Fall Craft Cocktail Series: Saison Gin & Tonic [Recipe]

Fall Craft Cocktails Series: Saison Gin & Tonic

At long last! The temperatures have begun to drop, the sun sets a little earlier, and Halloween has come and gone. While the rest of the country has experienced the fall season for several weeks, many Arizonans – especially those of us in the greater Phoenix area – are just getting ready for sweater weather.

With a change in weather also comes a change in what our palates crave and with #pumpkineverything hitting the shelves earlier and early, many of us look to celebrate #allthingsautumn a little differently. Enter Four Peaks Saison Gin & Tonic.

This elegant cocktail packs a powerful punch that whisks you away to places that spiced latte can’t really reach. White pepper compliments the zest brought to the table by Meyer Lemon with a smooth hint of juniper from the gin. (Pro tip: We use Fords Gin for this recipe.)

This recipe has a couple of parts – two of which are optional but add to the overall taste profile and imbibing experience.

The recipe itself is easy:

Saison Gin & Tonic
1.5 oz. Lemon Meyer & White Peppercorn-infused Gin*
0.5 oz. Grand Marnier
Tonic
Lemon garnish

 

To make this dream work, measure and pour gin and Grand Marnier over ice in a rocks glass. Top with your choice of tonic and garnish with a lemon.

To make the Lemon Meyer & White Peppercorn-infused Gin, add 1 TBL dried lemon peel and 1/4 tsp white peppercorn to one bottle of Fords Gin. Infuse overnight and strain.

For best results, after infusion, add infused gin and Grand Marnier to barrel and age for a week.

Sound like too many steps? LOL! It’s ok. We have you covered! Stop by the original Four Peaks in Tempe or Four Peaks Grill & Tap in Scottsdale, and ask one of our talented bartenders to whip you up a Saison Gin and Tonic. Want to hear more about what we have going on at the brewery for craft cocktails? Check out my conversation with Erin Schultz on Four Peaks Brewing Co.’s Facebook page!

Cheers!

 

 

Summer Craft Cocktail – Four Peaks Summer School Mule

Say it ain’t so! It’s our last recipe of this season and boy oh boy is it good!

This refreshing blend is sure to take you back to the Fresh Prince days of growing up and the first person you kissed! 

Using local Arizona vodka from our friends at Sonoran Spirits called AZ48 Resort Vodka, coupled with Four Peaks Hop Knot, keeps it local and with some fresh watermelon in season, it is a thirst buster fo’ ‘sho!

AJ’s at Lone Mtn is selling AZ48 Vodka with their Moscow Mule recipe and a big display! Drop in and say hello. https://t.co/a4Ql48QT8U

— Cave Creek Whiskey (@cavecreekwhsky) April 16, 2016

Four Peaks Summer School Mule
2 oz AZ48 Vodka
1 oz watermelon juice syrup – homemade version* (or here for store bought syrup)
Squeeze one lemon
Top with ginger beer & Hop Knot

Mix all ingredients together in a shaker pint, strain over fresh ice in a copper mule cup and garnish with a lemon or – even better – a fresh watermelon slice!

*We HIGHLY recommend muddling fresh watermelon at home!

This cocktail is a zinger! Lots of depth of flavor and totally delicious and refreshing! If home-concocting is not your thing, stop by Four Peaks in Tempe or Four Peaks Grill & Tap in Scottsdale and we’ll whip one of these libations lickety split! Pair it up with our almost famous Kale Salad for a supreme lunch!

Keep up with all of our shenanigans on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest – we’re even on Snapchat (@fourpeaksbrew)!

Summer Craft Cocktail – Four Peaks Desertini

Four Peaks Summertime Craft Cocktail Series

Summertime in the desert isn’t for everyone. It takes a certain life form to inhabit this tough terrain but for those of us just stubborn enough to endure this “dry heat”, we are constantly vigilant of refreshing concoctions that will help soothe our parched throats.

Enter Four Peaks Desertini. This cocktail is a blissful blend of Four Roses bourbon, strawberry puree, basil, Four Peaks White Ale, and has a hint of bubbly. Elegant enough for a martini glass yet delectable enough to enjoy with dessert, as a dessert or even as an aperitif!

Four Peaks Desertini
1.5 oz Four Roses Bourbon
.5 oz strawberry puree
4 basil leaves
.25 oz Four Peaks White Ale syrup*
Splash of sparkling white wine

*Four Peaks White Ale syrup can be made ahead of time and is much like the Hop Knot syrup.

White Ale Syrup
One part White Ale
One part sugar
Mix until sugar dissolves. The syrup is good for two weeks but will need refrigerated. (The sugar stabilizes the alcohol.)

Fill a martini glass with ice and a splash of water to chill. Set aside. In a bartender tin, muddle three basil leaves with Four Roses bourbon, strawberry puree, Four Peaks White Ale syrup, and sparkling white wine. Shake vigorously until frothy. Dump water and ice from the martini glass. Strain contents of tin into the martini glass. Garnish with one basil leaf on the side.

Mix until sugar dissolves. The syrup is good for two weeks but will need refrigerated. (The sugar stabilizes the alcohol.)

If home-bartending is not your style, we got you covered! Stop by the original Four Peaks in Tempe or Four Peaks Grill & Tap in Scottsdale and have one of our talented bartenders whip you up one to enjoy with a selection from our traditional menu items or a selection from our lunch or dinner specials!

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, or Snapchat (@FourPeaksBrew) to keep abreast of all the Four Peaks shinanigans!

 

Summer Craft Cocktail – Four Peaks Hoppy Times

In the blazing heat of an Arizona summer, nothing is more refreshing to me than some delicious cucumber water with a squeeze of lemon. It is my absolute favorite way to hydrate during these triple-digit months. So, imagine my glee when I read the Four Peaks Hoppy Times recipe! Love at first sight!

This sophisticated beverage incorporates Hop Knot syrup for a little added kick. The syrup is quick to make and can be made ahead of time.

Four Peaks Hoppy Times
1.5 oz Crop Organic Cucumber vodka
.5 oz Hop Knot Syrup*
Muddled cucumber
Squeeze lemon
1 oz sour
Tall glass filled with ice
Slice of cucumber for garnish

*Hop Knot Syrup
One part Hop Knot
One part sugar

Mix until sugar dissolves. The syrup is good for two weeks but will need refrigerated. (The sugar stabilizes the alcohol.)

In a shaker tin, muddle Crop Cucumber vodka, 2-3 slices of cucumber (to taste), and Hop Knot syrup. Add ice to a shaker with sour and lemon squeeze and shake vigorously. Strain into tall glass filled with ice. Garnish with a slice of cucumber.

Want to get fancy? Pour into a large chilled martini glass and garnish with a cucumber peel.

A great, fun cocktail to add a little WOW factor to that pool party! However, if you’re not into preparing your cocktails and would prefer to sip on this drink during your next meal, stop by the original Four Peaks Brewery in Tempe OR Four Peaks Grill & Tap in Scottsdale and we’ll have one ready for you!

Have you tried our Summer Cocktails already? Let us know how you like them! Did you add something? Show us the pics! Post on your favorite social media site and tag @fourpeaksbrew. We’d love to see them!

We love sharing great stories, recipes, and other fun nuggets all over social media! Find us on Facebook, Twitter, SnapChat (@FourPeaksBrew), Instagram, and Pinterest!

Summer Craft Cocktail – Four Peaks 120° Shandy

Alright, alright. We know – it’s Hot. Hot with a capital ‘H’. We have two seasons around here; they include “Sorta Warm” and “Satan’s Inferno”. It’s a daily struggle for us and some struggle a little more than others. (Seriously, our hearts go out to those with no A/C!)

What’s going to cool you down a bit and help you to experience a little summer fun at the next pool party? Since not many of us can just hop into a walk-in cooler every hour on the hour, we have a couple of craft cocktails that we think will do the trick that we are going to talk about over the next couple weeks!

Introducing the Four Peaks 120° Shandy! This simple cocktail is refreshing, delicious, and is an excellent way to beat the heat – Arizona style!

This super simple recipe is a fantastic summer party hit, and it’s easy to make with some ingredients you may already have at home. If not, it’s nothing that your neighborhood grocer won’t have for ya!

Four Peaks 120° Shandy will cool those jets!

Four Peaks 120° Shandy

2 oz AZ Distilling Vodka infused with blackberry and lemon*
1 oz sour
Top with Four Peaks Sunbru Kolsch-style Ale
1 lemon wheel for garnish

 

 

How this Works

A little prep work will need to go into this ahead of time. To infuse the AZ Distilling Vodka, take equal parts vodka and simple syrup, muddle 4-6 blackberries to one lemon, infuse for a couple days then strain through cheesecloth.

Once your blackberry limoncello concoction is ready, mix it with sour mix and shake. Pour into a pint glass filled with ice, and add Four Peaks Sunbru to fill. Garnish with a lemon wheel and enjoy!

Easy peasy! Be the hit of the pool party with this fun, easy craft cocktail!

Not interested in all the work? Stop by the original Four Peaks in Tempe or Four Peaks Grill & Tap in Scottsdale and order one on your next visit!

Follow Four Peaks Brewing Co. on Pinterest, Facebook, Snapchat (@fourpeaksbrew), or Twitter and be a part of the shinanigans!

Cheers!