Nothing smells Spring like the scent of orange blossoms. My allergies may not agree, but my olfactory senses fall in love with the combination of that orange-vanilla perfume that spreads like wildflowers on my block. I wish I could drink it in. Which brings me to my latest spring-inspired cocktail creation: The Gin Blossom.
Why not drink it in - literally? I've been on a gin kick lately, so I continued en route and added some special ingredients including a homemade simple syrup I made. Simple syrup is a great way to add some sweetener to you drink and when you infuse it with other ingredients, your cocktails will have an added depth of flavor. I boiled half a cup of sugar and half a cup of water and added tangerine peel, bourbon infused vanilla (from Trader Joe's) and some fresh grated ginger. Once the sugar dissolved, I simply strained the syrup into another cup and let it cool down until it was ready to mix - and, oh did my kitchen smell awesome!
Besides the simple syrup, you will need Gin (I used Caorunn), Iced Cake Smirnoff Vodka, tangerine, rosemary, sparkling orange soda water and ice. Follow my instructions and video recipe below and you won't regret making this delectable drink. I encourage you to stop and smell the orange blossoms and by all means, drink them in!
Boil sugar and water combination with tangerine peels, bourbon vanilla extract and chopped ginger until sugar in dissolved. Remove syrup from heat, let cool and then strain for later use.
Muddle tangerine wedges, rosemary and your prepared simple syrup in your Premium Cocktail Shaker Set - 24 oz Stainless Steel
