I really enjoy traditional black, white, oolong, and green teas, but I’m also drawn to creative and novel interpretations of the tea experience. My fascination with blending tea with spices from around the world has led me to some delicious creations. I love the element of surprise in blending a traditional tea (like Earl Grey) with a complementary but unusual companion (like rose petals or raw cacao).
That’s probably why I so enjoy mixing Tea Drop blends with a variety of different spirits to create tea cocktails. Tea cocktails give a new spin on teatime, and would also be a unique addition to your upcoming holiday gatherings. They will greatly intrigue your guests, and lucky for you, they are simple to create.
I get so much inspiration from my traveling bartender friends Mint and Mirth from Portland, Oregon. They are a rad girl duo who come up with some of the most unique (and delicious!) cocktail creations. I often look to them for cocktail ideas. We even collaborated on a new tea-infused cocktail they introduced at a recent wedding, called Lady May Gimlet. It was a huge hit!
I wanted to share some of my favorite tea-infused cocktails for the holiday season. These are easy to prepare, general crowd pleasers, and are sure to make a sophisticated, boozy addition to any gathering. All of these recipes can be made using the Tea Drop Sampler. I hope you enjoy them while creating some unforgettable holiday memories! And please be sure to sip (and drop) responsibly.
Lady May Gimlet
Mint & Mirth share the cocktail recipe that incorporates Tea Drops’ popular Sweet Peppermint from the Tea Drop Sampler.
Ingredients:
● 2 oz Aria Portland Dry Gin or other dry gin
● 1 sweet peppermint Tea Drop
● 1/2 oz mixed berry juice
● dash of aromatic bitters
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a shaker over ice, shake well, then strain over ice and garnish with citrus.
Fresh Cut Cocktail
I was so inspired by Mint and Mirth’s original Fresh Cut cocktail and loved the mixture of gin, Chartreuse French liqueur, and lime. I felt that our Citrus Ginger Tea Drop would make a great addition for those who found the lime juice in the original recipe to be a bit tart. Below is my adapted version of Mint and Mirth’s original Fresh Cut cocktail.
Ingredients
● 1 ½ oz. Gin
● ¼ oz. green chartreuse French liqueur
● ¾ oz. of tea from the Citrus Ginger Tea Drop
● Dash rhubarb bitters from Brooklyn Bitters
● Optional: Splash of Tonic
Directions:
Prepare a Citrus Ginger Tea Drop, allow to cool and set aside. Shake ingredients over ice and strain into chilled coupe glass. Garnish with lemon and enjoy.
Vanilla Tea Hot Toddy
Whenever I sip on this hot toddy, I’m instantly transported to sitting by a crackling fire wrapped in my wool blanket, catching up with some of my favorite people. If I could bottle up our Vanilla White Tea Toddy that describe it to people, that’s the mood/place I would describe. I love the blend of cinnamon, vanilla, and cream in Rumchata — it is incredibly delicious and comforting at the same time. Below is my favorite recipe for a winter toddy made with our popular Vanilla White Tea Drop, with a deelish Rumchata infusion.
Ingredients
● 1 Vanilla White Tea Drop
● 2 TB of Rumchata
Directions:
Prepare 1 Vanilla White Tea Drop using 6 oz of boiling water in your favorite mug. Add Rumchata and mix. Enjoy!
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