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  GUSTO DELLA VITA

Vinegar Cocktails and Drinks
If you only know balsamic vinegar from a grocery store, then you've probably never tasted the real thing.
True balsamic vinegar should have depth, with a hint of natural sweetness.

The hottest way to get your balsamic vinegar these days is to drink it, and what better way to down the trend than with a refreshing non-alcoholic spritzer or a deliciously buzz-inducing cocktail?
​So, with a little imagination, balsamic vinegars can transform an everyday drink into a mixologist DREAM!

As an added treat, there are several health benefits while enjoying it, from improving blood sugar levels to protecting your heart health—that’s what we call a win-win!

​Delicious Digestif
​The vinegars at gusto della vita come in such delicious natural flavors such as pineapple, Georgia peach, grapefruit, cranberry pear, strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, chocolate, espresso, cherry and more. “Customers tell us they mix a dash of our vinegar with four parts soda water or seltzer water (also try with diet ginger ale or 7 up) after a big meal”. “It’s a great palate cleanse and can help settle your stomach”
​White Balsamic Digestif
• 1-part Honey Ginger Balsamic vinegar (gusto della vita)
• 4 parts seltzer water
Directions:
Mix and serve over ice.
​Dark Chocolate Balsamic Martini
​Tools and ingredients necessary include two martini glasses, a cocktail shaker, a good vodka, chocolate balsamic vinegar and lavender sugar to rim the glass.
• Rim two chilled martini glasses with lavender sugar
• Chill approximately 3 ounces of vodka in the cocktail shaker
• Add 1 tablespoon of Chocolate Balsamic Vinegar (gusto della vita)
• Shake all ingredients and strain into glasses
​Strawberry Basil Balsamic with Gin
​• A bunch of strawberries, very ripe
• Sugar
• Cask 10 Balsamic Vinegar (gusto della vita) or Strawberry Balsamic Vinegar (gusto della vita)
• Basil
• Gin (I used Hendricks)
• Sparkling water or club soda (I used LaCroix)
Cut the strawberries into chunks and toss them with sugar in a bowl until they’re well-coated. Put it in the fridge overnight until the sugar has dissolved.
Strain the syrup out, squeezing out the solids, and mix with an equal part balsamic vinegar. Put it in a jar in the fridge and shake it once or twice a day.
For this one I wanted a brighter basil flavor, so I made a basil simple syrup, combining one cup of water with one cup of sugar that I added a ton of basil to and let sit until it dissolved.
In a tall glass, add equal parts gin and strawberry balsamic and about half the amount of the basil syrup. Top with sparkling water for a little fizz and add a festive straw.
​Peach Mint with Bourbon
​• A peach or two, very ripe
• Sugar
• Georgia Peach White Balsamic Vinegar (gusto della vita)
• Mint
• Bourbon (I used Makers Mark)
Cut the peach in chunks and toss them with sugar in a bowl until they’re well-coated. Put it in the fridge overnight until the sugar has dissolved.
Strain the syrup out, squeezing out the solids, and mix with an equal part vinegar. Toss in a handful of mint leaves, put it in a jar in the fridge and shake it once or twice a day. You can drink the shrub right away, but it will get better after a few days.
In a cocktail shaker, mix equal parts bourbon and peach shrub and shake it good. Pour into a tumbler over a large ice cube and garnish with a sprig of mint.
​The Hunny
​• 1 ½ oz. tequila
• 1 oz. Honey Ginger Balsamic Vinegar (gusto della vita)
• 1 oz. fresh grapefruit juice
• 1 oz. fresh lime juice
Directions:
Shake all ingredients. Strain and serve with grapefruit wedge for garnish.
​Amazing Aperitif
​• A dash of Pomegranate Balsamic Vinegar (gusto della vita) or to taste
• Prosecco or Aperol
Directions:
Pour the Prosecco or Aperol into a glass and top with a dash of Pomegranate Balsamic Vinegar. Enjoy.
​Cranberry Pear Balsamic Royale
​Tools and ingredients necessary include a champagne flute, prosecco, cranberry pear balsamic vinegar, sugar coated cranberries for garnish.
• Pour prosecco in champagne flute
• Drizzle in about 1 teaspoon of cranberry pear balsamic to taste (gusto della vita)
• Float a few sugar-coated cranberries in glass for garnish
​Balsamic Vodka Soda
​Tools and ingredients necessary include a highball glass, a cocktail shaker, great vodka, soda water, honey ginger balsamic and fresh mint.
• Fill highball glass with ice
• Add 1.5 ounces of vodka and soda water (amount depends on how strong you like your libations) to cocktail shaker
• Add about 2 teaspoons of Honey Ginger Balsamic (gusto della vita) to taste and shake
• Pour into glass and garnish with fresh mint
​Peach Basil Mimosa
​It’s one of the most popular weekend sippers!
Serves 1
• 1 ½ tablespoons Georgia Peach White Balsamic Vinegar (gusto della vita)
• ½ teaspoon Basil Olive Oil (gusto della vita)
• 6 oz. sparkling wine
Add vinegar and oil to a champagne flute and then top with sparkling wine. Enjoy!
​Orange Hot Cocoa
​This hot cocoa recipe as “a yummy citrusy, cinnamon tasting cocoa on a cool morning (or any morning!). It’s velvety smooth, not-too-sweet taste makes it a great start to your day!”
Serves 1
• 1 cup organic milk (nonfat, 1%, 2% or whole)
• 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 ½ teaspoons organic sugar
• ½ teaspoon pure vanilla (alcohol free)
• 1 dash cinnamon (approx. 1/8 teaspoon)
• ¼ teaspoon Blood Orange Olive Oil (gusto della vita)
Pour the milk in a small saucepan over a low heat (it’s important to keep the heat low so the milk doesn’t scald). Add the cocoa powder, sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon. Whisk together as the mixture warms (approximately 5-10 minutes). The cocoa powder takes a little bit of time to get mixed in with the milk so be patient! When the mixture is at a temperature you like, add the olive oil and continue to cook over a low heat for another minute or two. Pour into a mug and enjoy! Garnish with a slice of orange if desired.
Note: As you’re drinking the cocoa you made need to stir as the unsweetened cocoa powder doesn’t always stay mixed.
​Lemon Rosemary Cocktail
​Try this olive oil cocktail with gin, egg whites, lemon, and our Lemon Olive Oil
• 2 oz. gin
• ½ oz. Cointreau
• 1 oz. lemon juice
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ oz. simple syrup
• 1 egg white
• ½ oz. Lemon Olive Oil (gusto della vita)
• Ice
Rosemary sprigs (optional)
Combine gin, Cointreau, lemon juice, vanilla, and simple syrup in a measuring cup or glass. Set aside.
Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice, add egg white and lemon olive oil. Shake heartily until fully emulsified, around 200 shakes (get your workout in!) Add the rest of the ingredients and shake until combined, about 10 seconds or so.
Strain into a champagne flute or rocks glass and serve. As the cocktail settles the foam may separate out, and that’s okay. Top it off with a rosemary stem!
​Pineapple Jalapeno Margarita
​• 1 teaspoon Jalapeno Olive Oil (gusto della vita)
• 1 tablespoon Pineapple Balsamic Vinegar (gusto della vita)
• 2 oz. tequila
• 1 oz. triple Sec
• 1 oz. fresh lime juice
Lime wedge for garnish
To make:
Put Jalapeno Olive Oil into a highball glass. Fill 3/4th with ice. In a cocktail shaker, add tequila, triple sec, lime juice, and Pineapple Balsamic. Shake for 10-15 seconds and pour over ice. Serve with straw (this is important for stirring in oil as drinking) and garnish with lime.
​Spiced Sangria
​This Spiced Sangria is perfect for entertaining and can be adapted with any of your favorite Balsamic Vinegar's. We like a darker balsamic vinegar, like our Cask 10 Balsamic or Fig Reserve Balsamic. If you’d like to use a White Balsamic, like peach, try swapping the apples for peaches and nectarines!
Serves 8
• 1 750 ml bottle of red wine
• ¼ cup of Cask 10 Balsamic Vinegar or Fig Reserve Balsamic (gusto della vita)
• 10 cinnamon sticks
• 1 orange sliced
• 1 apple, cored and thinly sliced
• 1 cup ginger ale
Add two of the cinnamon sticks, apples and oranges to a large pitcher. Add the wine and balsamic vinegar and let steep at least four hours or overnight. To serve, add the ginger ale and stir. Fill the pitcher with ice. Pour the sangria into glasses filled with ice and garnish with a cinnamon stick.
Non-Alcoholic Version: You can easily make this a non-alcoholic sangria by replacing the wine with equal parts cranberry juice and ginger ale.
​The GDV Refresher
​Serves 4
• 16 oz. Sparkling water
• 2 oz. White Balsamic Vinegar (gusto della vita) (Strawberry, Georgia Peach, Pineapple or Grapefruit)
Bunch of mint
Place all ingredients in a container and let steep for 10 minutes. Serve over ice and enjoy!
​Black Buffalo Cocktail
​The Black Buffalo is a bourbon-based cocktail created by a master mixologist. Our slightly adapted version features ginger ale, fresh basil, and Cask 10 Balsamic Vinegar.
• 1 ½ oz. bourbon
• 4 fresh basil leaves (see note)
• ½ teaspoon turbinado sugar
• 1 teaspoon Cask 10 Balsamic Vinegar (gusto della vita)
• 2 oz. ginger ale
Muddle the balsamic, 3 basil leaves and sugar in a cocktail shaker. Add bourbon and ice and shake well. Strain over fresh ice cubes into a glass. Top with ginger ale and garnish with basil leaf. Cheers!
Note: For an extra blast of basil, add a ½ teaspoon of Basil Olive Oil to the shaker!
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​The Carrie Cocktail
​This thriller features both Blood Orange Olive Oil and Blood Orange Soda for a frightfully refreshing cocktail. It will inspire you to try more cocktails with olive oil!
• 1 tablespoon Blood Orange Olive Oil (gusto della vita)
• 2 oz. Svedka Cucumber Lime Vodka
• ½ oz. Fresh Lime Juice
• ½ oz. Simple Syrup
• San Pellegrino Blood Orange Sparkling Soda
Pour 1 tablespoon of Blood Orange Olive Oil into highball glass. Fill 3/4th with ice. In cocktail shaker add 2 oz. of Svedka Cucumber Lime Vodka, ½ oz. lime juice, ½ oz. simple syrup and shake for 10-15 seconds and pour over ice. Top off with San Pellegrino Blood Orange Sparkling Soda. Serve with straw (this is important for stirring in oil as drinking), and garnish with cherry and orange wheel.
​Jalapeno Margarita
​This spicy take on a margarita features Jalapeno Olive Oil and will inspire you to try more cocktails with olive oil!
• 1 teaspoon Jalapeno Olive Oil (gusto della vita)
• 2 oz. Jose Cuervo Tequila Silver
• 1 oz. Triple Sec
• 1 oz. Fresh Lime Juice
• Lime Wedge
Pour 1 teaspoon of Jalapeno Olive Oil into highball glass. Fill 3/4th with ice. In cocktail shaker add 2 oz. of Jose Cuervo Tequila Silver, 1 oz. of triple sec, and 1 oz. of lime juice. Shake for 10-15 seconds and pour over ice. Serve with straw (this is important for stirring in oil as drinking) and lime as garnish.
​Across the Universe Cocktail
​This one is a crowd-pleasing rum drink flavored with strawberry and lime and will have you thinking about making more cocktails with vinegar!
• 1 tablespoon Strawberry Balsamic (gusto della vita)
• 2 oz. Captain Morgan Spiced Rum with Lime Bite
• Club Soda
• Strawberries
• Lime Wedge
Muddle a few strawberries in low ball glass. Add 1 tablespoon of Strawberry Balsamic Vinegar. Fill glass 3/4th of ice. Add 2 oz. of Captain Morgan Spiced Rum with Lime Bite. Top off with club soda. Stir for 5-10 seconds. Serve with lime garnish
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​Pomegranate Sparkler
This festive sparkling wine cocktail is the perfect way to kick off a holiday party! This cocktail also works well with cranberry juice and fresh cranberries.
Serves 1
• 1 teaspoon Cask 10 Balsamic Vinegar (gusto della vita)
• 1 teaspoon pomegranate juice
• 4 oz. sparkling wine
• 1 teaspoon pomegranate seeds
• A drizzle of Blood Orange Olive Oil (gusto della vita)
In a small bowl, toss the pomegranate seeds with Blood Orange Olive Oil. In a champagne flute, add the balsamic vinegar and pomegranate juice. Pour in the sparkling wine and garnish with orange-scented pomegranate seeds. Cheers!
​Fresh Tomato Bloody Mary
​This is not your everyday Bloody Mary. This is what you make when you have an abundance of summer tomatoes and want to treat yourself. It’s bright and fresh and tastes of the garden with a bright burst of Jalapeno Olive Oil.
Makes 4 servings
• 3 lbs. beefsteak or heirloom tomatoes, coarsely chopped
• ½ tablespoon sea salt
• 1 ½ teaspoons lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon horseradish
• 1 teaspoon hot sauce
• 2 tablespoons Jalapeno Olive Oil (gusto della vita)
• 2 teaspoons (or more to taste) hot sauce
Place the chopped tomatoes in a blender and puree until smooth. You may need to do this in batches. Push the tomato puree through a fine mesh strainer set over a bowl until all the liquid is in the bowl and only solids remain. Discard the solids. You should have about 4 cups of tomato juice. Season the juice with sea salt and the next 5 ingredients. Whisk well to incorporate or run through the blender to more thoroughly combine. Taste and adjust seasoning to your taste. To serve, place mix the juice with four ounces of ice cold vodka and serve over ice. Garnish with a celery stalk and anything pickled that you can get your hands on.
Peach Balsamic Smash
​We love a good smash and this one features fresh peaches, mint and our Georgia Peach Balsamic Vinegar. We use bourbon in this recipe, but vodka works nicely here as well. If you like this recipe, try our Strawberry Balsamic Smash and our Pineapple Balsamic Smash!
Serves 1
• 1 teaspoon Georgia Peach Balsamic Vinegar (gusto della vita)
• 3 slices fresh peach (about 1/4 of a peach)
• 3 - 4 fresh mint leaves
• 3 oz. bourbon
• 1 oz. club soda
Fresh mint sprig, to garnish
In a tall glass, combine the vinegar, most of peaches (reserve a few pieces for garnish) and a few mint leaves. Muddle with the back of a spoon (or a muddler if you have one!) to gently break up the fruit and mint. Fill the glass with ice and add the bourbon. Top with club soda and garnish with additional peach and mint.
​Strawberry Balsamic Smash
We love a good smash and this one features fresh strawberries, basil and our Strawberry Balsamic Vinegar. We use gin in this recipe, but vodka works nicely here as well. If you like this recipe try our Pineapple Balsamic Smash!
Serves 1
• 1 teaspoon Strawberry Balsamic Vinegar (gusto della vita)
• 3 fresh strawberries, sliced
• 2 fresh basil leaves
• 3 oz. gin
• 1 oz. club soda
In a tall glass, combine the vinegar, most of strawberries (reserve a few pieces for garnish) and one basil leaf. Muddle with the back of a spoon (or a muddler if you have one!) to gently break up the berries and basil. Fill the glass with ice and add the gin. Top with club soda and garnish with additional strawberry and basil.
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​Fig Old Fashioned
​We love balsamic vinegar in a cocktail and Fig Reserve Balsamic Vinegar is the perfect addition to this belly-warming cocktail made with bourbon. This delicious twist on the classic Old Fashioned made with fresh figs and Fig Reserve Balsamic Vinegar. Cheers!
Serves 1
• 1 fresh fig, cut in quarters
• 1 orange slice, cut in half
• 3 dashes Angostura bitters
• 1 teaspoon Fig Reserve Balsamic Vinegar (gusto della vita)
• ½ teaspoon maple syrup
• 2 oz. bourbon
Splash of water
Ice
In a rocks glass, muddle half the fig, one orange slice, bitters, vinegar and maple syrup until combined. Add bourbon, a splash of water and ice and stir to mix. Garnish with remaining fig and orange slice and enjoy.
​Summer Stone Fruit Sangria
​While we don’t ever recommend drinking bad wine, since you’re doctoring the wine with other flavors, it’s okay to go with something less expensive. If you’ve ever picked something up at the grocery store and not loved the flavor profile, turn it into sangria! For one batch, you’ll need:
Serves 4 – 6
• 1 750 ml bottle of rose
• 1/3 cups of Georgia Peach Balsamic Vinegar (gusto della vita)
• 2 cups of chopped peaches, nectarine, apricots and plums
• ½ cup of brandy
Combine first 4 ingredients in a pitcher and refrigerate for 4 hours to overnight. Add ginger ale just before serving. Enjoy!
​Tropical Sangria
​While we don’t ever recommend drinking bad wine, since you’re doctoring the wine with other flavors, it’s okay to go with something less expensive. If you’ve ever picked something up at the grocery store and not loved the flavor profile, turn it into sangria! For one batch, you’ll need:
Serves 4 – 6
• 1 750 ml of white wine
• 1/3 cup of Pineapple Balsamic Vinegar (gusto della vita)
• 2 cups chopped pineapple, mango and kiwi
• 1 cup ginger ale
Combine first 4 ingredients in a pitcher and refrigerate for 4 hours to overnight. Add ginger ale just before serving. Enjoy!
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