Boozed + Infused

Infusing liqueurs at home with inspiring and seasonal ingredients

Tag Archives: cocktail


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Raspberry Caipirinha

Some years back, a friend introduced me to the Caipirinha. What a lovely and refreshing drink. Sweet, tart, and all the flavors balance so perfectly.

Last summer, I infused a bottle of cachaça with about a pound and a half of fresh raspberries, and a little sugar to heighten the raspberry flavor. I realize that raspberries are not in season right now, but you could infuse cachaça with another fruit or even frozen berries.

When I make this drink, it brings me back to the warmth of summer, despite the cold rain and snow we’ve been getting in the Pacific Northwest this week.

Raspberry Caipirinha (makes one drink)

1 lime, halved and sliced

1 Tablespoon Turbinado Sugar

3 oz Raspberry Infused Cachaça

Club Soda

Crushed Ice

Place the lime and sugar in the bottom of a pint glass or large tumbler and muddle well. Fill the glass to the top with crushed ice. Add raspberry infused cachaça, and top with club soda (just a splash). Serve with a straw so you can stir it and mix the lime and sugar into the drink.

If you don’t have any infused cachaça, substitute plain cachaça. The only thing I’d alter is to add a little more sugar.

You may have noticed that I didn’t bother to strain or filter this liqueur. Simple reason there… I’m greedy. Although I will make this drink for others in my home, it is too good to bottle for gifts. You’ll have to make your own…

Cheers!


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Bit-o-Honey

Do yourself a favor, and make the Honey & Saffron Liqueur highlighted on Eat Boutique. (Maggie Battista adapts a recipe from June Lawson’s “Snowflakes and Schnapps”.)

I made this Honey and Saffron liqueur a few months ago and have been very happy with it. We used it in a Champagne Cocktail taste test (more on that later) but most recently trialed a new cocktail that we’re calling (for now) the Bit-o-Honey.

Bit o Honey Recipe (makes 2 cocktails)

3 1/2 oz Martin Miller Gin

1 1/2 oz Honey Saffron Liqueur

1/2 oz Dry Vermouth

* lemon twist
Combine all liquid ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice, and shake vigorously. Strain into chilled martini glasses, and add a lemon twist.

If you don’t have Martin Miller gin, you can likely substitute whatever gin you have. But if you can find it, give it a try. It has a much cleaner, lighter taste than most gins. The juniper flavor is almost absent with a very light floral scent.

We tried this cocktail last night and couldn’t resist having a second…

Enjoy!


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Fig Manhattan

Step 1: Make a home-infused Fig Bourbon

Our recipe for Fig-Infused Bourbon:  750 ml bottle of Bourbon (we used Jim Beam), 12 oz dried Black Mission Figs. Place the figs in a large canning jar, pour bourbon over the figs and let them marinate for approximately 1 month (or until it reaches your desired taste). Strain and enjoy!

Step 2: Drink the fig bourbon as a straight liqueur at room temperature (sweet enough for a dessert beverage) or use it in cocktails. Our first cocktail attempt is a keeper – the Fig Manhattan. Essentially, we replaced Sweet Vermouth with Fig Bourbon.

Recipe:

2 oz Whiskey/Bourbon

1 oz Fig-Infused Bourbon

1/2 oz Dry Vermouth

Dash of Angostura Bitters

* Brandied cherry (add at the end)

Combine all liquid ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice, and shake vigorously. Strain into a chilled martini glass and add a brandied cherry.


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Cranberry Champagne Cocktail

It took a month for my Cranberry bitters to fully infuse. Now that they are done, I am ready for the holidays! I started with simple tinctures of Cranberry, Bitter Orange Peel, and Wormwood (all infused with Grain Alcohol). I eventually added some sugar, and added only part of the Wormwood tincture to the cranberry. The final liquid is… well… quite bitter. With a few dashes on a sugar cube, dropped into a glass of champagne, the result is a lovely hint of cranberry in a tasty glass of bubbly.

For those of you who have not yet made your own bitters, try a dash of Angostura bitters on a sugar cube in your favorite champagne.