Cocktail of the Month: Pumpkin Spice White Russian

Autumn has arrived!  Why not ring in the new season with a festive and seasonal cocktail?  Nothing says fall is here more than something that’s pumpkin spiced.  This month, sit back and drink to one of the most fun seasons with a fun twist on the staple White Russian…the Pumpkin Spice White Russian.

I’m sure you’re already drinking pumpkin in your coffee and eating it in bread, so it only makes sense to add it to your cocktail too. This is the kind of drink to enjoy in the fall weather.  It’s just as comforting as it is yummy. The Pumpkin Spice White Russian is the perfect drink to sip throughout the month, as we start to watch the leaves change color and fall to the ground.

You can buy pumpkin spice syrup to add to the drink (or any tea or coffee you may be drinking), but why not make the syrup yourself? This month, we’ve got a two-for-one special: recipes for the cocktail AND the accompanying syrup.  They’re both pretty quick and easy to make!

Pumpkin Spice Syrup

Ingredients:

• ½ cup brown sugar
• ½ cup water
• 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice

Instructions:

1. Combine all three ingredients in a small saucepan.
2. Heat and Stir until the sugar has completely dissolved.
3. Let cool, strain into a container.

*Note – you can keep this syrup stored in the fridge for up to two weeks!

Just as simple as that, now you have your pumpkin spice syrup. Time to start on the cocktail.

Pumpkin Spice White Russian

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces vodka
• 1.5 ounces Bailey’s (original flavor)
• 1 ounce half and half
• 1 ounce pumpkin spice syrup
• cinnamon stick

Instructions:

1. Fill glass with ice.
2. Combine vodka, Bailey’s, half and half, and Syrup.
3. Stir.
4. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.
5. Serve and enjoy!

Again, this entire recipe is very simple.  If you’re like me and are conscience of calories in drinks, I make my White Russians with skim milk instead of half and half, but this is a personal choice and definitely makes the drink taste a lot stronger. Be sure to consider this if you’re debating making the substitution. Another important difference to note between this drink and a classic White Russian is that it uses Bailey’s instead of Kahlua, so there’s an extra creaminess that makes it particularly delicious.

Curl up with a good book, a Pumpkin Spice White Russian, and find yourself a nice spot in front of a window to watch the beautiful season change right outside your door.  Cheers!

-Noori Chishti

Cocktail of the Month: Basil Grape Crush

As someone who is always on the lookout for more ways to cut calories from my diet, I can’t help but get really excited when I stumble upon new drinks using fresh ingredients and avoiding sugary pre-made mixers. Luckily for me, I found a drink called the Basil Grape Crush. I was immediately interested in trying it, considering how good the grapes have been this summer and the endless pile of basil growing in my herb garden.

Basil Grape Crush

Yields: 1 cocktail

Ingredients:

• 2 large basil leaves
• 5-6 seedless grapes (I prefer red, but I’m sure green would work too)
• 1-2 packets of Splenda (to taste)*
• 2 shots of soda water
• 1-2 shots of your preferred vodka (depending on how potent you want the drink)
• 1 lemon wedge

*Normally one would add about a ½ ounce of simple syrup. However, I replaced it with a packet or two of Splenda.

Directions:

1. First, muddle the basil, grapes and Splenda (or simple syrup) in a glass. Then add in the vodka (1-2 shot) and squeezed lime wedge. This mixture is then poured into a shaker. Give it a good mix!
2. Grab a small cocktail glass and fill it halfway with ice. Then you can pour in your mixture. I prefer to keep the muddled grapes and basil in the drink. However, it’s definitely an option to strain them out before you pour your drink into the cocktail glass, if you prefer your cocktails without pulp.
3. Finally, pour the soda water into the glass and stir with a spoon. Sit back, put your feet up and enjoy your sweet, refreshing cocktail…guilt-free!

80 proof Vodka rings in at about 97 calories a shot. That’s going to make up the bulk of the calories of the drink. Before adding vodka, the basil/grape mixture comes in at only 24 calories. While this drink is a great summer drink because of how refreshing it sweet it is, it also a drink that isn’t going to kill your summer diets!

Not only do the colors of the muddled fruit look beautiful for an outdoor party, but also knowing that it’s healthy and full of fresh fruit can always encourage you to feel your best!

– Noori Chishti