Meyer Lemon-Vanilla Bean Bourbon Smash
You guys didn’t think I would just throw down a Meyer Lemon Bundt Cake and then forget about Meyer lemons, did you? Not even close.
I’ve been putting them in nearly everything, including some Meyer lemon bars with a special crust – that recipe coming up this Sunday!
However, my stash of Meyers is dwindling and I’m OK with saying goodbye to them for another year. But, I had to make a quick cocktail first.
My original plan was to make Meyer Lemon Old Fashioneds, but my friend Susan beat me to it. She did such a beautiful job that I didn’t want to compete (although do check out my brandy old fashioned if you’re into that sort of thing).
What else could I make with Meyers and bourbon? I had a few extra vanilla beans around after getting obsessed with cardamom tea lattes and vanilla bean creme brulee for awhile, so I decided a quick vanilla bean simple syrup would be a lovely complement to the tart sweetness of the lemons.
You can keep a batch of this syrup in the fridge for up to a month, to be used in all sorts of cocktails and desserts, as well as this Meyer Lemon-Vanilla Bean Bourbon Smash. Cheers!
Update: On 11/6/14, this recipe was chosen as a Community Pick in Food52′s “Your Best Cocktail” contest and professionally photographed by Mark Weinberg:
Meyer Lemon-Vanilla Bean Bourbon Smash
Ingredients
For the Vanilla Bean Simple Syrup:
For the Meyer Lemon-Vanilla Bean Bourbon Smash (1 cocktail):
Instructions
How did I miss this gorgeous cocktail recipe? I’m completely ashamed. Well, I’m here now and this is gorgeous! Oh, and it’s totally happening.
Well, you’re here now, and that is ALL that matters, Jennie! I whip this drink up all the time when I buy too many Meyers. But it works great with regular lemons, too!
So, I improvised a little bit. I was looking for a cocktail to make on the spot. I used Lemonade in place of the fresh lemon and simple syrup, threw a splash of vanilla extract in, and I had the rest of the ingredients. So good!! I can only imagine what it tastes like with fresh ingredients!
Good “bartending” is all about working with what you’ve got, right Emily? I’m so glad you gave these a try!
Nice job, girl! I love how my blogging friends keep my life super boozy! This sounds so delicious. I need to make that vanilla simple syrup!
Oh, you must make it! I’ve been using it in place of sugar cubes in regular Old Fashioneds, and it’s so good. I think bourbon already has a vanilla-ish quality to it, so this kind of enhances that.
Don’t you just love all of the creative cocktails bloggers come up with?
OMG this sounds AMAZING! Can you buy the bitters or mayve even make then? Also wondering if I can use vanilla bean paste instead?
Hi Sophia! I bought the bitters (Angostura brand) at the grocery store – they are widely available. I’m sure you could make own. I would suggest just Googling “homemade orange bitters.”
Also, you an absolutely use vanilla bean paste! I use it all the time as a substitute for a vanilla bean. My jar of vanilla bean paste says that 1 Tablespoon paste = 1 vanilla bean, so just sub that in in this simple syrup.
Ok, you mix-up a batch of these and I’ll make a REALLY spectacular chicken wings recipe for us.
Oh, that sounds like SO much fun! Why doesn’t one of us own a private jet? 🙁