For our online concert with Symphony847, we designed three unique cocktails to pair with the music. These are festive cocktails, that can be customized based on what you have on hand. For those mixing along with us at home, here are the recipes and details:
Holiday Sparkle
2 oz North Shore Doublewood Rum (or gin, vodka or whiskey)
3/4 oz Cranberry-spice infused Simple Syrup (see note below)
3/4 oz Fresh Lime Juice
Ginger Beer (or Tonic or Club Soda)
Add spirit, simple and lime juice to a goblet filled with ice, then stir. Top with ginger beer, stir again & garnish with cranberries, a lime wedge & a cinnamon stick (or other fruits/spices, based on what you have and like).
This drink is fizzy, festive, bright and fun for the holidays, but has some depth of flavor from the baking spices and ginger. It pairs nicely with the Bach piece, which is lively, joyful and nuanced.
Apple Bees Knees
2 oz North Shore Gin No. 6 (or vodka, rum or whiskey)
3/4 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
3/4 oz Rosemary Honey Simple (see note below)
1 oz 100% Apple Juice
Shake with ice, and strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice (or serve up, in a cocktail or coupe glass). Garnish with a slice of apple, or of lemon, or a sprig of rosemary if you have one.
This cocktail was intended for the Wagner and Martinu pieces, especially the Martinu. This drink has a bit more depth and complexity, and is a more modern take on a classical cocktail. Like Martinu did with his Nonet, we took a style of drink from earlier times and updated it. The original Bees Knees was invented during Prohibition, and is composed of gin, lemon and honey. We added a bit of apple and rosemary, adding new layers of complexity.
Celebration Fizz
1½ oz North Shore Vodka
3/4 oz Fresh Lime Juice
3/4 oz Orange Lavender Simple Syrup (if using whiskey or rum, we recommend spiced orange instead – see note below)
3-5 Fresh Blackberries
Club Soda (or sparkling wine, if you prefer!)
Muddle blackberries with lime and simple. Add rum, then shake with ice. Strain into Collins glass over fresh ice, top with club soda. Garnish with a lime wedge, or skewer of blackberries (or both).
This cocktail is also fizzy & fun, and fit for a party – we designed it to pair with the Mozart piece, which is wonderful party music – festive, light and fun. Serve this one in a coupe or cocktail glass if you want to dress it up, and top it with sparkling wine instead of club soda if you have a chilled bottle at the ready!
Infused Simple Syrup Recipes:
For each flavor, start with a base of 3/4 cups of sugar to 1/2 cup of water. Add to a small saucepan with the listed ingredients, and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 5 minutes, then cool completely. Strain out solids, and store in refrigerator – the simple syrup will keep for one month.
- Cranberry Spice – add 1/2 cup fresh cranberries, 1-2 cinnamon sticks and a few coins of fresh ginger root
- Orange Lavender – add the peel of one fresh orange and 1 tsp of dried lavender blossoms
- Orange Spice – add the peel of one fresh orange, 1-2 cinnamon sticks, and a a few coins of fresh ginger root
For the Rosemary Honey, use honey instead of sugar in the base recipe, and add the leaves from 6-8″ of fresh rosemary.
