Boozy Drinks

Strawberry Mint Mojitos

Strawberry Mint Mojitos with a homemade strawberry infused vodka!

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Summer…

The perfect time to enjoy beautiful weather, wear a cute summer dress and don on strappy sandals. Time to partake in the dance of summer, of the hypnotic wind that with it carries the scent of sunscreen, grilled meats and summer drinks.

Ah, the drinks…

Summer is all about getting your summer drink on. Beer, wine, spritzers… OK – I’ve never had a spritzer, but it sounds summery. It’s all about having a summer cocktail, not mocktail – screw that – while deep in discussion, mostly trivial, into the night. Mosquitoes make a meal of your exposed skin parts while your favorite summer jam is pumping the stereo on repeat. Summer… Kick that bass up.

In light of all that is considered summer sacred I’ve made you a cocktail – A mojito cocktail with strawberry infused vodka.

Before I continue, it is my civic duty to issue the following disclaimer: Don’t drink and drive. Also, don’t drink and text while driving drunk. That’s just crazy – Don’t do it.

Disclaimers out of the way, it’s on and poppin’ summer drink style.

I must say, I have become an infusing machine. Pretty soon I will adapt “infused” as my middle name. In a span of two weeks I’ve infused strawberries in vodka, coconut in vodka and blueberries in vodka. Summer does things to me.

Would you like to know what a liquor infusion is?

Nerdilicious lesson comin’ on – flow with me:

Infusing liquor is the process of absorbing external flavors into pre-existing alcohol. You mix alcohol with natural flavoring (in my case fruit), store it in a cool place and wait. After a few days the liquor absorbs the flavor of the fruit and you are left with flavored booze. Yes, flavored booze which beats the undies off the commercial brands and you can easily make at home.

What?!

I know!

I got this recipe from Joy the baker who is giggly and super cute in a way I just can’t pull off. She got it from Shutterbean; also cute. They spoke about it on the Joy The Baker Homefries podcast. I wanted to try it… Because I’m sheep and I follow the herd. Check out their podcast… It’s cool.

This is what you need to make a strawberry infusion happen:

  • Strawberries: 1 pound, washed hulled and sliced
  • Vodka: Something decent. Don’t buy the cheap isopropyl alcohol stuff cause that would just suck
  • A jar: I used a one quart mason jar, but anything with an airtight lid will do.

Place your sliced strawberries inside the Mason jar and pour booze until it completely covers the strawberries. Cover and store in a cool dark place for about 5-7 days. Every night, remove the jar from its cool dark place, give it a shake and put it back. Repeat the next day and every day for the required time period. Strain the mixture. You’re done…

Now you have strawberry flavored booze, the perfect boozy base. With some mint infused simple syrup, some ice and a few mint leaves for garnish you’ve got yourself a mean flavored mojito.

What are you waiting for? Do it! Summer nights and mojitos on deck… That’s where it’s at. Oooh – So is summer love! Definitely that… Oh, but not drunk summer love. Don’t do that. That will just bring problems…

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Strawberry Mint Mojitos with a homemade vodka! www.mind-over-batter.com

Strawberry Infused Vodka

Source: Adapted from Shutterbean.com

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb of fresh, ripe strawberries
  • 750 ml bottle of vodka (decently priced bottle)
  • One 1-Quart jar or any 1-Quart container with a tight fitting lid

Directions:

  1. Hull and slice the strawberries. Place strawberries in the jar and pour enough vodka to cover the strawberries.
  2. Seal with a tight fitting lid and store the jar in a cool dark place for 5 days and up to a week, giving it a daily dose of agitation (shake it, baby).
  3. Strain the mixture over a strainer lined with a coffee filter or cheesecloth taking care to squeeze the strawberries to extract all the liquor. Pour into 2 one cup jars and cover with a lid. Makes about 2 cups of flavored vodka.

Mint Infused Simple Syrup

Source: An M.O.B. Production

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup of white granulated sugar
  • 1 cup of water
  • About 30 mint leaves

Directions:

  1. Place water, sugar, and mint leaves in a small sauce pan.
  2. Bring the mixture to a full rolling boil over high heat uncovered for 2 minutes. Remove the syrup from the heat and allow to cool completely.
  3. Once cool, strain the mixture to remove the mint leaves and pour onto a container with an air tight lid.

Strawberry Mint Mojito

Makes 1 mojito

Ingredients:

  • 4-5 fresh mint leaves
  • 2 tablespoons of mint infused simple syrup
  • 2.5 ounces strawberry infused vodka
  • Ice, preferably crushed
  • Club soda
  • Additional mint leaves as garnish
  • Sliced strawberries as garnish

Directions:

  1. Pour simple syrup into an 8 oz. glass.
  2. Add mint leaves to the glass and use a spoon or a muddler to mash the syrup and mint together (I know your syrup is already infused with mint, but trust me).
  3. Pour vodka into the glass and stir to combine.
  4. Add crushed ice
  5. Fill the glasses with club soda, stir, and garnish with additional mint sprigs and strawberry slices. 

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