Earlier this month a box of B Square Vodka arrived for me to try out. The companies' logic is simple, by putting their spirits in a portable, non breakable vessel, it becomes ideal for the outdoors. Camping, boating, lounging by the pool, picnics on the beach, anywhere a drink would be fun and broken glass would not.
Considering it's December, and it's quite cold, most of those outdoor activities simply no longer fit as something I would rationally do. So I came up with the idea for a bonfire. Naturally there was the problem of needing a place to have the bonfire and needing at least one other person to be in the photos with me (because who has a bonfire alone?). Fortuitously, my friend Meg volunteered herself, her husband, and her fire pit. There was one evening in December we could make it work, so I got the fire wood, the plastic cups, the simple cranberry mixer and headed over.
The sun was getting low, Meg's husband worked on building up the fire, and then, we couldn't get it started. After an hour of standing out the cold fussing over twigs that just wouldn't catch, we decided the recent rain must have gotten everything too wet and ran out of ideas on how to get it to start.
With the kibosh on the bonfire I decided I'd have to move to plan b, a fun mixed drink, because regardless of the box, vodka is vodka and it might as well be enjoyed.
I really like making simple syrups, as the name implies they are easy, and a great way to impart a lot of flavor without too much fuss. I also was going for a coral color, as that was announced as the Pantone color of the year. I even found a rosé California champagne to further intensify the shade.
Finally, I dug up my grandmothers crystal champagne glasses to serve it in. A far cry from the plastic I'd initially purchased, but certainly more fitting for this drink.
Cheers!
-Lydia
Ingredients:
Cranberry Orange Ginger Simple Syrup
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup water
rind of one orange
handful of cranberries
one inch piece of fresh ginger, sliced
For the drink
two ounces of vodka
two ounces of cranberry orange ginger simple syrup
eight ounces of champagne or sparkling wine
ice
2 pieces of orange rind
Simple Syrup Instructions:
- Using a vegetable peeler, remove the rind from the orange, avoiding as much of the pith as possible. Remove the skin from the ginger and slice.
- In a small sauce pan, combine all the ingredients for the simple syrup and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and let simmer for 15 minutes.
- Strain the syrup using a fine mesh strainer and let cool.
- Combine the vodka, simple syrup, and ice in a cocktail shaker, mix and pour into glasses.
- Top with the champagne.
- Peel two more pieces of orange rind, twist over each glass and drop in.
Thanks to B Square Vodka for providing me with their product to try. As always my views and opinions are my own.
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