Winter Sunshine Cocktail Recipe

Hello friends and Happy Monday!  Jorge and I recently got a new pug (yay!!) and to celebrate, we’re shaking up a few of these Winter Sunshine cocktails in partnership with Tropicana Premium Lemonade.

We picked up Federico from his previous owner shortly after Thanksgiving.  Just two years old, this adorable fawn pug is filled with energy and personality.  He knows how to sit, shake, high five and high ten.  Federico loves long walks and plenty of belly rubs.

We’ve been busy getting him introduced and settled with our other pug TiVo.  There have been challenges with the transition, but everything seems to be smoothing out now, and we are ready to celebrate!!  Infused with plenty of bright citrus, this Winter Sunshine cocktail is a chilled mix of gin, elderflower liqueur, lemon juice, grapefruit juice, simple syrup, and Tropicana Premium Tangerine Lemonade.  This crisp libation is pure sunshine – just like little Federico!  Continue reading for the recipe plus pug photos!!

Citrus is often thought of as a summery ingredient; however, most citrus is grown during the winter months!  Here, I’m pairing the fresh Tangerine Lemonade with ruby red grapefruit juice and lemon juice.  This citrus trio pairs beautifully with herbaceous gin and aromatic elderflower liqueur.  Each sip is light, bright and so refreshing.

If you can find a gin made with something citrusy, definitely use it here.  Plymouth Gin has notes of lemon peel, and the Thomas Dakin Gin shown above is infused with orange peel.

Now on to some pug photos taken by my friend Kevin Falk of XOXO Wedding Studio 🙂

And here’s the recipe for my Winter Sunshine Cocktail!

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Winter Sunshine Cocktail Recipe

Servings 1 cocktail

Author Brandon Matzek

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 ounces gin (preferably something citrusy)
• 3/4 ounces elderflower liqueur
• 1 ounce Tropicana Premium Tangerine Lemonade
• 3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
• 3/4 ounce fresh grapefruit juice
• 1/2 ounce simple syrup

Strip of grapefruit zest, for garnish

Instructions

1. Place all ingredients (except for the grapefruit peel) in a cocktail shake with ice. Cap and shake until well-chilled. Strain into a coupe or martini glass, and garnish with a strip of grapefruit zest.

This post was written in partnership with Tropicana.  All thoughts, opinions and recipes are my own.  Connect with Tropicana on Instagram and Facebook.