Tea Time with Brandy: Spring Time Cocktails with Nielsen-Massey

Spring is a time for all sorts of things like weddings, flowers, gentle rain storms, and allergies.  Of all things spring means to Brandy, one certainly excites her more than the others, which is the ability to drink outside.  "There's nothing quite like relaxing in a garden or on a patio with a cool drink in your hand and sunlight on your face," as Brandy likes to say.


Brandy is especially fond of a good punch in the spring time (punch as in the drink, not a belt round the face).  Punches are easily made in single servings or large quantities, as their simple combinations of ingredients usually don't require a large amount of prep or math.  A good Edwardian punch is usually fruity in nature, but can often contain little surprises to the palate to keep the drinker coming back for more.

As the weather started to warm up ("Well, I suppose 45 degrees is warm for Chicago," Brandy reasoned), Brandy was struck with a desire for a nice glass of punch, so she began checking her cabinets for ideas.  When she came across a bottle of Nielsen-Massey Pure Almond Extract, she had an idea.  Brandy has always loved the combination of cherry and almond, and taking those flavors into a punch recipe could be just the thing to quench her thirst.  And so the Almond-Cherry Spritzer was born.

If you would like to try some of Nielsen-Massey's high quality Pure Almond Extract, Brandy will be giving one away to one lucky reader.  To enter, simply leave a comment and how to contact you on this post, on our Facebook page, Twitter page, or Instagram before Wednesday May 6th.

The Almond-Cherry Spritzer

2 parts vodka
1 part tart cherry juice
1 part sparkling lemonade
1 teaspoon Nielsen-Massey Almond Extract per serving
Marinated cherries for garnish

Combine vodka and cherry juice, stir gently.  Add in the almond extract and sparkling lemonade.  Serve over ice and garnish with cherries.

Optional Ideas

• Want more of an almond flavor than a cherry one? Add a splash of amaretto!
• Try freezing your cherries inside ice cubes for a pretty look and to keep the drink from becoming watered down.
• Leave out the vodka for a delicious non-alcoholic punch!

The writers of this blog were provided with products from Nielsen-Massey in order to facilitate the writing of this post.