The Hermione Granger Cocktail.

Sharing one of my favorite cocktails to date, The Hermione Granger Cocktail. Today I’m bringing back Harry Potter inspired cocktails with this raspberry rosemary shrub. Fresh raspberries and sweet raspberry jam, smashed together with rosemary, lemon, apple cider vinegar, vodka, and fizzy sparkling water. This makes for a simple and quick Harry Potter themed cocktail. A sweet lemon rose sugar lined rim is the perfect sweet touch that leaves everyone wanting more.

I’m so excited because today I am bringing back the Harry Potter themed cocktails. If you’ve been following for a while, you know that our fall Cocktail Saturday series always includes a Harry Potter inspired drink or two. I would normally reserve a Harry Potter cocktail for the fall, as I see these drinks as “spooky” cocktails that are most fitting for moody autumn days and Halloween parties.

But times are different these days and life in quarantine has left many of us with a good amount of free time on our hands. Some of us are cooking like crazy. Some binge-watching Netflix. And others are re-reading and or re-watching the Harry Potter series from start to finish. When many of you messaged me saying you’ve been diving back into Harry Potter, I was one, jealous because the sound of a Harry Potter movie watching marathon sounds like the perfect way to spend a weekend. And two, I was excited!! I love so much that I’m not the only Harry Potter loving freak out in the world and that so many of you love the series too.

So…then came my idea.

If many of us are revisiting the series during our time at home, why not enjoy a Harry Potter marathon movie night with a Harry Potter inspired cocktail in hand.

Enter the Harry Potter Cocktail Saturday…in the middle of May.

I am wondering…should I make this a series? Do you need more Harry Potter cocktails in these quarantine times? Please let me know. Until let then, here are the details on this sweet vodka shrub inspired by Hermione Granger.

The inspiration

If you’ve read the Harry Potter series or seen the movies, you know that Hermione Granger is the brightest wizard of her age. She’s a leader, beyond clever, the hardest worker, and her natural talents allow her to stand out. She’s sweet and kind-hearted, but don’t let that fool you, she’s stronger and quicker on her feet than anyone else.

When dreaming up her cocktail, I knew I wanted it to be something sweet and light that highlights her intelligence and thoughtfulness towards others. But I also wanted it to reflect on her strength.

Enter this raspberry rosemary vodka shrub. It has a deep red color that shows Hermione’s boldness and strength…red is said to show strength and confidence. But it also has sweet berries and roses that reflect her compassion.

It’s pretty, it’s perfectly sweet, and a little bubbly too. Just like Hermione herself. Cheesy, but it fits, right?

To make the Hermione Granger cocktail…

It’s simple and easy.

You need a few things. Raspberries for one, fresh rosemary (but you could also do without if you don’t have), lemons, jam, apple cider vinegar (which might seem off, but trust me), vodka (but tequila is nice too), and sparkling water.

Oh, and sugar, lemon, plus dried edible rose petals for the rim, if you’d like…and yes, you’d like.

First, start with the sweet lemon lined rim. It’s simply lemon zest, dried rose petals, and a pinch of granulated sugar mixed together. It adds such a sweet and lemony touch to each drink.

Next, find yourself a cocktail shaker or even just a mason jar. Muddle together the berries, rosemary, and fresh lemon juice until those berries are all smashed down. Muddling the berries with the rosemary infuses the rosemary flavor into the drink in a subtle, non-overpowering way.

Now, add the raspberry jam. This creates an intense, much more concentrated berry flavor. I love marrying fresh berries and sweet jam together. Add the apple cider vinegar, and vodka, and then shake, shake, shake.

Strain the drink into your glass and top off with sparkling water for a touch of fizz. Easy and perfect.

My Saturday suggestion?

Since we’re all at home this weekend, let’s plan that Harry Potter movie marathon. It’s the ideal weekend at home when you really have nowhere to go. Soo…

Start with The Hermione Granger cocktail…of course. Then add a little dinner. Serve up something fun like coconut popcorn chicken or a quick-cooking Thai black pepper chicken and garlic noodles. Oh, but before anything else, you should really make a fun dessert. Specifically, something Harry Potter themed like this Forbidden Forest Chocolate Butterbeer Cake.

And with that, I’m leaving you with one of my favorite HP quotes that feels very fitting for the times we are currently in. “But you know, happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light,” – Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

Looking for other Harry Potter cocktails? Here are my favorites from year’s past. 

The Golden Snitch Cocktail

The Half Blood Prince Cocktail

Death Eater Negroni

Lastly, if you make the Hermione Granger cocktail, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!