With cocktails, keeping it fresh is key
Attention, home entertainers. Farmers markets are open and ready to be harvested!
Now more than ever, people are dazzling their guests with signature cocktails made at home. Nothing beats homegrown produce at the dinner table. It only makes sense to transfer this concept to the glass.
It's not enough to use a pre-made cocktail mix. Just try to read the label of a store-bought mix. You will find most of the words are unpronounceable and artificial. Throw those mixes away. Everything you need to make a fresh cocktail can be found in the produce aisle, farmers market or in your backyard.
Each fruit or veggie variety requires an understanding of its taste profile. When visiting your market, don't be afraid to ask for a taste and explanation of the produce origins. I always say trust your taste buds. If you like it, bring it home. This is your signature cocktail, after all.
Extra ripe fruits and veggies make great cocktails. They are full of juice and priced right. Just be sure to use them right away.
Don't limit yourself to dried herbs. Open your back door and use what is growing in your garden or your good neighbor's. Fresh is best.
All cocktails should be balanced with acidity, bitter, sweetness and alcohol. Herbs like mint, rosemary and sage are easy enhancements to most cocktails. Herbs are best mixed with gin and will bring out the bouquet of botanicals in the spirit.
Open your mind to cocktail sweeteners besides table sugar. Honey is my favorite. Local honey is typically inexpensive and easy to find. Honey also does not go bad.
When used in a cocktail, honey adds a complex richness. It especially lends richness to a tequila- or bourbon-based cocktail such as a margarita or bourbon sour. Add a touch of hot water to thick honey to make it simpler to work with.
A few of my favorite recipes that are inspired from my garden are the Watermelon Margarita and the Cucumber Caipiroska.
The margarita is one of the most recognized cocktails in the United States. Sadly, it is one of the most poorly made cocktails when blended from an artificial mix and served frozen in an oversized glass.
The original margarita had three ingredients: lime, sugar and tequila. With the original recipe as the base, we can add seasonal fun. Add ripe watermelon and rim your glass with a blend of salt, sugar and pepper to turn this favorite into an extraordinary cocktail.
If you want a cocktail that will not only impress your guests but also will quench your thirst, the Cucumber Caipiroska is a safe bet. The cucumber, pear vodka, lime and sugar play very well together. The cucumber is full of water and when the water is released, it tastes like you are at a spa.
Have fun with your recipes. Start with your favorite classic and play. Just remember to always follow your taste buds to the market and trust what you think is tasty. Keep your recipes fresh and simple -- and enjoy the harvest season. Cheers.
Bridget Albert is master mixologist at Southern Wine and Spirits of Illinois and director of the Academy of Spirits and Fine Service.