We are so excited to share this super versatile, Western-Slope-Inspired cocktail! It is the ultimate transitional cocktail for these Indian-Summer-not-quite-fall-yet days. Drawing inspiration from fruits that love to mix seasons, this Colorado cocktail is easy to make and a great crowd pleaser for your fall gatherings!

Western Slope Mash Up

1. Pick your poison. We prefer this one with bourbon but think it would work perfectly with vodka as well. If you are throwing a party let the guests pick their fave.

2. Slice your fruit. We went with peaches from Big B’s, but this recipe will work great with apples, raspberries, plums, apricots, pears, etc. Don’t be afraid to experiment; just about any fall fruit (or combo) will do the trick.

3. Poor 2 oz of bourbon or vodka into a glass filled with ice.

4. Drop in your fruit.

5. Top with mint, lavender, honey drizzle, and seltzer of choice (we went with orange). You can do all of the above or pick your favorite combo and mix and match. We got our culinary lavender from Lamborn Mountain Farmstead.

Here’s the thing y’all: this cocktail can be as basic or fancy as you like!

Want to step it up a notch? Just a few modifications will make this great cocktail your new FAVORITE cocktail!

Here’s how to level this cocktail up:

Go with a nicer bourbon or vodka. Next time you’re in Acme, be sure to let us know what your go-to is and ask us for the next step up. The secret to an amazing cocktail is to start with amazing ingredients.

Next, after you slice your fruit go ahead and muddle it. Yep, we just went there and no you don’t have to have a mortar and pestle or a muddler (but they do work well). A bowl and spoon or fork will work just fine.

Now here is the real icing on the cake - creating a sugar lavender rim! We are going to skip the lime and use a slice of fruit to wet the rim, then dip and spin your glass into a bowl of Sugar in the Raw with a sprinkle of that culinary lavender mixed in. Now add your ice, muddled fruit, booze, and top with your flavored soda water, mint, and 1-2 pieces of whole fruit, and be prepared to wow your taste buds and your guests!

If you make your own spin on this recipe we’d love to hear about it. Tag us on IG at @acmeliquorstore .