Covers & Cocktails: Ortega Key

Last time I checked, it was supposed to be summer in the States. Admittedly, I hate summer, but I can also understand the frustration of wanting great sunny weather and it just raining the whole time. If you’re in an area where the weather can’t quite figure its shit out, this drink is for you! Regardless of the temps and conditions outside, hopefully this will make you feel like you’re sitting on a warm beach.

June’s cocktail is inspired by Kingdom of Exiles by Maxym M. Martineau! I reviewed this new fantasy romance earlier this week and found it to be really fun. A good portion of the book is set in Ortega Key, a fictional beach town with a few islands off its coast. I loved it and I really wanted to replicate both the setting and the enjoyment I had while reading.

Kingdom of Exiles
A | BN | K | AB
The Ortega Bay cocktail is essentially a boozy, tropical blue slush. Perfect for hot weather or just trying to engage in some wish fulfillment if the sun doesn’t want to cooperate. I ran into the author at Book Lover’s Con this year and picked her brain about her favorite alcohol. She’s currently not doing much drinking at the moment, as she’s pregnant (Congratulations!), but she suggested rum. Rum is always a great base for a beach drink.

Aside from the rum, I wanted to increase some of the tropical flavors but also mirror the brilliant blue shade on the cover. To do this, I used blue curaçao, where a little goes a long way if you’re looking for a blue-colored drink. I also added pineapple juice. I love pineapple juice, but I have some crappy fruit allergies so I can only enjoy certain fruits in small doses. If I get too carried away, my tongue gets incredibly itchy and it’s no fun.

I did want to add a “magical” element to the drink by way of Pop Rocks. I think the crackle and pop would have been a nice surprise dusted onto the rim of the glass. However, I did my shopping at Whole Foods this time and Pop Rocks is definitely not an item they carry.

The drink is refreshing and reminds me of an adult snow cone or shaved ice. The pineapple juices tempers the bite of the alcohol. I also think it has a really customizable base: rum + fruit juice of your choice + plus an additional alcohol for color.

Ingredients for the Ortega Key cocktail

Shopping list:
Ice
Rum
Blue curaçao
Pineapple juice

Proportions:
2 cups of ice
3 oz. of rum.
4 oz. pineapple juice
2 oz. blue curaçao

Directions:

  1. A blender is needed!
  2. Put everything in that sucker and blend until incorporated and somewhat smooth.
  3. Pour into glass.
  4. Garnish with a pineapple slice or funky little umbrella.

Modifications and notes:

  • I put ice on the shopping list because relying on the mystery of an ice tray is always a crap shoot. Is it going to be full? Or are three cubes left?
  • If you wanted to increase the tropical flavors, Malibu coconut rum is a good substitution for regular rum.
  • Bummed about not being able to find Pop Rocks, but if you happen to give them a try with this drink, let me know how it goes!
  • As I said before, this allows for a variety of flavors. There are bright green apple liqueurs! You can use grenadine for a red version. Have fun!
  • Want more fruit flavors? Blend in some frozen fruit!
  • I also want to apologize for requiring the use of a blender. I hate using a blender. There’s something about the noise that just bothers me to know end. But I want you to know I’m willing to suffer for my art.

A blue slush cocktail in a martini glass with a pineapple ring

Cheers!

Comments are Closed

  1. Georgina says:

    Sounds delightful Amanda, sorry you’re missing your sunshine we seem to have got it in Uk instead! Wish we could divert some for you, just not used to that degree of heat you understand ,it’s melting the ice in my Pimms.

  2. DonnaMarie says:

    I have a frat party sized bottle of Bacardi at home, so I can always use a new rum drink recipe. It’s going to be in the 90s tomorrow, and I had been planning a pitcher of mojitos because I have a bumper crop of mint. I’m sure it will make a fine garnish for a fruity cocktail.

  3. Margaret says:

    PJ over at Romance Dish loved Kingdom of Exiles as well. I keep having to adjust the top peak of my to-be-read mountain! But I think I’ll just stick with my ice tea or rosé, even though your drink sounds interesting:)

  4. Maureen says:

    We are warm and sunshiney up in Alaska, but we have terrible forest fires going. The air quality is so bad we can’t open the windows, but of course we don’t have air conditioning-so it is really warm in the house. We picked up a few little portable air coolers, and I think they are also supposed to purify the air, so that is a good thing.

    Here is hoping everyone who wants sunshine gets some! We are hoping for rain.

  5. Joy says:

    I don’t really care for the particular orange flavor of blue curacao and can’t imagine making enough mixed drinks to use up a bottle…but the blue color is so pretty.
    So…I looked up what made blue curacao blue and found out it is just dyed using a common food coloring. Boo,hiss. I was hoping it was some exotic tropical flower but I now know that I can take another clear liqueur and dye it blue, re-bottle it and make lots of pretty blue cocktails. Who knew.

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