It’s citrus season!
I LOVE when all of the different citrus varieties arrive at winter time, so I knew I had to create a festive vodka cocktail with them.
Pairing the citrus juice with the spicy & citrus notes of Northern Keep Vodka and fizzy ginger soda, it’s a sip you’ll come back to! Let’s cheers to the season with this Citrus Vodka Crush friends!
I’m taking my cocktail game up a notch by making my own citrus juice as the base for this Citrus Vodka Crush; if you have the time, it’s a game-changer!
By combining a variety of oranges and tangerines, you get a super fresh citrus juice made for cocktails. Plus, the colour is just so lovely.
Creating cocktails is one of my favourite things to do in the kitchen. I especially love to mix fresh fruit flavours with local spirits like Northern Keep Vodka which is made right here in Alberta! They use Canadian grains of rye and winter wheat to craft their vodka which gives it hints of citrus and a light spiciness. And, because the vodka is distilled five times you get a very smooth vodka that pairs perfectly with fresh fruits like the citrus in this cocktail.
How to make a fresh citrus vodka cocktail
Fresh citrus: Use a variety of citrus like blood oranges, tangerines, cara cara or navel oranges or grapefruits to mix up the citrus juice.
Vodka: Use a smooth vodka with hints of citrus to mix with the fresh citrus juice in this cocktail.
Ginger soda or ginger beer: The ginger soda or beer rounds out the bright, fresh flavours of this cocktail.
Citrus Vodka Cocktail
With fresh citrus juice, ginger beer & vodka, this Citrus Vodka Crush cocktail is a bright, colourful drink to sip on during the holidays.
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz Northern Keep Vodka
- 4 oz citrus juice
- 2 oz ginger soda or ginger beer
- ice
- garnish with extra citrus slices & mint
Citrus Juice
- 2 blood oranges
- 2 cara cara or navel oranges
- 2 tangerines or 1 large grapefruit
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2-1 tbsp honey
Instructions
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To make the citrus juice: Add peeled pieces of fruit and water to a blender and blend on high for 1 minute. Taste and add ½-1tbsp honey if too tart, blend again and then strain into a container for use in cocktails.
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To make one cocktail: In a cocktail glass stir together vodka and citrus juice. Then, add crushed ice or ice cubes followed by a top up with the ginger soda or ginger beer. Garnish with citrus and mint. Cheers!
I seriously cannot get enough of the fresh citrus juice in this vodka cocktail! It complements the vodka and ginger soda just so perfectly.
If you’re short on time feel free to sub-in a fresh store-bought citrus juice. Whichever way you make it, this cocktail is so worth making anytime of year.
If you’re looking for more holiday cocktail inspiration, check out my other creations in partnership with Northern Keep Vodka. Try the Apple Ginger Cranberry Punch or the Pomegranate-Rosemary Vodka Sparkler!
Until the next cooking adventure,
Jess
Disclaimer: Thank you to Northern Keep Vodka for sponsoring this post. Thank you for supporting the brands that I support. All opinions are my own.
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