Carrots Grow On Carrot Trees (Original Recipe)

Always looking for a new savory cocktail recipe, I decided that I would make carrot juice the new tomato juice. It can't be all about Bloody Mary's after all. There needs to be a rooty and bright alternative with turmeric and ginger. And vodka seemed the perfect spirit to let the vegetables shine in this tall cooler of a drink.

The name comes from "The Carrot Seed" a classic kids song that seems to be all about elders and "betters" knowing that gardening has its share of disappointment. The child gardener's parents and older brother are all saying that the carrot won't grow. That's a little how I feel about this recipe. Many people criticize it before giving it a chance. Hopefully you will try it out first before passing judgement.

This recipe uses MurLarkey Divine Clarity Vodka, but any 80-proof vodka or neutral spirit will do. There's also Lakewood's carrot juice (which has a helping of lemon juice to provide acidity, releasing me of the duty of squeezing lemons.) I made a ginger rice wine vinegar infusion with sweet rice wine and ginger slices. This was for cooking, but it turned out to be the right sweetener for the job and it added a nice spiciness. Finally, turmeric provides the backbone of a strong smelling root that pairs well with carrot.

• 2 oz. vodka
• 4 oz. carrot juice
• 1/2 oz. ginger infused sweet rice wine vinegar
  
• pinch kosher salt 
• pinch cayenne pepper
• dash powdered turmeric
• carrot garnish as a stir stick

Combine all ingredients except garnish in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled highball glass full of fresh ice. Stir with the carrot and leave it in the glass. 

 

Pepper Tree Punch

Spicy, sweet, bitter, fruity--this drink's description covers it all. I feel that while the flavor execution is on point, the garnish game needs work. Why go through the trouble of blending a cocktail just to put it in an Old Fashioned glass. It doesn't make a lot of sense. Then again, these old recipes often don't.

One thing that Pepper Tree Punch has going for it is the blend of rums. Real tiki style recognizes that you have to have a balance between richness and fresh cane flavors. That and fresh juice, spices and Angostura bitters really set this one apart.

• 2 oz. dark rum (Vitae Barrel Aged used)
• 1 oz. light rum (Vitae platinum used)
• 1 tsp. orgeat syrup
• 1 oz. lime juice
• several dashes Angostura bitters
• one pinch of cinnamon
• one pinch cayenne pepper

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into a chilled Old Fashioned glass. 

Thunder Cocktai

This is an incredible recipe. I mean that if you see it written out you won't believe it. Tasting is believing though. This is a brandy cocktail with egg yolk and cayenne pepper. It is sweet and spicy and not at all what you'd expect.

I tried it out with Copper and Kings American brandy aged in bourbon barrels, and it worked very well. I attribute the success to Copper and King's being a dry and stronger then average brandy. Keep in mind that it is a grape spirit that gets most of its flavor from barrel aging.

The result is a drink that creates a sweet suspension with egg yolk--which when sweetened comes across as creamy. The chili was hot! I recommend using cayenne pepper and not just any powdered chili. The finer the grind, the better.

• 2 oz. brandy (Copper and Kings used)
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 tsp. sugar
• 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.