TAMPA, Fla. — Bartender Derek Shaffer loves his job at CW's Gin Joint in Tampa.
"Serving here definitely helped build a great foundation," he says, "and I had some great mentors behind the bar."
What You Need To Know
- Mixing a craft cocktail at home makes a great Mother's Day gift
- These two recipes from bartender Derek Shaffer are tasty and versatile
Of course, getting to try out new flavor combinations and creating new drinks is both the real fun and the real payoff, so Shaffer was happy to concoct a couple of seasonal, easy-to-make takes on some beloved classics for Mother's Day: Elderflowers for Mom and Bramble in Bed.
While he created these cocktails using gin, there are no hard-and-fast rules when it comes to making a beverage fit the target demographic.
"They're very versatile," he says. "If your mom doesn't drink gin, you can use vodka."
Shaffer encourages amateur mixologists to play around to find a satisfying combination of the ingredients—after all, creating a memorable experience for Mom on her special day is what it's all about.
ELDERFLOWERS FOR MOM
1/2 oz. fresh-squeezed lemon juice
1/2 oz. simple syrup
1/4 oz. elderflower liqueur
1 oz. dry gin
Pour ingredients over ice and shake, then pour into chilled glass. Top with Champagne or similar sparkling wine.
BRAMBLE IN BED
3/4 oz. fresh-squeezed lemon juice
1/2 oz. simple syrup
2 oz. gin
Pour ingredients over ice and shake, then pour into chilled glass. Top with 3/4 oz. blackberry liqueur or muddled fresh blackberries.