Sunny Day Drink

Pictured: Hot Monkey, Hot Pepper Infused Flavored Vodka 

from the New Deal Distillery in Portland, Oregon.

Tony and I went to Portland recently and Tony got to try out some of the distilleries there. I got to smell everything and it was lovely :)

Tony bought a few bottles and I made him promise to save them until I could enjoy a cocktail with him.  I'm not quite ready for a cocktail but it was a sunny day today and a delicious drink was in order after he spent most of the afternoon on house projects. The recipe below is a twist on a recipe we got from the New Deal Distillery for their Hot Monkey Vodka.

Papaya Mango Spice

(makes two cocktails)

1 cup sliced Papaya (fresh or frozen)

1 cup sliced Mango (fresh or frozen)

2 cups Grapefruit or Orange juice

2-3 shots of Pepper Vodka 
1 cup fresh Mint 
Paprika

1. Mix the juice, papaya, and mango in a blender. If you are using fresh papaya and mango either add about 1/2 cup ice to make a margarita style drink or serve the juice over ice.

2. Muddle 1/3 cup of the mint in a cocktail shaker.

3. Pour half the juice puree into the cocktail shaker. Add 1- 1/2 shots of spicy vodka. (Omit the vodka for a mock-tail). Shake and strain into your favorite glass.

4. Garnish with a sprinkle of paprika and finely chopped mint.