um, where did january go?

i feel like it took me much longer than usual this year to regroup after the holidays. normally, i attack a new year with extreme enthusiasm. but this year, i just couldn’t kick it into gear. but with a new month bringing a fresh perspective and one of my favorite times of the year, i’m finally feeling like i’m getting back in the swing of things. and right in time for happy hour.

citrus season is bringing its best right now. grapefruit, cara cara and blood oranges are offering up some really gorgeous flavors and colors. and nothing pairs better with citrus than herbs.

this lightly sparkling sip will brighten up a cold february day and you will want to keep this cocktail handy all the way through spring.

thyme & grapefruit spritzer

serves: 1 cocktail

prep time: 2 minutes

active time: 2 minutes

total time: 4 minutes

ingredients: 2 oz vodka. 3 oz freshly squeezed grapefruit juice + grapefruit twist. .5 oz st. germain. 7 sprigs thyme. 5 oz club soda. 2 cups ice. shaker.

start by filling the base of your shaker with half the ice, 5 of the thyme leaves roughly torn, and the vodka. give it a stir and let the thyme start to infuse into your vodka.

pour in the grapefruit juice and st. germain. cover the shaker and shake well till everything is well combined and the thyme leaves are nice and bruised up. about 30 seconds.

fill your serving glass with ice. pour the contents of your shaker into the serving glass.

top the glass with club soda.

gently stir it up with the remaining thyme sprigs and use them as a garnish. top with your grapefruit twist, serve and enjoy.

xo, a

thyme & grapefruit spritzer

serves: 1 cocktail

prep time: 2 minutes

active time: 2 minutes

total time: 4 minutes

ingredients: 2 oz vodka. 3 oz freshly squeezed grapefruit juice + grapefruit twist. .5 oz st. germain. 7 sprigs thyme. 5 oz club soda. 2 cups ice. shaker.

start by filling the base of your shaker with half the ice, 5 of the thyme leaves roughly torn, and the vodka. give it a stir and let the thyme start to infuse into your vodka. pour in the grapefruit juice and st. germain. cover the shaker and shake well till everything is well combined and the thyme leaves are nice and bruised up. about 30 seconds. fill your serving glass with ice. pour the contents of your shaker into the serving glass. top the glass with club soda. gently stir it up with the remaining thyme sprigs and use them as a garnish. top with your grapefruit twist, serve and enjoy.

even in the depths of winter, passion fruit (lilikoi) is still pumping out of our little side yard. the recent four days of RARE southern california rain knocked down and entire colander full of fruit from the vine.

and passion fruit has that perfect bright, tropical flavor to mentally transport you from all that doom and gloom outside to your mental happy place. mojitos already make me feel like vacation, but that bright punch of color and flavor from the passion fruit is sure to put a smile on your face.

honey passionfruit mojito

serves: 1 cocktail

prep time: 3 minutes

active time: 2 minutes

total time: 5 minutes

ingredients: 2 oz rum. 4 oz passion fruit (2-3 passion fruit). 1 oz lime juice. 1 tsp honey. 3-5 oz club soda. 10 medium-large mint leaves + a sprig or two for garnish. 2 cups ice. muddler. shaker.

start by tearing up your mint leaves and adding them to the base of your shaker with the rum.

use your muddler to break up the mint for 20-30 seconds till the leaves are very smashed and most of the oils have been released.

add in the passion fruit, honey and lime juice.

add in half the ice. shake well till all the contents are combined. about 30 seconds. fill your serving glass with the remaining ice. pour the contents of your shaker over the ice in your serving glass.

top with club soda and give it a good stir.

garnish with mint, serve and enjoy.

xo, a

honey passionfruit mojito

serves: 1 cocktail

prep time: 3 minutes

active time: 2 minutes

total time: 5 minutes

ingredients: 2 oz rum. 4 oz passion fruit (2-3 passion fruit). 1 oz lime juice. 1 tsp honey. 3-5 oz club soda. 10 medium-large mint leaves + a sprig or two for garnish. 2 cups ice. muddler. shaker.

start by tearing up your mint leaves and adding them to the base of your shaker with the rum. use your muddler to break up the mint for 20-30 seconds till the leaves are very smashed and most of the oils have been released. add in the passion fruit, honey and lime juice. add in half the ice. shake well till all the contents are combined. about 30 seconds. fill your serving glass with the remaining ice. pour the contents of your shaker over the ice in your serving glass. top with club soda and give it a good stir. garnish with mint, serve and enjoy.