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When it’s hot – it’s hot! Right now, it’s H-O-T!

As you may know — we have been slowly melting away in this heat wave and it hasn’t been joyous. That’s all I’m saying (Remember? I made a promise to you, my reader and J that I would not complain about summers in NYC because of the brutal winters and how the winter months truly hurt?). Well, the hot sun doesn’t stick cold jabs through your body but it just makes you glisten as you strut your way to one destination to the next.

With the sun, my new-found friend, I have been having a doll of a time making cocktails and experimenting in the kitchen. As I was perusing through our pantry — I noticed there were only four kumquats in vodka (a spring tease) left that I made this past winter to get me excited for spring. I subliminally knew (wink wink) that these kumquats soaked in liquor for the past several months would come in handy! See? Preserving fruits in liquor plus patience (a few months or more) does have its perks.

With my thinking cap on, I experimented with the four little kumquats staring at me and turned them into a cool and refreshing cocktail. I may no longer have kumquats in vodka sitting in my pantry but those little golden jewels have made their marks and will be on on my to-do winter liquor and fruit preserving list. Now, it’s time for you to make this cocktail before you have a heat stroke (glaze over the picture below and start making, and drink and say “ahhhh” with me!).

Here’s what you need and will do…

Kumquat Vodka Cocktail
Serves 1

Ice (a few cubes)
4 kumquats
1 tbs. of sugar
2 to 3 oz. kumquat vodka liquor
Mint, sprig for garnish

  • Add ice to the shaker.
  • Mash the kumquats up with the sugar in a plastic cup and (gently) dump it into a shaker.
  • Pour the sweet kumquat vodka liquor over the mashed up kumquats.
  • Shake real hard until it’s cold.
  • Wet the rim of the glass with water and coat with a little bit of sugar.
  • Pour into a tumbler and garnish with a sprig of mint.

Happy sipping and cooling off during the summer hot months!

Note, if you don’t have kumquats that have been preserved in vodka – fresh oranges will work. Just follow the directions and add a splash of orange juice and any vodka of choice.