Figgy Pudding Old Fashioned

Just kidding….I googled the ingredients of Figgy Pudding and ironically enough there aren’t even any figs in it! I was just trying to be creative with the name. The name actually came from a fish and curds dish and was actually spelled fige, an old French term meaning curdled. Years later another traditional dish of figs boiled in wine was created but that wasn’t even called Figgy Pudding. Who knows how the term Figgy Pudding got associated with the dense cake made of dried fruits, breadcrumbs, flour, nuts and honey? But, it certainly is a name that most of us associate with Charles Dickens, “A Christmas Carol,” or the Christmas song, “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”

Unlike the real Figgy Pudding this cocktail does have Figs in it. Last week I used Fig simple syrup to make a holiday martini and this week I am using it for a holiday twist on an Old Fashioned. An Old Fashioned typically gets its touch of sweetness from raw sugar that is stirred with the bourbon/whiskey and ice. I used the Fig Simple syrup from last weeks cocktail recipe in place of the raw sugar. Because the simple syrup was made with raw sugar instead of white sugar the depth of flavor is perfect for an Old Fashioned. I added the splash of juice for a touch of color and to balance the sweetness of the Fig Simple Syrup and to make the drink look more festive!

Ingredients:

2 oz Bourbon or Whiskey

1-2 tbsp Fig Simple syrup

3 dashes of Angostura or Orange Bitters

1/2 oz POM juice or Cranberry juice

Sprig of Rosemary

Add all of the ingredients to a mixing glass with ice. Stir until combined and cold. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice or a large cube and garnish with a sprig of rosemary.

A Merry Little Martini

I have been wanting to make a Fig Gin cocktail for weeks but have been unable to find figs in my local grocery store. They finally stocked them for Thanksgiving so I was able to get some. The Fig Simple Syrup is so flavorful and so versatile that next week I will feature another Fig flavored seasonal sipper! If you are lucky enough to find Owen’s Sparkling Cranberry Mixer at your local liquor store you can use that in place of the cranberry juice and splash of soda water. It has some lime juice in it which gives this cocktail some extra zing!

Ingredients:

2 oz Malfy Lemon Gin

Juice from 1/2 of lemon (approx 1 oz)

1 tbsp Fig Simple Syrup

Splash of cranberry juice

Splash of soda water

Rosemary sprig

Lemon peel

Add the Gin, lemon juice, simile syrup and splash of cranberry juice to a shaker filed with ice. Shake well. Strain into a coup glass and add a splash of sparkling water. Garnish with a lemon peel and a sprig of rosemary.

Fig Simple Syrup:

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups sliced dried figs

1 cup water

3/4 cup of raw or brown sugar

Tsp león juice

Dash of vanilla

Fresh sprigs of rosemary

Bring all ingredients to a boil and then simmer on low for 15 minutes. Turn the heat off, stir in the rosemary springs and let the figs and rosemary sit in the syrup for another 10-15 minutes as it cools. Strain the rosemary and figs. You can also serve these figs with triple cream or blue cheese as an appetizer!

Spiced Pomegranate Ginger Paloma

This cocktail comes from one of my favorite blogs, Half Baked Harvest. Tieghan Gerard is spot on as usual with flavors. The combination of the sweet fro the pomegranate the acid from the lime juice and the spice in the simple syrup and the rim makes this drink so mouthwatering! Her photo is much better than mine and you can see it if you search for this recipe at halfbakedharvest.com.

Spicy Ginger Syrup

Ingredients:

1/2 cup honey

1 inch fresh ginger, sliced

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

8 mint leaves

Bring 1/2 cup water, honey, ginger and cayenne pepper to boil over high heat. Once boiling, simmer for 1-2 minutes and remove from heat. Add the mint leaves and let sit, covered, for 10 minutes. Strain and store in a glass jar in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Paloma

Ingredients:

1/4 cup Pomegranate juice

1/2 cup grapefruit juice

Juice from 1/2 lime

2-4 tbsp Spicy Ginger Syrup

2 oz tequila

Ginger beer

Pomegranate seeds

Spice Sweet Rim

(This is optional but adds so much to the cocktail)

Ingredients:

1 tbsp coarse raw sugar

1 tbsp granulated sugar

Pinch of cayenne pepper

To make the cocktail:

On a small plate mix the sugars and the cayenne pepper. Run a lime wedge around the rim of the glass and dip the rim into the sugar until the edges are coated evenly.

Depending upon the size of the glass that you are using to serve you may want to mix this cocktail in another glass and pour it into your rimmed serving glass. If you fill the glass too full the sugar rim will melt into your drink.

Add the juices, the tequila and the simple syrup to a glass with ice. Mix thoroughly. Pour into your rimmed glass, top with ginger beer and garnish with pomegranate seeds.