Crystal Light Liquid Cocktails

If you know anything about, me, you certainly know of my passion for a well-crafted cocktail, but it’s quite unlikely you know of my weakness for a certain non-alcoholic drink mixer: none other than the fabled Crystal Light.  And that’s why I was so excited when Crystal Light came to me with a new product, Crystal Light Liquid, and asked me to design a line of alcoholic cocktails based around it.  It’s great when two of your favorite things come together like that!

Now, there was a bit of a challenge to this, and one well worth undertaking… You see, in a cocktail with alcohol using a mere mortal fruit juice, like cranberry or orange, you can rely on that juice to take up a good portion of the cocktail in order to provide the desired flavor.  But with Crystal Light Liquid, a single squeeze from the bottle – less than a teaspoon – was all it took.  Now I’m all for a good strong drink, but seven ounces of vodka in a glass with a single squeeze of flavor is, shall we say, a bit intense – this Crystal Liquid is superhuman stuff!  So, to tame down the alcohol content a bit, I looked into additional fruits and fruit juices that would compliment the Crystal Light Liquid flavors and alcohols in each cocktail.  And while one of Crystal Light’s strengths is its potent sweetness, when mixing with alcohol, sometimes you want to balance things a bit.  So, this meant using acids, generally citrus juices, to finish off the cocktails.

And so, with great delight, I share with you below six of Crystal Light Liquid cocktails I created.  And if you’re looking for something with flavor and flair, but without the alcohol, have a look at 6 virgin cocktails (click on ‘mixology’) I created that still have that classic Crystal Light kick.

BLTea

You don’t have to be from Kentucky to enjoy this fresh twist on a southern classic. Kick off your shoes with this sunny afternoon sensation on ice!

Ingredients:

1 squeeze Crystal Light Iced Tea
4oz bourbon
1/2 oz fresh lime juice
Fresh lemon                                                                 (makes 2 servings)

Method:

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice
Add Crystal Light Iced Tea, bourbon, and fresh lemon juice
Shake vigorously for 30 seconds

To Serve:

Pour over ice in a rocks glass
Garnish with a slice of fresh lemon and enjoy!

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Peach Bellini

Brunch time with the girls but don’t feel like getting dressed yet?  Make the magic happen at home with this dazzling peach bellini.

Ingredients:

1 squeeze Crystal Light Peach Bellini
5 oz sparkling wine (such as Cava or prosecco)
2 oz peach juice or nectar
2 tbsp fresh diced peach

Method:

Add Crystal Light Peach Bellini to a Champagne flute
Add peach juice or nectar and fresh diced peach
Top with sparkling wine

To Serve:

Make a sassy toast, look someone in the eye,
and enjoy!

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Pomtini

Shake up the party with this decadent cocktail that will have them all drinking out of the ‘pom’ of your hand!

Ingredients:

1 squeeze Crystal Light Pomtini
2 oz vodka
1 oz orange liqueur
1 oz fresh lime juice
Fresh orange or strawberry

Method:

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice
Add Crystal Light Pomtini, vodka, and lime juice
Shake vigorously for 30 seconds

To Serve:

Pour into a martini glass
Garnish with orange or strawberry and enjoy!

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Strawberry Lemonade Gin Spritzer

Be a smash hit at the tennis courts when you serve up this dangerously flirtatious fruity gin spritzer – advantage, you!

Ingredients:

1 squeeze Crystal Light Strawberry Lemonade
2 oz gin
1 oz fresh lime juice
Fresh Lime
Club Soda

Method:

Fill a rocks glass with ice
Add Crystal Light Strawberry Lemonade, gin, and fresh lime juice
Top with club soda

To Serve:

Garnish with a slice of fresh lime and enjoy!

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Mango Passionfruit Mojito

When the party’s getting hot, stay cool with this ultra-refreshing cocktail that dances to a Latin beat.

Ingredients:

2 squeezes Crystal Light Mango Passionfruit
2 oz rum
¾  oz lime juice
4 sprigs fresh mint
2 tbsp diced fresh mango
Club Soda

Method:

Muddle fresh mint with Crystal Light
Strawberry Lemonade in a highball glass
Add diced fresh mango
Fill remainder of glass with ice
Add rum and lime juice
Top with club soda

To Serve:

Take a sip and get out on that dance floor – Salud!

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Berry Rum Punch

Ingredients:

6 squeezes Crystal Light Blueberry Raspberry
12 oz rum
18 oz orange juice
9 oz grapefruit juice
1 cup fresh blueberries
1 cup fresh raspberries
1 cup sliced fresh strawberries                               (makes 6 servings)

Method:

Add Crystal Light Blueberry Raspberry, rum, orange juice
and grapefruit juice to a punch bowl
Add fresh blueberries, raspberries, and sliced strawberries

To Serve:

Pour into rocks or punch glasses and enjoy!