In my tiny Ph.D. program there are only 5 people total in my cohort (class) and truthfully, they are some of the most awesome people ever. Being graduate students, however, we can often let months lapse in the library, failing to make human contact or see the light of day. Anticipating this, my cohort decided this year to set aside one Friday every month to get together, connect, and relax. Embedded in this friendly show of hospitality (aptly named Cohort Communion) i saw an opportunity to use my friends as human subjects for my latest cocktail recipes...
This being November i thought i'd go with a Thanksgiving theme for this month's communion cocktail and so i've been infusing these two babies for about three weeks now:
(autumnal vodkas)
Each jar also had 4-5 cinnamon sticks in it that i pulled out after a week or so to prevent the brew from getting overly cinnamon-y. Truthfully the mixtures are definitely drinkable at 1-2 weeks, but the flavors continue to evolve nicely in the 3-4 range.
(makes for a sweet dessert cocktail without any juice or cream)
Apple cinnamon cranberry vodka - throw one full apple (thinly sliced), 5 cinnamon sticks, and about two handfuls of cranberries into your handy Ball or mason jar and top with a decent vodka (you can go with a Smirnoff level for this one as it sweetens as it goes). This is great with apple juice, a little sweet liqueur (cinnamon schnapps or ginger liqueur would be great) or just by itself. Stay tuned for the full recipe i'll be using this vodka in - a lovely little lady i call The Pleasure Principle
(we're psychology grad students so all the drinks have psychology/philosophy names. Deal with it.)
(looking for something to do with that old jack o'lantern? Carve 'er up and soak 'er in vodka)
Pumpkin vodka - stay with me; the resultant drink is actually quite sweet and delicious. Carve a pumpkin into chunks and rub brown sugar on the flesh side; arrange skin side down in a casserole dish with a quarter inch of water in the bottom and roast at 450 until tender. Cram in a jar and pour vodka to cover, but be advised it's best to let this one go two weeks - the gourd-y flavor goes out and it starts to get a bit sweeter after the first week.
I thought i would prefer the apple-cinnamon vodka but actually the pumpkin ended up being the winner of the two for me - quite complex and delicious straight out of the jar. However, it's also lovely tossed up with some ginger liqueur and other fall accouterments. Look for a coming post with recipe for the Differance (yes with an 'a' - go read your Derrida) where i'll put this pumpkiner to good use.
Mmmmm. Tastes like fall.
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