Epic Fail

Bourbon and BBQ are kind of a big deal around here. I'm trying to acquire a taste for bourbon.  Mostly because I have a bottle of it back in PA that I have leftover from a bacon jam recipe. I found bourbon lemonade cocktail that I AMAZING.  It’s refreshing, strong and let’s me taste a little bit of the bourbon flavor without being overpowering.  It was so good that I bought a handle to have here in NC so I can have a cocktail at either house. A popular shot at the bars around here is the pickle back. It’s a shot of bourbon/whisky followed by a chaser of pickle juice.  It sounds right up my alley. Since I eat pickles insanely fast I always have leftover pickle brine that is so jam-packed full of my favorite flavors that often ends up down the drain because I don’t know what to do with it.  I was surfing the web for suggestions on what to do with this flavor packed pickle brine. I came across a blog with a recipe for pickle back ice lollies (popsicles). This sounded right up my alley. I was starting to like the flavor of bourbon in small amounts and I LOVE PICKLED anything.  I filled my Popsicle molds with 2 tsp. of bourbon per mold and topped it off with spicy lemon cauliflower pickle brine. I stashed these puppies in the freezer overnight and couldn’t wait to try them out the next time after a long day at work.  Alcoholic popsicles are a genius idea.

These popsicles are VILE. Don’t make them, EWWWW! It’s not the pickle juice that’s bad, they’re just so strong. I feel like I'm sucking on a rubbing alcohol ice cube. I tried multiple attempts to enjoy it but after 3 good licks I have to trash it. Luckily I only made 4. I’m thinking about taking the remaining ones and sticking  them into a bloody Mary as a chiller.  Too much concentrated bourbon flavor for me.

Instead I will enjoy my bourbon in this lemonade. I have also used rhubarb syrup from Food in Jars as my sweetener. 
Rhubarb Syrup Recipe



BOURBON GINGER FIZZ
makes 1 glass
From http://www.henryhappened.com/recipe-bourbon-ginger-fizz.html

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 Tbsp black peppercorns
• 2 slices fresh ginger
• 2 Tbsp lemon juice
• 2 oz bourbon
• 1/2 cup club soda

First make a simple syrup with the sugar and 1/2 cup of water. Simmer them together until the sugar dissolves. Take the pan off the heat and add the peppercorns and ginger. Let it cool and then strain. Fill a glass with ice, add 1 tablespoon of the syrup and then the remaining ingredients. Garnish with a slice of lemon.