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Life’s Flavors with Allison Libby-Thesing 1/13

Life’s Flavors with Allison Libby-Thesing 1/13
  • PublishedJanuary 13, 2022


New year, new cocktails

We are back with our herb infused drinks for the New Year! I have a plan of action to make one happen once per month, so check back here to see what new drink we are mixing up. And be sure to follow us on social media, there might be a cocktail hour during the month featuring our latest drink.

This month we are featuring the drink we made for the Oaks B&B New Year’s Eve party. A Rosemary Cranberry Vodka, we shortened it to the Cranberry Rose, that is sure to be a crowd pleaser at any time of the year. We wanted to feature an herb that is currently growing and a little bit of fizz to help ring in the New Year. Have no fears– this drink can be enjoyed at any time of the year, as rosemary is typically growing all year round.

We found this drink to be full of flavor and the more rosemary you want to taste the longer you let it sit in the vodka. For our purposes we let ours sit for about four days, in a window, to allow the flavor to meld with the alcohol. That brings us to how we made this drink. We do have to prep a few days in advance to truly get the rosemary to seep into the vodka. We cut a few stems off, and placed them in a jar and coved with some vodka. I let mine sit in the window to speed up the process, since I started a little late.

Making Cranberry Rose at the Oaks B&B/ Courtesy

The rest is pretty easy, if you are making for a larger group you could just pour directly into a pitcher but since I had a smaller group I made each drink directly into the champagne flute we would be drinking out of.

The rosemary flavor really came through in the vodka and gave this drink and extra kick of tastiness. The cranberry combined with your sparkling drink of choice made for a simple and pleasurable experience.

If you wanted to make this drink a mocktail, I would make a simple syrup infused with the rosemary in stead of letting it seep with the vodka. I would then use club soda or a sparkling water of your choice to add the bubbles. You could then have a great version of this drink for those designated drivers or friends who choose not to drink.

 

Cranberry Rose

  • 1 oz Rosemary infused vodka
  • 2 oz Cranberry juice
  • Squeeze of some lemon

Top off with Moscato/Champagne/Prosecco

Garnish with a sprig of rosemary and lemon

We always have a Moscato on hand for events, or special occasions for guests celebrating a Wedding or Anniversary, that I like which isn’t too sweet or dry. This Moscato is the perfect blend for those who like one that is a middle of the road. Depending on your tastes you can make your drink sweeter or drier based on the alcohol you choose to use. Don’t forget you can always make a mocktail. Be safe and use a designated driver!

Cheers! From Allison and everyone at The Oaks Bed and Breakfast.

Cocktails, happenings and more on The Oaks blog: https://theoaksbandb.blogspot.com/

Contributed by Allison Libby-Thesing

 


Written By
Taylor Nye

Taylor Nye is the editor of Front Porch News. She has degrees from the University of Wisconsin in human biology, Latin American studies, and public health. She has previously worked at the Wisconsin State Journal, Tucson Weekly and Sulphur Springs News-Telegram. As a sixth generation Hopkins County resident, she loves celebrating our heritage and history.