Although some places in the Northern Hemisphere are still snowed in, Spring truly has arrived and is well worth celebrating, if only for the sheer hope of warmer days one day soon.
In the spirit of blue skies and green grass, cherry blossoms and going barefoot for the first time this year, here are three cocktails from around the globe that are so vivid and delicious they can brighten up even the dreariest of Spring days.
Apricot Bellini (Italy)
Although traditionally a Bellini is made with fragrant, fresh peaches, apricots are a more seasonal option. Choose plump, ripe apricots that bruise easily when you press the flesh. These will provide the most flavorful juice for your Spring-saluting cocktail. If your market doesn’t have fresh apricots yet, canned ones will do.
Apricot Bellini
Ingredients:
4 ripe apricots
chilled champagne or sparkling wine
Directions:
1. Remove stones from apricots and puree in blender until smooth.
2. Divide puree between 2 chilled glasses and top up slowly with champagne.
3. Serve immediately.
Cherry Vodka Martini (America)
Turn the olive-garnished vodka martini on its head by using cherry-infused vodka and garnishing with lime instead of lemon. Cherries are Spring’s ultimate fruit and lend a dazzling color and sweetness to plain old vodka. Simply pit and halve fresh cherries into a bottle, top with vodka, seal, and leave to steep in a dark place for about a week until the cherries have given both their color and flavor to the vodka. Strain and use in the following recipe:
Cherry Vodka Martini
Ingredients:
6 Parts Cherry-infused vodka
1 Part Dry Vermouth
1 Twist of Lime
Directions:
1. Fill a mixing glass with ice cubes.
2. Add cherry-infused vodka, vermouth, and lime.
3. Stir and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
4. Garnish with lemon.
Sima (Finland)
Though technically not a cocktail, Sima is a festive necessity for Finn’s celebrating May Day. A fermented lemon beverage with the alcohol equivalent of real ginger beer, Sima is a lightly sweet, lemony, fizzy drink that is like sunshine in a glass. Definitely a great choice for toasting the arrival of Spring.
What is your favorite Spring cocktail?
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The cherry vodka and apricot bellini look fab, but I think Sima is my drink! What good taste the Finns have – thank you for introducing me to this sunny, May day cocktail! 🙂
These pictures are stunning, and you have immediately put me in the mood for a spring cocktail (even though it is fall here in Botswana where I live!)