So this past weekend I was up at Carmel for a family gathering. And the drink below was the weekend sip that has now become Matt’s current favorite. Since he’s not much of a cocktail drinker, this is an easy one for him, being that vodka is almost flavorless. (Yes, that’s how I feel about vodka—flavorless—it has its uses, just not many for me.)
Of course since we were on a no-work weekend, I wasn’t prepared to shoot. But I couldn’t help myself, the drinks were begging to be shot, so I did what any proper blogger would do and made the best of what was available.
As you can see most of the stuff is pretty basic and would be all the things you find in almost any kitchen, with the exception of that floral tray. Which by the way, I absolutely loved and really wanted to take home, but stealing is not cool, so I’ve been scouring Etsy since we’ve been home looking for something similar.
Along with that, shooting outside my usual space or without my tool bag was a bit a challenging, but I was determined to keep it simple since that was theme for the weekend anyhow. I’m pretty happy with these shots, which only leads me to question my not-so-simple set up at home.
Citrus and Herb Vodka Tonic
Ingredients:
Orange & Sage Vodka Tonic
- 1 sage large leaf (plus more to garnish)
- 3 oz. vodka
- 6 oz. Orange Pellegrino
- 2 orange slices
Lemon & Lavender Vodka Tonic
- A few lavender flowers (plus more to garnish)
- 3 oz. vodka
- 6 oz. Lemon Pellegrino
- 2 lemon slices
Directions:
To make Orange & Sage Vodka Tonic
- Place one sage leaf and vodka in a glass. Muddle sage leaf. Place ice cubes in glass. Fill with Orange Pellegrino or with tonic water (if using the later, add 2 oz of fresh orange juice) and stir. Garnish with orange slices and remaining sage leaves.
To make Lemon & Lavender Vodka Tonic
- Place lavender flowers and vodka in a glass. Muddle lavender. Place ice cubes in glass. Fill with Lemon Pellegrino or with tonic water (if using the later, add 2 oz of lemon juice) and stir. Garnish with lemon slices and lavender.
A few notes:
- Both variations can be made using plain tonic water and then flavored with at least 2 oz. (or more according to personal preference) of fresh squeezed citrus juice. I used Pellegrino for ease of preparation and because I prefer it over plain tonic for this drink.
- To use lavender flower, simply pull the flower out of the pod. A little goes along way, so sip and taste as you prepare the drink. Same thing holds true for the sage - sip and taste as you prepare it.
Welcome to my cozy corner where baking meets random thoughts and musings. I’m a self-taught baker sharing all things sweet (and some savory—okay, and cocktails) with a whisk in one hand and a camera in the other. 
Gorgeous photos, as usual
I love the idea of the lavender lemon vodka tonic!
These shots are quite different from your usual, and they’re gorgeous!
I love vodka cocktails, and will certainly try these out.
So gorgeous and summery, I love the photos! And that tray is a keeper for sure, hope you find one like it!
I love these shots! And the drinks, of course — perfect for summer. Also, that floral tray — MAJOR crush.
Beautiful!!! Such fresh flavors and drinks!
I love vodka cocktails, especially when fruit and herbs are involved. How I wish I could take such beautiful photos on the fly! : )
Stunning!!
What gorgeous shots! I love that you got into food blogger mode at Carmel. And that floral tray – yeah, I would’ve totally taken it home with me!
I would love to see photos of the set up you have at home. These pics are just gorgeous. I am in the “no taste” vodka is better club with Matt!!
That floral tray is adorable! This drink is beautiful, and I can almost taste how yummy it was! Thanks for sharing!!!
If I am looking for something wonderful and different, I always come here! Great post
So much deliciousness here. Gin or vodka tonics are my favorite summer drink (all year drink, really) so I love this unique spin!
wow, these are absolutely gorgeous drinks!!
The pictures are perfect and what a soothing drink on a warm day.
Love the photos! And the drinks look pretty awesome, too!
These photos are gorgeous, love the colors! I do however think calling these vodka tonics is a bit misleading as they don’t contain any tonic water….which is the tonics namesake! Perhaps you have a new concoction all together of a vodka grino?? Cheers!
Stunners of a drink!! I’m all for lavender in my boozy drinks. And vodka is definitely a-okay in my book – I am all for flavorless booze.
I feel tipsy just looking at this 😉
Beautiful pictures!
Sage sounds like a natural with vodka and oranges. I look forward to trying it.
Read post in Feedly. Immediately opened tab, read recipe, and amended my grocery list. Now enjoying the orange-sage vodka tonic while I prep tonight’s dinner. It may be a new favorite cocktail of mine!
If I can find fresh lavender, I’ll have to give the lemon one a shot too
I really enjoy this- what a great recipe! And the pictures are awesome too! I love to play around with new takes on staple drinks like the vodka tonic. Adding different fruits and liqueurs is simple way to try new things. Here’s a recipe I’ve used recently that I really liked: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFREiunQitw