar...) doesn't drown out the spiciness of the ginger, leaving you with the perfect flavor combo to mix with tequila. *Remember, try and use %100 Agave tequila if you can.*  We added a bit of basil to the mix for an extra added herb-y freshness. And then of course what tequila drink goes without lime? Sparkling water is optional (and honestly a bit unnecessary if you're throwing this drink in the blender), but we love the bubbly so who can blame us.

Ingredients: 

Generous spoonfuls
10-Speed-Greens ginger prickly pear jam
3 fresh limes
2 full sprigs of basil
100% agave tequila
Sparkling water

 

Method: 

1. Combine ice, tequila, jam, and half of your basil leaves in a blender. For a more pulpy drink, peel limes and add them to the blender as well.
2. Add ice and sparkling water to glasses, but fill only half way. Fill remainder of the glasses with your mixture. Stir. *Skip the seltzer if you're a normal person and just want a blended icy drink*
3. Squeeze in lime juice to preference.
4. Garnish with lime wedge and basil.

Desperate Thymes: Blackberry-Thyme Margaritas

Well, technically not a margarita, since our cocktail lacks an orange liquor. But, we are on track with the tequila! Really as one would assume with most cocktails (except for those that come in a can labeled 4Loko), the key to its success is the quality of the liquor. Specifically for tequila, this means 100% agave. If you see the word "mixto" anywhere on the bottle, put back on shelf and quickly walk away. There are plenty of affordable 100% agave tequilas out there, especially if you find a good sale at the liquor store. But it's key you don't skimp on this one for a multitude of semi-obvious reasons. 

First off, high quality 100% agave tequila actually tastes pretty great on its own. So put all that diet coke back in the fridge. Secondly it won't give you a hangover, while actually providing health benefits like better digestion. Best news of all, supposedly  tequila has the most naturally stimulative properties of all alcohols. I'll chose not to provide a source for this fun fact and let you "responsibly" test its truth on your own. 

Since we're using our tequila as a mixer, there's no need to shell out a day's worth of pay. Also we're in our 20's so probably wouldn't if it wasn't being mixed... Either way we chose to use Espolón Tequila Blanco, which cost around $25. Remember, low-budget sipping and mixing doesn't have to mean low quality!

Ingredients:

100% Agave Tequila
Blackberries (we used organic frozen blackberries, a cheaper alternative as they're not in season right now)
4 sprigs of fresh thyme
1 to 2 limes
Sparkling water
Simple syrup to taste
Ice

 

 

Method:

1. Muddle blackberries and thyme leaves in a bowl. 
2. Stir in the simple syrup.
3. Juice the limes. Save a few wedges for garnish.
4. Measure (or don't!) your tequila, and then pour into your glasses. 
5. Add your blackberry puree, stir together.
6. Fill the remainder of your glass with sparkling water.
7. Stir and sip.

Alternative method:  Mix blackberries and thyme in a food processor (strain berry seeds if you prefer). Toss the remainder of the ingredients, including your ice, into a blender. Skip the sparkling water and pour blended batch into glasses.