A Wild Cocktail
I’ve never been a big drinker in my life. I’d say that for me, my drinking hit a climax during college days but since then I only usually drink a glass of wine a few nights of week and the occasional beer. I’ve never been a cocktail girl. However, lately Clay decided to infuse some Traverse City Whiskey with white fir needles and we’ve been making this cocktail (probably) all too often. It’s simple, and only takes 4 ingredients, two of those being wild! Try it out and tell me what you think.
First, you’ll need to find some white fir needles. Most conifer trees have a scent that is very citrus-ey, but these white fir needles smell EXACTLY like oranges. Clay discovered them about a year ago at a spot we often hike at and we knew we wanted to somehow incorporate them into our diet. He infused some into Traverse City Whiskey and we were in love. If you can’t find any white fir near you, other fir or pine needles can work, as you’ll still extract a citrus flavor and hopefully some vit C. Just be sure to do your homework and find the species that are near you and edible.
Once you have the needles, pack them half way into a 1 quart mason jar and fill it the rest of the way with whiskey of your choice. We chose to go with the brand local to us. Allow the combination to steep for about a week, giving it the occasional shake, and strain for use. Now, continue reading what to do next.
Ingredients:
1-2 Tbsp White Fir infused Whiskey
1 Can Carbonated Water (We use La Croix in Grapefruit Flavor)
Juice of 1 Orange, freshly squeezed
Maple syrup, to taste
This recipe is a little different from my typical layout, because the proportions are truly up to you. I prefer one tablespoon of whiskey while Clay prefers two, and I enjoy the addition of maple syrup to sweeten the flavor. Add all the ingredients to a small glass jar, and add ice to keep it refreshing and an orange slice for aesthetics. Try it out and see what you prefer, but I just had to share this, as we’ve been making them often to enjoy a little adult treat in the evenings.
