Another beautiful summer week, another beautiful summer cocktail!
I’ve been absolutely LOVING discovering and experimenting with new cocktails this year! TBH, had we not been in our current circumstances, I don’t think I’d have honed my bartending skills as much as I have. Today, I’m sharing a original fruity cocktail that has the loveliest pink hue: a Strawberry Floradora (made WAYYY easier with the help of Georgian Bay Strawberry Smashed Soda).
What’s a Floradora?
“What’s a Floradora?”, you ask? Well, the short answer is a pink drink typically made with gin, lime juice, raspberry syrup or liqueur, and ginger ale (or ginger syrup and club soda). In my strawberry version of the Floradora, I swap the raspberry liqueur for strawberry grappa and the ginger + soda for Georgian Bay Strawberry Smashed Soda. A little splash of Grenadine before pouring the Georgian Bay Strawberry Smashed Soda creates a pretty ombre effect!
The backstory on the Floradora is that it was named after a famous musical called “Florodora” dating back to 1899 (London) and 1900 (Broadway). Apparently, a woman from the cast of the Broadway musical asked the bartender to make her something brand new at one of the after-parties, and so the Floradora was born!
Since classic cocktails have been seeing a real renaissance in recent years, it’s surprising to me that I’ve never seen this on any restaurant or bar menus. Maybe that will change one day. But for now, you can make this for yourself at home using minimal effort and a delicious ready-to-drink (RTD) bevvy from Georgian Bay Spirit Co.!
What’s Strawberry Smashed Soda?
Georgian Bay Spirit Co. just released a new line of smashed sodas, including strawberry, lime, and mandarin! I’ve been consuming Georgian Bay Spirit Co. products for several years, and am both happy and proud to support this Canadian company! Did you know that the wild juniper Georgian Bay Spirit Co. uses in its gin is handpicked along the shores of Georgian Bay right here in Ontario? You can’t get any more local than that!
I’m pretty excited for their new smashed sodas, which are gin-based, low-calorie alternatives that taste yummy! They now available at the LCBO, and come in individual 473ml cans (a special Smash Pack with all the flavours will be coming out this Fall too!). Each 473 mL can contains:
- 5% alcohol
- 0 g of fat
- 3 g of sugar
- 3% carbohydrates, and
- only 142 calories.
So, you don’t have to feel guilty about drinking them, since you’re not loading up on a lot of sugar and calories!
RTD beverages and summer, for me, go hand-in-hand. Each year around this time, we’re usually spending a lot of time outdoors, camping, at a cottage, by the pool or a lake, or on a little getaway. There’s something about the ease of grabbing a can from the fridge or a cooler and popping it open. So, no shade at all, if you prefer to consume these on their own!
That being said, since our circumstances are a little different this year, I invite you to give this Strawberry Floradora a go! An artisanal cocktail that can be made with very minimal effort – this drink actually blends the best of both worlds 😉. Excuse me, while I head to my patio to enjoy a couple of these with my husband!
Here is the recipe.
How to Make a Strawberry Floradora
Strawberry Floradora
Ingredients
- 1 473 mL can Georgian Bay Strawberry Smashed Soda
- 1 oz. gin I used Georgian Bay gin
- 1 oz. Strawberry grappa or liqueur
- 1/2 oz. freshly squeezed lime juice
- splash Grenadine
- ice cubes
Instructions
- Add ice to cocktail shaker, then gin, strawberry grappa, and lime juice. Cover and shake well until chilled.
- Double strain into a highball glass with ice. Add a splash of Grenadine. Top with Georgian Bay Strawberry Smashed Soda. Leave unstirred for ombre effect, or stir if you prefer to combine. Garnish with slices of strawberry, or as desired. Serve and enjoy!
Does this look like something you’d try? Or do you prefer to have your Georgian Bay Strawberry Smashed Sodas on their own? Either way, make sure to drink responsibly!
Cheers!
*This post was done in partnership with Georgian Bay Spirit Co. But as always, all opinions are 100% my own.
