Cocktails You Can Make In Your Blender

A Vitamix vs. KitchenAid blend-down, and 3 frozen cocktails you can make at home

VITAMIX; KITCHENAID

VITAMIX BLENDERS spiked in popularity a few years ago along with the juicing trend, and they’ve been at the top of any foodie’s wish list since. KitchenAid recently released a high-powered competitor with 3.5 horsepower. We took both blenders—a Vitamix 780 (2.2 hp) and KitchenAid Pro Line—to Dogwood Southern Table + Bar, where bartender Brian Lorusso used whole fruits to create flavorful frozen cocktails and helped us determine a winner in the blender battle. (Blenders courtesy of Williams-Sonoma in SouthPark.)

BETTER BLENDER?
KitchenAid. The Vitamix felt somewhat clunky, while the new KitchenAid has a double-paned pitcher and spout for pouring. For drinks, the KitchenAid won in our test. The 3.5-horsepower motor could power through anything—including pineapple skins. 

PETER TAYLOR

PINEAPPLE MILK SHAKE
Makes three to four cocktails

⅓ pineapple, skin on, top and core removed, cut into large pieces
4 oz. cream
½ vanilla bean
4 turns of a pepper mill
6 oz. Zaya rum (can substitute other dark rum)
2 cups ice

Blend pineapple, cream, vanilla bean, and pepper until creamy; then add rum and ice. Garnish with pineapple wedge and leaf

STRAWBERRY MINT SOOTHER
Makes three to four cocktails

14 whole strawberries
8 sprigs mint
4 oz. simple syrup
6 oz. silver rum
2 cups ice
1 lime, peeled

Add ingredients to blender; blend until smooth. Garnish with fanned strawberry and mint.

NEGRONI SLUSHY
Makes three to four cocktails

3 oz. Doc Porter’s gin
3 oz. Carpano Antica (or other sweet vermouth)
3 oz. Campari
2 cups ice

Add ingredients to blender; blend until smooth. Garnish with orange peel.

This article appears in the September 2016 issue of Charlotte Magazine

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