Planting for Cocktails

Become a plant “mixologist” by designing a garden around your cocktail preferences! From fruits and vegetables, to herbs and flowers-there’s no limit to what you could grow in your garden and enhance your drinks.

Fruits and Veggies

Blueberries: A natural sweetener, blueberries are great in any drink!

            Blueberry Margaritas

Ingredients: 2 cups fresh blueberries, 3 ounces fresh lime juice, 5 ounces blanco/silver tequila, 2 ounces Grand Marnier (or any orange liqueur), and ice.

Instructions: Add blueberries and lime juice into a blender and pulse until smooth. Strain the juice through a fine-strainer into a cocktail shaker. Discard the blueberry pulp. Add the tequila and orange liqueur, and stir to combine. Fill margarita glasses with ice and pour in the blueberry margarita mixture.

Tomatoes: Don’t ever forget about the power of tomatoes in cocktails! Bloody Marys are iconic and the juicer the tomato you grow, the better the drink.

            Bloody Mary

Ingredients: 1 ½ ounces of vodka, 3 ounces tomato juice, ½ ounce lemon juice, 1 dash of Worcestershire sauce, a pinch of salt and pepper and a pickle for garnish.

Instructions: Build the ingredients over ice. Stir well. Adjust the seasonings to your preferred taste. Garnish with a pickle!

Herbs and Flowers

Mint: Famous for taking over gardens, mint is best controlled in a container.

            Mint Julep

Ingredients: Leaves from 4-5 mint sprigs, ½ ounce simple syrup, 2 ½ ounces bourbon whiskey and additional mint sprig for garnish.

Instructions: Place the mint and simple syrup in a julep cup or double old fashioned glass. Muddle well. Add bourbon. Fill with ice and stir well. Garnish with the mint sprig.

Lavender: Lavender provides a light, floral taste to your drinks!

            Lavender Lemon Drop

Ingredients: 2 ounces lemon vodka, 1 ounce fresh lemon juice, lavender sprig, 1 tablespoon simple syrup, and a lavender sprig for garnish.

Instructions: Muddle lavender and simple syrup in a shaker. Add ice and all the other ingredients. Shake well. Strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with the lavender sprig.

What’s your entertainment style?

From classic to party-animal, everyone has a unique style when it comes to entertaining. Knowing your party style can help you save time and choose the best cocktails! Take our quiz in the Spring/Summer 2017 Inspirations magazine to find out what style suits your personality.

Drink recipes courtesy of The Spruce.