Homemade Sour Mix

Here's my recipe for homemade Sour Mix.  It works great in my Perfect Margarita Recipe.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Simple Syrup
• 1 cup fresh squeezed Lemon Juice
• 1/2 cup fresh squeezed Lime Juice

Instructions:

1. Juice the lemons and limes using a juicer.
2. Strain the lemon and lime juice.
3. Combine with simple syrup.
4. Bottle and store in the fridge.

Notes:
This is a great use for any lemons and limes that were used for juicing.  This Sour Mix must be kept refridgerated.  It should keep for 1 to 2 weeks.

Orange Juice Liqueur

(Work in Progress)

This is another liqueur that I am attempting to make to go into my Margarita Martini recipe.  The idea is to make a margarita-flavored martini using this Orange Juice Liqueur, the Lime Tequila that I'm developing, and limoncello.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups (6-7 oranges) freshly squeezed Orange Juice (organic seville oranges)
• Zest of one Orange
• 3/4 cup Vodka (Skyy)
• 3/4 cup Brandy or Cognac (Paul Masson VSOP Grande Amber Brandy/Cognac blend)
• 1 cup Simple Syrup

Instructions:
Step 1:  (7/31/12)

1. Zest one orange.
2. Juice and strain enough oranges to get 1 1/2 cups of orange juice.
3. Combine the juice, zest, vodka, and brandy or cognac in a glass container.
4. Place in fridge for 4 weeks.

Step 2:  (Anticipated 8/28/12)

1. Strain and filter.
2. Add simple syrup.
3. Bottle and return to fridge for a minimum of 1 week before serving.

Simple Syrup

Here's how to make your own Simple Syrup:

Ingredients:

• 1 part Sugar
• 1 part Water

Instructions:

1. Bring water to a boil in sauce pan.
2. Stir sugar into water until completely dissolved.
3. Remove from heat and allow to cool

Alternative Instructions:

1. Pour sugar and water into a bottle.
2. Cap bottle and shake vigorously until sugar dissolves.

Notes:
This is a basic Simple Syrup Recipe.  It can be altered to adjust the sweetness by increasing or decreasing the amount of sugar.  Sometimes I prefer a Rich Simple Syrup of 2 parts sugar to 1 part water.  While 1:1 simple syrup can be made without boiling the water, as noted above, rich simple syrup must be made with boiling water.

My Bourbon Renewal Recipe

In my Bourbon Renewal recipe, I substitute Chambord for the more traditional Creme De Cassis.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Bourbon (Maker's Mark)
• 1/2 oz Chambord
• 1/2 oz Simple Syrup
• 1 oz Lemon Juice
• 1 dash Angostura bitters

Instructions

1. Shake with ice.
2. Serve over ice in an old fashioned glass.