The Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery is located in the heart of Tennessee moonshine country in Gatlinburg, TN in the Smoky Mountains that separate Tennessee and North Carolina. Heralded as Tennessee’s first legal moonshine distillery they offer free tours, complimentary tastings, and products for sale. I have relatives in Tennessee and a daughter now living in North Carolina; I was obligated to give this a try right? I admit that when I lived in North Carolina many years ago that I had the opportunity to try some homemade ‘shine’ and it was awful. This is not. The White Lightnin’ is potent stuff I’m sure but I’m a wuss and was more interested in some of their flavors and being a total fiend about lemon I knew that I would be trying it first. Although suggested uses include drinking it straight from the bottle I thought it would fit better for me (and my readers of this blog!) to make a cocktail and I have to admit this Double Lemon Drop Cocktail is the bomb. Lemon Moonshine with more lemon and some simple syrup and it’s done.
It’s just a bit scary how easy this goes down but what I love best is the real tang. The lemon drop is made from fresh lemons and sugar that are mixed with moonshine; adding more lemon and sugar is definitely a double whammy but a truly delightful one. Beyond that it does mellow out the proof a bit; I like to enjoy a nice cocktail but I don’t want to be knocked to the ground with it.
While I do like to make my own batches of maraschino cherries I have to tell you this little suckers were GOOD! No big surprise since each jar is handfilled with fresh maraschino cherries soaked in Ole Smoky’s® 100 proof moonshine. Each cherry says a sweet hello followed by a warm goodbye. Once the cherries have disappeared, you can enjoy the remaining Cherry Moonshine straight up or create the ultimate Cherry Coke or Shirley Temple (was Shirley really drinking moonshine!??).
Sometimes I will receive a bottle from a distributor and just LOVE the product but soon recognize that it is not widely available making it impossible for many readers to find. Not the case here; I found no less than half a dozen stores near me in little Castle Rock, CO so it should not be a problem finding some where you are. I also have a strawberry version and an apple one and now that I’ve started I’m anxious to test those waters too although to be honest, apple pie will be waiting til fall; I’m funny that way!
I better go; I have a cocktail waiting! Shine On!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Yield: One cocktail
Ingredients
- 2 oz Ole Smoky Moonshine Lemon Drop
- 1 oz simple syrup
- 1 oz lemon juice
- Lemon slices
- Ole Smoky Moonshine Cherries (optional)
Preparation
- Chill your glasses in the freezer.
- Mix the lemon drop moonshine, simple syrup and lemon juice in a pitcher and mix well.
- Fill the chilled glass with ice and pour the mixture over the ice until filled.
- Garnish with a lemon slice and cherries.
Notes
I actually had to double the ingredients to fill these mason jars so do the same or serve them in smaller glasses!
2.5http://www.creative-culinary.com/double-lemon-drop-cocktail-with-ole-smoky-lemon-drop-moonshine/This recipe brought to you by Creative Culinary | A Food and Cocktail Blog | Website: www.creative-culinary.com
