Vodka, we love you, but for now, it’s time to move you to the back of the liquor cabinet. This is the summer of gin and whiskey (and maybe a little tequila, too).

If you’ve been to any happy hour in the past few weeks, you’ve probably seen a signature cocktail or two that features trendy liquors, also known as gin or whiskey. And from what I’m tasting, I couldn’t be happier with these trends.

Now, we all know it’s fun to get cocktails made with trendy liquors while out, but making drinks at home can be equally as enjoyable (and much more affordable, too).

If you’re looking for a gin that’s filled with the essence of spring and summer, give Art in the Age’s SAGE a try. According to Art in the Age, the liquor is “instilled with organic American botanicals including thyme, rosemary, lavender, fennel, and sage.” You can make a killer drink with SAGE (called the Greenhouse Gimlet) with some simple syrup and limes. (Another organic gin to consider is Juniper Green Organic Gin.)

Now, for the whiskey lovers. Koval makes six types of organic whiskey, including bourbon, four grain, millet, oat, white rye, rye, and other various limited editions. In addition to slinging whiskey, the company also sells liqueurs and dry gin. While I’m not a whiskey lover, this user-submitted cocktail (called the Kentucky Bug) that uses the company’s bourbon looks great. It contains lemon juice, strawberry, bitters, and ginger beer. (Another whiskey to consider is Highland Harvest Organic Scotch Whiskey.)

I don’t know about you, but tequila is always “in” in my book. A great organic tequila to try is 4 Copas Organic Tequila. We suggest adding it to the below cocktail featured on EcoSalon:

The Mexican Mule with Tequila

Photos by Ally-Jane 

Makes 1 6 ounce cocktail over ice 

Ingredients 

1 1/2 shots (1.5 ounces) tequila (very cold)
1 shot (1 ounce ) fresh lime juice (from about 2 limes)
1 jalapeño 
4 ounces ginger beer (very cold)

Directions 

Slice the jalapeño into very thin pieces and add two (remove the seeds) to a highball class or mason jar. Add the tequila and use a muddler or the back of a wooden spoon to crush the jalapeño.

Add the lime juice and stir. Add 3 large ice cube then top off with the lime juice and ginger beer and stir gently.

Related on EcoSalon

10 DIY Cocktail Syrups for Delicious Summer Drinking

Diet Whiskey is an Actual Thing Now

Delicious Gin Cocktail Recipe with Poached Pear Simple Syrup

Image of whiskey cocktail from Shutterstock

The post Vodka’s Out, These Trendy Liquors Are in For Chic Summer Cocktails appeared first on EcoSalon.

Make the puree for this poached pear and gin cocktail the day before so your happy hour can be truly happy.

The delicate sweetness of pear juice is enhanced in a fool-proof simple syrup. Simple syrup is simply sugar and water. Many recipes call for one part sugar and one part water but I don’t like my cocktails to be extremely sweet. This recipe calls for less sugar and relies on the natural sweetness of the pear.

As for the pears, I like to use over ripe Boscs or Bartletts in a pinch. Bosc pears are usually thinner than the more common and plump Anjou pears. Bosc pears are usually light brown with textured skin. Use very ripe Bosc or Bartlett pears if you can and by poaching the pears in syrup you’ll preserve the flavor without adding too much sweetness.

Gin is a sweet liquor to begin with so I recommend using a more aromatic gin like Hendricks which will add herbal notes. Sometimes I find that too many herbal notes make a cocktail taste like a bubble bath, but you should be okay with this one. Plus, adding a lemon peel balances the sweetness and ads a pop of color.

Pear Gin Cocktail

Makes 4 cocktails

Ingredients

1 cup water
3 tablespoons sugar
1 Bosc pear
1 lemon
4 oz Hendricks Gin 

Directions 

Peel and slice the pear into small pieces. Add to a medium sauce pan with the water and sugar over medium heat. Bring to a slight boil (about 5 minutes) and then simmer over low heat for 10 minutes to poach the pear.

Allow the mixture to cool to room temperature and then puree in a blender or food processor.

Add 2 oz. pear puree and 1 oz gin to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake for 20 seconds and pour into a champagne flute. Use a vegetable peeler to peel a 2 inch strip of lemon peel and add to each glass.

Note: this recipe can be easily doubled or tripled for more guests.

Related on Eco Salon

4 Retro Cocktail Recipes 

Vegan Pear Bread 

9 Homemade Cocktail Mixers 

Photo credit: Ally Jane Grossan

The post Delicious Gin Cocktail Recipe with Poached Pear Simple Syrup appeared first on EcoSalon.

For anyone that has ever wanted to bottle up summer. 

“You can infuse simple syrup with basil, right?”

These are the kind of questions that cross your mind when you are standing in your mother’s garden looking at two huge pots of fresh basil.

As it turns out, simple syrup was meant to be infused with basil. You end up with a sweet elixir that has a twinge of summer garden. An herbal addition to any drink, dessert or cocktail. It’s also good for a fruit salad dressing, drizzling over vanilla ice cream and bottling up summer in a jar, which is exactly what this Sparkling Blackberry and Basil Infusion is.

Sparkling Blackberry and Basil Infusion

Ingredients:

• 1 cup chilled sparkling water
• 1/4 cup blackberries, muddled
• 2 tablespoons basil simple syrup
• juice of 1/2 lemon

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a glass (a mason jar is of course preferable) and stir. Serve immediately.

Basil Simple Syrup

Ingredients:

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup basil leaves

Directions:

Roll basil leaves and then slice into strips.

Warm water and sugar in a saucepan on medium heat. Stir until sugar is completely dissolved.

Pour simple syrup into a glass jar and add in basil leaves.

Let sit for a couple of hours to steep.

Strain out basil leaves and store simple syrup in an airtight container.

Want more food inspiration? Check out the rest of our Sunday Recipe series. 

The post Sunday Recipe: Sparkling Blackberry and Basil Infusion appeared first on EcoSalon.