Jam jars, also known as Mason jars, are everywhere right now.
The list of uses for these humble storage containers is endless and their rise in popularity has taken the internet by storm. With Christmas on the horizon and summer heat setting in, what better way to enjoy some icy, thirst quenching cocktails to soothe your
festive spirits…
Blueberry Infused Vodka Lemonade (via Keep it Simple Foods)
Ingredients: (makes 2 drinks)
• vodka
• 1/2 cup fresh blueberries
• 1/2 cup frozen blueberries
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• lemonade
• lemon slices for garnish
Directions:
• Put the fresh blueberries in the bottom of a mason jar.
• Get some decent vodka.
• Pour it over the berries, filling the mason jar.
• Use a fork to mash up the berries in the bottom. Put on the lid and store in the fridge for at least 12 hours to allow the blueberries to infuse into the vodka.
• The vodka will turn cloudy right away, and will become purplish the longer it infuses.
• Once the 12 hours (or 24, or 36) are up, strain the vodka. Save those liquor-soaked berries for garnish! We don’t want perfectly good fruit going to waste.
• In a small bowl, thaw out the frozen berries and mix with sugar. In a fresh mason jar (or serving glass of your choice), pour in the sugared berries (divided between two jars) and add a bunch of ice.
• Pour in one part blueberry vodka and two parts lemonade. Give it a good stir. Add a few of the vodka-soaked blueberries and a slice of lemon for garnish.
Make-Ahead Frozen Raspberry Margaritas (via Oven Love)
Ingredients
• 1 small container of raspberries
• 1 12 oz. can of frozen limeade concentrate
• 1 cup tequila
• ¼ cup triple sec
• juice of 1 lime
• 3-5 cups ice
• lime slices and coarse salt, for serving
Instructions
• Place raspberries in a blender and process until smooth.
• Pour mixture through a mesh strainer over a small bowl to remove seeds and return the raspberry puree to the blender.
• Add limeade concentrate, tequila, triple sec and lime juice and blend until smooth.
• Add ice until the blender is full, and again blend until smooth.
• Pour into small mason jars, screw on lids and freeze.
• When you’re ready to serve, remove the margaritas from the freezer.
• If you’re using salt, dip the rim into the salt first, then use a straw or fork to stir up the margarita mixture.
• Add a lime slice and serve.
Blackberry Whiskey Lemonade (via Life as a Strawberry)
A delicious blackberry whiskey lemonade cocktail perfect for summer entertaining.
Ingredients (serves 4)
For the blackberry simple syrup:
• 12 oz. fresh blackberries
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup water (optional)
For the Blackberry Whiskey Lemonade:
• 1 cup whiskey
• 1 cup lemon juice
• 1 large rosemary sprig
• 3/4 cup blackberry simple syrup (recipe above)
• 1 cup tonic water or sparkling wine (optional)
Instructions:
For the blackberry simple syrup:
Put the blackberries, sugar, and water (if you’re using it, see recipe notes) in a small saucepan over
medium heat.
Cook for 15-25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until blackberries have softened and you have a thick
syrup.
Strain syrup through a mesh sieve to separate any seeds or lumps from the syrup. You can discard
the leftover pulp, although I like to freeze it in ice cube trays and pop a cube or two in smoothies.
Let syrup cool on the counter for 20 minutes or so before you make the drinks.
For the Blackberry Whiskey Lemonade:
Combine all ingredients in a large shaker and add a handful or two of ice cubes. Depending on the
size of your shaker, you may have to shake the drinks in two batches.
Shake to combine and chill drinks.
Pour over ice into glasses. Top each drink with a splash of tonic water or sparkling wine (optional)
and serve immediately.
Merry Mojito (via Steve the Bartender)
Ingredients
• 60mL White Rum
• 30mL Lime Juice
• 25mL Sugar Syrup
• 6-8 Mint Leaves
• 60mL Soda
Instructions
• Fill a hi-ball glass with ice
• Pick some fresh mint and tear in half, place on the palm of your hand, clap the mint and add to glass
• Add the rum, lime juice and sugar syrup
• Top with a splash of soda
• Stir thoroughly
Notes
This method is perfect for groups as you can presqueeze the lime juice, making the mojito will now be a quick, clean and painfree process.
Southern Style Gin Cocktails (via The Realistic Nutritionist)
Yields 2 cocktails each
Ingredients:
Grapefruit gin & juice:
4 ounces gin
6 ounces freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
Mint leaves
Dash of sugar (optional for sweetness*)
Cucumber cocktail:
4 ounces gin
4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (about 1 1/2 large lemons)
1/4 cucumber, thinly sliced
Splash of tonic water
Directions:
To make the grapefruit drink, use a citrus juicer to extract juice from grapefruit. Remove seeds.
Pour grapefruit juice into a chilled martini mixer with ice. Add gin and shake. Pour mixture over
ice cubes in a chilled glass and garnish with fresh mint.
To make the cucumber drink, pour gin, lemon juice and cucumber slices in a chilled martini mixer
with ice, shake well. Pour mixture into a chilled glass filled with ice and top with tonic water, stir
with a spoon. Garnish with thin slices of lemon and cucumber.
