The Spirit of Things: Ginger Beer Highball

When I was growing up, my mother would make dozens of bourbon balls for the Holidays, starting well enough in advance so that they would have time to develop and mature before giving them away to friends and family. In the spirit of transparency, I confess she actually made these treats with rye whisky (and not bourbon), but after sampling a few, no one could be bothered to quibble over such pesky details :-)

To help pass the tedious time rolling ball after ball, my mother would mix herself a classic Highball of whisky and ginger ale on the rocks. It's an extremely pleasing combination, and one that reminds me of Winter - but when I came into a bottle of whisky recently, I saw no reason to wait that long! I added some peppery kick in the form of ginger beer, and the addition of mint for that Churchill Downs feeling:

Ginger Beer Highball

Ingredients:
4-5 fresh mint leaves
2 oz. whisky (or bourbon)
2-3 ice cubes
6 oz. ginger beer (naturally sweetened if you can find it)

Roughly tear mint leaves and place in the bottom of your glass. Add whisky and let steep for a few minutes (if you want to muddle the mint leaves in the whisky, that would be fabulous). Add ice, top with ginger beer, and serve. Easy - and refreshing!

Notes: The ginger beer may seem too sharp and fiery for warm weather, but it really is the perfect thing on a hot day. Make sure it's completely chilled before using. If you can't find or don't like ginger beer, of course use a good ginger ale in its place.

>o<

Sugar and Spice: Homemade Spiced Hot Cocoa Mix

Although I alluded to homemade hot cocoa mix during the holidays, I never actually provided a recipe. Yikes! But since the days are still cold, and the nights perfect for snuggling by the fire, it's still a great time to have this on hand. I experimented with a couple of flavors back in December, but this Spiced Hot Cocoa was my personal favorite. The spices are warming, the cocoa not too sweet, and all of it together is very comforting. As a bonus, the mix takes only minutes to make—last-minute Valentine's gift, anyone? So, without further ado, here it is!

Spiced Hot Cocoa Mix

Ingredients:
1 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/2 cup vanilla sugar (regular sugar is fine)
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Mix all ingredients together until combined; store in an airtight container.

For each serving, combine 2 Tablespoons mix with 1 cup milk of your choice in a small saucepan. Whisk over medium heat until smooth and hot. Top with whipped cream and a few shavings of chocolate, if desired.

Note: This cocoa mix is adapted from this wonderful recipe—how easy is that?

>o<

Shrubs: Not Just For Planting

Admittedly, I only first heard of shrubs a few months ago, even though they've been around for several centuries. Shrubs, or drinking vinegars, were common in colonial times, and have become popular again with modern mixologists and home drinkologists alike. The idea was enormously pleasing to me as well, as shrubs are a unique way to preserve and enhance the flavors of fresh fruit very easily at home.

All assembled.

Using the "cold" method outlined here, I set out to create three different shrubs, steeping the fruits and flavorings in vinegar prior to straining and sweetening:

Shaken, not stirred.

1. Orange-Rosemary  Shrub made with champagne vinegar and sweetened with honey.
2. Cranberry-Ginger Shrub made with apple cider vinegar and sweetened with white sugar.
3. Apple-Spice Shrub made with apple cider vinegar and sweetened with light brown sugar.

The final results.

Once they were ready, I was able to move forward with the fun part - the drinks!

1. Tisane - just a teaspoon or two of the Orange-Rosemary Shrub made a tangy tisane. Additional honey would make this the perfect beverage to soothe a sore throat.

Not your usual cuppa.

2. Spritzer - a few spoonfuls of the Cranberry-Ginger Shrub topped off with lime seltzer made a refreshing and festive-looking spritzer.

Pretty in pink.

3. Highball - the warmth of the Apple-Spice Shrub was the perfect addition to the usual rye and ginger ale.

Bottom's up.

Shrubs have definitely added a kick to my drinking routine, all with very little effort from me. I'm already thinking about what kind to make next... Vanilla-Pear Shrub, anyone?

Notes: I'm a novice at this process, but a few quick web searches will provide you with information, instructions, and loads of fabulous shrub recipes. Shrubs can also be purchased online and at specialty food and drink stores. Experiment and enjoy!

>o<