Monday, June 8, 2009
Drinks Ade Aid
Posted by Chris Chamberlain on Mon, Jun 8, 2009 at 2:42 PM
Ah, summertime and a boy's fancy turns to getting his drank on.
Just as movie studios scramble to produce the perfect summer fluff and record companies strive to find the linchpin to your beach trip play list, mixologists are hard at work in their laboratories concocting the perfect cocktail to quench your thirst and lower your inhibitions.
We've all lived through the sex on the beach phase and experienced the virtual international travel to the worlds of caipirinhas and mojitos. But what will be the drink that you add to your repertoire this summer?
Frequent Bites commenter Delaney has offered an early contender in her response to last week's open thread. When Mr. Pink suggested steeping freshly picked mint sprigs in Simply Limeade as a summer refresher, Delaney turned up the magic:
Try Simply Limeade with blueberry vodka and a basil leaf. It's the anti-Girlie Drink.
It took about 30 seconds for me to get on my bicycle and pedal to Publix to acquire the necessary ingredients. I already had the blueberry vodka on hand, leftover from last year's summer staple of blueberry Stoli, lemonade and mint. But Delaney's invention made me want to trample my mint patch, especially since it is invading my whole herb garden anyway. Pushy plant.
The substitution of basil and lime in place of mint and lemon adds a really refreshing element to the drink. Instead of being cloyingly sweet, this has some depth to it, something you could drink before a meal without deadening your taste buds like when you brush teeth before drinking orange juice.
I have suggested this drink to several friends to great acclaim. Someone even said they were going to name it after me, but I have to come clean. Props to Delaney for her suggestion, and now go forth and spread the gospel, Bites readers.
Keep watching this space for more summer cocktail suggestions. I'm going to enjoy a Muddled Delaney on the back deck with Flo-rida, Sista Soulja and Vampire Weekend on the iPod and pretend I'm actually ahead of a trend for a change.
Comments (24)
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Drinks with flavored vodka and herbs = delicious, and I hope to have one soon. But anti-Girlie? Discuss.
I'm really digging John Daley's - Sweet Tea Vodka (STV) with fresh squeezed lemonade (made not too sweet) cut with a splash of club soda. I usually mix the STV and lemonade 50/50 and keep it in a pitcher in the fridge. When I'm ready for one I squeeze a few lemon wedges over ice, fill glass about 2/3's with the John Daley mix, then about 1/3 club soda. A sprig of mint would not be a bad thing.
Flavored vodkas are the lazy man's answer to the hot trend of the early aughts, infusions.
And anyone who knows me knows that I am always in rooting for the lazy man. Stick it to the busybodies, always making the rest of us look bad!
The Delaney sounds delicious, may have to pick up some blueberry vodka and try that soon.
My summer drink so far (and it's not even technically summer yet so I'm ahead of the curve!) has been a vodka collins made with sweet tea vodka. 1 part each sweet tea vodka and collins mix, club soda and a squeeze of lemon. I've been lazy and using a bottled collins mix but it would be even tastier with a homemade mix. Fresh mint would probably also add a nice flavor to it.
My standard go-to drink for beach/poolside/summer fun is Tanqueray Rangpur Lime Gin with Ginger Ale. Sometimes with some cranberry juice if I'm feeling fruity. It's so light and refreshing (and I don't normally like gin).
I love the basil idea. I have a lemon basil in my garden right now. I think I'm going to experiment tonight.
Favorite Summer Beer: Sweetwater Blue
I'm also a fan of the Simply Limeade and Simply Lemonade (with Rasperry). $2.00 each at Wally World for those that shop there. It's around $3 at Publix...to me, it's WELL worth the extra $1 to avoid Wally World.
my always in style signature drink is simply good vodka, club soda and a twist of any citrus, but preferably grapefruit.
What is The Patterson serving up for the summer?
Side thought: I'd be cool if Bites had a mixed drink from a local Nashville bar every month or so.
Ah, what a gratifying post! I'm glad the Muddled Delaney is spreading some love on a Monday evening!
I had another idea: that same delicious Simply Limeade with that new Pineapple Vodka and Cilantro! I'm loving a pineapple salad with those flavors right now, what could go wrong with a refreshing cocktail along the same lines? Cilantro haters stay home...
Oh! And Lesley, I called it the anti-Girlie drink because it is not: a. pink b. decorated with umbrellas or tropical fruits or c. face-puckering sweet.
Went to a baby shower a few weeks ago that had a signature cocktail. (My kind of baby shower!) Limoncello with lemon Perrier and lots of ice. Really lovely - very refreshing, and low-octane enough that you can drink a whole bunch of them in the sun and still be reasonably lucid.
I was never big on whiskey until a friend made me what we later referred to as a "Bonnaroo Breakfast Buzz": 2 parts Minute Maid Cherry Limeade and 1 part Jack Daniels. Easy, cheap and refreshing...
Dave, ask and ye shall receive. I hope it's ok if it's more often than that. We're in search of the perfect summer cocktail and definitely enjoying the hunt. We'll post more contenders soon.
But in the meantime, I'm enjoying my nightly Delaney on the veranda.
I've been meaning to brag about my recent simple syrup triumph: 1 part sugar, 1 part water, a bunch of sliced fresh ginger, a bunch of fresh rosemary. Boil until sugar dissolves in water. Cool, strain and mix with any combination of ginger ale, Fresca, soda water, lime juice, vodka and rum. Serve over ice.
First last and always: The Cape Cod with a twist of lime, preferably while watvhing Jaws or One Crazy Summer.
Second, more regional option: A drink of my own creation, the "Tullahoma Twister". Dr. Enuf and Dickel over crushed ice with whatever citrus you have in the fridge. Only suggested if you plan on RAMPAGING you way through the day.
Cape Cod=Vodka cran
I've always wondered what a "something" and "something else" drink had to do to qualify for a name. Like how a rum and coke became a Cuba Libre.
I'm guessing something slutty was involved.
RE: Tullahoma Twister, in my life I've drunk enough Dickel Drops (Sundrop instead of Dr. Enuf) that I should qualify for honorary Marshall Countian status.
CeeElCee, you must have crossed the county line a few times while doing Dickel Drops. George Dickel is made in Tullahoma aka Coffee County.
Does anyone remember mixing rum or whatever with Sonic Slushes growing up. The perfect teenage mixer.
My favorite summer drink is Skinny Dip, the seasonal brew from New Belgium Brewery. Very crisp and refreshing.
Can you give some proportions for the Delaney? 1:1, 1:2? Muddle the basil first? Thanks
BW and Pogo, I just said I drank them in Marshall County. I think the water fountains in the local high school must run yellow with Sundrop.
I definitely know where Dickel is made. I contend Cascade Hollow is one of the most beautiful places in the state!
David M., I should probably leave it to Delaney to establish her proportions for her drink, but I pour a three count of vodka, add half the ice, roll 3-4 basil leaves between my palms, drop them in and then top off the drink with ice and Simply Limeade.
Simply delicious.
