Cocktails, Mocktails, and Fancy Water
Greetings on this snowy Maryland day!
We hope you’re cozied up somewhere reading this and enjoying the winter wonderland outside.
These wintry conditions have us thinking about how to reinvigorate our at-home beverage game. Whether you’re prepping for Super Bowl Sunday on February 7, exploring alcohol-free drink options, or you’re looking for a new cocktail to sip by the fireplace, we’ve got you covered.
We’ve compiled seven of our favorite drink recipes using products from our Barn Market like herbal teas, flavorful hydrosols, dried herbs for making simple syrup and Star Bright Farm Black Walnut Bitters. We’ve even shared a few recipes from our friends at Copper Kitchen catering and Old Westminster Winery who have used our products for their own signature drinks.
At Star Bright Farm, we use hydrosols to take lots of our drinks to the next level. These include drinks with alcohol and those without. If you’re sober curious or abstaining from alcoholic beverages, try adding your favorite hydrosol to a can of sparkling water for a flavorful mocktail. The result tastes refreshing and can be dressed up in a fancy glass to feel special, just like a cocktail.
STAR BRIGHT FARM SPARKLER (NON-ALCOHOLIC). Create the aesthetic of a cocktail without the alcohol. This drink can be customized based on your favorite sparkling water and hydrosol flavors.
Ingredients:
Sparkling water of choice
Hydrosol of choice
Directions:
Pour sparkling water into a Tom Collins glass or a chilled coupe.
Enhance with a light pour or 5-6 spritzes of hydrosol, to taste.
(Above: Breathe Deep Hot Toddy)
BREATHE DEEP HOT TODDY. Wrap your hands around a steaming mug of this brew, and forget the chills of winter. Can be enjoyed with or without bourbon to relieve symptoms of the common cold.
Ingredients:
1.5 ounces Bourbon
2-3 tsp honey, to taste
2-3 tsp lemon juice, to taste
1 cup water
Directions:
Steep tea in boiling water for two minutes.
Mix in honey, bourbon and lemon juice.
Stir until honey is dissolved.
Garnish with lemon slice to serve.
Above: Royal Oak by Copper Kitchen Catering
ROYAL OAK FROM COPPER KITCHEN CATERING. This cocktail tastes refined and thoughtfully composed. The simple syrup is delicious and will keep in the fridge for about a month.
Ingredients for cocktail:
1 ounce vodka
1 ounce tulsi syrup
1 ounce lemon juice
Top with 2 ounces seltzer
2 sprays of Tulsi hydrosol
Ingredients for Tulsi Syrup:
2 cups sugar
2 cups water
3 ounces fresh Tulsi (or 1 ounce dried)
½ teaspoon Tulsi hydrosol
Directions for making Tulsi Simple Syrup: Dissolve sugar in water over heat. Steep Tulsi in hot syrup for 10 minutes and strain. Add hydrosol when cool.
Above: Champagne with Lavender, Lemon Balm, or Lemon Thyme Hydrosol
CHAMPAGNE WITH HYDROSOL. Elevate your bubbly with the light scents of Lavender or crisp Lemon Balm or Lemon Thyme hydrosols for a refreshing herbal splash. Inspired by the flavors of a classic French 75 champagne cocktail.
Ingredients:
Champagne
Fresh lemon slices
Lavender, Lemon Balm or Lemon Thyme hydrosol
Directions:
Fill champagne flute ¾ to the top.
Add 1 tsp hydrosol.
If using Lemon Balm or Lemon Thyme hydrosol, add a fresh squeeze of lemon juice and garner with a fresh lemon slice.
If using Lavender hydrosol, option to garnish with a sprig of dried lavender for panache.
Above : Sweet Marigold Cocktail
SWEET MARIGOLD COCKTAIL. This is one of Peter’s go-to drinks using Sweet Marigold hydrosol for slow, easy sipping after an active day on the Farm.
Ingredients:
Tequila
Large ice cubes
Fresh lime
1 tablespoon Sweet Marigold hydrosol
Directions:
Fill tumbler with tequila of choice.
Add fresh squeeze of lime.
Add Sweet Marigold hydrosol.
Above: Manhattan with Star Bright Farm Black Walnut Bitters
MANHATTAN WITH STAR BRIGHT FARM BITTERS. Mark loves to sip this version of a Manhattan in a tall martini glass. The bitters bring the whiskey and vermouth together in a smooth way. A timeless drink to wind down the day.
Ingredients:
2 ounces rye whiskey
1 ounce sweet vermouth
2-3 dashes of Star Bright Farm Black Walnut Bitters, to taste
Brandied cherries
Directions:
Mix the rye, vermouth and bitters together in an iced mixing glass, and stir well until chilled.
Strain into a chilled glass.
Garnish with a brandied cherry.
Above: Old Westminster Hot Toddy with SBF Afternoon Sun Tea Blend
OLD WESTMINSTER HOT TODDY. Our friends at Old Westminster Winery put their own Maryland spin on this delicious version of the hot toddy.
Ingredients:
5 ounces Afternoon Sun Herbal Tea
1.5 ounces Old Westminster Estate Brandy
½ ounce honey (McCutcheons)
1 cinnamon stick
Fresh lemon
Directions:
Add tea to boiling water.
Steep for 3-5 minutes.
Add brandy, honey and fresh squeeze of lemon.
Garnish with cinnamon stick and lemon slice.