Spiked Ginger Tea Lemonade

Who wants a cocktail!?

We are experiencing some super-chilly temperatures in Boston right now, and it is making me dream of sunnier days and relaxing by the pool.

This Spiked Ginger Tea Lemonade is the perfect way to transport yourself away from this late-winter cold blast to a warm, sunny locale of your choice! The cocktail combines one of the most refreshing beverages - iced tea lemonade - and adds a bit of spice with homemade ginger simple syrup plus an extra kick thanks to a bit of ginger liqueur and good 'ol vodka! I also finish it with a big glug of sparkling because I love the bubbly effervescence in each sip. This is a great cocktail to make for a party - everything gets mixed together in a big pitcher and can chill until you're ready to serve it. The longer it chills, the more enhanced the flavors become!

I created this cocktail in celebration of the 2017 "For The Love Of Cocktails" event in Las Vegas. This is a 72-hour fundraiser for breast cancer awareness that brings together the finest mixology enthusiasts for an epic 3 days of parties and events, showcasing some of the best craft cocktails Las Vegas (and the nation!) has to offer. The event supports the Helen David Bartender Relief Fund, which is an organization honoring its namesake Michigan bar owner--who amazingly beat breast cancer twice in her life--by providing bartenders in need with pre-cancer screenings. support, and more.

One of my favorite cocktail bars is Drink, located in Boston's Fort Point neighborhood. This concept is owned by Barbara Lynch, a Boston restaurant legend! One of the most interesting aspects of the cocktail menu at Drink is that they don't have one! Instead, patrons chat about their likes and dislikes with the bartender, who whips up something specifically tailored to that person. I think this creative style would make the team at Drink a great addition to an event such as For The Love Of Cocktails!

My Spiked Ginger Tea Lemonade is bright, vibrant, and a little spicy, much like the lifestyle is in Las Vegas. It is exactly the kind of drink I'd order on a Vegas vacation! If you are heading to Las Vegas for this event or any time, be sure to check out the Vegas.com travel deals page to help make your planning as carefree as possible! This site can help you with anything from flight deals to hotel packages.

Here's what you need for Spiked Ginger Tea Lemonade* (Print Recipe!)

for the cocktail
2 cups water
4 black tea bags
1/2 cup freshly squeeze lemon juice
1 cup vodka (can be plain or citrus)
1/4 cup ginger liqueur
ginger simple syrup, to taste, recipe follows
1/2 cup sparkling water
lemon slices, to garnish
for the ginger simple syrup
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 knob fresh ginger, about a 1 inch piece, peeled and sliced

Here's what you do

for the cocktail
Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a small saucepan. Turn off the heat and add the tea bags. Steep for about 5 minutes or until desired strength. Discard the tea bags and set tea aside to cool.

In a pitcher, combined the cooled tea, lemon juice, vodka, ginger liqueur and ginger simple syrup. Stir to combine. Place in the fridge to chill for at least 1 hour up to 4 hours. Before serving, add a few lemon slices to the pitcher as well as the sparkling water. Stir gently and serve with lots of ice and extra lemon to garnish.

for the ginger simple syrup
Combine the sugar, water, and ginger in a small saucepan. Turn heat on to medium low and stir gently until the sugar is dissolved. Set aside to cool. Before using, strain out the ginger pieces through a fine mesh strainer. Syrup will keep in the fridge up to a week.

*Gas Stove Girl Original Recipe. I created this cocktail on behalf of Vegas.com but was not compensated for promoting the website. Vegas.com is not a sponsor of For The Love of Cocktails but is a supporter. All opinions are my own.