Chili Infused Roasted Strawberry & Rhubarb Smash Cocktail
This post is sponsored by Prairie Organics Vodka. Message is intended for those older than 21.
Summer is the season to take your cocktailing seriously. No really! Think about it...longer days to linger on the patio, warmer weather in search of refreshment, farmers markets bursting with the best produce of the year!! All signs point to happy hour and we couldn’t be more excited to try out some new bevvies for the occasion.
Speaking of the farmers market - It’s still peak strawberry season and there’s no time to waste! We want all the berries in all the things, including our glass. So we’re picking up a flat of these ruby gems, roasting them up and giving them a little unexpected twist with an infused chili vodka that will have you adding this smash cocktail to your signature recipe menu by the weekend.
So if we’re taking our cocktails so seriously when it comes to the quality ingredients we’re putting into it, that shouldn’t stop with the spirits we add to the mix. That’s why we’re using Prairie Organic Spirits, a distillery with a passion for craftsmanship, including all of the ingredients that go into each and every bottle. In a word, they know the importance of not only summer cocktails...all the cocktails. And it’s a smooth tasting spirit that will only enhance your flavors, but not distract from them. Cheers to that!
Infusing spirits is an incredibly easy thing to do with incredibly complex results. I highly recommend experimenting! Time is your friend, so please make sure you give yourself a full day to infuse for the best results. For this recipe we’re using dried Guajillo chilies which are slightly fruity with a sweet heat and a light smoky undertone. The smoky flavor really heightens when paired with roasted strawberries and rhubarb, making for a slightly sweet, a little savory and a tad smoldering sip...Think more sophisticated than spicy.
You can enjoy this drink straight up in a coupe or strained over ice as more of a heat wave refresh spritzer. You can even make this all ahead of time as a big batch cocktail and be the hero of every picnic from here on out - just wait to add the sparkling water until serving and you’ve got a punch with...well, punch! Any way you shake it up, it is a cocktail that should be consumed preferably with no other plans than enjoying the company of friends.
Here’s to embracing the flavors of the season and quality ingredients with a few new twists - preferably in a very chilled glass! Happy summer sipping to you Friends!
Roasted Strawberry & Rhubarb Smash with Ancho chili infusion
(makes 1 cocktail)
INGREDIENTS
2 oz chili infused Prairie Organic Vodka
¼ cup roasted strawberries & rhubarb
Sparkling Water or Tonic
Ice
DIRECTIONS
Prep/Make 24 hours ahead: Place 4-6 Guajillo dried chilies into a bottle of Prairie Organic Vodka. Let sit for 12 - 24 hours. Remove chili peppers for storage. Preheat oven to 350 and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Scatter 1 cup mixed strawberries and rhubarb cut into 1 inch pieces and sprinkle with sugar. Bake until roasted and fragrant, about 25 minutes. Cool completely before storing in the refrigerator before use.
Cocktail: Add roasted strawberry rhubarb mixture into a cocktail shaker and muddle well. Add ice and chili infused vodka, shake and strain into a coupe straight up, or over a glass filled with ice topped with sparkling water or tonic of choice.
This post is sponsored by Prairie Organic Spirits, thank you for supporting our partnerships with quality brands like this. Be sure to check out their full collection of Organic Vodkas and Gin for your next cocktail parties intended for 21+.
