Cocktails to Celebrate Women’s History Month

So, it’s Women’s History Month, a period when we reflect on the contributions of women to our nation’s history and society. Of course, one celebrates this cultural event with cocktails that honor, venerate and draw inspiration from or, at the very least, vaguely reference… women. So, we found you some recipes from some fancy pants mixologists to have fun with.

Benza

(Recipe by Zuma Miami)

Zuma’s got a cool cocktail program right now called the Seven Lucky Gods Collection, and one of the Lucky Ones is Benzaiten, a Japanese goddess of the arts, wealth, and femininity. If she sounds a lot like the Hindu goddess Saraswati, that’s because she is basically the same entity, adapted from Hindu and Buddhist tradition. She carries a biwa, a Japanese traditional flute-like instrument and is normally accompanied by a white snake. She is the patron of artists, writers, dancers, and geisha.

Ingredients
30ml Stoli Elit Vodka/Yamamomo
8 Raspberries
15ml Leopod Bros. Cherry Whiskey
20ml Lemon Juice
10ml Simple syrup
2 dashes Peach Bitters
Bubbly Sake
Cubed Ice

Directions: Muddle the raspberries, add ingredients and double string top with bubbly sake.

Jolene

(Recipe by OBC Kitchen, in Lexington, KY)

Benzaiten might be an official goddess of the arts, but woe betide anyone who fails to recognize the demigoddess status of Dolly Parton. This bright pink drink is inspired by Dolly.

Ingredients
1.5 oz. Camarena
.75 oz. lime juice
.5 oz. charred jalapeno prickly pear syrup
.25 oz. orange juice
.25 oz. Cointreau

Directions: Combine all ingredients in shaker; shake and double strain into coupe class. Garnish with ½ lime salt rim and grilled lime wheel.

Rosé the Riveter

(Recipe by The Bar, Charleston SC)

The Bar at the Spectator Hotel isn’t a bad place to go if you need to placate your inner Gatsby… or your inner Zelda. This 20’s-revering lounge pays tribute to Rosie the Riveter in a palette of local ingredients.

Ingredients
1.25 oz. Cathead Honeysuckle Vodka
.75 oz. Giffard Pamplemousse Liqueur
.5 oz. Cointreau
.25 oz. St George Spiced Pear Liqueur
.5 oz. Fall Spice Syrup (see below)
4 oz. Still Rose Wine
.75 oz. Fresh Lemon Juice
Sparkling Rose Float
Apple Slices for garnish

Directions: Combine all ingredients in large Bordeaux glass and fill with ice. Top with sparkling rose float and garnish with four apple slices.

Directions for Fall Spice Syrup
1 Pint Water
1 Pound Sugar
8 Cinnamon Sticks
12 Allspice Berries
6 Star Anise
10 Cloves

Directions: In a medium saucepan, combine all ingredients except sugar. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for 10 minutes. Add sugar and stir until dissolved. Remove from heat, strain and store in refrigerator. It’ll keep 7-10 days.

Fanny’s Sweet Rhythm

(Recipe by Hilton New Orleans Riverside)

Stumble just off the French Quarter and you’ll find a hotel bar specializing in “boudoir” cocktails inspired by the storied madams of Storyville. Fanny’s Sweet Rhythm is crafted with gin, Green Chartreuse, orange bitters, lime juice, simple syrup, mint leaves and garnished with a fired lime wheel and mint bouquet.

Ingredients
2 oz. gin
1 oz. Green Chartreuse
3 drops of orange bitters
.5 oz. fresh lime juice
.5 oz. simple syrup
5 mint leaves

Directions: Add all ingredients to mixing glass. Add ice to tin. Shake well. strain into cocktail glass. Garnish with mint bouquet and lime wheel. Option to light on fire: Invert the spent lime shell. Fill with over-proof spirit and light.