Time to celebrate! This Red White and Berry Martini is made with raspberry infused organic gluten free 360 vodka, a touch of coconut sugar simple syrup, topped with a coconut date rim and a skewer of fresh berries. It’s a subtle fruit bomb, served ice cold you can smell the coconut and fruit on the nose with a light jammy flavor profile on your palette. A perfect way to kick off your 4th of July party!
There are ways to party smarter, and this is one of them. Using a well-made, small batch, distilled spirit filters out the majority of impurities. The more times distilled the better, toxins can still make it through to the finished alcohol.
What does the 4th of July mean to you and your family? To me, it’s fireworks and the kick off to the heat of summer. It’s celebrating this special holiday with those you love with the underlying pulse of freedom be it the day of Independence. Smiles, laughter, barbecue, pool parties, boats, lakes, lightning bugs and cocktails!
My dad lived in the mid-west so I would head out there for the summer when I was in high school and early college. One year I flew out on the 3rd of July and it was one of my most memorable flights to this day. I was on a connecting flight out of Chicago, just a quick hopper we didn’t climb too high up. It was in the evening and lucky me I had a window seat. With my forehead plastered on the pane I looked down on the land and all I could see was pops and flares of fireworks all around as far as my eyes could see. Appears everyone started a little early on my account as it felt like it was my own personal show. I imagined all the bon fires surrounded by adults and little ones ooooohhhhhing and ahhhhhhing at their fireworks displays.
I hope these cocktails spark up your night!
Ingredients
Infused vodka;
2 c vodka
1 c raspberries
Rim of glass;
1/2 date
½ c unsweetened coconut flakes
Martini;
3 oz raspberry infused vodka
1 T coconut simple syrup*
Blueberry & Raspberry skewers (about 10 blueberries and 2 raspberries on ends)
Ice
Making infused vodka;
- Use a pint size mason jar, squish the raspberries in your hand gently then drop them in the jar. Fill with 2 cups vodka (to the top). Let this sit for 2-3 days in your fridge. Strain out the raspberries and gently press the fruit to get all the juice out through the strainer. Discard the berries and keep the vodka in the fridge. This batch will last up to two weeks.
Ready? Prep the glass;
- Pour the shredded coconut onto a dinner plate, then rub a half of a ripe sticky date to rim the martini glass. Dip the glass in the coconut and push down gently to get as much as you can to stick to the date.
Make the martini;
- Using a martini shaker is best. First fill the shaker with a good purified ice about ¾ the way up, add 3 oz infused vodka and coconut sugar simple syrup. Evoke your inner bartender, cover and shake vigorously a few times over the left shoulder and a few over the right. Pour into your rimmed glass and finish with a skewer of fresh blueberries and raspberries over the top of the glass and serve ice cold.
*simple syrup- I like a lighter sweet flavor so I use 1/4 c blond coconut sugar to 3/4 hot water. Once it is all melted it is ready to use. Any left-over you can store in the fridge and just shake the container a little before use again. It is great for your coffee or tea, hot or cold!
Makes 6-8 martinis