Keeping cocktail recipes fresh, original and seasonal is the goal of Omaha’s own V. Mertz Restaurant. One of their famous cocktails even features our own Pinhead Gunpowder.
Fugue State is a smooth blend of gunpowder tea, cognac, sloe gin, absinthe and a few other surprises. Their unique drinks were featured in the Omaha World Herald’s “GO” edition.
Visit the restaurant in the Old Market to try the Fugue State for yourself, or read on for more refreshing ideas on blending tea with alcohol.
Original Alcoholic Sweet Tea
You know what flavors of tea you like, but where do you start when blending up your own cocktail creations? Try something simple first, like this blend of sweet tea, lemonade, and vodka. It is perfect for enjoying on a steamy summer evening.
Ingredients
- 1 cup black tea (start with a traditional tea like Ceylon Star Black Tea)
- Simple syrup (to taste)
- ½ cup lemonade
- ½ cup vodka
Instructions
- Sweeten the black tea to taste with simple syrup.
- Pour all the ingredients over ice.
- Stir well and serve immediately.
Variations
- For something with a little more bite, shake up your favorite green tea with a shot of rum and a shot of cranberry juice. Pour it all over ice and enjoy!
- Experiment with other tea blends and flavors, such as Ti Kuan Yin Oolong Tea or our Organic Sencha Special Green Tea.
Tea Cocktails with a Few More Ingredients
Want a drink that will make more of an impression? With a few extra ingredients, a twist of lime and a little more time, you can create a tea cocktail that your friends will want to recreate at home.
Watermelon Tea Cocktail
Recipe modified from Samovar Tea.
- ½ small, seedless watermelon, pureed well for about 1 ½ cups of juice
- 1 ½ cups dry, fruity white wine of your choice
- 1 cup Fukamushi Sencha Japanese Green Tea
- Squeeze of fresh lime juice
Stir all together and serve chilled.
Rooibos Tea Cocktail
Recipe adapted from Food & Wine.
- 6 Blackberries
- 1/2 ounce shochu
- 1 ounce sweet white vermouth
- 1 1/2 ounces chilled brewed Organic Rooibos Herbal Tea
- 1 lemon twist
- Ice
Muddle the blackberries with the shochu, vermouth and tea in a cocktail shaker. Add the ice and stir. Pour all through a fine strainer into a chilled coupe and garnish with a blackberry and twist.
Be bold in your blending and enjoy! Let us know what works for you in the comments below.