Refreshing Summer Cocktail Series: Vermont Gin with Everything

Is there really anything better than sitting on the back deck, watching the kids quietly play, while sipping an adult beverage made with gin, with your significant other or group of friends? Add in the warm temperature and sun shining on my face, and it is absolute perfection.

Vermont is world-renowned for cheese, coffee, and craft beer. I am also happy to report that Vermont is also making its mark in the Spirits industry. Gin, vodka, whiskey, mead and other spirits are making their way up the beverage ladder.

In this edition of my Summer Cocktails Series, I will be sharing five cocktails. All of these cocktails can be made using one of these local gins:

Caledonia Spirits, Barr Hill: Located in Caledonia County, this gin is made with juniper berries, and fresh local honey. Unlike some other gins, there is no pine needle aftertaste. It is smooth and easy on the palate and leaves the sweet notes of honey on your tongue.

Smugglers Notch Distillery: Located in Jeffersonville, Vermont, this company was started by a father/son pair who had the vision and drive to provide Vermont with a local distillery.

Silo Distillery: Located in Windsor, this Gin, and other spirits are produced in a barn using ingredients from Vermont and Massachusetts.

Green Mountain Distillery: Located in Morrisville, this distillery focuses on 100% organic and non-GMO ingredients, sourced as locally as possible. Working in small batches to produce a superior quality gin.

Vermont Spirits: Located in Quechee, this distillery started out making vodka, and has since branched out and also produces gin, bourbon, and brandy.

Spicy Gin Mule

Fill a pint size mason jar with ice, then add:

2 oz. Gin

1 Tablespoon Fresh Squeezed Ginger Juice

Fill with Ginger Beer of your choice

Squeeze of a lime

This cocktail pairs nicely with a cheese and fruit platter to balance out the spicy ginger.

Moms Favorite, Gin and Juice

Do you remember the old Snoop Doggy Dogg Song, “Gin and Juice?” Uh….No? Ok, maybe it’s just me. This is my FAVORITE way to drink gin, and juice (even though I am not really using  juice.)

Fill a pint size mason jar with ice, then add:

2 oz. Gin

Fill with San Pellegrino Prickly Pear flavor

Squeeze of a lime

This cocktail pairs nicely with salty appetizers such as spiced nuts, crackers and cheese, and salty pretzels.

Gin Shirley

An adult version of the classic kid favorite, the Shirley Temple.

Fill a pint size mason jar with ice, then add:

2 oz. Gin

1 oz. Grenadine

Top with lemon-lime soda (can substitute diet soda)

Squeeze of a lime

Stir and top with 2 maraschino cherries

This cocktail pairs nicely with grilled burgers and hot dogs.

Rosemary-Maple Gin Fizz

An ode to Vermont, and summer, this is a refreshing and sophisticated cocktail.

Fill a pint size mason jar with ice, then add:

2 oz. Gin

2 small sprigs of rosemary

Splash of maple syrup

Squeeze of half a lemon

Top with club soda (or lemon-lime soda for a sweeter flavor)

This cocktail pairs nicely with a large garden salad topped with Rosemary grilled chicken.

Dirty Martini

Don’t knock it, till you try it!

Fill a shaker cup with ice, and add:

4 oz. Gin

1 oz. Olive brine (brined in Vermouth, not oil or water)

Splash of Vermouth (if you don’t have it, that is OK!)

Shake and strain into a glass

Add 3 olives (I prefer bleu cheese stuffed olives, it is a drink and snack in one!)

This cocktail pairs nicely with a charcuterie board.

Run to the store and pick up a bag of limes and the rest of the ingredients and enjoy a cocktail tonight.

What is your favorite cocktail to enjoy during the warm summer months? Let me know if you try one of the recipes listed above!