Hey foodies, it’s Nico Rosales here, and I’m excited to share my recipe for the Garden of Delights Cocktail with you all! This drink is the perfect way to embrace the summer heat and enjoy the bounty of nature. It’s cool, refreshing, and packed with the tangy-sweet flavors of raspberries, mint, and lime. Plus, it’s ready in minutes, so you won’t have to spend all day behind the bar. So, let’s raise a glass to Mother Nature and all her delicious treasures!
Growing up in a small coastal town in Chile, Nico found his passion for gardening and the culinary arts at a young age. After traveling the world and exploring different cuisines, he settled in Montreal, Canada, where he opened his own farm-to-table restaurant.
Nico Rosales currently resides in Canada and grew up in Chile.
I was born and raised in a small coastal town in Chile, where fresh fruits and herbs were always abundant. My mother owned a thriving garden and we spent many afternoons harvesting berries, tomatoes, and cucumbers for our meals. My love for gardening and cooking developed in that environment, and I eventually moved to Canada to pursue my dreams. Now, I operate my own farm-to-table restaurant in Montreal, serving up dishes that feature locally-sourced ingredients and flavors inspired by South America.
The Garden of Delights Cocktail has its roots in the United States, where it was named after Hieronymus Bosch’s famous painting, ‘The Garden of Earthly Delights.’ The cocktail was created to celebrate the painting’s 500th anniversary, and it quickly became a fan favorite due to its bright colors and bold flavors. While the original recipe called for gin, I’ve put my own spin on it by using vodka instead. I find that it complements the berry and lime flavors nicely, and it makes the drink feel a bit more modern and edgy. So, get ready to experience a burst of flavor that will leave you feeling refreshed and invigorated!
What you need
The Garden of Delights Cocktail is the perfect drink for a summer day. It’s a refreshing blend of raspberries, mint, and lime that tingles your taste buds in all the right ways. This cocktail is so easy to make, all you need is a cocktail shaker and some crushed ice! First, we muddle the mint leaves to release their refreshing flavor. Then, we add in the raspberries, lime juice, simple syrup, and vodka and shake vigorously with ice. We strain this delicious blend into a glass and top it off with more ice, fresh berries, and a mint sprig. This cocktail is guaranteed to wow your guests and is perfect for any garden party or BBQ. So go ahead and unleash the bounty of nature with our Garden of Delights Cocktail Recipe!
Ingredients:
- Raspberries – Raspberries add a delicious sweetness to this cocktail that pairs well with mint and lime. You can swap them with blackberries or blueberries if desired.
- Mint Leaves – Mint leaves add a refreshing flavor to this cocktail and compliments the raspberries. You can use any type of mint available such as spearmint or peppermint.
- Lime Juice – Lime juice provides an acidic taste to this cocktail which balances well with the sweet raspberries and mint. You can swap lime juice with lemon juice if desired.
- Simple Syrup – A simple syrup is added to this cocktail to sweeten it up. You can use agave or honey as a substitute to make it vegan.
- Vodka – Vodka is a neutral-spirit distilled from potatoes or grains that adds a subtle kick to the cocktail. You can swap vodka with gin to add a different twist to the cocktail.
- Crushed Ice – Crushed ice is used to make this cocktail cold and refreshing and to dilute the sweetness.
Utensils:
- Cocktail Shaker
- Muddler
- Crushed Ice Tray
- Cocktail Strainer
- Collins Glass – You can also use a highball glass to serve the cocktail in.
Mint Leaves
Mint is one of my favorite herbs for cocktails. It has a cool and refreshing taste that gives any drink an extra oomph. Mint is not only tasty but also healthy. It contains antioxidants and helps with digestion. One cool trivia about mint is that it was used in ancient Greece to perfume banquet tables. In this cocktail recipe, the mint leaves bring the freshness that you look for in a drink. It pairs perfectly with the sweetness of the raspberries and balances the acidity of the lime juice. Make sure to muddle the mint leaves for a few seconds before adding the rest of the ingredients to release their oils.
Vodka
Vodka is one of the most versatile spirits in the cocktail world. It’s tasteless and odorless, allowing it to play well with other ingredients. Vodka was originally made to be a medicine and it has distinctively fewer calories per measure than other spirits. It’s possible to create a lower-calorie cocktail with vodka than with other spirits. However, too much of anything is never recommended! In the Garden of Delights cocktail recipe, the vodka provides a smooth and subtle alcohol kick that compliments the sweet and tangy raspberries. You can easily swap the vodka with gin, rum, or tequila in this recipe to create a personalized twist.
What to serve it with?
When I serve my Garden of Delights Cocktail at my farm-to-table restaurant, I like to pair it with a light, summery dish that won’t overpower the flavors of the drink. One of my favorite options is a fresh berry salad with a citrus vinaigrette. The sweetness of the berries and the tanginess of the dressing complement the cocktail’s bold flavors, while the crisp greens provide a refreshing crunch. Plus, the dish is packed with antioxidants and vitamins, which makes it a perfect match for a health-conscious crowd. So, whether you’re enjoying this drink at a backyard barbecue or a swanky rooftop party, make sure to try it with a delicious salad for a complete experience!
Summary
Cheers to you all, my fellow foodies! I hope you enjoyed my recipe for the Garden of Delights Cocktail as much as I enjoyed creating it. This drink is a true celebration of nature’s beauty and bounty, and it always brings a smile to my face. If you have any thoughts or questions about the recipe, I’d love to hear them. Do you prefer gin or vodka in your cocktail? Have you ever experimented with different fruits or herbs? Let me know in the comments below! And don’t forget to share your photos on social media using the hashtag #GardenOfDelightsCocktail. Here’s to raising a glass to good times and great flavors!
Here’s the recipe:
Unleashing Nature's Bounty: The Garden of Delights Cocktail Recipe
Equipment
- Cocktail Shaker
- Muddler
- Crushed Ice Tray
- Cocktail Strainer
- Collins Glass
Ingredients
- 1 cup Raspberries
- 1/4 cup Mint Leaves
- 1/4 cup Lime Juice
- 1/4 cup Simple Syrup
- 2 oz Vodka
- 2 cups Crushed Ice
Instructions
- Prepare the Ingredients - Wash the raspberries and mint leaves under cold running water. Slice the lime in half and use a citrus juicer or a hand-held reamer to extract the juice. Prepare the simple syrup by mixing equal parts of water and sugar in a bowl until fully dissolved.
- Muddle the Mint Leaves - Add the mint leaves to a cocktail shaker and gently muddle them with a muddler, until they release their oils. Add the raspberries, lime juice, simple syrup, and vodka to the cocktail shaker, and fill with ice. Shake vigorously for 20 seconds to chill the drink and combine the ingredients.
- Strain and Serve - Strain the cocktail into a Collins glass filled with crushed ice. Use a cocktail strainer to remove any bits of mint leaves and raspberries. Top up with more crushed ice if necessary. Garnish with fresh raspberries and a mint sprig. Serve the Garden of Delights cocktail immediately and enjoy!
