A gin and floral blueberry coffee cocktail built on Lil' Frog, plus a coffee-free blueberry fizz for the kids. Same note in both glasses.
The Ethiopian bean at the heart of Lil' Frog tastes of blueberry on its own, no flavoring, just the fruit and the way it is dried. So the pairing writes itself. Pour the grown-ups a blueberry coffee cocktail, pour the kids the same blueberry note with the coffee left out, and the whole table drinks together. That is the point of Lil' Frog.
Blueberry syrup, for both drinks. Simmer 1 cup blueberries, half a cup sugar, and half a cup water for about 8 minutes, pressing the berries as they soften. Strain and cool. Keeps a week in the fridge.
Cocktail
Buna Bloom
Ingredients
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2 oz gin, floral or London dry
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1.5 oz Lil' Frog, brewed and chilled
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0.75 oz blueberry syrup
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0.5 oz fresh lemon juice
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1 drop orange blossom water, or a barspoon of elderflower
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To garnish a lemon twist and a few blueberries
Method
- Add the gin, chilled Lil' Frog, blueberry syrup, lemon, and orange blossom water to a shaker.
- Fill with ice and shake until well chilled.
- Strain into a chilled coupe, or over one large cube in a rocks glass.
- Express a lemon twist over the top and drop it in with a few blueberries.
Gin's botanicals meet the jasmine-and-citrus, floral side of the Ethiopian bean, with blueberry tying the glass back to the cup. Keep the coffee pour lighter here so the florals lead. Brew fresh, chill it the same day it is roasted.
Mocktail, no coffee
Little Frog Fizz
Ingredients
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1 oz blueberry syrup
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0.5 oz fresh lemon juice
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4 oz sparkling water
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Handful fresh blueberries and a sprig of mint, to garnish
Method
- Add the blueberry syrup and lemon to a tall glass.
- Fill the glass with ice.
- Top with sparkling water and stir once.
- Drop in the blueberries and tuck in the mint.
No coffee, no caffeine. It carries the same blueberry note the grown-ups get in their cup, so the little one drinks right alongside. For a creamier version, swap half the sparkling water for cold milk and a drop of vanilla.