5 Amazing Cold Brew Tea Cocktails

When craft bourbon and small batch vodka meet artisan tea, beautiful (and tasty) tea cocktails happen. Shortly after we discovered smoked sugar and blended it to make our Bourbon Smoked White tea, the light bulb went off that craft tea cocktails would be a natural next step. 

We spent this past weekend doing our fair share of R&D to perfect some recipes and methods for tea cocktails. Luckily we could still take a clear, in-focus photo of the process. There are a few methods in creating tea cocktails and since it's still not cool out, we decided to focus on the cold brew method and make iced beverages. Our next iteration will likely be hot toddies. 

How to Flavor Bourbon and Vodka with Tea

Gather all of the following:

• One 750 mL bottle of your favorite bourbon (we used Bulleit)
• One 750 mL bottle of your favorite unflavored vodka (we used Banyan Reserve, a new St Pete local)
• One pouch of Embrew Lavender Chamomile Kick herbal tea
• One pouch of Embrew Bourbon Smoked White tea
• Rocks Glasses (one for each drinker)
• Whiskey stones (4-5 per glass)
• Two Mason jars with lids

Method 1: Quick Steep by the Glass

1. Pour three fingers of bourbon into each glass along with one Bourbon Smoked White tea bag.
2. Pour three fingers of vodka into each glass along with one Lavender Chamomile Kick tea bag.
3. Let steep for 10-15 minutes and remove bag. 
4. Your liquor has now been flavored and can be enjoyed straight or blended into tea cocktails (see recipes below).

Method 2: Overnight Steep in Full Liquor Bottles

1. Pour entire 750mL bottle of bourbon into an 800mL Mason jar and add two Bourbon Smoked White tea bags. 
2. Pour entire 750mL bottle of vodka into an 800mL Mason jar and add two Lavender Chamomile Kick herbal tea bags. 
3. Let steep overnight at room temperature and then remove bags.
4. Your liquor has now been flavored and can be enjoyed straight or blended into tea cocktails (see recipes below).

 5 Of The Best Recipes for Craft Tea Cocktails

Spicy Lavender Chamomile Vodka Spritzer

• 2oz of Lavender Chamomile Kick infused Vodka
• 6-8oz of club soda
• Squeeze of fresh lemon wedge
• Garnish with curled lemon zest

Lavender Chamomile Limonada with a Kick

• 2oz of Lavender Chamomile Kick infused Vodka
• 6-8oz Organic Lemonade
• Garnish with dried chili pepper

Smoked Bourbon Tea Cocktail with Rosemary

• 2oz of Bourbon Smoked White tea infused bourbon
• 6-8oz of club soda
• Garnish with rosemary sprig

White Tea Bourbon and Ginger

• 2oz of Bourbon Smoked White tea infused bourbon
• 6-8oz of a good Ginger Beer
• Squeeze of fresh lime wedge
• Garnish with curled lime zest

Bourbon Tea Punch

• 2oz of Bourbon Smoked White tea infused bourbon
• 2oz soda water
• 2oz cranberry juice
• 2oz lemonade
• 3 drops of orange bitters
• Coat rim of glass with Bourbon Smoked Sugar
• Garnish with fresh cranberries and a cinnamon stick

Feeling inspired by our tea cocktails? Check out our other food and drink recipes that incorporate our favorite tea blends like this vegan eggnog infused with Cinnamon Oolong Chai. Or, use the same chai tea to make this decadent maple caramel sauce—whatever recipe you try, fair warning—it’ll probably become a household staple.