Pickle Lemonade

I love pickle flavored anything and am very into all the pickle snacks around lately! This drink was inspired by Popeye’s pickle extravaganza (possibly named something different) with so many pickle flavored foods and a frozen pickle lemonade. This drink has lemon and pickles plus some cucumber and sugar to cut the extreme sour. Spike it with some lemon vodka if desired!

The rest of my fam isn’t as into pickles so making a single serve option was my method. I’ve confirmed my preferred chips (Utz pickle ones are best, Aunt Vicky’s are spicy pickle and in 2nd but hard to find, Doritos pickle ones are 3rd, Pringles pickle chips are 4th).

Pickle Lemonade
Ingredients: (for 1)
8 oz lemonade
2 slices lemon
3 slices cucumber
1 teaspoon white sugar
4 pickle chips or 1 spear, chopped
2 tablespoons pickle juice

Directions:
Add lemon, cucumber, and sugar to a glass or shaker and muddle it to get it crushed, mixed, and all the flavors out.

Add in the lemonade, pickle juice, pickle slices, and vodka – if using. Shake or stir well.
Add ice and a pickle garnish. Enjoy!

I loved it. The cucumber adds some nice freshness against the strong pickle and lemon. This would be great to offer as an option to spike or not per drink. It wouldn’t be everyone’s pick(le) but I loved it and will totally repeat as a fun treat…a drink with a pickle garnish to snack on is the best!

Passion Fruit Bubbly

AKA, Pornstar Martini (with a champagne sidecar) is a fun name but the bubbles are important and can be in it, not beside it so martini doesn’t fit for me. I hear it has origins in London and the pornstar name would shake up the British drinking scene. I batched it and served it as a cocktail versus a martini.

These are delicious and I’ll make them again! They would be so fitting at brunch too!

Passion fruit Bubbly Cocktails
Ingredients: (serves 4)

1/2 cup vanilla vodka
3 oz Passion fruit syrup (or passion fruit liquor + 1 oz simple syrup)
1/4 cup Passion fruit puree
1-2 limes, juiced
2 cups champagne/prosecco
Dehydrated fruit garnish, optional

Directions:
Stir or shake together the vodka, passion fruit puree & syrup, and lime juice. Pour into glasses with ice.
Top with bubbles and garnish.
Cheers!

The passion fruit flavor is so unique and a welcome change from orange flavor – despite being orange colored! I made these for happy hour, after a winery, so it worked out well that I hadn’t come across passion fruit liquor – the vodka and champagne is enough.

Pear & Cucumber Cocktails

These cocktails are so delightfully fall – the pear is unexpected and the cucumber makes it light and fresh. These would pair so well with any of the fall foods – I liked the cool and freshness since it has been so unseasonably warm here lately.

The Three Bite Rule - Pear & Cucumber Cocktail

Mix these to order for a group and there are a bunch of options for a twist. The simple syrup + ginger ale would make it lovely without alcohol – always have a fun non-alcoholic offering. Skip the vodka and swap with champagne for a lovely morning or pre-dinner cocktail for another great option.

Pear & Cucumber Cocktail:
Ingredients:

1/2 ripe pear
2-3 tablespoons simple syrup
1/4 cup water
ice
a few slices of cucumber
1 oz vodka

Directions:
In a small pot, bring pear, sugar, and water to a simmer for 5-10 minutes. Then let cool and strain (if desired).

The Three Bite Rule - Pear & Cucumber Cocktail

Shake together ice, vodka, pear simple syrup, and a few slices of cucumber.

The Three Bite Rule - Pear & Cucumber Cocktail

Pour into a glass over ice, then top with ginger ale (or soda water) and a cucumber slice or two.
Enjoy!

The Three Bite Rule - Pear & Cucumber Cocktail

I loved it. The pear + cucumber + ginger ale is gentle but all those flavors are distinct. It isn’t all that fruity or herby and I looove the bubbles. How perfect would these be in flutes with champagne?

Apple Cider Vanilla Hot Cocktail

Fall in a cup! This hot cocktail came out of my love for fall hot drinks so I mixed vanilla tea and apple cider and spiked it. It was delightful!

The Three Bite Rule - Cider Tea Cocktail

Apple Cider & Vanilla Tea Hot Cocktail
Ingredients: (for 2)

1 cup cider
1 cup vanilla tea (or a tiny bit of vanilla extract into black tea)
1-2 shots vanilla vodka
~4 tablespoons whipped cream
sprinkle of cinnamon sugar

Directions:
Brew the tea and warm the cider.

The Three Bite Rule - Cider Tea Cocktail

Mix one part tea (1/2 cup) with one part cider (1/2 cup) and half the vodka and stir. Sweeten to taste – I left my tea unsweetened but normally sweeten when drinking it by itself!
Top with whipped cream and a cinnamon sugar sprinkle.
Enjoy!

The Three Bite Rule - Cider Tea Cocktail

I loved this! It wasn’t so so sweet since I hadn’t sweetened the tea but could see it being good either way. Rim the glasses with cinnamon sugar and skip the whipped cream if you wish!

This one seems great with brunch since it is light, and would be great at Thanksgiving! These would work well as a big batch, like in a pitcher and guests could spike it (or not). Serve them for day-drinks or tailgating!

Rosemary Hard Lemonade

Get ready for some herby cocktails! Thanks to the family in Florida, we got a great spread of different herbs which are flourishing in our garden! I’ve been using them to cook with but there’s plenty so now I’m introducing a few cocktails! This is perfect for your labor day menu! Make a pitcher!

The Three Bite Rule - Rosemary Hard Lemonade
I started with lemonade and citrus vodka, and then added a sprig of rosemary and dropped a few frozen blueberries on top. So good!

Ingredients:

1 shot citrus vodka
4 shots lemonade
ice
1/2 shot lemon juice
1 sprig fresh rosemary
frozen blueberries

Directions:

Add some ice to a glass with a sprig of rosemary.
In a cocktail shaker, add 2 ice cubes, lemonade, vodka, and lemon juice.
The Three Bite Rule - Rosemary Hard Lemonade
Shake shake shake.
Serve over the ice and rosemary. Top with a few blueberries.
The Three Bite Rule - Rosemary Hard Lemonade
Enjoy!

I loved this. The lemon juice really balanced the flavor from being too sweet since my lemonade was Crystal Light, not a tart lemonade. The rosemary was perfect. It wasn’t too much…I didn’t want it to become woodsy. I might not buy rosemary just to make this, but it is a perfect use for rosemary if you have it from something else.

The Three Bite Rule - Rosemary Hard Lemonade
Get your hands on some rosemary to make these…just not all at the same meal with the cocktail:
Rosemary in white beans, then top with something deliciously grilled
Rosemary in the Parisian Burger, seriously favorite burger of all time
Rosemary & Truffle oil on some baked french fries or homefries