Photo by Kobby Mendez on Unsplash

by carolyn mitchell, guest contributor

The secret to a great cocktail is fresh, quality ingredients. By using fresh fruit purées in addition to or as a replacement for juice, your cocktails go from good to great with fuller flavor and richer texture.

So grab your cocktail utensils and get ready to make some delicious drinks!

Peach Bellini (Prosecco)

A simple and classic brunch beverage, the Bellini is a tasty, sparkling cousin of the Mimosa (which uses champagne instead of prosecco). Any number of different fruits can be used, but using a peach puree rather than merely peach juice takes it to the next level!

Peach Bellini Ingredients:

• 2oz Peach Puree
• 4oz Prosecco

Recipe:

• Pour puree into champagne flute
• Pour prosecco in slowly until glass is topped off
• Garnish with a peach wedge

Once you clean the spot where the prosecco bubbled over the edge of the glass and onto the table (don’t worry, it happens to the best of us), sit back, relax, and enjoy!

Vanilla Passionfruit Martini (Vodka)

Also known by a much more risqué name, this is a popular, sweet, and fruit-forward cocktail that’s perfect for date night!

Vanilla Passionfruit Martini Ingredients:

• 2oz Vanilla Vodka
• 1oz Passion Fruit Puree
• .5oz Lime Juice
• 1oz Simple Syrup

Recipe:

• Add ice to a stirring glass or pint glass
• Add ingredients over ice
• Stir, don’t shake
• Strain into a martini glass or coupe glass
• Garnish with a passionfruit wheel (or a dried rose bud for extra date points)
• (Optional) Serve with a side of prosecco

The vanilla, lime, and passionfruit blend seamlessly to make a terrific tasting drink. The prosecco can be used as a palette cleanser or to add bubbles to the cocktail itself. Sip and savor this one slow!

Blood Orange Margarita (Tequila)

Photo by Ambitious Creative Co. - Rick Barrett on Unsplash

A tangy twist on a classic cocktail, perfect for the fall and winter as the heat of the summer begins to fade.

Blood Orange Margarita Ingredients:

• 2oz of Tequila
• 1oz of Lime Juice
• .75oz Orange Liqueur (e.g. Triple Sec, Cointreau)
• .75oz Agave Syrup
• .5-1oz of Blood Orange Puree (to taste)

Recipe:

• Add ingredients to cocktail shaker
• Add ice
• Shake vigorously
• Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice (ideally with a Hawthorne strainer)
• Garnish with a blood orange wheel or half-wheel

The blood orange puree adds texture and tartness, so adjust the amount you add to your cocktail to your personal preference! Drink it by itself or pair it with your favorite homemade Mexican dish.

Blackberry Bramble (Gin)

Rich and rewarding, the Bramble is a classic cocktail for any occasion. Whether you’re hosting a dinner party or grilling BBQ in the backyard, this drink is sure to be a smash hit.

Blackberry Bramble Ingredients:

• 2oz Gin
• 1oz Lemon Juice
• 1oz Simple Syrup
• .5oz Blackberry Puree

Recipe:

• Add all gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup into a cocktail shaker
• Add ice
• Shake vigorously
• Pour into a rocks glass over fresh ice
• Gently and slowly drizzle the blackberry puree over the drink
• Garnish with a blackberry
• (Optional) Add a straw

Rather than mixing it all together right away, the blackberry puree will slowly trickle down and infuse with the other ingredients. This recipe makes for a cocktail that’s delicious to drink and delightful to watch!

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