So it’s time to throw your annual summer party. The lawn is cut and the hotdogs are prepared for the grill, but you still need to perfect one area of your party: the bar.
There’s one ingredient you might not think to stock the bar with, but it’s one that’s going to wow your party guests.
Vanilla beans.
Nope, we’re not making cookies. We’re making fun, adult-friendly, vanilla-flavored drinks. In the orchid family, which includes around 25,000 varieties and 10,000 hybrids, vanilla is the ONLY edible fruit. Your drinks will be extra special with this delicious ingredient.
Order vanilla beans online and prepare to mix them with your liquor stash to throw the best summer party in the neighborhood.
1. Vanilla Fig Vodka Spritzer
You can’t have a party without some sort of vodka drink. Mixing in figs with your tasty vanilla will have your guests floating on a summer high. This recipe calls for just a tad bit more work, as you have to create a fig and vanilla bean simple syrup. Trust me, it’s worth it.
Fig and Vanilla Bean Simple Syrup
Ingredients:
1 cup chopped figs
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
1 vanilla bean. Cut it lengthwise and scrape out the seeds
Directions:
Add all ingredients to a sauce pan. Cook until boiling. Reduce heat and cook and stir for 5-7 minutes. Let the mixture cool, and then strain out the vanilla beans and figs.
Cocktail recipe:
1.5 ounces of your choice of vodka
1/2 ounce of previously made fig and vanilla bean simple syrup
1 ounce of lemon juice
Directions:
Add vodka, fig and vanilla simple syrup, and lemon juice to a cocktail shake. Add ice. Shake and pour over ice in your choice of cocktail glass. Top with soda water. Garnish with fresh fig.
2. Vanilla Bean Whiskey
Even the rough and gruff whiskey can be included in the vanilla fun. For this recipe, you will have to infuse your whiskey with vanilla 1-2 days before your party. To do this, simply place a vanilla bean in a half batch of whiskey and sit it somewhere dark for 24-48 hours. Whole vanilla beans work best for this.
Ingredients:
2 ounces of your expertly crafted vanilla bean infused whiskey
1/2 an ounce of Dr. McGillicuddy’s Intense Raw Vanilla
2 dashes of bitters
1/4 ounce of fresh lemon juice
1 Star anise
Directions:
Pour the whiskey, Dr. McGillicuddy’s, bitters and lemon juice into a cocktail shaker. Add ice. Add star anise. Shake it like a polaroid picture. Serve like an old fashioned, garnished with star anise and a lemon wedge.
3. Vanilla Bean Champagne
While this might sound the fanciest out of all of these recipes (gotta love a good champagne), it actually takes the least amount of work. You’ll really wow your party guests with this one. You will make another simple syrup for this, so consider making two batches with your fig cocktail!
Vanilla Bean Simple Syrup
Ingredients:
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
1 vanilla bean
Directions:
Combine water and sugar in a saucepan. Cut vanilla bean in half and scrape out seeds. Add the seeds and the pod to the saucepan. Bring the mixture to a simmer over low heat and stir until the sugar dissolves. Allow mixture to cook for five minutes, or until it has thickened. Strain out seeds and pod and let cool before using.
Cocktail recipe:
2 ounces of peach nectar
1/2-ounce of expertly crafted vanilla bean syrup
Dry sparkling wine
Directions:
Take your elegant champagne flute and add the peach nectar and vanilla bean syrup. Top with sparking line and watch as your guests enjoy their night.