Strawberry Mint Mojito

• 1 part Spearmint Keep It Simple Syrup®
• 1 part freshly-squeezed lime juice
• 2 parts quality Strawberry rum
• Club soda

Mix Keep It Simple Syrup® with lime juice in a tall glass. Fill with ice and pour in rum, fill with club soda, and gently stir to mix. Garnish with slices of strawberry and a sprig of fresh mint.

Lemon Blueberry KISS

• 1 oz. freshly-squeezed lemon juice
• 1 oz. Spearmint kiss®
• 2 oz ABSOLUT BERRI AÇAÍ
• 4 fresh blueberries

Pour lemon juice into a rocks glass filled with ice cubes. Then mix ABSOLUT BERRI AÇAÍ and Keep It Simple Syrup® in a shaker with ice. Slowly strain on top of lemon juice in glass; do not stir. Garnish with blueberries & mint.

Strawberry Mint Margaritas

Serves 4

• ½ cup fresh strawberries (approx. 10, average-sized)
• 1 oz. freshly-squeezed lime juice (about 2 limes)
• 1 oz. quality triple sec
• ½ cup Spearmint kiss®
• 1 cup quality tequila
• 2 cups crushed ice

Pour all ingredients (except ice) in a blender and purée until
smooth. Add crushed ice and blend briefly, making sure ice
doesn't melt. Pour into 4 margarita glasses.

Garnish with spearmint leaves or slices of lime.

Mint Julep Cupcakes

Vanilla cupcakes with Bourbon cream filling and Spearmint-kissed icing
Serve these at your Derby Party (or enjoy a taste of Spring, year-round!)

Instructions:

1. Bake vanilla cupcakes using your recipe of choice; let cool completely.
2. Prepare the bourbon filling; cool and chill thoroughly.
3. Spoon the filling into a pastry bag attached with a long narrow tip. Insert the tip through the top of each cupcake to a depth of about one inch and dispense ~1 teaspoon. Do not overfill!
4. Prepare the icing and use it to fill another pastry bag attached with a wide star tip. Frost the tops of each cupcake with a decorative swirl.
5. Sprinkle with clear course sugar, & garnish with fresh mint just before serving. (Cold mint will wilt)

Spearmint-kissed icing:

• ½ cup shortening
• 2 cups 10x (powdered) sugar
• 2 Tablespoons Spearmint kiss®
In a large bowl, combine sugar, shortening, and Kiss. Beat on low speed to combine, then on medium speed for a full five minutes.

Bourbon cream filling:

• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2½ cups milk
• 1½ teaspoons bourbon
In a 2 quart saucepan over low heat, combine 1/3 cup sugar, cornstarch, & salt. Slowly stir in milk. Bring to a boil, and cook, stirring constantly, over medium heat until mixture thickens. Cook for additional 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in bourbon.

Pour into shallow pan. Cover with plastic film placed directly in contact with the surface of the cream to prevent a skin from forming. Cool and chill as quickly as possible.

Download recipe
Recipes courtesy Chef Jason Floridia

Mint Julep kiss*

• 1 oz. Spearmint kiss®
• 2 oz. quality bourbon

Pour both ingredients into a chilled, pewter cup.
Stir, add crushed ice, and a sprig of fresh mint.
(Use more or less Kiss to taste)

Mojito kiss*

• 1 oz. freshly-squeezed lime juice (about 2 limes)
• 2 oz. Spearmint kiss®
• 3 oz. quality white rum
• Club soda

Mix all ingredients except club soda in a shaker with ice.
Pour into 2 tall glasses over ice. Top off with club soda.

Garnish with spearmint leaves or slices of lime.

Sweet Tea Vodka kiss*

• 4 - 5 oz. freshly-brewed tea (unsweetened, unflavored)
• 1 oz. Spearmint kiss®
• 2 oz. quality vodka

Pour all ingredients into a shaker with ice. Mix well. Strain into tall glass with ice. Garnish with a slice of lemon and a sprig of mint.

Libbie's Cup

• Juice of ½ freshly-squeezed lemon
• Juice of ½ freshly-squeezed lime
• 1 oz. Spearmint kiss®
• 1½ oz. PIMMS No. 1 Gin Cup
• Club soda

Pour all ingredients except club soda into a shaker with ice. Mix well. Strain into tall glass with ice. Top off with club soda.

Garnish with a slice of lemon, lime, and a sprig of mint.

You'll find this delicious cocktail at:
The Blue Goat
5710 Grove Avenue
Richmond, VA 23226

Mint Marnier Kiss

• 1-1/2 oz. Grand Marnier
• 1 oz. Spearmint kiss®
• Lemonade

Mix Grand Marnier & Keep It Simple Syrup® in a shaker with cracked ice.
Strain into chilled rocks glass. Top with splash of lemonade.

Garnish with orange slice and spearmint leaves.

Contributed by:
Nick Monroy, Mixologist
Maxines Bistro & Bar
1732 Collins Avenue
South Beach, Miami 33139

South Beach Catalina Kiss

• 1/2 oz. Watermelon Pucker
• 1 oz. Smirnoff Watermelon Vodka
• 1 oz. Spearmint kiss®

Mix ingredients in a shaker with cracked ice.
Strain into chilled martini glass.

Garnish with spearmint leaves.

Contributed by:
Nick Monroy, Mixologist
Maxines Bistro & Bar
1732 Collins Avenue
South Beach, Miami 33139

Whiskey Peach Kiss

Great way to use up all those over-ripe peaches at Summers end

• 4-5 slices of an over-ripe peach
• Juice of one lemon
• ½ once Spearmint Keep It Simple Syrup®
• 1 ounce quality Honey Whiskey
• 1 - 2 fresh cranberries
  (Recommended: Lounge Attire Premium Cocktail Cranberries)

Pour freshly squeezed lemon juice over peach slices in a tall glass and muddle. Add Keep It Simple Syrup® and Honey Whiskey, and stir gently. Pour into champagne flute (ice optional). Garnish with fresh mint sprig & cranberries. For extra pizazz, add a splash of prosecco or champagne. Note: If you don't have Premium Cocktail Cranberries, skewer cranberries on a metal toothpick so they soak up the liquid.

Hot Mocha Kiss

• 4 - 5 oz. hot coffee
• 1 oz. chocolate liqueur
  (Recommended: Godiva® Chocolate Liqueur)
• 1 oz. Spearmint Keep It Simple Syrup®

Pour hot coffee into decorative glass mug. Add chocolate liqueur and Kiss. Top with Mint-kissed Whipped Cream. Garnish with chocolate mint cookie, fresh mint sprig, or both.

Mint-Kissed Bourbon Egg Cream

Inspired by Owner St. John Frizell, of Fort Defiance, Brooklyn, NY

• 1 oz. Spearmint kiss®
• 1 oz. quality bourbon
• 2 oz. whole milk
• Club soda

Mix Spearmint kiss® with bourbon and milk in a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into frozen egg cream glass. Top with cold club soda.

Garnish with fresh spearmint.

Açaí Delight

This is the Veev Spa Coler made easier

• ¾ oz. Spearmint Keep It Simple Syrup®
• 1 oz. freshly-squeezed lime juice (about 2 limes)
• 2 oz. Veev Açaí Spirit
• 3 - 6 thinly-sliced cucumber

Pour first three ingredients into a shaker with ice. Mix well. Strain into an ice-filled rocks glass garnished with cucumber slices and a sprig of fresh mint.

Mint-Kissed Cranberry Sauce

Pour this delicious mixture over a piece of soft cheese, such as Brie, goat cheese, or whipped cream cheese. Serve with cracked black pepper crackers for a unique and flavorful holiday appetizer.

• 3 cups fresh cranberries
• 1 cup Spearmint Keep It Simple Syrup®
• Zest and juice of one large orange
• 1 large Golden Delicioius apple, peeled and diced
• Dried apricots, about a dozen, cut into small pieces
• ½ cup chopped walnuts

Add all ingredients except walnuts to a medium saucepan and simmer on low for 1 - 2 hours until cranberries have burst and mixture is well-blended. Remove from heat and stir in walnuts. Serve warm over soft cheese with crackers, at room temperature for a tasty holiday side-dish, or use as a condiment with turkey sandwiches.

Raspberry Mint Coulis

• 1 cup fresh raspberries
• ¼ cup Spearmint Keep It Simple Syrup®

Pour raspberries into a food processor and begin to pureé. Slowly drizzle in Spearmint kiss until fully-blended.

Use instead of maple syrup over pancakes & waffles, or as a topping over ice cream.

Try searing a piece of your favorite fish, such as a salmon filet, in quality olive oil. Season well with salt & pepper. Drizzle a bit of the raspberry mint coulis over the fish while hot.

Gingerbread with
Mint-kissed Whipped Cream

• 1 slice freshly-baked gingerbread
• 1 - 2 Tablespoons of cold Mint-kissed Whipped Cream (see below)

Make your favorite recipe for gingerbread (or buy some!) Top with Mint-kissed Whipped Cream. The bright, sweet spearmint flavor contrasts nicely with the earthy, spicy cake.

Serve with hot coffee sweetened with a Kiss of spearmint.

Cranberry Kiss

A nice, all-natural cocktail for the holidays.

• 1-½ oz. quality vodka
• 1 oz. Cranberry-infused Spearmint Keep It Simple Syrup®

Follow recipe for Cranberry-Mint Kisses (below). Add 1 oz. of the reserved liquid to 1-½ oz. vodka in a shaker with ice and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a Cranberry-Mint Kiss.

Cranberry-Mint Kisses

Add these tasty jewels to cheese platters, toss a few over ice cream, or use as a garnish in your favorite cocktail or beverage.

• 1 cup fresh cranberries
• ½ cup Spearmint Keep It Simple Syrup®

Puncture cranberries with a fork. Pour into small bowl with Spearmint kiss. Microwave for 1 minute on high.

Let cranberries sit in liquid for a few hours or overnight to soak up the sweet mint syrup. The syrup will offset their tart flavor. Strain out the liquid and set aside; this cranberry-infused Spearmint kiss makes a delicious addition to cocktails and beverages.

The Karmatini

Official cocktail of the Good Karma Party
9th Annual Silent Auction Fundraiser to Benefit ART 180

• 1-½ oz. Cirrus Vodka
• 1 oz. cranberry juice
• ½ oz. Triple Sec
• ½ oz. Spearmint Keep It Simple Syrup®
• Juice of 2 lime wedges

Pour all ingredients except club soda into a shaker with ice. Mix well. Strain into chilled martini glass.

Garnish with a curl of lime zest.

Virginia's Executive Mansion
Grapefruit Kiss

• 1-1/2 oz. ounce Sunset Hills Gin
  (Recommended: A. Smith Bowman Distillery, Fredericksburg, VA
• 1-1/2 oz. Spearmint kiss®
• Grapefruit juice
• Raspberry dessert topping (such as Smuckers)
• Mint sprig

Pour the gin and KISS syrup over ice in shaker and shake. Drain from shaker and pour into glass. Fill the rest of the glass with grapefruit juice. Garnish with raspberry sauce and fresh mint.

This signature cocktail comes from Virginia's Executive Mansion, home to Governor Bob McDonnell, at Capitol Square in Richmond, Virginia.

The Mansion and First Family are excited to almost be exclusively using Virginia beverages and food daily. Their effort to "Choose the Commonwealth" enables them to use delicious food and beverages, while promoting the great state of Virginia.   Continue reading >>

Download recipe

Virginia's Executive Mansion
Chocolate Mint Kiss

• 1-1/2 oz. Deep Run Vodka
  (Recommended: A. Smith Bowman Distillery, Fredericksburg, VA
• 1-1/2 oz. Half & Half
• 1-1/2 oz. Spearmint kiss®
• 1 oz. Kahlúa
• 2 squirts chocolate syrup

Mix all ingredients and stir well! Enjoy!
(Makes 2 drinks)

This signature cocktail comes from Virginia's Executive Mansion, home to Governor Bob McDonnell, at Capitol Square in Richmond, Virginia.

The Mansion and First Family are excited to almost be exclusively using Virginia beverages and food daily. Their effort to "Choose the Commonwealth" enables them to use delicious food and beverages, while promoting the great state of Virginia.   Continue reading >>

Download recipe

The Tipsy Taylor

Official cocktail of the 2012 Elby Awards in Richmond, VA The First Awards Ceremony to Honor Excellence in The Richmond Region's Restaurant Community

• ½ oz. freshly-squeezed lime juice (about 2 limes)
• 1 oz. Spearmint Keep It Simple Syrup® (a Richmond, VA brand)
• 1-½ oz. Cirrus Vodka (a Richmond, VA brand)
• Club soda

Pour all ingredients except club soda into a shaker with ice. Mix well. Strain into tall glass with ice. Top off with club soda.

Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.

Mint-Kissed Ice Cream

Contrbuted by Mallory Simmons, of Glen Allen, VA

• 2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 2 cups milk
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 2 cups Spearmint kiss®
• 2 eggs

Heat the cream and milk in a saucepan over low heat until mixture reaches a simmer. While heating, mix eggs and sugar in a separate bowl. Once cream is simmering around the edges of the pan, slowly add the egg and sugar mixture, whisking constantly so the eggs are tempered by the heated milk, but not cooked by it. Make sure mixture remains below 185 degrees.

Stir in Spearmint kiss® with a spoon. Once you can run your finger along the back of the spoon and it leaves a clean trail (nappe), you are ready to remove the mixture from the heat.

Strain the mixture into a bowl. Cover and place in the refrigerator until the mixture is chilled, at least 6 hours but ideally overnight. Strain once more, and then process in an ice cream machine according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Store ice cream in an airtight container in the freezer for several hours before serving. This will harden the mixture a bit.

Kiss of Death

• 1-1/2 oz. Spearmint kiss®
• 1 oz. BLOOD orange juice
• 1 oz. quality tequila
  (Recommended: MUERTO Tequila
• 3 fresh cranberries
  (Recommended: Lounge Attire Premium Cocktail Cranberries)

Blend first three ingredients in a shaker with ice. Strain into chilled martini glass. Use cranberries as festive garnish to mimic droplets of blood.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!
Download recipe

Kiss of Death (by Chocolate)

• 1/2 oz. Spearmint kiss®
• 1 oz. Crème de Cacao
• 1 oz. quality vodka
  (Recommended: Spirits of the Blue Ridge
• 2 fresh cranberries
  (Recommended: Lounge Attire Premium Cocktail Cranberries)

Blend first three ingredients in a shaker with ice. Strain into chilled glass. Use cranberries as festive garnish to mimic droplets of blood.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!
Download recipe

Mint-Kissed Whipped Cream

• 1 cup whipping cream
• ¼ cup Spearmint kiss®

For every 1 cup of whipping cream, add ¼ cup
Spearmint kiss®. Simply whip cream at least 5 minutes
until light and fluffy. Slowly drizzle in Spearmint kiss®
while continuing to blend. Use as a topping for cake, in hot
chocolate, or on fresh fruit.

Mint-Kissed Lemon Cake

• 1 loaf lemon pound cake (or chocolate cake)
• ¼ cup Spearmint kiss®

Using a pastry brush, spread Spearmint kiss® on
top of the cake as a glaze for additional moistness
and a fresh kick.

Mint-Kissed Summer Fruit

• 1 cup of your favorite berries
  strawberries, blueberries, raspberries
• ¼ cup Spearmint kiss®
Simply drizzle Spearmint kiss® over the berries
and let them soak in the delicious, sweet spearmint goodness.

For additional pizazz, add a spoon of Mint-kissed Whipped Cream.

The Dogwood

• 1 oz. quality vodka
• 1 oz. Firefly Sweet Tea vodka
• 2 splashes St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur
• 2 splashes lemonade
• 1 oz. Spearmint kiss®
• Club soda

Pour all ingredients except club soda into a shaker with ice. Mix well. Strain into tall glass with ice. Top off with club soda.

Garnish with a slice of lemon and a sprig of mint.

Contributed by:
Beth Bles, Manager
Kitchen 64 Restaurant
3336 N. Boulevard
Richmond, VA 23230

Spearmint-Kissed Hot Chocolate

• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 pinch salt
• 1/3 cup boiling water
• 3-½ cups milk
• ½ cup half & half
• 2 oz. Spearmint kiss® (more or less to taste)

Combine the cocoa and pinch of salt in a saucepan. Blend in the boiling water. Bring this mixture to a slow boil wihle stirring. Simmer and stir over low heat for about 2 minutes.

Stir in 3-½ cups milk and heat until very hot (do not boil). Remove from heat and add Spearmint kiss®. Divide between 4 mugs. Add half & half to each mug to cool it to drinking temperature.

For a more decadent result, top each mug with 1 — 2 tablespoons of Spearmint-kissed Whipped Cream.

Mint-Kissed Italian Soda

• Sparkling mineral water
• Spearmint kiss® (to taste)

Pour both ingredients in a tall glass with ice.

Mint-Kissed Southern Tea

• 1 pitcher freshly-brewed tea
• Spearmint kiss® (to taste0
  Recommended: ½ cup/per pitcher

Pour both ingredients into a pitcher.
Add ice and stir.

Mint-Kissed Watermelon Martinis

• 1 cup watermelon, cubed
• 2 oz. Spearmint kiss®
• 1 oz. freshly-squeezed lime juice (about 2 limes)
• 6 oz. quality vodka

Liquify all ingredients (except vodka) in a blender. Strain
purée and pour liquid into a shaker with ice. Add vodka
and blend well. Strain into 4 chilled martini glasses.

Garnish with spearmint leaves or slices of lime.

Strawberry Mint-Kissed Margaritas

• ½ cup fresh strawberries (approx. 10, average-sized)
• 1 oz. freshly-squeezed lime juice (about 2 limes)
• 1 oz. quality triple sec
• ½ cup Spearmint kiss®
• 1 cup quality tequila
• 2 cups crushed ice

Pour all ingredients (except ice) in a blender and purée until
smooth. Add crushed ice and blend briefly, making sure ice
doesn't melt. Pour into 4 margarita glasses.

Garnish with spearmint leaves or slices of lime.

Mint-Kissed Raspberry Bellinis

• 4 oz. Spearmint kiss®
• 2 cups fresh raspberries
• 2 oz. freshly-squeezed lime juice (about 4 limes)
• 1 bottle prosecco or champagne

Purée first 3 ingredients in a blender until smooth.
Fill 6 champagne flutes with 1 part purée, 2 parts
prosecco or champagne.

Garnish with spearmint leaves.