Cool Down-Balsamic Vinegar Beverages & Cocktails

We understand that your first reaction might be, I’m going to drink vinegar! If you have read our other blogs, you realize that balsamic vinegar is a versatile item to have in your pantry because it can spice up everything from salads to desserts!

There are countless ways to add balsamic vinegar to beverages and especially cocktails, but we will start with non-alcoholic beverages and then give you some great ideas for using balsamic vinegar in cocktails. We are only sharing the simple vinegar ingredient cocktails, not the recipes for vinegar-based cocktails that require whipping up a reduction version of the flavored balsamic vinegar before using it in a cocktail. We know when it’s hot in the summer and muggy, you want something quick, refreshing, and easy to whip up that will taste great and cool you down!

Balsamic vinegar brings a boost of flavor that’s not overpowering to other ingredients in your beverage, but a splash of vinegar can enhance the overall flavor of the beverage while adding balsamic vinegar’s health benefits.

Adding Balsamic Vinegar to Water

For years I have added unfiltered apple cider vinegar to water for its amazing health benefits with just a dab of maple syrup and then sipped it during the day to quench my thirst and drink something healthy. you can also use any of Tastealotta’s fruit-based balsamic kinds of vinegar in the same way. You can add fruit-based balsamic vinegar on its own to water or add it to fruit-infused water for an added kick! Realize a little balsamic vinegar can go a long way, so as a novice add a little and you can always add more. You can use maple syrup or simple syrup if you want sweetened water. Keep in mind that water with just a little sugar hydrates faster than just plain water. This is why people create fruit-based water to sip during the day.

Adding Balsamic Vinegar to Non-Alcoholic Beverages

You can easily add balsamic vinegar to both lemonade and limeade, using a white citrus balsamic vinegar, or for contrast flavor using another fruity white balsamic vinegar for extra zing. A splash or two is all that is needed to give an enhanced flavor to your non-alcoholic beverage. Why I knew this would be a great taste is I brew kombucha and that has a sweet-sour flavor that people either love or don’t. You may also add a dash of white balsamic vinegar to ice tea for some of the same effects. Sweet-sour beverages tend to quench thirst better than overly sweet beverages in the summer.

Alcoholic Beverages with Added Balsamic Vinegar

From Sangria to your favorite cocktail, balsamic vinegar gives you a way to spice u your favorite adult beverage. Adding balsamic vinegar to your cocktails gives a flavor boost that can’t be beaten without a lot of added calories or sugary ingredients.

Since balsamic vinegar is acid it’s a great alternative to lemon and lime for adding an extra zing to your favorite mixed drink. Depending on what is your favorite liquor base for your drinks, you can create your own signature cocktail using your favorite balsamic vinegar from Tastealotta. Most of the recipes we found were these ratios:

• 5 jiggers or 8 ounces of soda water or your favorite sparkling beverage
• 1/2 jigger or 3 tablespoons of your favorite liquor
• 1 jigger or 1.5 tablespoons of Tastealotta white or dark balsamic vinegar
• Add simple syrup to taste-usually about 1/2 tablespoon

Directions:

1. Pour all your ingredients over ice. Taste and add more water or syrup to your taste preferences.
2. Garnish your finished creation with fresh fruit, lemon or lime wedge, or mint.

Your Choice of Tastealotta Balsamic Vinegar

Our experience with using balsamic vinegar we like to use the fruiter Tastealotta balsamic vinegar to add to our cocktails whether white or dark varieties. The Tastealotta white kinds of vinegar that work the best for most cocktails are coconut, banana, pomegranate and quince, peach pineapple, cranberry pear, citrus mint, and apricot.

The Tastealotta dark kinds of vinegar that work the best for most cocktails are Italian raspberry, pomegranate, maple, fig, blueberry, cinnamon pear, strawberry, tangerine, blackberry ginger, black cherry, black currant, and apple. Tastealoota dark expresso and chocolate vinegar work well with coffee-based cocktails and give that added zing!

Cranberry Quince Mojito

Mojitos lend themselves well to adding Tastealotta balsamic vinegar. We share a recipe below that isn’t overly sweet and is a great thirst quencher when the nights are warm.

• Tastealotta Cranberry Quince white balsamic vinegar-1/2 ounce, you can substitute apricot, peach, cranberry pear, pineapple, orange and vanilla, orange, or coconut balsamic vinegar
• 1 1/2 ounces White Rum
• 1/2-ounce lime juice
• 5-6 mint leaves
• 1/2 ounce of Agave
• Club Soda

Directions:

1. Use a tall glass and fille the bottom with mint leaves and muddle the leaves with a spoon. Add Tastealotta Cranberry Quince Balsamic Vinegar.
2. Add the rum, lime juice, and agave to the glass before adding your club soda. Stir the ingredients until the agave and the balsamic vinegar are well combined with the rest of the ingredients and finish with ice cubes and a garnish of miint leaves.

Spiked Lemonade or Limeade

Spiked lemonade or limeade is a southern tradition that I was introduced to when I was traveling in the south. Just take frozen limeade or lemonade concentrate and add to a large pitcher, add suggested water minus about 1/4 of the amount of water suggested. We like to make up the lemonade and limeade so anyone can drink it and then add the alcohol for the adults.

Directions:

1. In a tall glass or tumbler add the lemonade or limeade.
2. Add 1 teaspoon of Tastealotta white balsamic vinegar of your choice and stir well.
3. Add 1-1.5 ounces of vodka and stir and add ice.

Please share your favorite beverage and cocktails recipes with us using Tastelotta balsamic vinegar.  Stay cool this summer and be sure to come by the shop to see all the new products we have to tantalize your taste buds and inspire your summer cooking.