A summery, Northern Michigan spirit-infused cocktail is the perfect recipe for a warm, sunset evening with friends and family. We asked “Spirits Ambassador” Perry Harmon at Grand Traverse Distillery (winner of our Red Hot Best Distillery) to offer up a couple of recipes just right for the season of sun. The following Northern Michigan cocktail recipes were first featured in the June 2014 Red Hot Best issue of Traverse, Northern Michigan’s Magazine.
Cilantro Gin Smash
This recipe works well now and on into late summer, as cilantro is readily available at local grocers and will soon be at our farmers markets or fresh from your own garden. Kind of a Mexican Mojito.
- 8 cilantro leaves; stalks removed
- ¾ ounce fresh lime juice
- ¾ ounce basic simple syrup
- Ice cubes, plus crushed ice
- 1 K ounces Grand Traverse Distillery Peninsula Gin
- Club soda or sparkling water
- 1 lime wheel
In a cocktail shaker, muddle the cilantro with the fresh lime juice and simple syrup. Add ice cubes and the Peninsula Gin and shake well. Strain into a crushed ice–filled Collins glass. Stir in the club soda/sparkling water and garnish with the lime wheel.
Vodka and Cucumber (pictured above)
A great refresher that is clean and crisp using Grand Traverse Distillery’s Wheat Vodka and a unique small-batch cocktail syrup.
- 2 sprigs of fresh parsley
- 2 lime wedges
- 1 ounce Quince & Apple Lime and Cucumber Syrup (sold at Grand Traverse Distillery)
- Ice Cubes, plus crushed ice
- 2 ounces Grand Traverse Distillery Wheat Vodka
- Club soda or sparkling water
- English cucumber wheel
In a cocktail shaker, muddle the parsley with the fresh lime juice and Q & A Lime and Cucumber Syrup. Add ice cubes and the vodka and shake well. Strain into a crushed-ice filled Collins glass. Stir in the club soda/sparkling water and garnish with the cucumber wheel.
