Bright yellow, vivid orange and fiery red aren’t normally on the winter palette. They’re a stark contrast to the white snow and gray skies, but that’s what makes them perfect for the winter palate.
Citrus fruits come alive and are at their best during the winter, gifting to the world the sweetest clementines, juiciest mandarins and heartiest grapefruits.
But harvesting those flavors into a drink is easier said than done, so we asked Breakthru Beverage Colorado’s Beverage Development Specialist Mike Henderson to lend us a helping hand.
The result? Three cocktails that take out the winter doldrums and blend in the winter citrus.
BEET COSMO
2 oz. citrus vodka
.75 oz. orange liqueur
.75 oz. lime juice
.5 oz. beet juice
.25 oz. simple syrup.
Method: Shaken.
Garnish: Orange zest
STRAWBERRY NEGRONI SOUR
1 oz. London Dry Gin
.75 oz. Strawberry-infused red Italian aperitif*
.75 oz. Italian vermouth
.75 oz. lemon juice
.75 oz. simple syrup
1 egg white
Method: Dry shake.
Glassware: Double Old Fashioned
Garnish: Halved strawberry
*For strawberry Italian aperitif, combine 2 pints of fresh strawberries with 1 liter of red Italian aperitif (campari, Bruto Americano, Galliano L’aperitivo, etc.). Let sit for 48 hours, remove strawberries and bottle.
THE DON DRAPER
2.5 oz. citrus-infused bourbon*
.33 oz. maraschino liqueur
1 bar spoon simple syrup
3 dashes aromatic bitters
Method: Stirred.
Glassware: Double Old Fashioned
Garnish: Lemon and orange zest
*For citrus-infused bourbon, use a vegetable peeler to remove the skin from 1 small lemon and 1 small orange. Combine with 1 liter of bourbon. Let sit for 24 hours, remove peels and bottle.