Perfect for warmer weather; this Limoncello and Raspberry Sparkling Slushy Cocktail is a wonderful combination that is sure to refresh.
I admit it; I have way too many adult beverages in this house. My name is on a list and that list ultimately provides me with a lot of samples of booze. I love making cocktails and I'm not sure I could do what I love every week without the resources made available to me but the real truth is I could have even more. If I said 'yes' to every offer I would have to be building a shed out back.
But I don't; I'm picky and trust me, if you EVER see a post with Bubblegum Vodka then you know it's time to shoot me. I have been privy to some great products that I'm certain I would not have been aware of otherwise and I'm lucky to have so many options when it comes to creating a cocktail.
Sometimes there are days when product and circumstance come together and result in a cocktail that I just love. I seldom name my cocktails but if I were to be so inclined this would have to be The Pucker Up. It's lemon, more lemon, raspberry, and then garnished with more lemon. And oh boy is it good!
I love Deep Eddy Lemon Vodka which is distilled in Austin. Not typically a fan of flavored vodkas, this one arrived at my doorstep and interested me enough to try it because it is handcrafted in small batches and contains real lemon; you can even tell by the color of the product that there is actually lemon in it.
Now that I've tried it I'm hooked and on the hunt for their Ruby Red Vodka with pink grapefruit juice. I'm not usually prone to drinking vodka straight up but this vodka with the taste of lemon ice cold from the freezer? I'm not that stubborn; my mind can be changed. I've been waiting for Denver to move out of the ice age into a bit warmer weather before considering what to make with it but whatever it was, it was going to be cold so I stuck it in the freezer. Perfect storage place for vodka; it's like Russia in there!
Combined with a bottle Limoncello di Capri I already had on hand in my freezer; the Limoncello and Raspberry Sparkling Slushy Cocktail was apparently meant to be. Having the bottles nestled together did not strike quite the chord until my decision to freeze a handful of raspberries; they were at the 'use them or lose them' stage so I placed them individually on a plate and into the freezer they went.
That's when lightning struck. An unlikely marriage maybe, this vodka from Texas, Limoncello from Italy and raspberries from California, but all three together, right in front of me, it's as if they were crying, 'Pick me, choose me!' and I didn't forget.
I first made and posted about this cocktail almost 5 years ago. Not only were the photos due for a redo but sharing it again seemed the right thing to do. My neighbor Amy and her family were coming over for dinner; I had promised a cocktail and I knew I could make one for her using this brand since it is gluten free.
The cocktail is rimmed with my favorite combination of salt, sugar and citrus, and then the berries (which when frozen is cool, they break into little tiny balls) are muddled with the vodka, Limoncello di Capri, a touch of simple syrup. Sparkling soda finished it all off and I had an enthusiastic taste tester with Amy; she loved it too.
True confession? I don't test and retest cocktails; that would be a great excuse for drinking all the time and well, you can imagine, a problem too. I either like them or I don't and run with them if I do. I loved this the first time around and yet it's always nice to have friends enjoy them too.
Amy was onboard but as it turns out a friend showed up yesterday just as I started taking photos and she was the lucky recipient of the one cocktail I had saved for that effort. I lost count of how many times she asked, 'This is on your blog right?' I hope she waited for the new photos; it was good before but now it looks as good as it tasted!
Honestly a perfect warm weather cocktail. Since everything is ice cold that goes into the cocktail; I decided to whir the ice in my blender and make it a slushy concoction this time around. Not necessary but sure fun and you should try it too. Even though we had a bit of snow last night in Colorado; I'm ready for spring and more of these cocktails. Cheers!
Love Limoncello cocktails like I do? Here's a few more to wet your whistle!
PIN 'Limoncello and Raspberry Sparkling Slushy Cocktail'
