Belle Isle Moonshine Cocktails
This month, I had the pleasure of partnering with one of my favorite spirit companies, Belle Isle Moonshine, and they happen to be local to RVA! Their name developed from Belle Isle, a little island in the middle of the James River that all the Richmond locals love. The product is distilled from 100% organic corn, and made with only the best ingredients. They focus on the highest quality product, using as many local ingredients as possible! (my kind of company!)
The concept of drinking can get a bad rap, but if you’ve been following me for a while, you know I am all about living a balanced lifestyle that doesn’t cut out the things you love that allow you to live the life you want to live. Finding high quality options is always a priority for me, as well as making good choices for your own body. Clear liquors are typically the only thing other than beer and wine that work for ME, so when I found out about Belle Isle a couple years ago, I knew I had to try it. My usual choice is their Black Label, unflavored moonshine. This is the product that creates the base of all their infusions. It can be used interchangeably with any vodka, and is actually lower in calories and carbs than other similar spirits. And the best part is there is NO burn! I usually mix it with a flavored seltzer (my go-to drink on most occasions!)
For this collaboration, I decided to infuse their Black Label with my favorite drink flavor… cucumber! Here is an EASY at home recipe I have concocted for you to try!
DIY Naturally Infused Cucumber Refresher
Ingredients:
1 Bottle, Belle Isle Black Label
1 Organic cucumber
1 Airtight Jar (16 oz. Mason Jar or Weck Jar works best!)
1 can Flavored Sparkling Water (I recommend the Raspberry Lime Spindrift)
Lime (optional)
Directions:
1. Fill up jar about 3/4 of the way (about 2/3 of the bottle of moonshine)
2. Cut cucumbers into rounds (about half the cucumber)
3. Add cucumber to mason jar and tighten lid
4. Let sit for about 24 hours
5. Taste Test! (To get more flavor, let infuse for another 12 hours. Recommend max infuse time is about 48 hours)
6. Fill glass up with crushed ice, add 2 shots cucumber-infused moonshine and top off with sparkling water.
7. Add a lime or even one of the infused cucumbers
Belle Isle Black Label Highlights:
80 Proof (same as vodka)
Distilled from 100% organic corn
Gluten-free
Kosher
67 calories / 0 carbs / 0 sugars (1 oz.)
On a different but very related note, I have used another one of their moonshine creations, Cold Brew Coffee, to create the ultimate coffee lovers cocktail! This will slightly satisfy that sweet tooth and give you a little energy, all while enjoying a cocktail. If you’re a coffee lover, listen up! I present to you…
Boozy Dark Chocolate & Cream Cold Brew
Ingredients:
2-3 ounces Belle Isle Cold Brew Coffee Moonshine
cooled coffee or filtered water
2 tbsp dark chocolate chips
ice (handful)
3-4 tbsp your favorite creamer
optional: milk frother
Cocktail Shaker
Optional: chocolate syrup + powdered sugar for topping
Directions:
Add Cold Brew Moonshine, your liquid of choice (water or coffee), cacao nibs and ice into cocktail shaker.
Shake until combined.
Fill up glass completely full of ice and pour mixture in
Froth your milk or cream of choice
Pour into glass and stir as if it is a cold brew coffee drink
Optional to add toppings!
Enjoy!
Belle Isle Cold Brew Coffee Highlights:
70 Proof (same as flavored vodkas)
Infused with responsibly sourced Honduran coffee beans from Blanchard’s in Richmond and locally harvested honey
21% less calories and 92% less sugar & carbs than the leading coffee liqueur
62 calories / 1 carbs / 1 sugars (1 oz.)