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Meet Beth

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local milk is a journal devoted to home cookery, travel, family, and slow living—to being present & finding sustenance of every kind. It’s about nesting abroad & finding the exotic in the everyday. Most of all it’s about the perfection of imperfections and seeing the beauty of everyday, mundane life.

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Table of contents

  1. Cook
  2. Wander
  3. Dwell
  4. Slow-Living
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  5. Cardamom + Rose Iced Latte / Japanese Ice Coffee

Insta-Milk

A long time ago in a different life (or at least i A long time ago in a different life (or at least it feels that way) I was riding in a car at night with @whereissionnie to meet up with @ruthielindsey and @1924us for bonfires and general cabin shenanigans outside of Nashville. 

I remember the drive so well. It’s a conversation that always stuck with me. We talked about trauma and crisis. And I don’t know much, but I shared the only thing I know, a thing that has served me well through the natural undulations life is bound to bring.

And that is simply sometimes you have to cling to the mast. You aren’t doing anything but surviving but that’s the most important work of all. Because the storm WILL pass. And you‘ll be left standing.

And when it does you can mend the sails. Untangle the ropes. And get on with the business of sailing.

I’ve learned to give myself permission to do nothing but make it through. To sleep a little too late. To dance in front of the mirror and feel myself even when I look ridiculous. To load and unload the dishwasher and allow that to be a great victory. To dress like a cartoon character in nothing but white t-shirts and denim shorts.  To eat mac & cheese from a box and frozen chicken nuggets sometimes. To not respond to text messages. To flail and get back up over and over. To ask for help. A lot.

And also permission to feel it all. Rage. Grief. Joy. Hope and hopelessness. And sometimes all within the span of a few minutes. 

And most of all, whether navigating calm waters or stormy ones, what matters more than anything is the crew you’re doing it with. Surround yourself with solid people.

People that challenge you with compassion. And humor. People whose strengths buttress your weakness. People that don’t judge you. That believe in you even when you think they’re maniacs for doing so.

I know a disproportionate amount of us have had rough seas this year. Cling to the mast in the storm. Choose your crew wisely. No storm ever lasted forever. But there never was a last storm in the world. Accept that they will come and be prepared.

Holiday Cocktail : Ginger Kombucha & Vodka

Cook

12.23.2015

During the holiday season I like to create one go-to holiday cocktail for guests whether they’re dinner guests, just drop in, or friends that have come by to help out with holiday wrapping or bake with me. That way I always have something to offer, and I don’t have to think too hard about it. Kombucha has been my go-to mixer all year, and winter is no different. Paired with Hangar 1 Vodka, a clean, high-quality vodka, spiced lemon simple syrup, a dash of bitters, and a sprinkling of pink peppercorns it’s just interesting enough to feel special for the season but simple enough that you don’t have to have a million ingredients to make it happen.

I love mixology, both virgin and not, but I don’t like it when drinks get so complex they’re impractical. Those are great for mixologists or hobbyists, but for most of us, we’re not going to keep all of that on hand. This can be made with nothing but Hangar 1 Straight Vodka, kombucha (which I always have on hand because I’m addicted, I prefer the ginger variety for this drink), bitters (I use some that my friend makes but standard angostura or aromatic bitters would work too), lemon, sugar, and water. And a few pink peppercorns to make it festive and add complexity. If you don’t have them and can’t find them, don’t worry. It’s great without them too, but I love the unexpected twist.

With Christmas fast approaching, I’ve looked for any and every reason to get together with friends & to make time for my favorite holiday traditions. It hasn’t been easy. Every year I promise myself I won’t work during the holidays as much, that I’ll find time to enjoy baking and decorating and family. But this year, like years past, I’ve managed to over extend myself despite every intention not to.  So what do you do when you realize that there’s too much to do and too little time? It’s simple. You relax. You enjoy what you have, you put on simmer pots that make it smell like Christmas even though there wasn’t time for a tree this year, and put on your favorite Christmas music (my vote is always for either Charlie Brown Christmas or the She & Him Christmas album). The time we have is the time we make. I recently read that one of the biggest lies we tell ourselves is that we don’t have enough or aren’t enough. So this season, here’s to remembering, we have enough and we are enough.

This post was created in partnership with Hangar 1 Vodka. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Print
holiday cocktail : ginger kombucha & vodka

Ingredients

    For cocktail
  • 4 oz Hangar 1 Straight Vodka
  • a few dashes of bitters
  • 2 cups ginger kombucha
  • 2 oz meyer lemon simple syrup
  • Pink peppercorns, squeeze of fresh lemon juice & twist to garnish
  • For simple syrup
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 lemon juice
  • 1 cinnamon stick

Instructions

  1. To make simple syrup, heat the sugar and lemon juice along with the cinnamon stick over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves and it almost comes to a boil. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature before using. Can be stored in the fridge.
  2. To make the cocktail, stir all the ingredients together in a cocktail shaker, and divide evenly between four glasses. Serve over ice and garnish with a lemon twist and a few pink peppercorns.
3.1
https://localmilkblog.com/2015/12/holiday-cocktail-ginger-kombucha-vodka.html

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25 thoughts on “Holiday Cocktail : Ginger Kombucha & Vodka”

  1. Ashlyn @ The Pedantic Foodie says:
    December 23, 2015 at 3:48 pm

    Beth, these pictures are simply breathtaking!!! My eyes are so happy right now! :). This cocktail looks fantastic and I love the simplicity. I love your idea of making one cocktail for the holiday season and keeping those key ingredients on hand! So inspiring!

    Reply
  2. Melissa says:
    December 23, 2015 at 10:02 pm

    I bet this cocktail taste as good as it looks! This is a brilliant idea. Just perfect for this season. Thanks for always sharing and inspiring your readers.

    Reply
  3. Angela - Patisserie Makes Perfect says:
    December 24, 2015 at 4:49 am

    What’s kombucha? I’ve never heard of it.

    Lovely pictures.

    Reply
  4. Sabine says:
    December 24, 2015 at 6:56 am

    I love how this cocktail seems festive and rustic at the same time. The peppercorns catch my eye, and once more, the copper details in your photos are mesmerizing. A very merry Christmas to you. Sabine

    Reply
  5. Jenny Depa-Karl says:
    December 24, 2015 at 7:04 am

    Wonderful to simplify Christmas and share what’s truly important!! Since I always have a batch of kombucha brewing… perfect!! Enjoy the holidays!!

    Reply
  6. Elinor Hill aka Beachhutcook says:
    December 26, 2015 at 3:18 pm

    Looks wonderfully refreshing. Elinor

    Reply
  7. Peppermint Dolly says:
    December 27, 2015 at 1:52 pm

    Stunning photography here – just makes me want to dive right in!

    Rxx

    http://www.peppermintdolly.com

    Reply
  8. ellie | fit for the soul says:
    December 27, 2015 at 5:10 pm

    Gulp. I don’t even like alcohol, but….this looks so refreshing! And what lovely pictures, Beth!

    Reply
  9. Shannon says:
    December 27, 2015 at 9:50 pm

    This is absolutely stunning photography and I’m definitely going to have to hunt down the ingredients to make this drink. It looks delightful!

    Reply
  10. Courtney says:
    December 27, 2015 at 10:39 pm

    This looks like a perfect cocktail for the holiday season. Thank you for this!

    Reply
  11. Gwen says:
    December 29, 2015 at 5:05 am

    these cocktails look gorgeous. can’t wait to try them!

    Reply
  12. Heidi Bingham says:
    December 29, 2015 at 9:57 pm

    Love this! I love copper and was thinking of buying more pieces for my kitchen, but I’m so worried about cleaning it. Is it a lot of upkeep to keep it looking shiny and new?

    Reply
  13. TJ says:
    December 30, 2015 at 11:59 pm

    Too bad you didn’t tell us how to make the ginger kombucha. I just my first scoby for Yule and was looking forward to a new recipe.

    Reply
  14. Summer says:
    January 4, 2016 at 6:56 am

    Love the concept of sharing the things that are really important. This cocktail looks so refreshing♥

    summerdaisy.net

    Reply
  15. Lisa Favre says:
    January 5, 2016 at 6:39 am

    I actually just received a cocktail kit during the holidays and was scouring the internet for the perfect recipe – who else to trust with the best mix but yourself! Thanks for posting.

    Lisa
    http://marblecrumbs.com

    Reply
  16. bobby p. says:
    January 8, 2016 at 3:27 am

    Rue that i missed this beautiful holiday cocktail of yours (ginger kombucha and vodka) that could have been a perfect drink last January 6 Reyes fiesta. I serve it up next time for sure.

    Reply
  17. Janet says:
    January 9, 2016 at 9:08 pm

    My favorite Christmas album oscillates between Charlie Brown and John Denver’s Classic Christmas. And even if I must put the tree down, I refuse to take them off the player.

    Ginger Kombucha in a cocktail is a stroke of genius.

    Reply
  18. Honey says:
    January 10, 2016 at 11:14 pm

    Wow!! As always sooooo stunning! And your merchandise this time is even better than before (if that’s even possible)
    You’re such a talented stylist! Always such an inspiration to me 🙂

    XxHoney
    Honeyuncharted.com

    Reply
  19. Ingrid says:
    January 12, 2016 at 6:36 pm

    Hi Beth,

    I really adore the rug in the 4th photo, can you tell me where it’s from?

    x
    Ingrid

    Reply
  20. Torsten Fleischer | Personal Trainer Berlin says:
    January 15, 2016 at 1:16 am

    This place is heaven on earth . Great colors. Great photos. You have a great eye for the package ! Thank you for that and for your creativity!
    Greetings from Berlin. Torsten

    Reply
  21. Pingback: life lately - beauty of a winter - Don't Tell Anyone
  22. Ryan Goebel says:
    January 19, 2016 at 4:59 pm

    The quality of the photography involved here is absolutely outstanding. I have never heard of Hangar One vodka before, and usually hate advertisements but I would love to see these images in Lucky Peach or similar magazines. They inspire a feeling of class and presence that is lacking in other food blogs. Please continue to provide us with phenomenal photography and recipes.

    Reply
  23. Brianna Danner says:
    January 22, 2016 at 5:29 pm

    Lovely drink. It’s everything the health nut and the Moscow mule lover in me crave wrapped into one. I once mixed mango kombucha and vodka, and dubbed it ‘vodbucha’! Less elegant than what you’ve created.

    Reply
  24. Courtney says:
    January 28, 2016 at 12:32 pm

    This sounds amazing! And of course your photos always make me swoon! And all that copper!!

    http://www.breakfastatvogueblog.com/

    Reply
  25. Nicholas Ng says:
    February 21, 2016 at 9:59 am

    Oh wow. What wonderful pictures you take! Pink peppercorns impart such a lovely taste unlike regular black or white pepper.

    Reply

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