Best Unencumbered Recipes

Unencumbered image

Provided by Geoffrey Zakarian

Time 25m

Yield 1 drink

Number Of Ingredients 7

2 ounces cucumber juice (use unpeeled English cucumbers when juicing)
1 1/2 ounces vodka
3/4 ounce Simple Syrup, recipe follows
1/4 ounce fresh lime juice
1 ounce sparkling white wine, such as Moscato d'Asti
Cucumber ribbon, for garnish
1 cup sugar

Steps:

In a shaker with ice, combine the cucumber juice, vodka, Simple Syrup and lime juice and stir well. Strain into a highball glass and top with the sparkling wine. Garnish with a cucumber ribbon.
Combine the sugar and 1 cup water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Cook, stirring, until the sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat and let cool completely. Keep covered in the refrigerator up to 1 month. Yield: 1 1/2 cups

Tequila Bumblebee image

Provided by Geoffrey Zakarian

Categories beverage

Time 1h

Yield 1 serving, plus additional honey syrup

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 ounces tequila
1 1/2 ounces lime juice, plus a slice of lime
1 1/2 ounces Honey Syrup, recipe follows
Dash Angostura bitters
1/2 cup honey

Steps:

Put the honey on a small plate. Combine the salt and cayenne pepper on a second small plate. Dip the rim of a rocks glass into the honey and let any excess drip off. Dip into the salt and cayenne mixture to rim the glass. Set aside.
In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine the tequila, lime juice, Honey Syrup and bitters. Shake, then pour the contents of the shaker into the rimmed rocks glass. Garnish with a slice of lime.
Combine the honey and 1/2 cup water in a small pot and stir together. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, then remove from the heat and let cool completely.