Drink Drank Drunk

June 13, 2009 3:13 PM

Cocktail ideas! There are some things I have around that I'd like to use. Particularly: lemon simple syrup, Lillet Blanc, and Blueberry vodka. come to think of it, those all sound good together. Oh and Hendricks Gin. Looking for your ideas for each separate ingredient.

Points for ingredients that keep for periods of time greater than, say, 2 days. For instance, orange bitters could be a do, obscure herbs are a don't, unless I can preserve them in some sort of syrup. Thank you, geniuses!

posted by sarelicar to Food & Drink (11 answers total)

You probably know this, but as you haven't mentioned it, the Lillet and gin are the basic ingredients of a Vesper. Vodka is too, as is a slice of lemon peel. I suppose you could use the blueberry vodka and lemon syrup in similar proportions to those called for in the original Vesper and call it something to do with 'blue' and 'evening'.
posted by obiwanwasabi at 5:17 PM on June 13, 2009

Blueberry vodka cobbler

2 oz. blueberry vodka
1 oz. Lillet Blanc
1/2 oz. lemon syrup
handful of fresh blueberries
3 dashes lemon juice
Dry champagne

Shake top four ingredients together in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into a 6-oz cocktail glass, top with champagne and add dashes of lemon. Garnish with a lemon wheel and/or berries.
posted by aquafortis at 5:21 PM on June 13, 2009

LOVE these! more! yes i know the vesper and the standards, but more! :)
posted by sarelicar at 6:15 PM on June 13, 2009

I'm just going to link to the Hendrick's drink I outlined in another thread. You can just make a mint simple syrup and it'll last for a while. Holy crap, why am I still drinking old-fashioneds when it's Hendrick's weather?
posted by felix grundy at 6:30 PM on June 13, 2009

Cucumber, either muddled or sliced as a garnish, is a fantastic complement to Hendrick's.
posted by trip and a half at 8:53 PM on June 13, 2009

Oh Lord Almighty you need to make a cucumber gimlet. Here's a slightly labor-intensive recipe - instead of the lime juice/sugar combo you can use your lemon syrup. Hendricks is the best gin for this, it will be deeeelish!
posted by tatiana wishbone at 9:30 PM on June 13, 2009

A simple Hendrick's G+T with cucumber instead of lime is basic but delicious.
posted by oinopaponton at 10:17 PM on June 13, 2009

I love Hendrick's. Their web site has some good recipes, too. This is what I make, a lot:

Southside Cocktail

2 oz. gin
1 oz. fresh lime juice
3/4 oz. simple syrup
6 to 8 leaves of mint (good spearmint, preferably)

Gently muddle mint leaves. Shake. Strain into chilled cocktail glass and serve up, garnished with a single leaf of mint (clap mint beforehand). Or strain into Collins glass filled with ice, and add club soda, garnish with mint sprig (clapped). Add a splash of Champagne on top for a Southside Royale.

Maybe a Poquito Picante? I've made this with Plymouth, Hayman's, etc. but I imagine it would be good with Hendrick's, too.

6 to 8 cilantro leaves
2 slices of cucumber, with skin
3 slices of jalapeno, with seeds
3/4 oz. fresh lemon juice
3/4 oz. simple syrup
3/4 oz. Cointreau
2 oz. gin

Muddle cilantro, cucumber, and jalapeno with lemon juice, pressing gently. Add remaining ingredients, shake well and strain twice. Garnish with a dry chili pepper.

But this might be my favorite, the Juliet & Romeo:

2 oz. Hendrick's
3/4 oz. freshly squeezed lime
3/4 oz. simple syrup
6 mint sprigs (spearmint)
3 slices cucumber, peeled
pinch of salt
3 drops of rose water (and no more!)

Muddle cucumber heavily with salt. Add mint, and muddle gently. Add remaining ingredients. Let sit for 30 seconds. Shake. Strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with one floating mint leaf (clapped, of course).
posted by kathryn at 10:18 PM on June 13, 2009

Made oh-so-frequently at our place:

"lavender collins"

fill a highball glass about 2/3rd full with ice. pour a shot or so of Hendricks over it. squeeze a half of a lime into the glass. top with club soda. lavender simple syrup to taste.

for the lavender simple syrup -- just google it, but basically you want to cook some sugar, some water, and some lavender together. keeps for quite a while and is a tasty addition to many drinks.
posted by chalkbored at 10:47 PM on June 13, 2009

Try an Akira:

60ml gin
10ml elderflower cordial
1 inch piece of cucumber, peeled and cut into small chunks
3 kaffir lime leaves, cut into thin strips
ginger ale to top

In a tumbler glass, muddle the cucumber, kaffir lime and elderflower cordial.
Half fill the glass with crushed ice and stir well.
Fill remaining glass with crushed ice and top with ginger ale.
Garnish with a slice of cucumber.
posted by obiwanwasabi at 1:11 AM on June 14, 2009

Blueberry Vodka and lemonade with a few frozen blueberries tossed in is one of my go-to drinks in the summer. (I use frozen blueberries because they keep longer and they make the drink colder and they turn the drink a great color).
posted by FreezBoy at 11:33 AM on June 14, 2009