In partnership with Spec’s Wine, Spirits, and Finer Foods, our friends at Frankly Organic Vodka, a distillery based in Austin, are donating $1 on every bottle sold throughout July and August in support of the Houston Symphony’s education and community initiatives. Frankly Organic prides itself on using organic ingredients with no refined sugar, gluten, GMOs, synthetic pesticides, or artificial colors. The resulting product is a better-for-you libation that is as delicious as it is socially conscious.
Originating in the early 1400s, vodka has a long history of medicinal use marketed as a drink to increase the chances for progeny in newlywed couples. While medical science has advanced tenfold in the centuries since, there’s no denying the association between spirits and some health benefits… when enjoyed in moderation of course!
With enhancements from turmeric, ginger, lemon, and other high health-benefit ingredients, if you do chose to imbibe, Frankly Organic is the best way! These flavored vodkas are delightful straight from the bottle, but we’ve devised a few summer cocktail recipes below for crafting the perfect drink in support of the Symphony.
Strawberry Symphony Lemonade
This refreshingly sweet drink is the perfect escape from the hot summer sun. The vodka’s strawberry profile is layered with undertones of lemon, making this classic drink a no brainer! The natural health benefits of lemon also aid in weight loss and help to reduce the risk of heart disease and anemia.
½ oz. fresh lemon juice
1 oz. water
2 oz. Frankly Organic Strawberry Vodka
1 oz. Simple Syrup*
Mint and Lemon for garnish
Combine liquids in a cocktail mixer over ice and stir to combine. Pour in a highball glass with ice. Garnish with fresh mint and lemon wedge.
Note: You can adjust the amount of simple syrup for taste. For sweeter lemonade, add more in ½ oz. increments. For a tarter drink, add less. The vodka’s naturally sweet flavor also carries through on its own.
Grapefruit Glissando Gimlet
Ruby red grapefruit is front and forward on the palate with warm notes of cinnamon at the back end. The added functional ingredient, maca root, stabilizes mood and provides energy.
½ oz. fresh lime juice
2 oz. soda water
2 oz. Frankly Organic Grapefruit Vodka
1 oz. Simple Syrup*
Mint and Lime for garnish
Combine liquids in a cocktail mixer over ice and stir to combine. Pour in a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with fresh mint and lime wedge.
Cosmopolitan Pomegranate Partita
This tart cocktail is the perfect complement for a bite of dark chocolate, which makes the heart extra happy. Both are full of rich antioxidants, with pomegranate belonging to a group known as “Super fruits” for its health benefits.
½ oz. fresh lemon juice
1 oz. fresh pomegranate juice
2 oz. Frankly Organic Pomegranate Vodka
1 oz. triple sec
Sugar
Red food color
Lemon for garnish
Mix a teaspoon of sugar with a few drops of food coloring to dye it red. Muddle pomegranate seeds in a mortar and pestle to extract the juices. Wet the brim of a glass into the juice, then rim with the colored sugar. Strain into a glass to remove any solids. Add the lemon juice, vodka, and triple sec into a cocktail mixer over ice and shake vigorously to combine. Pour over pomegranate juice and garnish with a lemon wedge.
Warm Apple Toddy Tune Up
This hot nightcap is the perfect pick me up after a long day or a comforting drink with which to curl up on the sofa. The apple vodka has underlying hints of ginger and turmeric, which is known to reduce cholesterol and boost serotonin, finished off by a kick of cayenne at the back end.
½ oz. hot water
½ oz. fresh lemon juice
2 oz. apple cider
2 oz. Frankly Organic Apple Vodka
Nutmeg
Cinnamon
Lemon and/or Cinnamon Stick for garnish
Combine hot water with a pinch of nutmeg and cinnamon to enhance flavors. Pour mixture through a fine mess sieve into a teacup or glass mug. Meanwhile, bring apple cider and lemon juice to a simmer on the stove. Remove from heat then stir in vodka. Pour into cup and garnish with a lemon wedge and/or cinnamon stick.
*A note on Simple Syrup: This is made by combing ½ cup of water and ½ cup of sugar on the stove, heating just until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and cool completely before using in a cocktail. It can be stored in a refrigerated container for up to one month.
We hope you enjoy a truly tasteful summer evening at home with a Frankly Organic Vodka cocktail (or two) as you await the Symphony’s triumphant return to the stage this September. The vodka can be purchased at Specs stores across Houston. One dollar will be donated to the Symphony on every bottle purchased throughout July and August.
By Mark Bailes
