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Cocktails

Cranberry Kicker

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This is a refreshing play on a ginger mule.

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz cranberry juice
  • 2 oz ginger beer (preferably Fever Tree)
  • 1 oz fresh lime juice
  • 1 oz simple syrup (recipe below)
  • A pinch of cayenne pepper
  • Ice cubes

Instructions:

Fill a shaker with ice. Add the cranberry juice, lime juice, simple syrup, and cayenne pepper to the shaker. Shake well to mix. Strain the mixture into your highball glass filled with ice, and top with ginger beer. Stir gently and serve.

This cocktail has a sweet, tangy, and spicy flavor, with a touch of heat from the cayenne pepper. The cranberry juice provides a sweet, tart flavor, the ginger beer contributes a spicy kick, the lime juice provides tartness, and the simple syrup adds sweetness. The cayenne pepper will provide a warming sensation that mimics the heat of alcohol. Give it a try!

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the Cheeky Deacons

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The Cheeky Deacons were motivated by our desire to showcase a combination of flavors that would evoke a sense of tropical warmth and exotic luxury, using ingredients that would provide both a sweet and fruity flavor profile, as well as a creamy and smooth mouthfeel.

Ingredients:

  • 1 oz turmeric syrup (recipe below)
  • 1 oz mango puree
  • 1 oz coconut cream
  • 1 oz orange juice
  • Dash of black pepper
  • Edible golden glitter

Instructions:

Fill two shot glasses with equal portions of the turmeric syrup and mango puree, creating two separate layers. Carefully pour the coconut cream on top of the mango puree, being careful not to disturb the other layers. Slowly pour the orange juice on top of the coconut cream, creating a swirl effect. Sprinkle a dash of black pepper on top of each shot. Finish by adding a pinch of edible golden glitter on top of each shot for added sparkle and elegance.

Inspired by the exotic flavors of tropical fruits and spices, this recipe combines the bright and sunny flavor of orange juice with the sweet and creamy flavor of coconut cream and mango puree. The turmeric syrup adds a touch of earthiness and warmth to the shot, while the black pepper adds a touch of heat and depth to the flavor profile.

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Chocolate Almond Cold Brew Martini

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We wanted to create a well-balanced drink that incorporates the bold, rich flavor of cold-brew coffee. This cocktail is a creamy, chocolatey, coffee drink that is perfect for any time of day and any occasion.

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz cold-brew coffee or double shot of espresso
  • 2 oz almond milk
  • 1 oz chocolate syrup
  • 1/2 oz simple syrup (or to taste) (recipe below)
  • Ice cubes
  • Whipped cream (optional)
  • Cocoa powder (optional)

Instructions:

Fill a shaker with ice. Add the cold-brew coffee, almond milk, chocolate syrup, and simple syrup to the shaker. Shake well to mix and aerate. Strain the mixture into a martini glass (or a highball glass filled with ice). Top with whipped cream and sprinkle with cocoa powder, if desired. Serve immediately and enjoy.

This coffee-based non-alcoholic cocktail has a smooth, creamy texture. The cold-brew coffee provides a bold, rich flavor; the almond milk adds a nutty, creamy quality; and the chocolate syrup contributes a sweet, chocolatey flavor. The whipped cream, if desired, provides a light, creamy texture, and the cocoa powder, if desired, adds a slightly bitter, chocolatey flavor.

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Bubbles Laying in the Grass

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“Bubbles Laying in the Grass” is a whimsical name for a cocktail that evokes the feeling of relaxing in the grass on a sunny day with a refreshing drink. To create a non-alcoholic version, you can use the following recipe:

Ingredients:

  • 6 oz sparkling water
  • 2 oz fresh grapefruit juice
  • 1 oz fresh lemon juice
  • 1 oz elderflower syrup
  • 2-3 fresh mint leaves
  • 1 oz raspberry syrup
  • Sliced fresh ginger root (2-3 eighth-inch thick slices) or splash ginger beer
  • Ice

Instructions:

Fill a highball glass with ice. In a cocktail shaker muddle the ginger root, then add the grapefruit juice, lemon juice, elderflower syrup, mint leaves, and raspberry syrup. Shake well and strain the mixture into the glass with ice. Top up the glass with sparkling water. Stir gently to combine. Garnish with a mint sprig, a raspberry, and a slice of grapefruit.

This elevated version of the cocktail “Bubbles Laying in the Grass” still has all the bright, refreshing flavors of the original, but with a touch of sweetness from the elderflower syrup and raspberry syrup. Enjoy this delicious drink as you relax and soak up the sunshine!


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the Audacious Bunny

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A riff of the Peter Piper we present below–we were struggling to find any sort of passionfruit locally, so we had to improvise (shocker: it’s difficult to find tropical fruit in Colorado in February). The result is refreshing and complex, and it has a kick from the black pepper syrup.

Ingredients:

  • 2 lime wedges, plus lime juice as needed
  • 10 dashes Lucini White Balsamic Vinegar
  • 3/4 oz Tellicherry Black Pepper Syrup (recipe below)
  • 3/4 oz pineapple juice
  • 1 oz tonic water
  • 1 oz ginger beer
  • Pineapple fronds and/or pineapple slice, for garnish

Instructions:

Squeeze the lime wedges into a jigger and then fill the jigger with lime juice until you reach 1/2 oz. In a cocktail shaker, combine the lime juice, lime rinds, and remaining ingredients except the garnish. Fill a highball glass with crushed ice. Add a few ice cubes to the shaker, cover, and shake vigorously, essentially whipping the ingredients. Strain the mixture into the glass and garnish. Add a splash of ginger beer and tonic water, and stir gently to combine. Serve immediately and enjoy!

This soft cocktail has a complex and somewhat bold flavor profile with a balance of sweet, sour, and spicy notes. The lime juice and vinegar provide the sour element, while the Tellicherry black pepper syrup adds a spicy kick. The ginger beer adds a touch of sweetness and spice, the tonic water adds a gentle bitter undertone, and the pineapple juice provides a fruity sweetness.

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Old Fashioned

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This is a new twist on an old fashioned–a cocktail that typically consists of bourbon, orange peel, bitters, and cherry.

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz brewed black tea
  • 3/4 oz unsweetened cranberry juice
  • 1/2 oz freshly squeezed orange juice
  • 1 oz pure maple syrup (or agave syrup)
  • 2-4 dashes of aromatic bitters (Fee Brothers or similar)
  • Orange peel & Luxardo maraschino cherry, for garnish

Instructions:

Brew the black tea ahead of time, letting it chill until it’s time to make your drinks.

In a double old fashioned glass filled with ice cubes (or one large cube) and add the tea. In a shaker, add the cranberry juice, orange juice, syrup, and bitters. Gently shake to mix. Strain the mixture into your glass with tea. Express the orange peel over the drink to release its essential oils, then use it to garnish the drink. Add cherries as desired. Serve immediately and enjoy.

Ideas to Modify:

To enhance the flavor and complexity of the mocktail, you could try infusing the black tea with some herbs or spices, such as cinnamon, cloves, or cardamom, before mixing it with the other ingredients. Or, consider using a different type of juice, such as pomegranate or grapefruit juice, to replace the cranberry juice, which can add a unique flavor to the drink. Instead of using maple syrup, you could try using honey or a honey syrup, which can add a floral note to the mocktail. To give the drink a smoky flavor that’s reminiscent of a traditional Old Fashioned, you could try using lapsang souchong tea instead of black tea, which has a smoky flavor due to its drying process over pine wood fires.

This non-alcoholic Old Fashioned has a fruity, sweet-tart flavor with a slightly bitter finish. The black tea is used instead of bourbon, giving the cocktail a rich taste in lieu of the alcohol. The unsweetened cranberry juice provides a tart fruity flavor, the orange juice provides a citrus flavor, and the maple syrup balances the flavors with sweetness and dark sugar notes. The bitters provide an aromatic quality that is typical of an Old Fashioned.


Elegant Shenanigans

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Ideal for your celebration or special occasion, this cocktail showcases the flavors and aromas of black tea, pepper, and turmeric. It’s balanced and complex. To top it off, it looks good too!

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 oz black tea syrup (recipe below)
  • 1/2 oz black pepper syrup (recipe below)
  • 1/2 oz turmeric syrup (recipe below)
  • 1 oz fresh squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 oz fresh squeezed orange juice
  • 2 oz ginger beer
  • Shot of espresso (about an ounce)
  • Fresh mint leaves, for garnish

Instructions:

In a shaker filled with ice: add the black tea syrup, black pepper syrup, turmeric syrup, lemon juice, and orange juice. Shake until well combined. Strain the mixture into your glass filled with ice. Top with the ginger beer and espresso. Stir gently to combine. Garnish with fresh mint leaves.

This ultra-premium soft cocktail is a unique and sophisticated blend of bold flavors, with a well-balanced sweetness from the lemon and orange juice, a spicy kick from the black pepper syrup, and a touch of earthy flavor from the turmeric syrup. The addition of ginger beer provides a refreshing carbonation, while the espresso adds depth and richness to the drink.

the Wicked Librarian

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Ideal for those who enjoy bold and unique flavors, the Wicked Librarian is a berry-based cocktail with a touch of espresso (and heat). Beautifully garnished, this cocktail becomes a visual masterpiece, making it a great option for impressing guests.

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz fresh blackberries
  • 1 shot espresso (about an ounce)
  • 1 oz vanilla simple syrup (recipe below)
  • 1 oz lemon juice
  • Pinch of cayenne pepper
  • Blackberries and lemon wheel for garnish
  • Ice cubes

Instructions:

Muddle the fresh blackberries in the bottom of a cocktail shaker (or puree them in a blender or food processor). Add to the blackberries in your shaker: cold brew espresso, vanilla syrup, lemon juice, and the cayenne. Fill the shaker with ice and shake for about 20 seconds. Strain the mixture into a martini glass. Garnish with a few blackberries and a lemon wheel.

The combination of sweet and tart flavors from the blackberries and lemon, balanced with the richness of the espresso and vanilla syrup, creates a drink that is both satisfying and invigorating. The cayenne pepper provides a subtle heat that would normally come from alcohol, adding a touch of excitement to the drink.