How to make these 4 iconic après-ski cocktails at home

Feb 23 2021, 10:12 pm

The only thing better than hitting the sunny, snow-covered slopes is knowing that at the end of the day you’ll be retreating to a cozy cafe for a round of après-ski cocktails.

While the ski season may look a little different this year, at the very least, we can still find comfort in knowing that the essence of those winter rendezvous can be recreated at home.

As crisp and pristine as the fresh-fallen snow, Banff Ice Summit Vodka knows how to mix an après-ski cocktail — in the way that only a Canadian vodka, distilled in the foothills of the Rockies can.

Distilled five times for smoothness and made using winter wheat, Alberta Distillers’ Summit Vodka is created with the surrounding wildlife and local farmers in mind. Its sustainability efforts make it as good for the environment as it is for fostering good times with good people.

So, the next time you want to be transported to a ski lodge bar without ever leaving your living room, bring out your inner mixologist with these wintry cocktail recipes.

Look out for Summit Vodka’s new cobalt-coloured, mountain encrusted bottles at your local liquor store — just in time for your next après-ski-themed happy hour.

Summit Mule

Summit Vodka/Brilynn Ferguson

There’s nothing quite like a spicy and refreshing Summit Mule to warm you from the inside after a day of skiing (or, you know, a walk around the block). Since you’re likely to have many of these ingredients in your fridge anyway, might as well jumble them into a tall glass, turn on the twinkly lights (or the yule log channel), and pretend you’re at the foot of the mountains.

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 oz. Summit Vodka
  • 1/2 oz. fresh lime juice
  • 4 parts ginger beer
  • Lime wedge to garnish

Method:

Fill a glass with ice and pour in the vodka and lime juice. Add ginger beer and gently swirl to mix. Garnish with a lime wedge.

The Summit Ski Lift

A steaming cup of hot cocoa is just what anyone needs after a day on the slopes. Why not kick it up a notch and add Summit Vodka to create a really decadent cocktail? Be sure to top this libation with icing sugar to really get that fresh powder feel.

Ingredients:

  • 1 oz. Summit Vodka
  • 5 oz. hot cocoa
  • 3/4 oz. heavy cream
  • 1/4 tsp vanilla extract (optional)

Method:

Combine all the ingredients and serve warm. Top with some whipped cream.

Summit Vodka Martini

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Few cocktails feel as suave and sophisticated as a martini. Since it’s a pretty spirit-forward cocktail, too, an extra-smooth spirit like Summit Vodka will ensure it’s not overpowering. Crystal clear with a subtly sweet aroma, all it takes is a dash of vermouth and some lemon zest to make this cocktail come alive.

Ingredients:

  • Ice
  • 2 1/2 oz. Summit Vodka
  • 1/2 oz. dry vermouth
  • 1 strip of lemon zest removed with a peeler (for garnish)

Method:

Optional: Freeze a martini glass 15 minutes before making the drink. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the vodka and vermouth, and shake until well chilled. Strain into a martini glass, garnish with an olive or lemon peel and serve.

Summit Vodka Gimlet

A match made in heaven for the notes of tropical fruit, green mango, and ripe papaya of the vodka, this fun twist on a gimlet feels like a refreshing wave. Its basil, cucumber, and lemonade ingredients bring out the luscious flavours in each and will give you the urge to do some winter sunbathing. For true après-ski vibes, work up a sweat before bundling up, popping on your shades, and propping yourself on an outdoor lounger — gimlet in-hand.

Ingredients:

  • 2 slices cucumber (quarter-inch slices)
  • 1 1/2 fresh basil leaves
  • 1 1/2 oz. Summit Vodka
  • 1 oz. lemonade
  • 1/4 oz. lime juice, freshly squeezed
  • 1 basil leaf (for garnish)

Method:

Muddle the cucumber and basil in a shaker. Add the vodka, lemonade, lime juice, and ice, and shake until well-chilled. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Garnish with a basil leaf.

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