The holidays are here and that officially means one thing:
COCKTAIL SEASON.
It’s time to spread some cheer and sip a little joy; capture the taste of fall in this Vodka Gimlet so good you’ll want to make it all year round.
If I’m going to be honest here, it’s cocktail season in our house at any given time of year. So perhaps I should rephrase the above to socially-acceptable cocktail season. 😉 Our main staples are the traditional Manhattan or Martini’s, but during the holidays I like to spruce things up a bit.
Fall is a fabulous time of year filled with signature flavors that we can incorporate into our cocktails. This adult beverage pairs perfectly with every occasion, whether you’re throwing an autumn dinner party or enjoying it alone while you sit on the patio and linger in the cool fall breeze.
I’ve gently married cool with spice, which highlights the change in seasons and blends them into one delicious crafted cocktail. In my mind, it’s the perfect way to celebrate the end of summer and the start of fall. I tend to like my vodka cocktails rugged and slightly tangy, rather than a sweet or fruity finish. I’ve been focusing a little more on herbs these days (which can blend with both ends of the spectrum: from tart to sweet), infusing them into both my home-cooked meals and evening cocktails. The smell of Rosemary has always reminded me of this time of year, so naturally I wanted to test it out in drink form.
If you ask me personally, I like to sip my icy cold Gimlets served up in a stemmed coupe glass. However, others prefer it on the rocks in a bucket-type glass. There’s no right or wrong here, and I’ve decided to photograph both to appeal to the masses.
Personal Moment: I’m a thrifty person and often spend my free time on the weekend at my local Goodwill. There’s a guy there named Jeffrey and he remembers everyone by their birthday, so when we say hello he’s September 11th and I’m August 14th. I love spending my time searching through their glassware section. It’s like I’m trying to find a hidden treasure awaiting my rescue. Glasses are $3 a pop – which is a complete steal! These ones were purchased there and I often refer to my store as the “Gucci”will. 🙂
A special thanks to Social House Vodka for allowing me to create this cocktail with their Vodka made in Kinston, North Carolina. I love using local brands and I’m thankful for the opportunity. This vodka has subtle layers of vanilla and citrus with a slight kick of black pepper. It’s soft, rich and slightly creamy – balancing the alcohol with moderate acidity. Next time you’re at your ABC Store, I suggest you give them a try.
- 2 oz. Vodka
- 1 oz. fresh Lime Juice
- ¾ oz. Simple Syrup
- 3 slices of fresh Jalapeño
- 2 small sprigs Rosemary
- 2 strips of fresh Cucumber
- Brown Sugar for rim of glass
- Add Vodka, Lime Juice, Simple Syrup, 1 Jalapeno slice and 1 small sprig of Rosemary in a cocktail shaker with ice. Gently shake and strain into the cocktail glass.
- Garnish with Cucumber, remaining Jalapeño slices and Rosemary sprig. Enjoy immediately.
- Note: Remove the seeds from the Jalapeño prior to assembling the cocktail. If you are not a fan of very subtle heat, these are not completely necessary. However, the slight heat mixed with the aromatic rosemary and cool cucumber are absolutely delicious and I urge you to try it. If serving over ice, simply pour over ice and enjoy.
- Swap Idea: I included Brown Sugar for the rim to keep this festive during the holiday season. Add sea salt for the rim garnish instead of Brown Sugar and taste this cocktail in a whole new way. The salt highlights the flavors in a completely different, equally delicious way.
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