The holiday season is always a time for us to stay closer to home and spend time with friends and family. Every once in a while, cocktails are involved…hahaha…who are we kidding…cocktails are ALWAYS involved! Often, these are last-minute get-togethers and so I always like to be prepared.
When ROOT 23 asked if I wanted to test out some of their simple syrups, I was more than happy to host a few cocktail hours! ROOT 23 specializes in the farm to cocktail movement, using organic sugar and locally sourced ingredients, and they provided two syrups for us to taste along with six cocktail recipes. I decided to divide it into two different tastings (You’re welcome liver).
What syrups did I receive?
Vanilla Ginger
Cherry Almond
Tasting #1
What’s a better way to end the long week than with cocktails with some of the neighborhood ladies! We had so much fun laughing, catching up, and sipping some delicious drinks. We decided to make three cocktails:
Berry Delicious
1.5 oz OYO Honey Vanilla Bean Vodka
0.75 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
0.5 oz ROOT 23 Cherry Almond Simple Syrup
2 Blackberries
Top with Barritt’s Ginger Beer
Muddle berries & syrup in shaker. Add juice & spirit in shaker with ice, shake. Strain into a glass over ice. Top with ginger beer. Garnish with blackberries & a lemon rosette.
How was it? This was hands-down the favorite of the night. It was so good we decided to make it twice! The berries make it a refreshing drink and it will be a fun summer cocktail.
Peach City
1.5 oz OYO Michelone Reserve Bourbon
.75 oz Sweet Vermouth
Fresh Peach (half a peach)
.5 oz ROOT 23 Vanilla Ginger Syrup
Muddle peach with syrup. Add in bourbon and vermouth, shake with ice in a mixing set. Double strain into a decorative glass with an ice and garnish with blueberries.
How was it? This one was good…strong…but tasty. We all said it would be a great winter drink since it warmed us up. I think it would be a nice drink to have at an outdoor winter bonfire. My only complaint was not with the drink but with Mother Nature since peaches are not in season right now so we had to replace them with frozen peaches. They were hard to muddle. I would love to try this drink again with fresh peaches.
The Ohio Honey Bee
1 oz OYO Honey Vanilla Bean Vodka
1 oz Watershed Bourbon Barrel Gin
0.75 oz ROOT 23 Vanilla Ginger Syrup
1 oz Lemon Juice
Shaken. Served on the rocks. Garnish with a lemon wheel.
How was it? Unfortunately, this drink was not for us. None of us liked it and we actually poured it out. However, none of us like gin so I don’t think the drink stood a chance. If I were to make it again, I would leave the gin out and pour some ginger beer over it.
Tasting #2
Couple time! We got together with one of our favorite couples and tried out three cocktails:
The Circuital
1.5 oz OYO Honey-Vanilla Bean Vodka
.5 oz Drambuie
.25 oz Art In The Age SNAP (Couldn’t find this anywhere so we left it out.)
1 oz Fresh Orange Juice
.5 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
.5 oz ROOT 23 Vanilla Ginger Syrup
2 dashes Barkeep Chinese Bitters
Combine all the ingredients and shake with ice in a mixing set. Strain into a chilled Coupe glass. Garnish with vanilla beans and/or an orange twist.
How was it? We didn’t like how the Drambuie smelled or tasted and felt like it overpowered the drink. We decided to add some ice and orange juice and it tasted really good.
Chocolate Cherry Martini
2 oz Vodka
1.5 oz ROOT 23 Cherry Almond Syrup
1 oz Godiva Chocolate Liqueur
Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice. Strain in to a martini glass. Garnish with a cherry or whipped cream.
How was it? Very strong and very sweet! This drink would make a delicious after-dinner drink because it can pass as dessert. It was our 3rd drink so it felt too sweet for us, but if it were the only drink we were having we would have loved it.
High Street Sour
1.5 oz OYO Bourbon Michelone Reserve
2.0 oz House Sour
0.5 oz ROOT 23 Cherry Almond Simple Syrup
0.5 oz Organic Apple Juice
Shake, strain, build in favorite glass over fresh ice. Garnish with a cherry.
How was it? This was our favorite cocktail of the night! It was fruity and not too strong. Next time I would use less sour mix and more juice. It was delicious!
How much do the syrups cost?
$13.99
They also have some fun gifts sets.
Where can I find more information?
Website: https://www.root23.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/root23_simple_syrups/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ROOT-23-Simple-Syrups-458857897602150/
Disclosure: All thoughts in this review are the opinion of MyTravelingKids.com. We do not accept payment in exchange for a review, but we did accept two bottles of syrup (Thank you! Thank you!) at no cost to provide an honest opinion. I have no affiliate to this product.