Cocktails

This recipe comes to us from the Acacia Midtown in Richmond. What better way to celebrate derby day than with a local Virginia rye?  The lemon balm is a unique touch as well.  Lemon balm (also known as citronella), is a relative of the mint family, but has a distinctive lemony aroma that is altogether different from mint.

2 oz Catoctin Creek Organic Roundstone Rye
1 oz Agave syrup
Lemon balm

Muddle the lemon balm in the glass.  Add rye and agave syrup, stir to combine, and top off with a few cubes of ice.

Courtesy Acacia Mid-Town and used with permission.

From Suttree Stan, at BarNotes:

Had some nice folks in from Louisiana that were rather thirsty...and adventurous. Kind of a mash up of several cocktails.

1½ oz Catoctin Creek Organic Roundstone Rye
¾ oz Averna Amaro
¼ oz Solerno
2 dash Grapefruit Bitters
1 sugar cube
Yellow Chartreuse rinse

Chill coupe. Muddle sugar cube with bitters. Add rye, amaro, Solerno and stir with ice. Rinse coupe with chartreuse, strain and serve.

Courtesy Suttree Stan of BarNotes and used with permission.

From Suttree Stan, at BarNotes:

Made this in honor (or spite) of the bar "guest" that named me a "highly inappropriate bartender". I really love the Cacoctin Creek Rye, aged about 2 years, from Northern Virginia, organic Rye in 80 proof & 116 proof cask proof, strong iodine & slight anise tones.

2 oz Catoctin Creek Cask Proof Rye (116 Proof)
¾ oz Averna Amaro
½ oz Sweet Vermouth
2 dash Peychaud Bitters
1 orange twist

Stir with ice and add the orange. Enjoy!

Courtesy Suttree Stan of BarNotes and used with permission.

Rebecca Dudley of Market Table Bistro pairs local Catoctin Creek Distillery rye with an unusual—and Virginia-made—hickory syrup that’s both sweet and smoky. The lemon and sage help balance this seasonal cocktail, while the cinnamon naturally brings out the appley flavor.

2 oz Catoctin Creek Roundstone Rye
½ oz Wildwood’s Hickory Syrup (Berryville) or real maple syrup
1 oz apple cider
Juice from ¼ fresh lemon
8-10 ice cubes
Cinnamon sugar
2 fresh sage leaves (torn), plus 1 whole to garnish

Rim chilled martini glass with cinnamon sugar. Add all the other ingredients to a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously for 30 seconds and drain into chilled, rimmed glass. Float sage leaf on top.

Courtesy Rebecca Dudley of Market Table Bistro and used with permission.

Created by Catoctin Creek fan, Maria Vargas-Mundey, Sweet-n-Low was named in honor of her sister, whose nickname is 'Low'.  Lil Sis is named for Maria, the little sister in the family.

Sweet-N-Low

Catoctin Creek Watershed Gin
Ginger ale
Dash of maraschino juice
Cherry for garnish

Mix the ingredients to taste and garnish with a cherry.

Lil Sis

Catoctin Creek Watershed Gin
Ginger ale
Dash of maraschino juice
Squeeze of orange juice
Cherry and slice of orange peel for garnish

Mix the ingredients to taste and garnish with a cherry.

Courtesy Maria Vargas-Mundey and used with permission.

Not your Grandma's grapefruit juice. This is another one that would be great for brunch.

Juiced:
2 Red grapefruits
1 red delicious apple
2 pears

1-2 ounces of Watershed Gin over ice - top with juice.

The Watershed Gin slinks itself into the bitter-tartness of the grapefruit juice beautifully. If you like it tart--its great. If you need it a little sweeter...stir with a spoon lightly coated in honey.

Garnish with thin sliver of grapefruit.

Courtesy Stephanie Wolf and used with permission.

A Better Brunch Beverage - an excellent excuse to drink your vegetables.

Juiced:
3 Oranges
1 Lime (peel and all)
10 large carrots
(this makes plenty of juice for either many guests or for kidlets)

Drink:
One ounce Catoctin Creek Watershed Gin
3/4 ounce sweetener - I like Kitncello Orange (An artisan orange-cello from California)
3-4 oz of juice

Shake Ingredients over ice, serve in a chilled glass with orange wheel as garnish.

The roughage from the juicer makes an excellent garden compost!

This drink is a happy marriage between sour (lime juice), bitter (Lime peel), sweet (Kitncello and Orange juice) and earthy (carrot and Watershed).

Courtesy Stephanie Wolf and used with permission.

The Scofflaw is a Prohibition-era classic – back then, scofflaws were boozers, not mere jaywalkers. Let’s celebrate that golden era.

2 parts Catoctin Creek Roundstone Rye
1 part dry vermouth
¼ part fresh lemon juice
½ part grenadine or a red jam
2 dashes orange bitters

Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice, cover, and shake vigorously. Strain into your favorite cocktails glass. (Straining is very especially if you’re using jam.)

Courtesy Jean Schindler and used with permission.