It’s March, spring is in the air & so is my birthday!

And to honor this auspicious occasion, I’m sharing my 3 most beloved, most favorite cocktails. Make one (or two, or all three) & celebrate my birth month with me! 😊

Reviewing my selections, it seems I like simplicity, refreshment, and a touch of citrus in my cocktails. Yeah, I’m a bit predictable, but I’m okay with that. They are all delicious.

Gimlet

I do love Gimlets. For me, Gimlets and Vodka Tonics are interchangeable on a warm spring night, just depends on which way I am leaning at the moment. I share my favorite classic Gimlet recipe & one of my favorite remixes on this classic cocktail, the French Gimlet, here.

Today, I am going to bless you with a new version I created, inspired by my good friend Megan Cathey: I call it the Sub Rosa Gimlet.

Sub rosa means “under the rose” and denotes secrecy and discretion. This cocktail is refreshing but packs a punch. Be sure to enjoy your Sub Rosa Gimlet with friends who know to keep whatever you may say under its influences to themselves. 😉😄

Ingredients:

2 oz Rose infused Gin (I used Hendrick’s, because obviously 😉) *recipe below*
1/2 oz fresh lime juice
1 oz of St. Germain

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail mixer over ice
shake well for about 5-10 secs
Pour into your favorite receptacle
Garnish with slice of lime and a few rose buds
Enjoy!

French 75

I was introduced to the French 75 on a girls trip to Branson, MO one year. The waitress asked me what I wanted to drink, and being brand new to the cocktail scene, I had no idea. So the bartender came over and asked me what taste profiles I liked, my response “citrusy/lemony drinks, a hint of sweetness, but not overpowering so. And nothing too fruity.” He thought for a second and next thing I know, a lovely, bubbly French 75 was placed in front of me. I’ve been taken with this cocktail since.

To make a french 75, you need:

Gin
Champagne
Fresh lemon juice
Simple syrup

I like subbing St. Germain in place of the simple syrup:

Ingredients

2 oz Gin (I prefer Hendricks, of course)
1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
1/4 oz St. Germain
Bubbles- your favorite champagne, sparkling wine, or tonic water

Directions:

Combine gin, lemon juice, and St. Germain in a cocktail mixer over ice
Shake well for 5-10 seconds
Pour into a champagne flute
Top off with champagne (for a fully loaded flight), or tonic water (to cruise at a lower altitude 😉)

Saint & Sinner (Vodka Tonic)

The Vodka Tonic is a classic beverage that’s super refreshing & simple to make. All you need is 3 ingredients, which you probably already have on hand:

Vodka
Lime juice
Tonic water

One of my best friends & I share the same birthday & we decided to throw a joint birthday party this year themed after our Zodiac sign, the mighty Pisces. While prepping, I came across this quote:

“Pisces is both the Saint and Sinner.”

Instantly, I knew what our signature cocktail of the night would be. 😉

I’ve recently discovered the Ketel One Botanical vodkas, and I love the Peach & Orange Blossom. Just so happened I had some infusing with jalapeño on my bar. (Because who doesn’t randomly have infused vodkas on their bar?😊) And the one thing I love more than citrusy beverages is spicy beverages.

I’ve been experimenting with jalapeño infused vodkas for about a year now. My first foray was with the Cajun Screwdriver, featured in my Mardi Gras post.

The vodka turned out to be the perfect blend of soft & sweet, with a nice (but not too overwhelming) spicy kick. It is both Saint & Sinner! (see what I did there…🙂)

Ingredients:

2 oz of jalapeño infused Ketel One Peach and Orange Blossom vodka *recipe below*
1/2 oz of fresh lime juice
Tonic Water
Lime slices

Directions:

Combine vodka and lime juice in a cocktail shaker over ice
Shake well for 5-10 secs
Pour into tumbler or Collins glass over ice
Top off with tonic water (about 3 oz, more or less to taste)
garnish with lime slices
Enjoy!

Rose Infused Gin

Ingredients:

1 cup of your favorite Gin (one guess as to which brand I used)
2.5 tablespoons of culinary grade rose buds

Directions:

Combine ingredients in an air tight jar (mason jar works just fine)
Let mixture sit overnight at room temperature
- Give it a taste after roughly 24 hours. If you desire a stronger rose infusion, let it sit another day

Jalapeño infused Vodka

This is very simple:

Take one jalapeño pepper, slice it down the middle, remove the seeds and membrane
Add about 2 cups of vodka to a mason jar and add in the pepper
Tighten the lid and let the mixture hang out on your bar for 2 days. Longer if you want more spice, less time if you don’t.

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