Milder temps are finally beginning to percolate through the thick veil of Winter in the Northeast. So as the rooftops, patios and outdoor cafés open back up, some may begin to hang up their penchant for cold weather toddies and rev up their yen for warm weather mixers. There are certain cocktails that scream Winter with their soothing heat and fragrant spiciness and then there are certain cocktails that call for Spring with their festive produce and verdant frothiness. So what would you say if I presented you with a spirit that combined the two?
Take the comforting heat and the surprisingly sweet pop of cinnamon and lace it into a wonderfully crisp spirit and you get the seasonally appropriate deliciousness of Heeet Hot Cinnamon Vodka. Cinnamon has the lovely duality of being both peppery and, when it has been allowed to settle, offers up a subtle sugar essence that creates a nice heat/sweet balance on the tongue. That flavor comes to life in Heeet Vodka. The cinnamon notes swim across and explode on your palette for a full profile of fragrant warmth from the crisp clean vodka and versatile spice. Made from 100% natural ingredients Heeet is a perfect sipper all by itself as its natural make-up is like a perfectly blended cocktail. Or perhaps you can play around with Heeet's amazing flavor like I did in the cocktail below that I call "Heeet For Them Apples".
Heeet For Them Apples
3 ounces Heeet Hot Cinnamon Vodka
2 slices Fresh cut apple (skinless)
3 sticks Cinnamon
Muddle apple slices in a cocktail shaker until pulp-like. Pour vodka into a cocktail shaker and add ice. Shake for about 15-20 seconds then strain into rocks glass with fresh ice and garnish with oblong slices of apple and shavings of cinnamon together with the rest of the sticks of cinnamon.
I'm no bartender, but I like the way this turned out. The apple added a familiar flavor for the depth of the cinnamon and an extra sweet element to play with the sweetness of the cinnamon. The strain keeps most of the apple pulp out while the ice in the shake gives the juice form the muddled apple some dilution.
Heeet Hot Cinnamon Vodka from Merry Go Spirits is available now at your finer winer and spirit retailers. You won't need the AC for this Heeet.