Saturday Spirits: Gin Lemonade + A Glowing Giveaway

August 20, 2016 3 Comments A Well Crafted Pantry

I am a little surprised at how much I like these glowing glasses. When PremierGlow.com first approached me to work on a post together I *almost* said no because I couldn’t quite see myself using light up barware. Boy am I glad I ended up saying yes. These are SO fun! I like changing up the colors of the glasses to differentiate glasses for each person (easier than labels). I love how it shows off these drinks with tonic water. (Check out my last post with a glowing cocktail.)

I’m totally excited to get to share the opportunity to win some of these amazing glowing whiskey glasses and more glowing goodies! Continue to read to see how you can win!

This post is a collaboration with PremierGlow.com. All opinions are my own. For more information about my sponsored content please visit my policies page.

Gin Mint Lemonade

This cocktail was actually inspired by a very overpriced (but delicious looking) beverage sitting in the beverage section of a speciality food store. The drink was a mint honey-lemonade. I instantly began thinking about how delicious a mint lemonade would be with gin. I mean, really. So tasty. I added in some tonic water for a bit of bubbles, light lemon flavor, and the fun glow effect that tonic has in glasses such as these Flashing Whiskey Glasses from PremierGlow.com.

Single Cocktail Ingredients:

1 1/4 oz Gin
1 oz Lemoncello
1 oz mint simple syrup*
2 oz lemonade
1-2 oz tonic water
Shaker with ice
lemon slices and sugar for rimming the glass
Mint for Garnish

Single Cocktail Directions:

Rub the rim of your chosen glass with a lemon slice. Dip the rim into granulated sugar.
In a shaker combine gin, lemoncello, mint simple syrup, and lemonade. Shake to chill and strain into a glass.
Top with tonic water.
Garnish with mint and enjoy!

Batch Cocktail Ingredients:

1 1/4 cup Gin
1 cup Lemoncello
1 cup mint simple syrup*
2 cups lemonade
tonic water to top each drink
pitcher
lemon slices and sugar for rimming the glass
Mint for Garnish

Batch Cocktail Directions:

This cocktail is a great one to create in a batch, put in the fridge to chill, and then bring it out for a dinner alfresco!

Combine the gin, lemoncello, simple syrup, and lemonade in a pitcher. Stir and put in fridge to chill.
Prep glasses with a sugar rim.
Pour 6 oz of mixture into rimmed glass, top with tonic water, garnish with mint, and enjoy!

How to make Mint Simple Syrup:

Mint simple syrup is super easy to make. Combine 1 cup sugar with 1 cup water in a sauce pan on medium heat. Drop in a few springs of mint. Stir occasionally. Once all of the sugar has dissolved move the temp to low and allow the mixture to absorb the mint flavors for about 15 min. Strain into a bottle and store in fridge up to two weeks.

A Glowing Giveaway!

Prize: 4 of the glowing rocks glasses , glow straws, ice cubes and possibly more fun glowing goodies.

Rules/Guidelines: Enter to win a glowing gift box prize from PremierGlow.Com that includes 4 flashing rocks glasses (or equivalent chosen by PremierGlow), glow straws, ice cubes and more glowing goodies. You must be 18 to enter and have a US Mailing Address to win. This giveaway is from A Well Crafted Party and PremierGlow.com. Family and contractors of Jenni Bost are ineligible to win. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook or Twitter. By entering, Entrants agree to a complete release of Facebook or Twitter. No Cash Value. PremierGlow.com will provide the prize to a US Mailing Address. Giveaway begins Saturday, August 20 at 12:00 AM PST and ends Sunday, August 28 at 12:00 AM PST. The winner will be emailed at the email provided and given 48 hours to claim their prize. After 48 hours the prize will be awarded to someone else.

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A Well Crafted Pantry

Saturday Spirits: Herbal Gin and Tonic

August 13, 2016 No Comments A Well Crafted Pantry

I think Gin and Tonic is the perfect summer sipper. I’ve never been a huge fan of the classic itself with just gin and tonic, but adding in a few elements that bring out the flavors of the gin and I’m THERE. My favorite thing about this drink is that it can easily be made in a batch and served at a dinner alfresco. The directions below will have a batch and single drink version of this cocktail.

Cucumbers, Citrus, & Herbs Gin and Tonic

This drink may be served over ice or straight up. I personally enjoy it over ice on a very hot day. You can mix and match the herbs that you use in this drink from what is available. I used Thyme and Basil, but you could also do some Rosemary, Mint, or Sage to complement the other flavors in this beverage.

Single Summer Sipper Gin & Tonic Cocktail Ingredients & Tools:

(Affiliate Links*)

1 Shaker with ice, strainer, & muddler*
3-4 slices cucumber (extra for garnish)
1 oz simple syrup
Juice of 1/2 lime squeezed fresh- you’ll throw the wedges in the drink before straining as well
Juice of 1 lemon squeezed fresh- you’ll throw the half in the drink before straining as well
2-4 springs of fresh herbs- I used Basil and Thyme
1 1/4 oz Gin
3-4 oz of Tonic
Glassware of choice – I chose a collins glass* with ice

Single Summer Sipper Gin & Tonic Cocktail Directions:

Place 3-4 slices of cucumber and herbs in cocktail shaker. Squeeze lemon and add into the shaker. Squeeze lime and add into the shaker.
Muddle the cucumber, herbs, lemon, and lime until the natural juices are released and you can smell the herbs.
Pour in simple syrup & gin. Add ice and SHAKE.
Strain the mixture into your glass of choice.
Top with tonic, give it a little stir, garnish and enjoy!

Batch Summer Sipper Gin & Tonic Cocktail Ingredients & Tools:

(Serves 8)

1 bowl
1 muddler*
Fine mesh strainer*
1 full cucumber sliced (slice some extra for garnish)
8 oz simple syrup
Juice of 4 limes squeezed fresh- you’ll throw 2 limes in the mixture before straining as well
Juice of 6-8 lemons squeezed fresh- you’ll throw the 2 lemons in the mixture before straining as well
10-12 springs of fresh herbs- I used Basil and Thyme
10 oz Gin
bottles or cans of Tonic on side
Pitcher*
Collins glasses with ice & cucumber slices as garnish

Batch Summer Sipper Gin & Tonic Cocktail Directions:

In a bowl place the cucumber slices, herbs, lemons, limes, lemon juice, and lime juice. Muddle well. This will take some time because there is just so much there!
Once you smell the herbs and everything looks well muddled, add in the simple syrup and gin. Let the batch sit together for about 30 minutes to really incorporate.
Strain the mixture into a pitcher.
Serve along side collins glasses filled with ice and garnished with cucumber.
To serve, pour about 3 oz of the mixture into the glass and then top with tonic water. Give it a little stir and enjoy!

A Well Crafted Pantry

Saturday Spirits: Gin & Herbs Spring Cocktail

March 28, 2015 2 Comments A Well Crafted Pantry

My favorite thing about Spring is the emergence of all the fresh herbs. This cocktail is the perfect mix of fresh herbs and the wonderful aromatics of gin.

Ingredients
Shaker
Muddler
Ice
Rocks glass with Ice
4 Slices of Cucumber (3 for beverage and 1 for garnish)
1 sprig thyme for garnish
1 oz Basil & Thyme Simple Syrup (See recipe below)
½ oz lime juice ( ½ of freshly squeezed lime)
1 ¼ oz Gin
2 oz Sparkling Water (Or Soda Water)

Directions
1. Put ice, 3 slices of cucumber, 1 oz of basil & thyme simple syrup, squeeze of lime juice, and the half of the lime into a shaker—Muddle
2. Pour gin into shaker, cover, and shake vigorously
3. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice
4. Pour in sparkling water and garnish with cucumber slice and thyme sprig
5. Enjoy!

How to Make a Basil & Thyme Simple Syrup
1. Put a handful of basil leaves and several sprigs of thyme into a small sauce pan with 1 cup of granulated sugar and 1 cup of water. 2. Stir the mixture as it heats on medium-low heat until the sugar has completely dissolved (about four minutes) 3. Remove from heat and let it sit for 30 minutes to 1 hour. 4. Once cooled, taste to see mixture as it sits to get your desired herbal flavor. 5. Once you have your desired flavor pour mixture over a sieve— to strain the solid from syrup—into a jar.The mixture can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one month.

Originally published on InComplete Magazine