Recipe Spotlight: Ouzo cocktails

Spring has sprung and patio season is popping! If you’re planning a few patio parties with your friends soon to enjoy the beautiful weather, here are three amazing and very simple cocktails, all of which include the delicious Greek liquor, Ouzo which you can pick up easily at Greektown’s own Artopolis Café.

Ouzito (The Greek Mojito)

 

The Ouzito, or the Greek take on a Mojito, is a fresh strawberry and mint drink that is perfect for the sweet tooths of the group.

 

Ingredients:

Mint

3 fresh strawberries cut into pieces.

1 oz simple syrup

1 oz fresh lime juice

2 oz of ouzo

2 oz of club soda

Instructions:

1. In a shaker place mint, strawberries, and simple syrup. Don’t shake too hard.
2. Add ice, lime juice, the ouzo and shake a few times
3. Pour all of it into a tall glass (don’t strain)
4. Top with club soda and garnish with mint or strawberries for garnish

Recipe provided by: Hardly A Goddess, original recipe here

 

Apollo Cooler

If you like tart or sour drinks, the Apollo Cooler is perfect for you. Inspired by the ancient God of Sun and Light, this drink is a truly a reFRESHment!

 

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons of lemon juice

3 tablespoons of Metaxa

½ teaspoon ouzo

Ice

Ginger ale

Lemon for garnish

Instructions:

1. Add ice to a tall glass
2. Add lemon juice, Metaxa, and ouzo and mix
3. Fill glass with ginger ale and mix
4. Add lemon for garnish

Recipe provided by: Kenton and Jane, original recipe here

 

Red Orange Blossom Cocktail

 

This drink adopts the color of the orange blossom and is the perfect combination for a warm spring night. Did you know oranges in ancient times were thought to be the “golden apple” Hera gave Zeus on their wedding night?

Ingredients:

Double shot of vodka

Single shot of ouzo

Half a cup of fresh orange juice

Singe shot of Grenadine syrup

A quarter cup club soda

Ice

Garnish: Orange slices and mint leaves (optional)

Instructions:

1. Fill a tall glass with ice. Add orange slices and/or mint leaves to add flavor and decoration.
2. Add the shots of vodka and ouzo and fill the rest of the glass with the orange juice and club soda leaving enough space for the grenadine
3. Take a long cocktail spoon and stir for a couple of seconds so that all the flavors are mixed.
4. Add the shot of grenadine which gives it its bright beautiful color

Recipe provided by: Vaggelis, link to original recipe here

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