Drinking the Farmer’s Market: Coconut Water Cooler with Strawberry- and Mint-Infused Vodkas

July 21st, 2013 - filed under: The Food » Recipes

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When I first conceived of this summer cocktail series, there was a lot of brainstorming involved. Such a fun part of the creative process! “What if we did something with frozen watermelon chunks?” . . . “Let’s do something really herby and unique!” . . . and on and on. And from the very start, there was no doubt: a coconut water-based cocktail was definitely on the menu.


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Coconut water is light, refreshing, hydrating, and slightly sweet. It’s a perfectly summery stand-in for traditional tonics or sodas. And man, it works so well with strawberry, mint, and lime!

This is such an easy drink to whip up. All you’ll need is:

4 ounces coconut water
1 ounce strawberry-infused vodka (see infusion instructions here; strawberries take about a week)
1 ounce mint-infused vodka (see infusion instructions here; herbs like mint take about a week)
1 ounce raw agave
½ ounce lime juice

optional: fresh or frozen strawberries and/or lime and/or fresh mint, for garnish


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Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously to mix, then pour into a tall glass. Add garnish. I love the slivered strawberries floating in the glass, and the lime wedge on the rim. But you can be creative. Fresh mint is so pretty and aromatic.


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Are you tired of me telling you about how cocktails are like salads instead of scones, and therefore unlike baking, you can make all sorts of substitutions and ingredients swaps and stuff? Yeah, I know. I say it every time. And this time? I’m not gonna. I feel like this drink is perfectly balanced and if you switched out the fruit or the citrus or the herb for anything else, I’m pretty sure the quality would suffer. So there you go. This particular cocktail is not so much a salad.


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But it is very much delicious. Cheers!

  • Sarah C.

    Yu-um! Can’t wait to try this. Right now, I’m drinking my own mix of basil infusion, chartreuse, lime juice and club soda (with a cucumber garnish). Delish. Thanks for the inspiration on these infusions!!

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

    Uh, that sounds deelish! What were the proportions?

  • http://windycityvegan.wordpress.com/ Monika {windycityvegan}

    I think this is my favorite recipe series of all time! ♥ I’m waiting until autumn to make the Woodsman, but this may make a cocktail hour appearance in the next few days.

  • Sarah C.

    For two drinks I did 2 oz basil infusion, 1 oz chartreuse (green), half a lime, and about 1/2 Tbs simple syrup. Shaken, over ice, topped with a can of club split between the two. Very refreshing and delish.

  • Sarah C.

    Ok, I can now confirm that this drink is awesome. Made as directed, and enjoyed as promised!! Thanks!

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

    Yay! So glad you liked it. =)

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