Berry Cocktails

  • Downhome Magazine
  • Posted: Aug 20, 2010 4:00 PM
Bakeapple Mojito
If you're a prolific berrypicker, right about now you're wondering what other uses you could make of all those berries you've picked. How about a refreshing cocktail?

Three tasty berry cocktails are the Bakeapple Mojito, the Blueberry MarTEAni and the Berrypicker Martini. First, there are a few steps to be carried out in advance. For the Bakeapple Mojitos, fill a couple of ice cube trays nearly full with water, drop a bakeapple or two into each section. Freeze.

Next, for the Blueberry MarTEAni, pour a couple of cups of local vodka into a large measuring cup or bowl with a spout. Add a half cup of blueberries and mash them a little into the vodka. Set aside for an hour or longer. (Or you could do this further in advance by dropping the blueberries into the vodka bottle and letting it sit for a couple of weeks.) When ready to use, strain the liquid back into the bottle. (You can keep the blueberries in the vodka if you prefer.)

Finally, you'll need to make homemade Partridgeberry Syrup for the Berrypicker Martini. Here's the recipe:

4 cups partridgeberries
4 cups sugar
2 cups water
2 tsp citric acid (available at you-brew stores)

Boil berries, sugar and water together in a large pot, skimming off any foam, until berries are practically disintegrated (20 min. or so). Strain through a fine sieve and press berries to release any last bit of juice. Stir in citric acid to dissolve. Cool and store in jars or bottles. You can quick chill in the freezer. (Syrup keeps indefinitely in fridge or cool spot.)

Bakeapple Mojito
White rum
Bakeapples
Fresh mint sprigs
Limes
Sugar
Angostura bitters
Bakeapple ice cubes
Club soda

You'll need a muddler - a tool to grind the mint and sugar together to release the flavours, usually made of wood. You could also use a wooden spoon. For each mojito, place 1 tsp sugar, 2 tbsp bakeapples, juice of half a lime and 6 - 8 mint leaves in the bottom of an old-fashioned or lowball glass. Muddle (grind together) until the mint and berries are pulverized and the sugar has dissolved. Add 1½ oz rum. Stir. Add 3 or 4 bakeapple ice cubes to the glass and top up with club soda, a few dashes of bitters and a mint sprig for garnish.

Blueberry MarTEAni
1 oz blueberry infused vodka
½ oz vanilla liqueur such as Galliano or Navan
½ oz orange liqueur such as Cointreau or Grand Marnier
1 oz cold tea (orange pekoe is fine; vanilla or blueberry flavoured tea is better)

Combine all ingredients in a martini shaker and shake. Rim a martini glass with sugar. Strain cocktail in and garnish with an orange slice.

The Berrypicker Martini
1½ oz local vodka
1½ oz partridgeberry syrup (see recipe, above)
1 oz lime cordial (available at the grocery store)
½ oz dry vermouth

Combine all ingredients in a martini shaker and shake. To serve, strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a few frozen partridgeberries.