Kate's Birthday Cocktails

A friend of ours was saying she wish she knew how to make cocktails so for her birthday we showed up with a box full of things to make 4 recipes that included two of her favorite spirits: gin and bourbon. Here are the cocktails we made:

Gin Gimlet

Ingredients:

• 2 oz gin (or vodka)

• 1/2 oz sweetened lime juice

Instructions:

• In a shaker, combine gin and sweetened lime juice .

• Add ice cubes to the shaker and shake well to chill the mixture.

• Strain the mixture into a cocktail glass.

• Garnish with a wedge of lime.

Pear Rosemary Gin Fizz

Ingredients:

• 2 oz gin

• 1 oz pear rosemary simple syrup

• 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice

• Sparkling water

• Ice cubes

• Pear slices and rosemary sprig for garnish

Instructions:

• In a shaker, combine gin, pear rosemary simple syrup, and fresh lemon juice.

• Add ice cubes to the shaker and shake well to chill the mixture.

• Strain the mixture into a glass filled with ice.

• Top off with sparkling water for a fizzy touch.

• Garnish with pear slices and a sprig of rosemary.

• Stir gently and enjoy your Pear Rosemary Gin Fizz!

(Juicy) Old Fashion

Ingredients:

• 2 oz bourbon

• 1/8 oz simple syrup

• 2 cherries

• 1 orange slice

• 2 dashes of Bitters

Instructions:

• In a rocks glass, middle simple syrup, bitters, orange and cherries.

• File the glass with ice

• Add bourbon (and a splash of soda [optional])

• Stir gently

• Garnish with an orange.

• Enjoy

Spicy Bourbon Smash

Ingredients:

• 2 oz bourbon

• 1 oz cucumber habanero simple syrup

• 1/2 oz fresh lime juice

• 4-5 fresh mint leaves

• Cucumber slices and mint sprig for garnish

• Ice cubes

Instructions:

• In a shaker, muddle mint leaves with fresh lime juice.

• Add bourbon and cucumber habanero simple syrup to the shaker.

• Fill the shaker with ice cubes and shake well to combine and chill.

• Strain the mixture into a glass filled with ice.

• Garnish with cucumber slices and a mint sprig.

• Give it a gentle stir, and enjoy the Spicy Bourbon Smash!

We all had a wonderful time!