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6 Summer Inspired Drinks

Friday, July 9th, 2021

While we are in the throes of summer and it’s HOT, HOT, HOT, we’re always looking for something to help cool us off. These summer-inspired drinks, some spiked, some not, will be sure to lower your temperature, tantalize your tastebuds, and remind you of how fun summer can be.

GRILLED RASPBERRY LEMONADE

What’s more reminiscent of summer than a tall glass of fresh squeezed lemonade? Give your classic summer drink a twist by grilling the lemons for added flavor and easy-to-juice fruit! Our Vine-Ripened Raspberry Balsamic infuses this lemonade effortlessly with the sweet and tart flavor of fresh raspberries. Get your sun hat, porch swing, and pour yourself an ice-cold glass of Raspberry Grilled Lemonade.

 

 

 

 

INGREDIENTS
FOR THE LEMONADE

  • 16 Lemons, halved
  • ¼ Cup Cinnamon Vanilla Sugar Shaker
  • 1 Cup Simple Syrup
  • 1/2 Cup Vine-Ripened Raspberry Balsamic Vinegar
  • 7 Cups Club Soda
  • 1 Lemon, sliced
  • 1/2 Cup Raspberries
  • Ice

FOR THE SIMPLE SYRUP

  • 3/4 Cup Sugar
  • 1 Cup Water
  • 3/4 Cup Vine-Ripened Raspberry Balsamic Vinegar

DIRECTIONS

  1. Preheat the grill to 400 F. Place sugar shaker on a small plate.
  2. Cut lemons in half and dip cut side into the sugar shaker.
  3. Place lemons on grill cut side down and grill for 3 minutes or until browned.
  4. Let lemons cool, then juice. Strain the juice to catch any seeds.
  5. In a small saucepan combine sugar, water, and raspberry vinegar. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook until sugar is dissolved. Take pot off heat and let it come to room temperature.
  6. Fill a larger pitcher with ice, then add the lemon juice, simple syrup, raspberry balsamic, club soda, lemon slices, fresh raspberries, and vodka if desired. Stir to combine.
  7. Serve over ice and enjoy!

RECIPE NOTE
To make this drink spiked, we’d recommend adding 1 oz of liquor with 6 oz of lemonade. We love this with both vodka and whiskey!

CHAI PEACH WHITE WINE SANGRIA

Enjoy this spiced cocktail perfect for your next porch party! Crisp white wine and fresh peaches taste amazing with our homemade Chai Peach Simple Syrup. Warm spices like cinnamon and cloves mixed with our sweet and juicy Summer Peach Balsamic Vinegar produce a simple syrup like nothing you’ve had before! Best served cold, on a warm summer night, with friends and family!

INGREDIENTS

    • 1 Bottle Heart of the Desert Chardonnay
    • 1 cup Peaches, sliced
    • ⅓ cup Blueberries
    • ½ cup Strawberries, sliced
    • 1/2 cup Summer Peach Barrel Aged Balsamic Vinegar
    • 3/4 Cup Chai Peach Simple Syrup
    • Ice

 

CHAI PEACH SIMPLE SYRUP

  • 1/4 Cup Sugar
  • 1/2 Cup Water
  • 1/4 Cup Summer Peach Barrel Aged Balsamic Vinegar
  • 2 tsp Coconut Chai Sugar Shaker

DIRECTIONS

  1. In a small saucepan combine the sugar, water, vinegar, and sugar shaker. Bring ingredients to a simmer over medium heat. Once the sugar has dissolved remove from the heat and let come to room temperature.
  2. Fill a large pitcher with ice. Combine the white wine, fruit, vinegar, and simple syrup.
  3. Serve over ice and enjoy!

 

JALAPEÑO LIME BALSAMIC MARGARITAS

 

This simple and refreshing margarita is perfect for a warm summer evening. Using our Jalapeño Lime Balsamic Vinegar adds a delicious kick!

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 Cup Orange Juice
  • 1 Cup Tequila
  • 3/4 Cup Lime Juice
  • 1/4 Cup Jalapeño Lime Balsamic Vinegar
  • 4-6 Cups Crushed Ice
  • 4-6 Lime Slices
  • Lime Fresco Sea Salt, for rimming glasses

 

 

DIRECTIONS

  1. In a pitcher, combine the orange juice tequila, lime juice and balsamic. Stir and taste, adjusting as desired.
  2. Pour some salt into a flat dish that is wide enough for your glass to rim. Run a lime wedge around the edge of each glass then dip in salt.
  3. Fill each glass with ice then pour in the margarita mixture. Enjoy!

 

SPARKLING FIG BALSAMIC LEMONADE

Enjoy the flavor depth of high quality, sweet balsamic paired in perfect harmony with fresh lemonade. Not only does it look beautiful, but it takes your taste buds on an adventure!

INGREDIENTS

    • 2 Cups Sugar
    • 2 Cups Water
    • 1 Cup Lemon Juice
    • 1 Gallon Soda Water
    • 1 Tbsp (per glass) Harvest Fig Balsamic Vinegar

 

 

 

DIRECTIONS

  1. In a saucepan combine sugar and water. Heat until sugar is melted to make a simple syrup.
  2. In a large pitcher combine the simple syrup mixture and lemon juice. Stir to combine.
  3. Top with soda water.
  4. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of Fig Balsamic in the bottom of a glass. Add ice and pour 8-12 oz of sparkling lemonade over ice. Stir gently and serve with a garnish of lemon!

RECIPE NOTE
This recipe makes about 1.5 gallons of lemonade, good for 24 8oz servings or 12 12oz servings.

 

PINEAPPLE HABANERO MOSCOW MULE

Give this popular cocktail a pick me up with the fruity and bright flavors of our Pineapple Habanero Balsamic Vinegar. Not too spicy, this Moscow Mule is soon to be a go to drink with friends and family.

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 Cup Ice
  • 2 oz Vodka
  • 2 oz Pineapple Juice
  • 1 oz Pineapple Habanero Balsamic Vinegar
  • 4 oz Ginger Beer
  • ¼ Lime, Squeezed
  • Pineapple slice, for garnish
  • Lime wedge, for garnish
  • Habanero, for garnish

 

DIRECTIONS

  1. Fill a Moscow Mule mug (copper mug) with ice.
  2. Add vodka, pineapple juice, balsamic vinegar, ginger beer, and a squeeze of lime. Stir.
  3. Garnish with a slice of pineapple, lime wedge, and habanero. Enjoy!

NOT YOUR MOM’S PIŃA COLADA

There’s something about a Pina Colada that makes us feel like we’re getting caught in the rain. The sweet heat from the Pineapple Habanero Balsamic along with the fresh habanero slices adds a wonderful balance of sweetness and heat to this classic cocktail.

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 oz White Rum
  • 2 oz Cream of Coconut
  • 2 oz Pineapple Juice
  • ¼ cup Fresh, Canned or Frozen Pineapple Chunks
  • 1 cup Ice
  • 1 Habanero Pepper, thinly sliced (to taste)
  • 1 oz Pineapple Habanero Balsamic Vinegar, plus more to rim glass
  • 2 tsp Chipotle Lime Rub & Seasoning
  • Maraschino Cherries to garnish

DIRECTIONS

  1. Combine the first 7 ingredients in a blender and process until smooth. (Depending on your heat tolerance we recommend adding 5-6 slices of habanero pepper.)
  2. To rim the glasses add 1-2 tsps of the vinegar to a small plate and the Chipotle Lime. Rub & Seasoning to another small plate. Dip your glass in the vinegar then the rub.
  3. Pour your drink in your cup and garnish with maraschino cherries. We highly recommend buying drink umbrellas to skewer your cherries.

All highlighted ingredients are available in-store and by calling Heart of the Desert at 800.432.0999 to set up shipment. If you are in Southern New Mexico, stop in to explore our full collection of gourmet food and drink items. If you try any of these drinks, please tag us in a photo on Facebook or Instagram.

Happy Summer, Y’all!

Heart of the Desert is a working pistachio ranch and vineyard with four retail establishments in New Mexico.  They are best known for their farm fresh pistachios and Award-Winning New Mexico wines.  Each store offers wine and pistachio tastings.  They offer worldwide shipping and produce attractive gourmet baskets that make great corporate and family gifts.  The main store, on the ranch in Alamogordo, offers farm tours that showcases how pistachios are grown and processed as well as a stunning Tuscany themed patio that overlooks the groves and is available for weddings, private parties or enjoying a relaxing glass of wine. 

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