Most of us are eating and drinking a lot more than the norm. Quarantine has us juggling parenthood, work, and if you have young children, the ever challenging new role of educator, among other things. Needless to say, when the weekend hits, a good cocktail can make everything (inducing the current dismal situation) seem somewhat…tolerable. We rounded up our current favorites! We hope you enjoy.
The “Bootleg” is legendary and widely known around Minnesota parts. Thanks to a close Minnesotan friend of ours, her trusted “Bootleg” family recipe has made its way to Arizona.
After making these and trying them for ourselves, we’re hooked on this minty lemonade. You can certainly modify and skip the alcohol addition altogether. Kids would love the non-alcoholic version. Make a batch and freeze the mix into ice cubes (we love these ice cube trays) for days and days of prepped cocktails. However you do it, we know you’ll enjoy. The Bootleg is the epitome of the perfect summertime cocktail. Add the alcohol and we promise it’ll get the job done.
THE BOOTLEG
BIG HANDFUL OF MINT LEAVES - CLEAN, NO STEMS, GROUND
3 12 OZ FROZEN CANS FROZEN LEMONADE (NO PULP, NO PINK, JUST PLAIN)
1 LIME
GRIND UP MINT WITH ONE 12 OZ CAN FROZEN LEMONADE (10 MINUTES IN A BLENDER; 5 IN A VITAMIX)
MIX 2 MORE CANS OF 12 OZ. FROZEN LEMONADE
SQUEEZE 1/3 FRESH LIME JUICE INTO BLENDER AND MIX (THIS CUTS THE SWEETNESS)
BEST IF MADE 1 DAY AHEAD. CAN BE FROZEN IN EMPTY TONIC OR WATER BOTTLES INDEFINITELY.
TO MAKE DRINK COMBINE:
1 SHOT “MIXTURE FROM ABOVE”
1 SHOT VODKA
LOTS OF ICE
LOTS OF SPARKLING WATER
LOTS OF MIXING - IT WILL SEPARATE
Speaking of getting the job done...here are three more of our favorite and easy Quarantine cocktail recipes. Nothing fancy. Just some quick mixes to take the edge off.
Just in case you’re short on barware, as several of us realized we were before quarantine, we love this jigger, long barspoon to stir cocktails (the copper color!), and these socially distant happy hour appropriate plastic mason jar cups to put everything in.
EASY BEER MARGARITAS
A.K.A. “SHIT CAN MARGS”
1 CAN FROZEN LIMEADE CONCENTRATE
1 CAN TEQUILA
1 CAN WATER
I CAN BEER
MIX INGREDIENTS IN A PITCHER. POUR OVER ICE AND ADD A LIME WEDGE.
PEACHY KEEN
PEACH WINE IN A CAN (TRADER JOES)
GIN
FILL GLASS WITH ICE. POUR WINE OVER ICE. ADD A GIN FLOATER TO THE TOP.
RANCH WATER
TOPO CHICO SPARKLING WATER
SILVER TEQUILA
LIME WEDGES
FLAKY SEA SALT, SUCH AS MALDON
ALEPPO-PEPPER FLAKES
RUN A LIME WEDGE AROUND RIM OF THE GLASS. DIP IN SALT AND PEPPER FLAKES. FILL GLASS WITH ICE AND ADD 1-2 SHOTS OF TEQUILA. SQUEEZE 1/2 LIME AND DROP IN GLASS. TOP WITH TOPO CHICO.