I give you the Ultimate Smitten Mitten Cocktail! I’m a proud Michigander – always have been and always will be. Honestly, how could you not love a state where you can raise your right hand (palm facing out) and point with your left to where you live?
Michigan has a rich agricultural history and I wanted to do something that not only highlighted a few of my favorite seasonal ingredients, but let people out-of-state know there is a lot here to explore and enjoy.
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Only good things that come from Michigan are in this Ultimate Smitten Mitten Cocktail
Michigan is the largest producer of Montmorency tart cherries in the United States. On the Eastern side of the state, the Michigan Sugar Company is headquartered in Bay City, Michigan. Crosby Mint Farm – a family farm established in 1912, and the oldest mint producer in the state is located in Saint Johns. Representing Southeast Michigan we have Valentine Distilling Co. in Ferndale, and Vernors, the oldest ginger ale in the United States originated in the “D”. These are just a few of the amazing food and beverage resources we have access to in our backyard.
So in honor of my state, I give you the Ultimate Smitten Mitten Cocktail. This cheerful beverage features a simple syrup made with tart cherry juice and sugar, paired with the warmth of ginger ale and cool notes of fresh mint. Whether you choose to serve it as a cocktail or mocktail, it’s refreshingly delicious.
Raise a cup of kindness to yourself
I often like to create recipes that can flex – especially when it comes to cocktails, or mocktails if you prefer. Just because you’re choosing not to consume alcohol doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a sophisticated and complex and refreshing beverage. The nice thing about this smitten mitten drink is that it can easily be made with or without the alcohol.
If you’re looking for another refreshing and easy mocktail recipe for either everyday refreshment, check out my Tempting Grapefruit Evergreen Mocktail. This easy mocktail recipe features fresh grapefruit juice is lightly sweetened with a rosemary and juniper berry simple syrup and topped with black walnut bitters and sparkling soda. Crisp, light and elegantly delicious!
I especially love serving both these drinks throughout the holidays. When food tends to be a little richer and heavier, they provide a crisp and clean compliment to the meal. I especially like how the Tempting Grapefruit Evergreen Mocktail holds up to bold holiday flavors found in dishes like a roasted turkey made with my 5-Minute Homemade Herb Rub or Chive & Horseradish Mashed Potatoes. Delicious!
Non-Alcoholic Spirits as another option
Although I love a good craft cocktail and the complex bouquet of flavors that spirits and other ingredients impart, I don’t always want the alcohol. And if I’m fighting a cold, need to get up early the next day or stay sharp for something, I usually choose to skip the alcohol altogether.
There are some really good non-alcoholic mixes and options on the market right now. One of my new favorites is by Seedlip. I love the story behind this company. The founder spent two years studying a book from 1651 titled, The Art of Distillation. The book largely focused on botanical mixes and home remedies made from combining natural ingredients. Through careful study and recipe development, Seedlip has given us some delicious, high-quality, non-alcoholic mixers. And they also offer a collection of easy mocktail recipes to pair with their products.
Whether you’re hosting a party and want to offer a thoughtful beverage option for your guests or you’re looking to cut back yourself, Seedlip is an option worth checking out.
Another delicious use for cherry simple syrup
As for the cherry simple syrup used in this recipe, I love the fact that it can do double duty – so much so that you may want to consider making a double batch of the syrup to use in other ways.
For example, in my recipe for Chocolate Cherry Challah with Pistachios and Cardamom, I share my simple recipe for making french toast with this bread. The cherry simple syrup perfectly compliments the chocolate and cardamom in this bread. To learn more, follow the link above to the recipe. It’s also delicious drizzled over pancakes served with fresh fruit or even cheesecake.
Ultimate Smitten Mitten Cocktail
Course: All Recipes, LibationsCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Intermediate1
servings5
minutes1
hourRatios for a single cocktail or a batch that will serve 8 is provided below.
Ingredients
- For the Cherry Simple Syrup
1 cup Michigan tart cherry juice
1 cup granulated sugar
- For a single cocktail
1/2 oz. Cherry simple syrup (see instructions below)
1 oz. Valentine vodka (optional)
2 tsp. Fresh squeezed lime juice
4 -5 mint leaves, torn in half
3 oz. Vernors ginger ale
- For a pitcher to share with friends
4 oz (1/2 cup) cherry simple syrup
8 oz. (1 cup) Valentine vodka (optional)
1/4 cup, plus 6 tsp. fresh lime juice
35 -40 fresh mint leaves, torn in half
24 oz. (3 cups) Vernors
Directions
- To make the simple syrup
- Add one cup of cherry juice and one cup of granulated sugar to a sauce pan.
- Over medium heat, stir the mixture together until the sugar has dissolved into the liquid and bring to a boil.
- Lower the heat to a simmer and allow to reduce by 1/2. This can take up to an hour, but you will have approximately 1 cup of syrup when it is finished reducing.
- Turn off the heat and allow to cool to room temperature before bottling.
- Store the cherry syrup in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
- For the Cocktail
- Prepare a glass with ice. Set aside.
- Fill a shaker with ice. Combine the vodka, cherry syrup, mint leaves and lime juice. Shake for 10 seconds. Strain and pour over your prepared glass.
- Add 3 oz. of Vernors and give it a quick stir to blend with the other ingredients.
- If you’re making a pitcher to share, you can combine the vodka (if desired), cherry syrup and lime juice in advance. Add the mint and Vernor’s when you are ready to serve. Strain and pour over ice.
- Serve and enjoy.
Notes
- The cherry syrup is also great on top of ice cream or pancakes.
