New Cheers for New Year’s

Let’s Drink!

2021 is just about behind us; shall we all breathe a collective sigh of relief? Today will be filled with excitement to see what 2022 will bring our way…maybe a wedding, new home, new pet. That is one of the great things about life: we just don’t know what is coming our way.

I figured there isn’t a more appropriate time to talk about cocktails than New Year’s Eve, so here are three fun drinks to add to your party.

Blackberry & Meyer Lemon Gin’n Tonic

Meyer lemons are in full swing right now. If you haven’t tried them, this is a must. They’re so sweet and juicy you’ll never want just a regular lemon again. 

We are lucky to live in a time when fresh blackberries and mint are readily available throughout the year. So go grab your glasses and get to mixing.

Ingredients – 4 servings:

• 12 blackberries
• 20 fresh mint leaves
• 2 Meyer lemons (squeeze the juice from one and slice the other for garnish)
• ½ cup simple syrup (1 part sugar: 1 part water)
• 8 ounces gin (don’t cheap out buy the good stuff……..Hendricks)
• Tonic water
• Ice

Steps:

1. Set out 4 highball glasses, add 5 mint leaves and divide blackberries into glasses, then gently muddle
2. In a shaker, add lemon juice, simple syrup, gin and ice
3. Shake for a minute
4. Divide amongst glasses, add ice, lemon slices and mints leaves, and top off with tonic water

Picture and recipe from www.spoonforkbacon.com

A Frosty Kiss

With this crazy -40 weather outside, let’s take a warm tropical drink and make it festive. This one is made in a pitcher, so it can be doubled, tripled, or quadrupled. It’s all up to you and how many friends you have.

Ingredients:

• 18 oz. coconut milk (full fat you can diet tomorrow)
• 6 oz. coconut water
• 6 oz. Grand Marnier
• 9 oz. silver tequila (or any other high-quality tequila)
• ½ cup lime juice (fresh)
• 3 tbsp. Agave syrup (honey or maple syrup are suitable substitutes here)

Garnishes:

• Lime wedges
• Cranberries (sugared or not)
• Rosemary sprigs
• Pomegranate arils

Steps:

1. In a large pitcher, add coconut milk, coconut water, Grand Marnier, tequila, lime juice, and syrup
2. Use a whisk to mix until nice and frothy
3. Rim a cocktail glass with sugar or maybe toasted coconut, fill it with ice and divide the cocktail between glasses
4. Garnish as you wish, slip your sunglasses on and enjoy

Picture and recipe from www.joyfulhealthyeats.com

Mandarin Mojito

We have room for one more drink, and since I know you have a sad-looking bowl of mandarin oranges sitting on your counter, let’s use them up.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups mandarin orange juice (approx. 8-10 mandarins)
• ¼ cup lime juice (fresh)
• ½ cup simple syrup (1 part sugar:1 part water)
• a handful of fresh mint
• 1-1 ½ cups of rum (once again make it good quality)
• ice

Garnishes:

• Mandarin orange wheels
• Mint leaves

Steps:

1. In a pitcher, add mint leaves, simple syrup and gently muddle to release all those tasty oils
2. Add rum, lime juice, mandarin juice and lots of ice
3. Give it a good old stir
4. Sugar the rims of your cocktail glasses, fill your cocktail glasses with ice, then divide the Mojito mixture among the glasses until ¾ full
5. Top off with sparkling water or club soda.
6. Garnish and enjoy.

Picture and recipe from www.laylita.com

Final Remarks

Unfortunately, we live in a time where I have to tell people to drink responsibly, don’t drink and drive, wash their friggin’ hands and wear a mask.

Have a great year everyone and please send me some pictures of the cocktails you come up with. We would love to hear how you changed them up and made them your own creations.