3 minute read
At Home Bartending
EASY, INEXPENSIVE COCKTAILS TO SPICE UP YOUR HAPPY HOUR
By Shelby Evans, Lifestyle Editor Photographed by Hannah Huber, Contributing Photographer
Lavender Lemonade
Learning how to drink hard liquor beyond a 2:1 vodka to lemonade ratio is a confusing transition to make in your early 20’s. Nearing the end of college graduation and afterwards, drinking becomes more than just a “get drunk” activity. When making cocktails at home, it may seem extravagant to buy all the ingredients to make your favorite restaurant cocktails. But it is possible to learn how to make fancy cocktails that are easy and even inexpensive, allowing you to enjoy drinking.
The same mentality exists for staying sober. If you are with you friends, or enjoying a zoom happy hour the decisions don’t have to be water or pop. It is possible and easy to make mixed drinks worthy of a restaurant at home that are free of alcohol.
Lavender syrup:
I chose to make two drinks that feature lavender syrup and while it sound’s fancy it is incredibly easy! The food coloring is just for fun, and is not necessary!
Ingredients:
Dried lavender (lavender can be bought at Madison Community pharmacy for $3.05 an ounce) Granulated sugar Water Red and blue food coloring
Directions:
1. Add 1 cup of sugar with 1 cup of water and 1 tbsp of lavender in a pot. Add two drops of red food coloring and two drops of blue in a pot. 2. Bring to a boil stirring regularly. Once at a boil reduce heat and stir until sugar is dissolved. 3. Remove from heat and let sit for 30 minutes. 4. Drain lavender seeds from syrup, store in a container in the fridge.
French 75
Lavender lemonade:
This is one of my favorite drinks of all time. It’s sweet, floral, and refreshing! I didn’t get fancy with this recipe because you don’t need to! You can be sophisticated and lazy.
Ingredients: Lavender Syrup Lemonade (I used Simply Lemonade but you can use any kind you prefer)
Directions: 1. Add 1 TBSP to every ½ cup of lemonade over ice. 2. Mix together and enjoy.
Dirty Shirley:
One day while I was bartending a woman asked for this drink, I asked if she meant a Shirley temple. She laughed and said, “exactly, but add vodka.” I had never thought about making one of my favorite childhood drinks boozy, and it has since become a favorite of mine to make.
Ingredients: 7Up (Sprite or ginger ale can also be acceptable) Grenadine Vodka
Directions: 1. Fill a 12 oz glass full of ice. 2. Add 1 shot (about 1.5 oz) of your vodka of choice 3. You can omit this step if you’d like a traditional, Non-alcoholic Shirley Temple. 4. Fill the rest of the glass with sprite (about 6 oz) 5. Add a ½ tablespoon of grenadine. You can also add to taste if you’d like it more or less sweet. 6. Mix the drink with a straw or spoon and enjoy!
French 75:
This is a classy cocktail that my mom introduced me to. I’ve put my own spin on it by using the lavender syrup instead of the traditional simple syrup.
Ingredients: Lavender syrup Prosecco Gin (I used Prairie Organic gin, but you can use whichever gin you prefer) Fresh Lemon
Directions: 1. In a glass of ice pour 1 oz of gin, 1 tbsp of lavender syrup, and 1 tbsp of lemon juice. 2. Stir together. 3. Pour into a champagne glass the mixture, leave the ice behind. 4. Top with the prosecco or brut.
