Olympic Spirits

Image by Benziger Family Winery

With the Olympic Games taking over prime time TV, we thought we'd offer a guide for those who might enjoy an alcoholic beverage with the television coverage.

To stay true to the choices normally associated with the host country, saying "Na zdrovya" (To Your Health) with vodka (think Stoli or Russian Standard) is appropriate. And since the Olympic Games started in ancient Greece, a nice bottle of Greek wine would also be fitting.

The rings are normally blue, black, red, yellow and green, on a white flag, so that at least one color of every nation's flag is included. So to really get into the spirit of the Games, drinks in those same colors are suggested. With an assist from Rachel Ray, here are some recipes:

Blue
Rim the glass with blue sugar
1 1/2 oz. vodka (Stoli or Russian Standard)
3/4 oz. orange liqueur, such as Triple Sec or Cointreau
3/4 oz. cranberry juice
1/2 oz. fresh lime juice
Combine the vodka, orange liqueur, cranberry juice and lime juice in a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice and shake vigorously for 20 seconds. Strain into a martini glass. Makes 1.

Yellow
 Rim the glass with Lemon Jell-o powder
2 oz. vodka (Stoli or Russian Standard)
1 oz. simple syrup
3/4 oz. fresh lemon juice
1/2 oz. Cointreau
Combine the vodka, simple syrup, lemon juice and Cointreau in a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice and shake vigorously for 20 seconds. Strain into a martini glass. Makes 1.

Black
Rim the glass with black salt

Make a margarita:
1 lime wedge, plus 3/4 oz. fresh lime juice
Ice
2 1/4 ounces Camarena  silver tequila
1 1/2 ounces triple sec
3/4 ounce Simple Syrup

Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice; add the lime juice, tequila, triple sec and Simple Syrup. Cover; shake vigorously until cold, about 15 seconds. Strain into the salt-rimmed glass and toss in the lime wedge. 

 

Green

Rim the glass with minced fresh mint & sugar 

Make a pineapple mojito (serves 8):

1 bunch fresh mint, stems discarded
2 limes, cut into 8 wedges
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup pineapple juice
1 cup canned crushed pineapple
1 cup Bacardi Silver Rum
4 cups ice cubes
1 cup club soda

In each of 8 highball glasses, crush together one-eighth of the mint leaves, 2 lime wedges and 1 tbsp. sugar. Stir in 2 tbsp. pineapple juice, 2 tbsp. crushed pineapple and 2 tbsp. rum until the sugar is dissolved. Add 1/2 cup ice cubes and a splash club soda into each glass. 

 

Red

Rim the glass with Old Bay 

3 oz vodka (Stoli or Russian Standard)
1 oz Noilly Prat Dry Vermouth
1/2 oz olive brine

Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker half-filled with cracked ice. Shake well. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass, garnish with an olive, and serve.

After all that effort, give yourself a Gold Medal and relax!