I’m taking part in this month’s Mixology Monday – hosted by Hobston’s Choice

I am thrilled to be one of the 10 finalists for the Tales of the Cocktail – cocktail competition!The challenge? To make a “tikified” Planter’s Punch.

I love tiki drinks – and Pimm’s …and raspberries! So after shaking up a few dozen concoctions, I finalized my entry with a Planters Punch “Berry Cup” … my “Big Easy” twist on Planters Punch.

Author, expert and cocktail judge Jeff Berry said: “Sampling from over 150 of these creative, complex, forward-thinking, often delicious, was pure pleasure, but choosing only 10 was no easy task — there were just too many good ones. Often it came down to the originality of the garnish, or the use of an unexpected ingredient that harmonized particularly well.  But I can confidently say that if I saw these 10 finalists on the cocktail menu of a tiki bar, I would never leave.”

The other finalist’s recipes are online at Tales of the Cocktail – and the winner will be announced on March 31, 2010. Best of luck to us all!!

Planter’s Punch “Berry Cup”

Makes 1 cocktail

5 Driscol fresh raspberries
1 oz 10 Cane Rum
3/4 oz Sailor Jerry Rum
1/2 oz Orgeat Syrup
1/2 oz Pimm’s
1 dash Peychoud’s Bitters

Garnish: long thin cucumber curl, raspberry on a pick

Drop raspberries into pint glass. Measure in ingredients. Fill with ice. Cap and shake vigorously. Line a collins glass with a long very thin slice of cucumber (cut from the mandolin as shown). Pour into glass and garnish.

Recipe submitted by Kathy Casey for Tales of the Cocktail – cocktail competition.

***Checkout Hobson’s Choice for a great cocktail roundup for this month’s Mixology Monday, including my very own Planter’s Punch “Berry Cup” (in the Tropical section)!