High Desert Cheer - Spring Cocktails featuring New Mexico Wine & Spirits
Following our 3-part exploration of New Mexico's vibrant wine, beer and spirits landscape, local distillers share their favorite Hecho en Nuevo México cocktails for spring. Cheers!
Lavender Sparkler
Ingredients
2 oz Rolling Still Lavender Vodka
1 oz fresh lemon juice
1/2 oz simple syrup (or cane syrup or lemonade)
1/2 oz orange liqueur
Chilled Prosecco
Fresh flower, lemon twist or lavender sprig for garnish
Instructions
In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine lavender vodka, fresh lemon juice, syrup (or lemonade), and orange liqueur. Shake well until chilled and thoroughly mixed, about 15-20 seconds. Strain the cocktail into a flute or coupe glass and top with chilled Prosecco. Garnish and enjoy!
Provided by Nicole Barady - Co-owner, Rolling Still
The Smokin’ Hot
The Smokin' Hot, as you might suspect, combines the smokiness of 505 Spirit's NewMexcal with the heat of our Green Sauce green chile liqueur, and yummy pineapple juice. The flavors balance so well here, with herbaceous flavors and sweet pineapple tang coming first, then the subtle heat from the green chile, and it all finishes with the smooth smokiness from the mezcal.This is delicious both on the rocks and shaken, strained. You decide which way you prefer!
Ingredients
1 oz NewMexcal Smoky Joven Agave Spirit
1 oz Green Sauce green chile liqueur
2 oz pineapple Juice
Instructions
Combine in a shaker with ice. Shake, strain into a martini glass or a glass with new ice. Garnish with a dried pineapple slice or fresh, charred pineapple slice. It’s also great with a Tajin rim!
Provided by Anna Jones - Owner and Founder of 505 Spirits
High Desert Honey Gimlet
Ingredients
2 oz Sigil High Desert Dry Gin
1 oz fresh lime juice
1/2 oz honey simple syrup (we like to make ours with https://www.highdeserthoneyco.... from Taos)
Ice
Lime slices for garnish
Instructions
Place all ingredients into a cocktail shaker and shake for 10-15 seconds. Double strain over fresh ice (we like our gimlet on the rocks). Garnish with a fresh slice of lime.
Provided by Caley Shoemaker - Founder and Master Distiller, As Above, So Below
Blackberry Lemon Drop
Ingredients
2 oz Silver King Vodka from Red River Brewery & Distillery
3/4 oz fresh squeezed lemon juice (1 lemon)
3/4 oz of simple syrup
Ice
Instructions
Combine in a shaker. Shake vigorously then pour into a sugar rimmed rocks glass. Drizzle blackberry syrup on top for added color and taste.
(Check out this fun video, too.)
Provided by Michael Calhoun - Owner and General Manager, Red River Brewery & Distillery
Spanish 75
Ingredients
3/4 oz VARA High Desert Gin
3/4 oz simple syrup
3/4 oz lemon juice (1 lemon)
3 oz VARA Silverhead Brut Sparkling Wine
Instructions
Combine VARA High Desert Gin, simple syrup, and lemon in a shaker. Shake and strain into a champagne flute. Top with VARA Silverhead Brut Sparkling Wine. Garnish with a lemon twist.
Provided by VARA Winery & Distillery
