Sip Seasonal Cocktails in Liberty County Like a Local

When visiting Liberty County, enjoying a signature cocktail is part of the experience. But the fun doesn’t have to end at the restaurant. Pick up a few locally made spirits, mixers or other regional ingredients and recreate your favorite drink back at your Airbnb or hotel. Before you head home, be sure to grab a few local products so you can enjoy a taste of Liberty County long after your trip. To help you get started, we’ve put together a guide to some of the area’s best signature drinks.

Fall

If you are a Bloody Mary fan, our friends over at The Parrot & Frog in downtown Hinesville have you covered. They’ve been kind enough to share their recipe so you can mix one up yourself. Of course, you’ll still want to stop by and visit them to enjoy one of their delicious drinks in person!

Craft a Bloody Mary Perfect for Cool Weather:

• Celery salt
• Lemon and lime
• Dash of garlic powder
• 1 oz olive juice
• 1 oz pickle juice
• 1/2 oz steak sauce (optional)
• 2 Dashes of hot sauce (optional)
• 1 1/2 oz Tito’s

Instructions:

1. Rim your serving glass with celery salt for a savory touch.
2. In a separate pint glass, muddle fresh lemon and lime wedges to release their juices.
3. Add a dash of garlic powder, 1 oz of olive juice and 1 oz of pickle juice for that signature briny flavor.
4. For extra depth, mix in ½ oz of steak sauce (optional) and a couple dashes of your favorite hot sauce (also optional).
5. Pour in 1½ oz of Tito’s vodka
6. Fill a shaker cup with ice.
7. Add Zing Zang’s Bloody Mary mix, leaving some room at the top.
8. Shake well until the shaker tin feels cold to the touch.
9. Fill your serving glass with fresh ice.
10. Strain the mixture into the serving glass.
11. Garnish with your favorites—you can use lemon, lime, olives and celery.
12. Finish with a dash or two of black pepper on top for a little extra kick.

Cheers!

Winter

There’s just something about winter that calls for a warm drink. One of our favorites can be found at Zum Rosenhof, an authentic German restaurant in downtown Hinesville, where they serve a delicious cup of traditional Glühwein. This classic German beverage is made with GlühFix, a naturally pure mulled wine spice blend. If you’d like to try making some yourself, stop by SpeiseKammer, Zum Rosenhof’s very own German grocery store located right next door.

Here’s how to make a delicious cup of Glühwein:

• 1 bottle of wine, burgundy
• 1/2 liter of water
• 5-6 bags of GlühFix
• 3 sticks of cinnamon

• 1 orange cut into 1/4 slices

• 3/4 cups of sugar

Instructions:

1. Put everything in a pot.
2. Heat it up for at least 20 minutes or even hours in a slow cooker. Be sure not to boil!
3. Pour into a mug and enjoy.

Das ist lecker!

Spring

If we’re lucky, spring brings the kind of weather folks around here look forward to all year long- sunny and 75 degrees. As the days start warming up, there’s no better way to enjoy them than with a refreshing cocktail in hand. We’ve borrowed this recipe from The Kitchn so you can mix one up and enjoy a little taste of spring right here in Liberty County.

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons boiling water
• 1/2 cup bourbon (4 ounces)
• 1 1/2 lemons, juiced (about 4 tablespoons or 2 ounces)

 

You can find fresh local honey at the Hinesville Farmers Market, held every Thursday from 3–7 p.m. in Bradwell Park from March through October. For the best flavor, we also recommend using a good Southern bourbon whiskey, it adds just the right regional touch.

Instructions:

1. Add honey to a small jar or mixing bowl, then pour in the boiling water. Whisk well until it becomes a thin syrup. Stir in the bourbon and lemon juice. You can refrigerate the mixture until you’re ready to use it.
2. When ready to serve, shake the mixture with ice in a cocktail shaker. Strain into two rock glasses over large ice cubes.
3. Allow the tea to cool to room temperature.
4. Pour tea over ice, add 1 shot of bourbon & stir.
5. Enjoy!

 

Summer

A cold glass of bourbon-spiked peach tea is one of our favorite ways to beat the heat. With its sweet tea and bourbon blend, paired with fresh Georgia peaches, this drink is the perfect way to cool off on a hot summer night. If you’re spending a summer evening in Liberty County, you should definitely give this cocktail a try.

Make the perfect glass of Bourbon Spiked Peach Tea:

• 1 tea bag or a scoop of loose tea
• 2 cups of water
• Pure cane syrup to taste
• 1 shot of bourbon (1.5 ounces)
• 2 peach slices

You can get your peaches & other fresh fruits from Granny Smith’s Farmers Market.

Instructions:

1. Pour 2 cups of water into a small saucepan.
2. Add tea bag & peach slices & bring to a boil.
3. Just as water comes to a boil, remove it from the heat and cover it to steep.
4. Allow the mixture to steep for 10 minutes.
5. Pour the tea into a pitcher & add syrup to taste. (If using loose tea, you will either need to strain the tea leaves or put them in a tea infuser.)
6. Stir well.

 

Pick up everything you need to mix one of our favorite cocktails at home. No matter the season, we are sure you’ll love each one of these tasty beverages. If you’d rather leave the mixing to the experts, come Who knows? You may just find yourself coming back each season to try a new favorite.