Hey There,

Continuing with our theme for sharing black owned/founded brands for Black History month, today we are sharing a cocktail using 44º North Vodka. 44º North was founded by Ken Wyatt and Ron Zier in 2004, and was "designed to showcase Idaho agriculture and American craft distilling at its finest. The brand aims to create the “purest vodka possible” using 100% Idaho potatoes of Brundage winter wheat blended with Rocky Mountain Spring Water." We used their Mountain Huckleberry flavored vodka to pair with kiwi, mint leaves and blueberry and I have to say this is now my favorite cocktail!

Find 44º North, near you! https://44northvodka.com/#!/find

All month we will be sharing our cocktail recipes made with black owned brands paired with unexpected or strange fruit. We hope you enjoy! As always, if you make any of our drinks, take a picture and share them with us online! Instagram ---> @ staynfocusimages

This makes 2 drinks! Let's get started!

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Here's what you need:

For Garnish
2 Kiwi slices(skin on)
2-4 Bunches on mint leaves
6 Blueberries (3 to a cocktail pick)
 

For Drink
3 oz. 44º North Vodka (Mountain Huckleberry flavor)
2.5 oz. Midori
1.5 oz. Simple Syrup
1 oz. Fresh squeezed lime juice
8-10 Mint leaves
2-4 oz. Tonic water
 

You will also need, 2 Coup/Martini Glasses, Shakercup, Hawthorne Strainer, Pairing Knife, Fine Mesh Strainer, Muddler, Mixing Glass, 2 cocktail picks and ice.

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Let's Make the Garnish!

1. Set aside 2-4 bunches of mint leaves.
2. Skewer 3 blue berries onto a cocktail pick and set aside.
3. Create 2 think slices of kiwi, make a small slit from center of kiwi to the end and set aside with your blueberries and mint leaves.

Let's Make the Drink!

1. In your mixing glass add and muddle:
   • 1 Peeled and sliced kiwi
   • Lime Juice (1 oz.)
   • Simple Syrup (1.5 oz.)
   • Mint Leaves (8-10)
2.  In separate shaker cup add:
   • Ice
   • Midori (2.5 oz.)
   • Vodka (3 oz.)
   • Muddled mixture above
3. Shake vigorously for 20-30 seconds.
4. Using your hawthorne strainer and fine mesh strainer, double strain evenly between two coup/martini glasses.
5. Top with tonic water.
6. Garnish with your mint leaves, kiwi slices and blueberries.
7. Sip slow and enjoy!

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“Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.” 
—Booker T. Washington