In the dead heat of midsummer, when the winter months seem so far away, the lengthy countdown to the season’s first flakes can be a depressing thought. To cheer you up, we’ve canvassed a few Ski Utah members to help us track down some cool and refreshing adult beverage recipes, featuring Utah's best local ingredients.
A cocktail (or two) will help chionophiles—organisms that thrive in cold winter conditions—cool off and chill out during the endless summer wait for face shots. Plus, you'll enjoy an authentic taste of the Beehive State with these sweet and savory Utah ingredients. Cheers!
ALPHA COFFEE — Cold Brew Bourbon Buzzsaw
Alpha Coffee is a local roastery and cafe with two shops, one conveniently located at the base of Big Cottonwood Canyon near the 7-11 and another in West Jordan. This is my favorite place to meet up for carpooling and to grab a croissant, a breakfast burrito, or a hot coffee on a pow day! You can feel good about spending money at Alpha Coffee, as they have created a program called Coffee for Troops, which sends premium coffee beans to military personnel deployed overseas. You’ll also discover tons of sweet, savory, and delicious products and snacks from many local Utah vendors at both of Alpha’s cafes. Easily order online for pickup in the store, Alpha is the place to help support local Utah businesses with your snacking or coffee habit.
Chief Coffee Officer, Carl Churchill, recommends pairing the Alpha Cold Brew Buzzsaw with a square (or four) of locally crafted Ritual Bourbon Barrel Chocolate (available in the shop). This decadent treat inspired their cocktail recipe which Carl describes as “Cool, refreshing, invigorating—but definitely packs a punch!”
ALPHA COFFEE COLD BREW BOURBON BUZZSAW
- ¼ c. Ice
- 2 oz. High-End Craft Bourbon (both High West and Alpine Distilling offer delicious options)
- 10 oz. Alpha Coffee Cold Brew - Ethiopian-Sumatran Blend w. 18-hour extraction
- Heavy Organic Whipping Cream
Preparation
In a 16-ounce cup, add 1/4 cup of ice—measure this out, as too much ice will dilute the flavors. Pour in 2 oz of high-end craft Bourbon to place the whiskey in the bottom of the glass while coating the ice for better mixing. Add approximately 10 ounces of Alpha Cold Brew Coffee. Top off by slowly pouring 2 ounces of organic heavy whipping cream on top. Enjoy!
HIGH WEST — Fool’s Gold
You’ve been living under a rock if you’ve never heard tales of Park City’s High West Distillery and Saloon. Fun fact: Founded in 2006, High West was the first legally licensed distillery in Utah since the end of Prohibition in the 1930s. Beginning with a small operation in downtown Park City, High West has since grown into an internationally award-winning brand with four unique locations in Utah including a distillery and tasting room in Wanship. In 2016, High West was named Distiller of the Year by Whisky Advocate.
High West is recommending its Fool’s Gold recipe, as the ingredients can all be sourced locally. They recommend sourcing the lavender honey from a lavender farm in Heber, UT called Lavendoola.
THE HIGH WEST FOOL'S GOLD
- 1.5 oz. High West American Prairie Bourbon
- 0.5 oz..Lavender Honey Syrup (1:1 Lavendoola Lavender Honey : water)
- 0.5 oz. Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice
- Ice
Preparation
Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice, shake until well-chilled, double strain into chilled cocktail glass, garnish with floated dried lavender buds.
ALPINE DISTILLING — Thyme to Preserve
When Alpine Distilling isn’t churning out hand sanitizer to help combat the Covid-19 pandemic (read more here) they’re busy crafting award-winning spirits that capture the taste of life in a mountain town. This distillery also does amazing things for the community having donated a percentage of proceeds to the Park City Swaner Nature Preserve, the Utah Olympic Park, and other local nonprofit organizations and community initiatives.
Alpine Distilling specializes in botanically-inspired spirits, gin, and spiced bourbon. Featured in the Thyme to Preserve cocktail recipe, their unique Preserve Liqueur was inspired by sunset at the Swaner Nature Preserve and encapsulates notes of blood orange, black tea, raspberry, lemon balm, and ginger. Need another reason to purchase a bottle? This inspired liqueur just earned Double-Gold Medals at both the World Spirit Awards and London’s Women Wine & Spirit Awards. Their Alpine Gin also scored Double-Gold at London’s Women Wine & Spirit Award. So, without further ado, get busy shaking this sunset-ready delicacy.
ALPINE DISTILLING'S THYME TO PRESERVE
- 1.5oz. Alpine Gin
- 0.5oz. Preserve Liqueur
- 0.75oz. Fresh Lemon Juice
- 0.5oz. Cane Syrup
- 2-3 Sprigs of Freshly Cut Thyme
- 1-2 Lemon Slices
Preparation
Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Cover and shake well until chilled. Double strain over fresh ice and garnish with lemon slices and a fresh sprig or two of thyme.
SQUATTERS BREW PUB — Grandeur Peak & Beehive State Buzz
Squatters Brew Pub is a Utah institution, harking back to the days when locating a cold beer in the Beehive State was once a mighty chore. Founded in downtown Salt Lake in 1989, Squatters has expanded locations to the Salt Lake Airport and Park City. In 2002 they merged their microbrewery to expand draft and bottle production for Wasatch Brewery. All brewpub locations offer excellent American cuisine and feature fresh, local ingredients. Local favorites include the Hop Rising double IPA and the Chasing Tail golden ale.
Squatters' Spiked Sparkling Water is the perfect base for an array of summer cocktails. They recommend their Grandeur Peak - Utah Cherry seltzer for their Grandeur Peak View From the Top Old Fashioned. Or crack a can of Squatters Brilliant Bier to try out their Beehive State Buzz, a light and refreshing cocktail to compliment a fine summer's eve or celebrate a great day on the trail.
SQUATTERS GRANDEUR PEAK VIEW FROM THE TOP
- 1 Sugar Cube
- 6 Dashes Orange Bitters
- 1 Cherry
- 2 oz Bourbon
- 4 oz Grandeur Peak Cherry Spiked Sparkling Water
- Orange Zest
- Ice Cubes
Preparation
Add sugar cube to rocks glass and douse in orange bitters, then muddle into a paste. Roll glass in hand to evenly coat the inside. Crush cherry with the muddler and add the muddled cherry to glass along with several ice cubes. Pour 2 ounces of bourbon down the sides of the glass. Top with 4 oz of Grandeur Peak Cherry Spiked Sparkling Water. Cut a 2-inch section of orange zest and squeeze over the top of the glass to flavor the rim.
SQUATTERS BEEHIVE STATE BUZZ
- 1 oz. Lemon Juice
- 1 Tsp. Honey
- 2 oz. Gin
- 4 oz. Squatters Brilliant Bier
- Lemon Slices (for garnish)
Preparation
Whisk together everything but the beer, pour over ice, and top with the brew.
WASATCH BREWING — Pickup Lime-A-Rita
Wasatch Brew Pub got its start as one of the first craft breweries in the U.S. in 1986. In 1988, owner and brewer Greg Schirf lobbied the Utah Legislature to make brewpubs legal in Utah and opened the state's first brewpub at the top of Park City's historic Main Street. Wasatch also has a large brewpub in Salt Lake's trendy Sugarhouse district and the West Side Tavern & Cold Beer Store. With a cheeky streak, Wasatch Brewing continues to push the envelope with its delightful beer and creative flavors. Many a visitor to Utah has refused to leave without their own t-shirt featuring the (in)famous Wasatch Brewing Polygamy Porter label. Wasatch has some fun flavors for summer enthusiasts, so be sure to try the new Guava Rosa, the Apricot Hefeweizen, or the Island Hop, a tropical IPA.In addition to a killer lineup of refreshing brews, Wasatch also offers up the Pickup Lime sour ale. This tart and refreshing bev gives a real kick to their Pickup Lime-A-Rita recipe.
WASATCH BREWING PICKUP LIME-A-RITA
- 2 oz Tequila
- 1 oz Lime Juice
- 0.25 oz Agave or Simple Syrup
- 4 oz Wasatch Pickup Lime
- Lime Wedges (for garnish)
Whisk all ingredients together, excluding the beer. Pour over ice, and then top with the brew and lime wedges. Salt the rim of the glass if desired!
