The Best Summer Cocktail Using 21 Seeds Tequila

This post is going to show you step by step how to make a delicious Summer cocktail using 21 Seeds Valencia Orange Tequila!

21 Seeds Tequila is a female owned business that is relatively new. They pump out some of the greatest naturally infused tequila that I have ever tried!

Their goal is for their tequila to be smooth, refreshing, and full of natural flavor. Ever since I started ordering bottles for my old bar I fell in love! I immediately started to make creations using 21 Seeds as a base.

This recipe is an original Sweet Recipe of mine that I used to serve at the bar all the time! It is so delicious and perfect for a warm Summer day. Let’s get right into it! I call this :

“Rising Sun” 

What You Will Need

Alcohol:

The star of the show is going to be 21 Seeds Valencia Orange Tequila! The goal of the creators was definitely achieved because this is truly one of the most natural, light, and easy to sip tequilas I have ever tried. The flavor of the beautifully infused Valencia Oranges comes through so gracefully on the palate. The orange flavor lingers and you just can’t help but want to take another sip. Like I mentioned previously, I love that this is a female owned company! 21 Seeds has been wildly successful and I urge you to grab a bottle for yourself! They also have a grapefruit hibiscus infusion as well as a cucumber jalapeño infusion! I got my bottle at Total Wine and More but you can find this at Bevmo, Whole Foods, and some Grocery Stores! You definitely won’t be disappointed!

Next up we have the infamous Italian liqueur, Aperol! The mellowed cousin of Campari, this herbaceous liqueur is packed with flavor. This will give our Summer cocktail a bit of a bite as well as sticking to the orange flavored theme. Aperol is famously known for being a key ingredient in the Aperol Spritz, but it is such a fun ingredient to use in cocktails across the board. You can see it being used in cocktails such as the Naked and Famous, or a Paper Plane. Aperol is definitely a must have for your home bar! I got my bottle at Total Wine and More, but you can also find it at Bevmo, Grocery Stores, and Liquor Stores!

Lastly we will be using the French liqueur, Cointreau! This is a clear orange flavored liqueur that uses both the bitter and sweet peels of oranges to bring forth a powerful flavor. You can find cointreau being used in cocktails such as the Margarita! This liqueur will add some sweetness to our Summer cocktail and it definitely stays on track with the bright orange theme. I got my bottle at Total Wine and More, but you can also find this at Bevmo, Grocery Stores, or any Liquor Store!

Citrus and Other Ingredients:

For this Summer cocktail we will be using Fresh Orange Juice and Fresh Lemon Juice! That’s right we are only using fresh ingredients when it comes to our citrus! Using fresh fruit juices elevates a cocktail immediately. Once you switch over you will never be able to go back! You will be thanking yourself, and luckily it’s really easy to do!

In the photo above I am using my hand-pressed stainless steel citrus juicer. This thing is honestly the greatest purchase I have ever made! I have found most hand-pressed juicers to be hard to use, but this particular juicer is in a league of it’s own. There’s an ease with the squeeze, you can fit multiple pieces of fruit in at once, it has a pour spout, and there’s never ANY mess. I love being able to buy one orange, juice it right into my jigger, and then just eat the rest of it! This way I get a snack, and end up having no waste. You can check one out just like mine RIGHT HERE!

Next we will be needing just a bit of Simple Syrup! Just like in its name, simple syrup is easy to make! Better yet, it stays good in the fridge for about a month! If you plan to make cocktails often, or have a party coming up feel free to  make yourself a bigger batch. Simple syrups can range with its ratios depending on how sweet you want it, but we will be sticking to the classic ratio of 1:1. This means 1 part white sugar, to 1 part hot water.

• Measure out desired amount of water and put it in a pot on the stove top.
• Bring your water to a simmer/slight boil.
• Add in equal parts of white sugar.
• Reduce the heat and stir ingredients together.
• When you get a syrup like consistency pull off the heat.
• There you go! Easy!

I like to store my syrups and juices in glass bottles like the one pictured above. These are easy to use, easy to store, and add a professional aspect to your home bar. I found a really cool set on Amazon that comes with pour spouts, labels, and more! I’ll link it for you RIGHT HERE! Always remember to label and date your product so you’re only serving yourself and friends the best.

Bar Supplies:

First thing you will need is a shaker of sorts. I love to use a Boston Shaker! I love the range of motion I get, and the dilution with this shaker. It is also what I have always used in the bar! A boston shaker comes with a small tin and a large tin that you combine and seal to get a good shake. When you are shaking, your cocktail is diluting as well as growing in volume! If you want to check out a shaker just like mine you can do so RIGHT HERE!

The next tool that is essential is a Bar Jigger! Bar jiggers are how you measure the ingredients of your cocktail. You always want a cocktail to be consistent, beautiful, and perfectly balanced. You can attain that by using a bar jigger! Consistency is so important, especially when following a recipe. My jigger in the photo above ranges from 1/4 oz to 2 oz.   They have jiggers available to buy at most stores now, but if you want to check one out just like mine you can do so RIGHT HERE!

I will also mention that when I was just starting my bartending career, I used a jigger that was a lot more simplified. It had only one side, a pour spout, and very clear measurement lines. It really helped me gain my confidence and skills. I will link the exact jigger I used in my early days RIGHT HERE!

This Summer cocktail will require two different strainers. You will need a Hawthorne Strainer, and a Fine Mesh Cocktail Strainer. Firstly, a hawthorne strainer stop the big items from straining into your glassware such as the ice you are shaking with. A fine mesh cocktail strainer will catch any remaining slivers of ice, citrus flesh, or any other tiny ingredients. Using the hawthorne strainer and the fine mesh strainer in conjunction with each other is a technique called Double Straining. You almost always want to use this technique when you are serving a cocktail UP. Presentation is everything and double straining definitely gets you that clear, glossy sweet nectar you want to see.

I also must mention that you will need ICE. Lots of people have fridges with an ice dispenser which is perfect for you to use. Alas, if you do not have accessible fridge Ice, AKA ME, you will have to freeze your own! As you see above I use a silicone perfect ice cube tray. I will link an identical one that comes with a LID right HERE! I am lucky enough to have a cocktail store near me as well that  carries perfect ice in every size but that is not always the most affordable option. I would still recommend you check if any such stores exist near your location! Although a little more pricey, definitely worth it in quality!!!

I do recommend that if you are starting to create multiple cocktails at home, you should invest in your own personal little Bartending Kit. Most come with everything you will need as a beginner while others provide several items for more complex creations. I will put links to both a beginners set, and a more advanced set on Amazon below!

Beginners Kit : HERE

Advanced Kit : HERE.

Garnish:

The garnish for this cocktail is pretty simple! We will be using a lemon peel to express the cocktail, and also a lemon twist to garnish! Expressing your summer cocktail with a lemon peel releases oils, aromas, and flavor all over the top of your drink. You taste with your nose first, and spritzing fresh citrus on a drink is so inviting and refreshing.

You will want to have a Y-Peeler to create your peels. These are wide set peelers that will get you a nice thick cut. I will link the exact peeler I use RIGHT HERE! Remember to be careful! These are usually extremely sharp.

To express your cocktail you will hold your peel above your drink, and fold it in half so that the oils fall inside the glass. Then rub the peel around the rim of your glassware. You should be able to immediately smell the difference!

Let’s Build!