Southern Summer Slammer Cocktail

DISCLOSURE:  I was compensated by Nielsen-Massey Vanillas for my time in developing this recipe and post. All opinions are my own.

Can we just all sit down on the front porch and chat for a moment? It is HAWT out, y’all.Nothing beats the heat better than the coldest of cocktails. Even with the heat, you can’t have a great summer without some patio time with friends. I’m whipping up a twist on a sweet southern favorite, using bourbon, gin, a bit of amaretto, and the secret sauce — orange blossom water. It’s a bit sweet, rich, incredibly refreshing unique cocktail that is sure to keep you having a great time. Mix up a few and start inviting the friends over. This one is gooooood.

I know that all of those liqueurs sounds like a lot going on, but amazingly enough all blends into one balanced sip. The idea for this cocktail came from the Alabama Slammer, which isn’t a prison in the south, but is instead a similar cocktail that uses orange juice and bourbon with amaretto. I swapped the OJ for an even better addition, Nielsen-Massey Orange Blossom Water. You’ve seen plenty of other recipes on the blog using products from the great family over at Nielsen-Massey, including Coffee Crusted Burgers, Vanilla Sage Biscuits, Vanilla Bourbon Sipper, and others.

I can’t say enough about the great quality of not only their vanillas, but also their other extracts. The brand has been around since 1907, is still family owned and operated company, and all Nielsen-Massey products are all-natural, certified gluten-free, certified Kosher, allergen-free and GMO-Free. They are dedicated to their product being the best of the best. That authenticity and excellence certainly shows when you use it in your bakes and drinks. Visit their site to take a peek at all of the products they offer.

This Orange Blossom Water (click to find where to buy) is made using a water distillation process of the blossoms of bitter orange trees. It has the best natural orange flavor that you’ll ever get from an extract. Toss out those artificial blends and swap to essence waters, y’all. You only need a tiny bit to carry forward the flavors, and it tastes so much better. Orange Blossom Water pairs beautifully with chocolate, vanilla, and other citrus flavors. They make a Rose Water (click to find where to buy) option as well. I’ve made some killer shortbread chocolate dipped cookies with that before and guarantee its the best you’ll ever have.

When you combine the Orange Blossom Water with the rich amaretto and good ol’ Kentucky bourbon (cause we all know that’s my weakness), along with a bit of sloe gin (think gin but with dark berries infused – a favorite of mine), you end up with a not-too-sweet but incredibly easy to sip cocktail sure to help out with that summer heat. I like mine with a splash of soda added in at the end. Topped off with a sugared orange wheel (mostly because my mom never let me add real sugar to things as a kid), and your summer game is on point. Cheers!

Find other cocktail recipes HERE.