Raspberry Inspired Mocktails and Cocktails

A  warm summer evening, a gentle breeze, freshly picked berries, and a tall cool drink on the patio…the quintessential vision of a perfect ending to a hot summer day.  Raspberries are the fruit of choice that we’re working with this week, and here are some mocktails and cocktails that might play into your own version of the perfect summer evening.

Raspberry Inspired Mocktails and Cocktails

The drink recipes below use one of the Rasperry Shrub Syrups we offer from our online store.  Shrub syrups give the drink that tangy bite that some people (like me) love.  If you have a bitter palate, add a dash of bitters to the cocktail recipes.

Raspberry Mocktails:

Raspberry Shrub Spritzers

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 ounce Raspberry Shrub Syrup
• 8 oz. sparkling water (optional: ginger ale or tonic water)
• squeeze of lime (don’t use lime if using Raspberry Shrub syrup)
• ice cubes

Directions:  Combine syrup, sparkling water and ice cubes and stir thoroughly.  Finish with squeeze of lime if using Raspberry ginger syrup (too tart if using raspberry shrub syrup).

Raspberry Shrub Lemonade

– makes 1 1/2 quart pitcher

Ingredients:

• 6 cups water
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup lemon juice (about 6 lemons)
• 1/4 cup Raspberry Shrub Syrup
• Directions:

1. Make your favorite version of lemonade.  Mine is 6 cups of water heated up with 1 cup sugar until sugar is dissolved.
2. Cool and then add 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice and 1/4 cup Raspberry syrup and stir until well blended.
3. Add ice cubes and garnish with a slice of lemon.

Raspberry Inspired Cocktails:

Need something a little more “spirited”?  Try one of these raspberry cocktails …or two.

Raspberry Shrub Martini

– makes one drink

Ingredients:

• 3/4 oz. Raspberry Shrub Syrup
• 1 1/2 oz. Gin
• 1 1/2 oz. Pimms #1
• splash dry vermouth
• ice cubes
• Cucumber orlemon peel for garnish

Directions:

1. Fill cocktail shaker halfway with ice and add all ingredients.
2. Stir everything to combine and chill
3. Strain into martini glass and garnish with cucumber or lemon peel.

Whichever libation you choose….just remember to relax.   Sometimes that is the secret ingredient, and it is the one we can tend to forget in our filled-up lives.