We had a great menu of Teriyaki Steak, Broiled Tomatoes & Cheese, and Hot Corn Dip.  Our menu had no theme, we simply chose appetizers by themes: a meat dish, a veggie dish, and a dip.  With no theme for our food, we had unlimited options for our drink making.

I decided to take a look in our liquor cabinet to begin my brainstorming.  I had purchased cherry vodka recently, and it sounded like a tasty part of our drink-to-be.  I wasn’t craving a multi-fruit drink, so I continued my search through our cabinet for a different flavor to accent the cherry.

I spied our vanilla liqueur, and inspiration struck.  I could make a vanilla-cherry combination.  Not wanting the drink to be syrupy or too sweet, I would add seltzer to give the beverage a lighter taste and feel.  Garnished with a maraschino cherry or two, it made a beautiful drink for a Sunday afternoon.

Vanilla-Cherry Delight

1-1/2 oz. cherry vodka

3/4 oz. vanilla liqueur

3 oz. seltzer

maraschino cherries

Fill a martini shaker with ice, and add vodka and liqueur.  Shake well.  Pour into a cocktail glass, add seltzer, and stir gently.  Garnish with a cherry.

Although my tastes have changed, there are some similarities.  I still do enjoy a hint of sweetness in my drinks.  And if there were to be any theme to the variety of drinks that I like, it would be that they include fruit flavors.  The differences are that I no longer enjoy a drink that is heavy with cream or syrupy ingredients.  Also, unless I am indulging on a hot day by a pool, I usually avoid frozen drinks.

Recently, I have noticed that I like my drinks less and less sweet, although I have not gotten to the point where I am requesting a classic martini or vodka and tonic.  With that thought in mind, I created the Vodka and Tonic Restyled.  While this  may not have been my grandfather’s sort of concoction, it is simple, light, and refreshing.  Served over ice, it is a wonderful way to quench your thirst while  you sit on the front porch swing.

Vodka and Tonic Restyled

ice

1-1/2 oz. kiwi-strawberry infused vodka

berry seltzer

1 maraschino cherry

Fill martini shaker with ice, and add vodka.*  Shake for a minimum of 20 seconds.  Fill a highball glass with ice, and add vodka.  Top with seltzer, and stir.  Add cherry (and a teaspoon of its juice for a pinch of flavor, if desired), and enjoy!

*As nothing is being combined in the shaker, you can omit this step.  However, this step lowers the temperature of the vodka, creating a wonderfully chilled cocktail.