If you read my recent Blueberry Bliss blog, here’s how to make my Berry-Berry Infused Vodka as promised, along with a recipe for a great mojito-type cocktail. This is so incredibly refreshing and the mint pairs nicely with the berries. For those who have followed my blog for a while, you may remember that I like to come up with different flavors of mojitos each summer, using fresh mint out of my garden. Previous posts have featured a great pineapple mojito as well as a refreshing cucumber-melon one.

I traditionally use rum instead of vodka in my mojitos, but I’ve been on an infused vodka kick of late (click here for some of my other homemade vodka-infused delights.) So I decided to go with vodka for a change and just added some mint to it to make it mojito-ready. The result was outstanding — a nice, sweet berry taste with some cool hints of refreshing mint. And this berry-berry vodka doesn’t have to be used just for mojitos – you can make a cool chilled martini or just mix it with club soda or tonic water and lots of ice.

This infused vodka is quite easy to make — it takes longer to sterilize the jar than to put it together. (*Note: Use vodka that has been distilled at least three times, but don’t break the bank, either. I like Rain Organics or Smirnoff, depending on what’s on sale.)

Ingredients for Berry-Berry Infused Vodka (Makes 1 quart)

• Vodka (750ML to fill a quart-sized jar)
• 10-12 blueberries (organic)
• 5-6 raspberries (organic)
• 3-4 fresh mint leaves

Preparation

Place the berries and mint in the bottom of your sterilized jar and gently muddle them to release some of their flavors.

Add the vodka, seal the jar, and gently shake. Store in a dark place for three to four days, but no longer than that. Strain the vodka to remove the blueberries, mint and exploding raspberries. You will have a beautiful pink liquid, ready to mix for a delightful mojito or other summertime cooler.

Ingredients for Kel’s Berry-Berry Mojito (Serves 1)

• 4-5 fresh mint leaves, torn into pieces
• 1 tablespoon simple sugar solution (1 part sugar to 1 part water, boiled slightly then cooled)
• Juice from a quarter of a medium lime
• 3 oz. (or so) Kel’s berry-berry infused vodka
• Club soda
• Berries for garnish

Preparation

Place the mint leaves, simple sugar solution, lime juice and some ice cubes in a large cocktail shaker and muddle for several minutes.

Add Kel’s berry-berry vodka and shake well. Pour into a rocks glass filled with ice. Top off with club soda and garnish with blueberries and raspberries.

Doesn’t this look gorgeous! Makes you want to sit in a rocking chair on a spacious deck, looking over a body of water, just happy to relax. Life is good, so kick back and enjoy! And make this while blueberries are still  in season and plentiful – you’ll be glad you did.

Bon appétit!

Eat, drink and be merry!

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