Drink This Now: The 50/50 Cocktail at Mortar & Pestle

There is nothing quite like an icy cold treat on a hot summer day. And the 50/50 at Mortar & Pestle in San Mateo, California is a dreamy cocktail inspired by the beloved Creamsicle ice pop, will help keep you cool as summer continues to heat up.

Made with a refreshing mix of citrus vodka, Campari, OJ, cherry heering, egg white, lemon and vanilla bitters, the 50/50 is a total treat in a glass. “The 50/50 was inspired by the original orange creamsicle, the 50/50 bar (made with vanilla ice cream in the center and a hard orange flavored shell around it),” explains Danny Alcantara, the bartender at Mortar & Pestle’s San Mateo location, who concocted this boozy beverage.

“When making this cocktail,” he continues, “I wanted a call back to those blissful summer afternoons when school felt like a distant memory and the only responsibilities were deciding what kind of treat we wanted when the ice cream man came down the street playing that irresistible song.”

As for the preparation, Alcantara says, “We start with fresh squeezed orange juice and add to that a blend of cherries, orange, and vanilla bean to bring out that signature creamsicle flavor along with Gruven Vodka, St. George Citrus vodka and a touch of Campari.”

50/50 Cocktail recipe and preparation

1.5 oz. citrus vodka
.25 oz. Campari
2 oz orange juice
.5 oz. cherry heering
1 egg white
.75 oz. simple syrup
.5 oz. lemon
3 Dashes Bittercube Cherry Bark Vanilla Bitters

Combine all ingredients in tin set and long shake. Strain cocktail from large tin into small tin and dump out the ice. Combine tins again and mime shake until you hear the ice chips melt away. Double strain into ice-filled soda glass and finish with Bittercube Cherry Bark Vanilla Bitters.