Bring out the Blender
Nothing says summer like a delicious blender drink does. And this time of year is the ideal season for enjoying the best the blender has to offer – it’s a time for fresh fruit, warming weather and lots of ice on hand.
Now there are lots of pre-made blender drink mixes available on the market; convenient options that only require the addition of whatever spirit you choose to combine it with. But why not leave the mixes for those times when fresh fruit, berries and other ingredients are not quite as plentiful?
The Right Tools
The first thing you’ll need to have, of course, is a good blender. In the case of blender drinks, good means at least 400 watts of power. You’ll need at least this power to crush ice and puree the fruit to a nice smooth consistency.
Here are some things to look for when considering a blender with bar duty in mind:
• Higher-end bar blenders have as much as 500 watts of power, which enable them to crush ice without adding liquid.
• Pulse, High and Low speed settings are all that is absolutely necessary, but one with an Ice Crushing setting can also be very useful.
• Ensure your blender has a wide, heavy base for stability. An overall machine weight of 5 lbs or more is recommended.
• Look for a model with a large capacity blender jar (at least 40 ounces) and made of stainless steel, strong polycarbonate or glass. See-through is often better for viewing the progress of your blender drinks.
• Your model should also have a tight-fitting lid with an opening in the top for adding ice or other ingredients. Optimally, the jar will open from the bottom as well for easy cleaning.
The Right Spirits
The next thing you’ll want to consider is what type of spirits you’ll be combining with your blender drinks. Many traditional blender drinks call for rum, vodka or tequila, but there are just as many variations on recipes that add in liqueurs and other spirits for variety.
You can also experiment with flavoured liquor. Infused vodka is especially easy to find in flavors like raspberry, lemon, vanilla and even cinnamon. Spiced rums can also add a new flavor dimension to your drinks, and an ounce of two of schnapps in a fruity blender drink can provide a terrific, unexpected taste.
Fresh Ingredients
Blender drinks don’t necessarily need to follow a recipe. Your favorite combination of fruit, juice, and even ice cream or sorbet will always taste good when blended with spirits and ice.
Try to use fruit that’s in season and make sure it’s extremely cold by sticking it in the freezer for at least 30 minutes before blending. As an alternative, pre-frozen fruit from the freezer section in the grocery store works very well too.
For those more bitter fruits, you can add a little sugar or honey, or simple syrup, if you like your drinks on the sweeter side. Fresh juices and even juice concentrate will add to the flavor, and ice cream will give it a thicker, richer texture.
A good general rule is one big handful of fruit, one to two ounces of spirits, a small scoop of ice cream (if you’re using it), and about half a cup of juice per drink. And of course topping your drinks with a little sweetened whipped cream is always a nice touch, as is a garnish of fresh fruit or herbs like mint.
The fine art of the blender drink doesn’t get more complicated than that! Check out the recipe for Kahlua Rumba on our web site, or try the refreshing Watermelon Daiquiri recipe featured below.
Watermelon Daiquiri
Ingredients:
• ½ cup white rum
• ¼ cup fresh squeezed lime juice
• ¼ cup orange liqueur (Triple Sec / Cointreau)
• 4 cups peeled seeded, cubed Watermelon (frozen in shallow pan at least 6 hours – this adds sweetness to the watermelon)
• Ice, as needed
To Create:
Combine all ingredients, except ice, in a blender and blend until smooth, then add ice until mixture measures 5 cups. Serve in martini or daiquiri glass. Garnish with lime slice or mint sprig.