My dear connoisseurs of the good life, you are about to embark upon a sublime summertime adventure, the creation of a jewel-toned vodka infusion of delicate taste and fragrant aroma. Your journey will embrace the marriage of seasonal delicacies to the fine, premium spirit of your choice. To elevate your imbibing experience, serve these amber, gold, and pastel vodka cocktails in a graceful flute glass, heirloom cordial glass, or classic rocks glass.
DIRECTIONS FOR INFUSED VODKA COCKTAILS
Select the season’s most flavorful fresh or dried fruits, vegetables, or herbs. Thoroughly wash, rinse, and dry ingredients. Prepare according to each recipe’s directions. Gently place ingredients in a one-and-one-half quart, wide-mouth decanter, glass pitcher, or mason jar. Or be “smart casual” and recycle a glass juice bottle. Add one 750 ml. bottle of your preferred premium vodka. Next, let the mixture infuse in the fridge per recipe directions. The vodka will absorb the ingredients’ flavors.
Taste once or twice to determine whether you prefer a stronger flavor. Add more ingredients as desired. Should the flavor be too intense, add more vodka. Yay! Ok, now…discard ingredients. {Note to connoisseurs: loaded with alcohol, they are unpalatable. However, infused peppers and tomatoes can be cooked on the grill when barbecuing meat.}
Quick tips: Serve your summer vodka cocktail infusions ice cold. For a frozen dessert drink, blend ice cream with your fruit infusion. Garnish each cocktail with fresh ingredients.
Kippis! {Cultural note: that’s Finnish for “cheers.”}
LET THE SUMMER FUN BEGIN!
Pineapple Kiss, Drink, Chicago, Il.
2 c. chopped fresh pineapple
2 springs fresh mint
Infuse 2 – 3 days
Lemon Burst, Golden Mushroom, Southfield, MI.
2 sprigs, 12” long, fresh lemon verbena or 2 stalks lemon grass
Infuse 1 -2 days
A Star is Born, Star Bar, Chicago, IL.
1 c. dried apricots & dried blueberries
1 strip fresh orange rind, 10” long, 1” wide
1 star fruit, sliced
Infuse 3 – 4 days
Citrus Splash, Bistro Roti, San Francisco, CA.
1 med. ruby grapefruit
1 med. Valencia orange
1 lime
Cut fruit in half circles with peel intact
Infuse 1 day
Tropical Isle, Paolo’s, Washington, DC
1 mango & papaya, peeled & chopped
2 lime slices
½ c simple sugar syrup
Infuse 2 -3 days
Fruit Salad, Doral Resort & Country Club, Miami, FL.
1 med. ripe pineapple, chopped
1 c blueberries, raspberries & seedless green grapes
Infuse 2 -3 days
Jim Seals, RIP, June 6, 2022, age 80
Hi Amy,
This article’s recipes are both delicious and useful on a hot summer Florida day or evening. Keep them coming. Can’t wait to try the recipes!
Norm
Thanks, Norm! Let us know your faves and we’ll share your choices with the world of vodka connoisseurs!
Sounds delicious, but I’ll be using iced tea or water in stead of the Vodka.
Love the iced tea idea…”Kippis!” Finnish for “cheers.”