Herb Infused Cocktail ~ Blueberry Basil Margarita

 

Summer is coming in hot this year! Pun intended! The weather has been erratic at best and those temps are creeping up quickly so that your outside time should be from 5 a. m. to 8 a. m. or late evening hours. If only that worked in the real world.  At least, we have the perfect cocktail to help cool you down, after working in the garden, or just for sipping on the back deck.  

What is a better way to cool down, than with some favorite summer flavors of blueberry and basil?  Toss in an extra mint leaf and you have a drink worth sipping, to cool you down, or to enjoy with friends.  The white tequila and fresh lime give it a great flavor while being refreshing and cooling over ice.

Blueberry Basil Margarita

1.5 ounce Tequila Blanco

½ ounce triple sec

¾ ounce fresh lime juice

½ ounce simple syrup

8-10 blueberries

3 fresh basil leaves

1 mint leaf

Salt and lime zest for the rim

Prep your glass by running the lime round the outside and partially down the side.  Roll in the salt and lime zest.  Muddle blueberries, mint and basil together, with the simple syrup.  Add in the tequila, triple sec, and lime.  Shake with ice until the shaker cup is cold.  Strain into your prepared glass over fresh ice.  Garnish with blueberries and basil.  

This simple drink is perfect to prepare for friends, for a dinner party or back yard barbeque.  Be sure to not over muddle the herbs, so they do not become bitter, just enough to release their flavor into the syrup and spread color into your glass from the berries.

We have three different types of basil and three different types of mint growing in our garden.  For this drink we use the standard green basil, you can find at your local grocer and any of the mint will work as well.  If you do not like mint, feel free to leave it out.  Make this drink your own with your favorite liquor and herbs.  

We think you will enjoy it no matter how you make it.  As always please drink responsibly and have a designated driver. Cheers!

Herb Infused Cocktail ~ Spiced Herbed Margarita

 

    The holiday season is fully upon us and we have a special holiday drink for you to share with your friends and family.  This can be made as a mocktail as well, so everyone can enjoy this holiday drink.  Do not let the spices pull you away from this one, they can be strained out completely but also offer rich flavor if they sit within the liquid for a bit after mixing.  I have made this as a batch or individual drinks, so it has flexibility for your holiday party.  

    What could be  more festive than a drink with cinnamon and cranberry to enjoy around the dinner table, fire pit or just while visiting at your next holiday party.  We have made it our own special way and so can you.  Do not be afraid to mix it up and test out different variations to discover the flavor combination that you love the best.  

Spiced Herbed Margarita (makes 2)

2 ounces Cranberry Juice

2.5 ounces Pomegranate Juice

2 ounces Tequila 

3/4 ounce Triple Sec

Cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cayenne pepper

1-4 dashes of Orange bitters

First run an orange slice around the rim of your glass and then roll your glass in coarse sugar combined with the spices above.  Fill your rocks glass with ice.  Add all the other ingredients into your shaker cup filled with ice.  Shake it really well, to help the spices spread throughout the drink. Once done, strain over your rocks glass.  

    You can leave your drink just like that and enjoy throughout the evening.  Or here are a few additions to add for a little extra pop.  Top your glass off with some ginger beer or sparkling water for a little bit of a bubbles.

    To make this into a mocktail, remove the tequila and triple sec, top your drink off with sparkling water, and add in a bit of simple syrup or honey to add a little sweet to the bitterness of the fruit.  

    This is a fun and simple cocktail that can be your signature holiday drink for the season.  Mix up the juice options with orange juice or sprite to change it just a bit to make your own unique drink.  This is sure to be a crowd pleaser, so be sure to make it as a batch. 

    Please be sure to drink responsibly and have a designated driver.  Happy Holiday's from all of us at The Oaks Bed and Breakfast.  We hope your holiday season is festive and full of laughter and joy.  Cheers!

Herb Infused Cocktail ~ Rosemary Apple Cider Margarita

 

    I was recently asked to make a cocktail for a special event at Craver's Community Garden in Sulphur Springs.  Their annual Empty Bowls fundraiser will be held on Thursday, November 7 and since they are serving Pozole I decided a fall twist on the classic margarita was in order.  Empty Bowls is held to bring awareness of food insecurities in our area and to raise funds for a local food bank that serves members in our community.  From 5:30 - 8 p. m. at 420 W. Park Street in Sulphur Springs, you can stop by to enjoy our cocktail, some delicious soup and see for yourself a wonderful community space in action.  

    Empty Bowls closes out the year at Craver's for the season before they reopen in the Spring to help serve the community by growing produce for the food bank and hosting community events for children and adults alike.  The goal is to raise enough money to purchase the food bank a fridge to hold fresh produce during the growing season.  You can grab yourself a bowl for $20, and go home with a beautifully decorated bowl made by the Sulphur Springs High School art department, or you can bring in a bag of shelf stable food to donate to the food pantry and enjoy a bowl of soup as well.  

    Let's get to the good stuff.  I'm sure you have already guessed by now that instead of doing a lime based mix we are going to use Apple Cider as the base for our margarita.  The quantity I'm listing for is for two or three drinks depending on you glass size. 

Rosemary Apple Cider Margarita

3/4 cup apple cider

1/2 cup Tequila

1/4 cup Grand Marnier

1/2 cup lime juice

brown sugar to rim the glass

sprig of rosemary

Mix the apple cider, tequila, Grand Marnier, and lime juice together in a pitcher.  Rub a lime wedge around the glass and dip into the brown sugar.  Fill the cup with ice and top with the mixed drink.  Garnish with Rosemary.  You can also choose to garnish with apple slice or a cinnamon stick.  

    Make this drink your own.  If you like it a little more tangy keep it the way it is.  If you prefer to have a sweeter Margarita then add a teaspoon or two of agave nectar.  I like to use an apple cider that looks like it had been homemade. Therefore, you have to shake it or stir often because the spices settle to the bottom.  Believe it or not the apple flavor is not overwhelming, and it's a great fall twist to a classic drink.  

    Stop by on November 7 at Craver's Community Garden to try it out or book a stay at The Oaks to test the drink for yourself on our back deck.  Remember to drink responsibly and always have a designated driver.  Cheers!

Herb Infused Cocktail ~ Watermelon Basil Margarita

 

    Summer is the perfect time to sip an ice cold drink on the patio or outside deck.   Watch nature change and adapt as you sit back and relax with a tasty beverage.  This month the Oaks Bed and Breakfast, presents a Watermelon Basil Margarita, as the herb infused cocktail of the month.  A thirst quenching treat with amazing summer flavors for those of age to enjoy.

    This drink has just the right amount of sweetness, between the watermelon and the basil simple syrup.  Just add in some lime and tequila and you have a summer drink ready for the deck.  Grab some ceviche or chips and salsa to enjoy with your margarita.

    The simple syrup is easy to make.  A one to one ratio of sugar to water, plus add in your basil and bring to a boil on the stove top.  Let the mixture simmer until all the sugar has melted.  Set aside to cool and then place inside an air tight container until ready for use. 

    I did pick up a seedless watermelon, that had seeds, so I had to pull those out while making the drink, no one wants to have seeds in their margarita.  I guess I need to select a better option next time.  Here are the details for you to enjoy this drink.

Watermelon Basil Margarita

1 1/2 ounces Tequila Silver

1 ounce Lime Juice

1/2 ounce Basil Simple Syrup

2 ounces Watermelon Juice

Add everything to a shaker cup filled with ice.  Give it a vigorous shake and pour over a sugar and chili rimmed glass.  Garnish with a slice of lime and basil.

    Be sure to check out our simple video of how to make the

Watermelon Basil Margarita on our YouTube channel.  You can also explore our past drinks there as well.  

    You can rim your glass with just sugar, sugar and chili or nothing at all it depends on what you want to taste.  The simple syrup brings out the flavor of the basil but is subtle in the tasty of the drink.  While you can savor the watermelon flavor with each sip.

    We hope that you will enjoy the Watermelon Basil Margarita this summer.  Stop by the Tipsy Oak Lounge to taste one this June.  As always please remember to drink responsibly and have a designated driver. Cheers!

Herb Infused Cocktail ~ Rosemary Paloma

 

    As we enter into the summer months a cold and refreshing drink on the patio or deck hits the spot after working in the garden, watching sport games or just because.  This months herb infused cocktail is a Rosemary Paloma.

  

    Grapefruit is a winter fruit but can be made into a refreshing drink at any time of the year.  Since our rosemary grows well all year round, why not take advantage of the delicious flavor it provides walking into the summer months.  

    This drink can also be made for a crowd ahead of time for those patio parties or summer bar-b-ques.  We chose to use a darker tequila for this drink to really enhance the rosemary flavor.  The more oaky flavor of the Anejo tequila pulls the rosemary notes from the homemade syrup.  For a lighter version you can use a Silver or reposado tequila.  

    Rosemary Paloma

1 - 1.5 ounces of Tequila

3 ounces of grapefruit juice

1 ounce of rosemary syrup

dash of lime juice

Ice

    Fill a shaker cup with ice.  Top with all the ingredients for the drink and give it a good shake.  Pour into an ice filled glass.  Garnish with a wedge of lime and rosemary sprig.

    This drink is easy to make for a crowd or just a few people.  Of course if you choose to make it a mocktail just eliminate the tequila.  You might even consider adding a splash of grapefruit soda, to add a few bubbles.  

    The rosemary syrup is the standard simple syrup of sugar and water, with rosemary added in from the start.  Let it cool and infuse the flavor longer into the syrup, for a stronger rosemary finish.  The simple syrup will keep in your fridge for up to two weeks. 

    As always please drink responsibly and have a designated driver.  We hope you will enjoy this drink and let us know how you liked it.  Cheers, from the Oaks bed and Breakfast. 

Herb Infused Cocktail ~ Rosemary Cranberry Margarita

 

Tis’ the season to be merry and drink with friends. At least if that’s your style and you enjoy the occasional adult beverage while entertaining or having dinner. For our herb infused cocktail series this month we are bring you a little bit of holiday flavor from the cranberry.

 Cranberries are an amazing fruit that makes an appearance as whole fruit mostly in the month of December. They are related to blueberries and were eaten by sailors to help prevent scurvy. I’m not sure I would eat them raw outside of a baked good or dried but I guess in a pinch to prevent illness I could choke some down.

 At least in this recipe they are cooked down to add flavor to the simple syrup. Along with fresh ginger the simple syrup is what really adds a punch to this drink. The combination of the sour with the bite of the ginger gives the cocktail a tangy yet enjoyable finish.

 

Rosemary Cranberry Margarita

 1 oz simple syrup

3/4 oz grand Marnier

1 oz tequila

Juice of two limes

 

Add everything into a shaker cup filled with ice. Shake until the cup is cold. Pour into a salt or sugar rimmed glass. Garnish with a sprig or rosemary and some of the cranberries from your simple syrup.

 

Cranberry Ginger Simple Syrup

Equal parts water and sugar

Handful of cranberries

Couple slices of ginger

 

Cook over stove top until boiling. The amounts needed are based on how many drink you are planning to make.

You can watch me make this drink, and not remember all my words at our YouTube channel.  I tried hard but failed miserably this month; I promise I practiced.   

 The great part about this cocktail is that it can be made in a large batch and served when ready. While you are planning that holiday party be sure to use a designated driver and always drink responsibly.  Have a great Holiday Season from the Oaks bed and breakfast.  

Herb Infused Cocktail ~ Citrus Basil Margarita

 

    This month for our herb infused cocktail series we are featuring basil.  We currently have four kinds of basil in our garden and each one produces a different flavor to this wonderful herb.  We love to use it is summer dishes, that are cooked as well as those that use the herb raw.  For this this drink we chose two of the varieties to muddle in our mix.

    Basil has been used in the past to help ease stomach issues but the most common use of basil is to make pesto.  Pesto is such a delicious condiment for food use, that while in season you could hardly make enough.  Although it can be time consuming to make pesto, the end result is worth the wait.

    Today we are not making pesto but rather a citrus basil margarita.  Who does not like to make a Margarita to help cool down on those warm summer nights? 

Citrus Basil Margarita

8-10 Basil leaves, muddled

1 medium Lemon

1/2 Lime

1 oz. Tequila

1 oz. Simple Syrup

    Place your basil leaves in the bottom of your shaker cup.  Muddled them quite a bit to release the oils and flavors from the basil.  Squeeze in your lemon and lime.  Add in the Tequila and simple syrup.  Top it off with ice.  Shake until the container is frosted.  Strain  your liquid into a salt rimmed glass.  Garnish with basil and lime.  Enjoy!

    

    As usual if you want to make your own simple syrup, we recommend making it was some basil as well to really bring out the flavor of the basil in the drink.  We love basil so that is what we did when we made this drink.

    We hope that you enjoy this version of a margarita, so simple and refreshing.  If you want to make it a mocktail, just add more lemon and lime, and withhold the tequila.  Enjoy responsibly and always select a designated driver.  Cheers from the Oaks bed and breakfast!

Oregano Infused Paloma ~ herb infused cocktail

    

 

    We are excited about this months cocktail that we have made up for you.  We wanted to have something that would reflect the season of love in a color, and this pink cocktail hit the spot.  Our Oregano infused Paloma is just what the season ordered.  

    We are going to give you two recipes for this post, one for the cocktail and one for the simple syrup.  You can make your simple syrup in advance and with any type of herb you want to feature for additional cocktails or food recipes.  But first a little history over the origins of the Paloma.

    The Paloma was really first found to be paired with Squirt, grapefruit soda, served to guests when entertaining at home.  The simplicity of a little flavored soda and tequila gained popularity as new brands of grapefruit drinks were developed by other manufactures.  To an extent it became the "rum and coke" of the Mexican household.  Squirt found it's place in the fridge like an extra condiment to be used when guests came to call.  We have chosen to "color" our drink with grapefruit juice instead of soda to achieve the pink in honor of Valentine's Day. 

    Oregano is part of the mint family, and was originally grown in Greece. Then traveled North to Rome and on to the East where people in Asia used it for medicinal means.  In some areas it can be grown as a perennial for warmer climates.  While in Northern areas, it might only be grown annual because of the cold weather.  "It was first used by the Greeks.  They believed that this herb was created by the Goddess Aphrodite.  She wanted it to be a symbol of joy gowning in her garden." (myspicer.com/history-of-oregano)

    The Simple Syrup is just that a very simple even ratio mix of water and sugar to create a syrup to sweeten tea or cocktails.  Add in your favorite flavor to make it your own.

Simple Syrup

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup water

2 springs of oregano 

1 sprigs of oregano diced - to release the oils and flavors

Cook on the stove top until the sugar is dissolved fully.  Let cool and add to your drink of choice.

    Now lets get to the good stuff.  We first salted the rim of our glass. We used the remainder of the grapefruit to "wet" the rim so the salt would stick.  After measuring out all the liquid we mixed everything together in a shaker 3/4's full of ice.  Shake it up and pour into your glass.  Top off the drink with a splash of club soda.  Garnish the glass with a slice of grapefruit and a sprig of oregano.

    You can make your drink a mocktail by eliminating the tequila with all club soda. Or go about it in a more traditional route and use Squirt for the additional bubbles.  I would watch the sugar level on this adaptation if you still plan to use the simple syrup.  Sweeten to your desired taste. This would make for a refreshing summer drink as well as a pink holiday drink in winter. 

Oregano Infused Paloma

2 oz. Tequila Blanco

4 oz. Grapefruit juice

1 oz. Oregano simple syrup

Club Soda

Add everything but the club soda to your shaker and shake to combine.  Pour into your cup and top off with a splash of club soda.  Enjoy with chips and guacamole. 

Give us a shout when you try this drink for yourselves.  Mix it up and share your images on social media, be sure to tag us while enjoying your mixer.  Until then Cheers from the Oaks bed and breakfast.