Travel Inspired Drinks - Everything with Jam

Let’s face it, we would all probably like to be traveling to some far off place these days. My passport is always ready however it’s been a long time since I ventured far from my neighborhood. Travel memories are brought about by photos, of course, but also by food and drink.

So with that - I decided to create and share some drink recipes that remind me of trips I’ve taken over the years. Feel free to use any jams or fruit spreads you happen to have in the fridge and I’ll use mine. These recipes all yield one serving each.

My first trip to Peru was with my parents when I was just 12 years old. We traveled for a month all over South America and I always wanted to return as an adult. So when one of my daughters wanted to go after college graduation - I said YES!

We spent one day on a culinary tour and our midday stop was to a restaurant and bar where we took a class in making Ceviche and pisco sours. I cannot express how fresh everything tasted as we ate our way throughout Miraflores, Peru. This recipe is my take on the Pisco Sours we made that day, using my Meyer lemon curd in place of the simple syrup.

Paris is probably one of my favorite places to visit. The whole city is picturesque, flirty, historic and even the clouds in the sky seem happy to be floating above the Seine river. Need I say more? This elegant cocktail is easy to make and very refreshing.

One of my favorite places to visit in Washington is Pikes Place Market where you can purchase literally anything! Produce, seafood, bakeries, specialty stores and artisanal crafts all in one location right on the waterfront. I usually zone in on the produce and the fresh fruit that comes from the area.

One of the great things about the Pacific Northwest is the climate for berries. Blackberries and raspberries are everywhere. It's the bright, sweet and slightly tart, raspberries that were my inspiration for this next drink.

In January 2020, my daughters treated me to a trip to Maui for my birthday. We had the best time and enjoyed all that the island has to offer both scenically and culinarily. Hawaii and rum have a long history and the local bartenders are more than happy to mix up a refreshing tropical cocktail. I decided to take a rum punch and add a hint of spice. There are many jams, jellies, or even curds you could add to this recipe so use your imagination and go wild! I added my apricot pepper spread which has a jalapeno pepper in it. So many ways to go with this one. Enjoy.