Crafting Holiday Cocktails - Spirits of Discovery

The holiday season is upon us. What better way to celebrate with family and friends around the table than with a libation made with hand crafted J. Carver Premium Vodka and Premium Gin. Watch guests’ eyes light up when they see these festive cocktails awaiting their arrival. These cocktails are among the tasty traditions that evoke memories during the holidays – and inspire new ones. There are many creations here for you to choose from: 

J. Carver Crimson Splash
1 1/2 ounces of J. Carver Premium Vodka
2 ounces Cranberry Juice
A splash of ginger ale
Fill a low ball with ice. Add J. Carver Premium Vodka and cranberry juice. Leave room for a splash of ginger ale. Squeeze in a lemon for garnish. For a festive touch, add three cranberries infused in simple syrup as an additional garnish. See below for simple syrup recipe.*

J. Carver Moscow Mule
2 ounce J. Carver Premium Vodka
4 ounce Ginger Beer
3/4 ounce fresh lime
Served over crushed ice in traditional copper mug or a Collins glass. Garnish with lime.

J. Carver Cosmopolitan
1 ounce J. Carver Premium Vodka
1 ounce J. Carver Premium Gin
1/2 ounce Marie Brizard Triple Sec
3/4 ounce of Cranberry juice
½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
Combine all ingredients in shaker with ice. Shake and strain. Serve in Martini Glass rimmed with fine sugar and garnish with a lemon twist and cranberries*.

Pomegranate Gin Martini
1 1/2 ounces of J. Carver Premium Gin
1 ounce Marie Brizard Triple Sec
1/2 dropper of Bittercube Bolivar Bitters
¾ ounce Powell & Mahoney Pomegranate Mixer OR pomegranate juice
Combine all ingredients in shaker with ice. Shake and strain. Serve in a Martini glass.
Garnish with an orange twist and pomegranate seeds infused with simple syrup* for a festive flair.

Pomegranate Vodka Martini
1 1/2 ounces of J. Carver Premium Vodka
1 ounce Marie Brizard Triple Sec
1/2 dropper of orange or grapefruit bitters
¾ ounce Powell & Mahoney Pomegranate Mixer OR pomegranate juice
Combine all ingredients in shaker with ice. Shake and strain. Serve in a Martini glass.
Garnish with an orange twist and pomegranate seeds infused with simple syrup* for a festive flair.

J. Carver Negroni
1 ounce J. Carver Premium Gin
1 ounce Campari
1 ounce Vermouth Blanc
Combine all ingredients in a low ball served over ice. Garnish with a thick lemon twist.

J. Carver Jasmine
1 ½ ounces J. Carver Premium Gin
1 ounce Cointreau
¾ ounce Campari
½ ounce fresh lemon juice
Combine all ingredients in shaker with ice. Shake and strain. Serve in a Martini glass. Garnish with a lemon twist and a Maraschino cherry.

J. Carver Vesper
2 ounces J. Carver Premium Gin
1 ounce J. Carver Premium Vodka
1 ounce Vermouth Blanc
Combine all ingredients in shaker with ice. Shake and strain. Serve in a Martini glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.

J. Carver Left Bank
1 ½  ounces J. Carver Premium Gin
1 ounce Elderflower Liqueur
1 ounce Vermouth Blanc 
Combine all ingredients in shaker with ice. Shake and strain. Serve in a Martini glass. Garnish with a lime twist.

J. Carver Aviation
1 ½ ounces J. Carver Premium Gin
½ ounce Crème De Violette
¼ Maraschino Liqueur
¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
½ ounce simple syrup
Combine all ingredients in shaker with ice. Shake and strain. Serve in a Martini glass. Serve in a Martini glass rimmed with fine sugar and garnish with two Maraschino cherries and a lemon twist.

Maple Kiss
1 once J. Carver Premium Vodka
2 ounces chilled Pacific Coast Hard Apple Cider
Drizzle with real maple syrup
Served over ice in a low ball glass.

J. Carver “French 76”
1 1/2 ounces of J. Carver Premium Vodka
1 ounce Marie Brizard Orange Curaçao
1/2 dropper of Bittercube Jamaican Bitters
1 ounce chilled Cava or Prosecco
Combine all ingredients in shaker with ice. Shake and strain. Serve in a champagne flute. Top with Cava or Prosecco. Garnish with an orange twist.

*Simple syrup recipe: In a saucepan, boil 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water over medium high heat until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat immediately. Cool and store in glass container.

*For cranberry garnish, after removing from heat, take the batch of simple syrup add one bag of fresh cranberries while liquid is still hot and then cool completely. Store in a glass container and refrigerate. Use as garnish in above cocktails.

*For pomegranate seed garnish, after removing the liquid from heat, cool the batch of simple syrup completely and add seeds of one pomegranate. Store in a glass container and refrigerate. Use as garnish in above cocktails.

J. Carver Premium Vodka and Premium Gin are available at over 137 local spirit shops and restaurants in Minnesota. From north to south, and east to west, J. Carver Premium Vodka and Gin are within reach to taste, create and enjoy classic, quality cocktails during the holidays. ‘Tis the season for time with family and friends all together in one place. The J. Carver Distillery team looks forward to celebrating the season with our distillery fans and friends enjoying these and other tasty cocktails. J. Carver Distillery – Spirits of Discovery. 

Finishing Touches – It’s All In The Details

I've learned a lot of things over the past week as the building renovation project is coming to an end. It’s all about the finishing touches and it’s all in the details. CD Products, our neighbors next door, created our exterior sign and assembled it last week. Matt and Chad, our electricians, are doing the final hook up as I write. The lit sign looks really awesome during the day; we can’t wait to see the sign illuminate tonight. Ken and Dave are finishing up the tile work in the lobby, while Bob, Eric and Joe work away on the plumbing in anticipation for the stills which are on their way. The grain and barrels have been ordered and our bottles are here. Big equipment arrives daily like the huge chilling tower we endearingly call the spaceship. More equipment is on the way and Matt is working on production details. 

As we transition out of the renovation project, the weekly blog will move from construction to production. With that, today’s blog photo of the illuminating sign inspired me to share a recipe for a cocktail I had last weekend. It’s called an Aviation Cocktail. It is a tasty drink and beautiful in the glass too. Put all ingredients (see below) in a shaker with ice. Shake well and pour into a chilled martini glass. This is a perfect cocktail served poolside on a hot, summer day or as you stare at an illuminated J. Carver Distillery sign under the sky. Either way CHEERS and ENJOY!

Aviation Cocktail Recipe

Ingredients:
•    2 ounces of gin
•    1/4 ounce maraschino liqueur
•    ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
•    2 dashes of crème de violette
•    Orange peel or maraschino cherries for garnish

Aviation Cocktail