Category Archives: cocktails

Creative infusion du jour…round two…

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This is a Roasted Tomato Bloody Mary. I started with Twenty 2 vodka (high proof spirit). I roasted Roma tomatoes with olive oil, salt and pepper. When dark and caramelized, I added them to a mason jar, tossed in some black peppercorns and filled the jar with Twenty 2 vodka. I let the jar sit in the fridge for about 72 hours, then strained and added filtered water (remember, this is 160 proof!!!).

So to my Bloody Mary today I added a splash of Twenty 2 chile pepper infused vodka, some Mrs. T’s mix, horseradish, lime and spicy banana peppers for garnish and ice. And here you are. Happy Sipping!

Tasting the Twenty 2 Vodka Infusions…

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So this was my first taste of the lemon infusion I made a few days ago. I added cranberry juice, Twenty 2 vodka and my Twenty 2 lemon infusion. The result was a bright, not too sweet version of the classic Cosmo, but with lemon instead of orange.

Happy Sipping!

Let the Twenty 2 Vodka High Proof Spirit infusion testing begin…

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So I began with several mason jars…and Twenty 2 Vodka‘s High Proof Spirit…

The fun includes:

  • toasted marshmallow
  • oven roasted tomato and peppercorn (great for Bloody Marys)
  • grapefruit basil
  • pineapple
  • raspberry
  • blackberry
  • blueberry thai basil
  • lemon
  • chile pepper

Anyone who follows me knows that I like to use the torch in the kitchen. So I decided to burn some marshmallows to infuse. That’s where it started. There are marshmallow flavored vodkas out there but I wanted to try making my own, but with my favorite Maine spirit, Twenty 2. I like a good Bloody Mary now and then (think I learned that from my parents, thanks mom and dad!) and most of all, I love citrus and basil. Oh and let’s not forget about the sweet and spicy cocktails, so I had to do a spicy infusion!

The last five need another day or two and I’ll post about those later!

Next up? Cocktails using the infusions! Stay tuned…

Infusing with Twenty 2 Vodka’s High Proof Spirit…

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So I’ve just begun to experiment with infusions. This one is grapefruit and basil with Twenty 2′s High Proof Spirit, made for infusions! I used the peel, some fruit and a few basil leaves. We’ll see what happens soon…stay tuned!

Looking for a colorful, citrusy cocktail?

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If you’re like me, every now and then you like to sip on colorful cocktails that are fun and beautiful as well as tasty. I decided to buy a bottle of Hpnotiq, a French combination of fruit juices, French vodka and a touch of Cognac. So I decided to combine it with fresh lemon and St. Germain. I used 2 parts Hpnotiq to 1 part vodka, 1 part St. Germain, 1 large fresh squeezed lemon. I think next time I might even add a touch of Blue Curaçao for a deeper shade of blue. It’s a nice sweet and tart cocktail!

Grapefruit Brûlé Cocktail, Anyone?

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I am fascinated by the challenge of converting fruit ideas from my cookbook into the late afternoon cocktail hour. This creation was inspired from my favorite Grapefruit Brûlé with Vanilla Bean Crème from the fruit course chapter of my cookbook. It came about from the allowing the torched grapefruit to sit for quite a while – there was a leftover half and after a couple hours, I saw the juices on the plate that mixed with the vanilla sauce and the crunchy sugar top so I tasted the juice and a new cocktail was born!

  1. Rim the martini glass with a piece of grapefruit and dip into a plate of dark brown sugar
  2. Add a small handful of ice to a cocktail shaker
  3. Squeeze 1 large ruby red grapefruit into the shaker (it yields about a 3/4 cup)
  4. Add 1/2 cup vanilla vodka (I used Pinnacle, they’re in Maine)

Shake vigorously and serve in the brown sugar rimmed glass. Garnish with a slice of the ruby red grapefruit and enjoy!

Grapefruit Brûlé Cocktail

Grapefruit Brûlé from The Art of Breakfast

A wonderful cocktail to sip while setting up my new Mac!

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I’ve infused Cold River Gin with dried apricots and fresh strawberries (I left the apricots soaking for about a week, added the strawberries after 4 days) and added club soda and a splash of St. Germain. Delish and the color is beautiful!

St. Germain + Clementine + Back River Gin from Maine

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Today’s cocktail experiment involves gin, not usually my favorite spirit. But this combination is really nice. Maine’s Back River Gin, St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur, fresh Clementine juice and club soda – a very light and refreshing, not too sweet cocktail!

Berry Infused Twenty2 Vodka and St. Germain

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My latest concoction with a local Maine vodka and my new French favorite, St. Germain.

1 pint of ripe strawberries and 1 half pint raspberries, crushed, add to airtight container and cover with 2 cups vodka. Let sit in the refrigerator for 48 hours.

Add to a shaker with ice, 1 cup of the berry vodka, 1/4 cup St. Germain and shake. Fill a martini glass with about 1/4 cup club soda and fill the rest with the berry mixture. Add a small piece of lemon peel and enjoy!

This is the natural color, there is no added juice at all. It’s beautiful and delicious!