cocktail recipes

Holiday Drink Recipes Guide| Featuring Festive Cocktails For Your Next Party

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It’s the most magical time of year and what better way to embrace the festive season than to create some cocktails and share with friends. This year, I am hosting a #Drinksgiving2019 party and will enjoy some laughs and libations with others! I have partnered with some spirits brands to give you some holiday drink recipes to enjoy this season! Take a look at these festive holiday cocktails to serve at your next party:

Welcome Cocktail | Prosecco DOC

In my opinion, having a cocktail ready for guest upon arrival sets the mood for a fun time! Welcome your guests and say hello holidays with a bubbly glass of Prosecco DOC. From Northeastern Italy, Prosecco DOC is a high quality sparkling wine that is versatile, well-balanced and dog-friendly. I served the Extra-Dry version with a splash of Chambord and named this drink #fancyanother, inspired by some fun cocktail napkins I picked up at Tuesday Morning store! You can enjoy Prosecco DOC by itself of course to cheers to the holidays! Find out more about these two brands @cadirajo.wines & @masottina_wines

Moscow Mule | Bedlam Vodka

Want a simple, tasty cocktail for your next party? Making a Moscow Mule is easy! Just squeeze a lime into a copper mug, add 2-3 ice cubes, then pour in Bedlam Vodka, which has been named as one of the Top 5 Vodkas in the world by Bartender Spirits Awards, and fill with cold ginger beer. Serve with a stirring rod for guests to mix themselves and you will have a highly refreshing cocktail!Read my past review of Bedlam Vodka and check out more Bedlam Vodka cocktail recipes >>here. No matter the occasion, make sure to #bringthebedlam to your next party!

East Indian Gimlet | Jaisalmer Gin

Rosemary-Garnished Cocktails provide visual flare to creative cocktails don’t you agree? So reserving a few sprigs from the dinner prep to pair with worldly cocktails was a great idea to wow our guests. We served Jaisalmer, an Indian gin with regal roots and explosive notes of coriander, and made this East Indian Gimlet recipe:

Ingredients:

1.5oz Jaisalmer Gin

1.5oz lime juice

.75oz Ginger Simple Syrup

¾ cup sugar

¼ cup chopped peeled ginger

.25oz St. Germain

2 sprigs fresh rosemary, for garnish

Method:

For the Ginger Simple Syrup: Bring sugar, ginger, and ¾ cup water to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring to dissolve sugar. Remove from heat and let sit 20 minutes. Strain into a jar, cover, and chill.

For the Cocktail:
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour in the gin, lime juice and ginger syrup. Shake until well chilled. Strain into cocktail glass. Garnish with fresh rosemary.

Prepare to be Empressed | Empress 1908

Here is another recipe featuring rosemary from a Canadian gin, Empress 1908, which is infused with Butterfly Pea Blossom. At first glance you may think it comes in a blue bottle but the gin is actually a beautiful indigo hue! Serve this and all of your guests will Prepare to be Empressed!

Ingredients:

1.5oz Empress 1908

.25oz Italicu

.5oz lime Juice

.5oz rosemary-infused simple syrup

Method:

Shake ingredients on ice, strain into a chilled coupe. Garnish with a sprig of rosemary.

Bees Knees | Empress 1908

My hubby found this simple, yet classic cocktail recipe made with just 3 ingredients called Bees Knees on Empress 1908‘s website and decided he wanted to try it next time ( but I’ll share recipe with you now). All you need is lemon, honey syrup and Empress 1908! Be sure to check out www.empressgin.com to discover more recipes and info about this gin.

Thanksgiving Ginger Diplo | Diplomatico Mantuano Rum

In this next recipe, a dainty sprig of rosemary is added to a Venezuelan rum, Diplomático, whose molasses is sourced from the foothills of the Andes, to make a wonderful and festive cocktail that is great to serve at Thanksgiving! Here’s what you need t make a Thanksgiving Ginger Diplo.

Ingredients:

1.5oz Diplomático Mantuano Rum

3oz ginger ale

Dash of cocoa bitters (optional)

Cranberries, for garnish

Rosemary, for garnish

Method:

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour in the rum, ginger ale and bitters. Shake until well chilled

Strain into rocks glass. Garnish with fresh rosemary and cranberries

SobeSavvy Tip: Want a festive drink you can serve right out of the bottle? Try Evan Williams Original Southern Egg Nog! It is made with Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Blended Whiskey, Rum and Brandy. This is a special drink you can pour into a punch bowl and garnish with nutmeg. Just hill and enjoy this easy and delicious egg nog for the holidays!

I am looking forward to shaking things up this weekend for my first #Drinksgiving2019 party! I’ll be featuring some of these fun,festive cocktails with friends and hope you will try any of these Holiday Drink recipes at your next gathering!

Cheers to the holidays! 🎉🍸🎉🍸🎉🍸

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#GiftIdeas|Giveaway @Root7products G & T Cocktail Set, Books from @DrinkLikeLadies @CherylCharming + @TopoDistillery Gin Recipes

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Tis the season of celebrations, traditions and holidays. Raise your hand, or glass if you enjoy a good cocktail to kick off the festivities? 🙋‍♀️ Well today I have something for you or the cocktail lover in your life!

I am hosting a #SobeSavvygiveaway for this really stunning gift set. It’s an amazing invention by leading drinkware brand Root7. It allows at home mixologists to make their own gin & tonic creations.

Root 7 G & Tea Cocktail Set | photo credit http://www.Root7.com

The Root 7 G & Tea set is a fun, stylish and uber-unique way to mix and serve a cocktail for two. With a spectacularly chic design it’s ideal for master mixologists and fashionistas.

Root 7 G & Tea Cocktail Set | photo credit http://www.Root7.com

The set is made of high-quality rainbow tinted borosilicate glass with a shimmering gold pattern, which enhances any table setting and balances beautifully with your lighting.

Root 7 G & Tea Cocktail Set | photo credit http://www.Root7.com

The teapot comes with a filter basket keeping fruity lumps and pips out of the tea cups. If gin isn’t your cup of tea, then it can be used with real tea, so little fingers up and drink in class. It’s also perfect for any other cocktail and certain to be the centerpiece of any gathering.

Root 7 G & Tea Cocktail Set | photo credit http://www.Root7.com

Available on Amazon.com, this is a wonderful gift idea for a cocktail/tea lover and makes a great hostess gift! Or maybe you want to keep for yourself to make a ‘hot toddy’ to keep you warm. Watch this YouTube video for more info about Root7’s G & Tea set:

If that doesn’t inspire the mixologist in you, then perhaps these next two items (that I am also including in this #SobeSavvygiveaway) will. Check out these cocktail books both written by women authors who are passionate about sharing their cocktail knowledge.

Drinking Like Ladies | website

What I like about this book is how it pays homage to the accomplishments of women in history while giving you creative cocktails crafted by female bartenders. Cheers to the authors, Kristen Amann and Misty Kalkofen who sought out to dismantle the patriarchy one cocktail at a time!

The Cocktail Companion |website

What I like about this book is the fun facts about each type of alcohol. For example did you know that Gin is just vodka after its first distilling? The herbs and botanicals are added during the second distilling. It is fair to say that gin is flavored vodka! The photography in this book is beautiful also.

We love to make cocktails at home using TOPO Organic Spirits, which is locally distilled in Chapel Hill,NC. Their award winning TOPO Piedmont Gin is made from 100% North Carolina wheat and well balanced, which makes it easy to drink.

Here are some G & Tea Time recipes from the website that I plan to make using TOPO Piedmont Gin :

Photo Credit Root7.com

GIN & TONIC
All you need to do is put the ice into the bottom of the teapot, fill with gin and tonic and then place ingredients into the filter compartment and leave to steep for 5 – 10 minutes depending on how strong you want the flavours to be.
Easy:
‘Gin’gle Bells
  • Earl Grey Tea – 1 bag (scoop)
  • Lemon Zest – 1/2 Lemon
  • Cinnamon Stick – 1 stick
  • Cloves – 6
  • Tonic- 500ml
  • Gin – 100ml
  • Orange Zest – 1/2 Orange
  • Ice – handful

Medium:

Gin & Apple Pie
  • Green Tea – 1 bag (scoop)
  • Tonka Beans – 5
  • Vanilla Pod – 1
  • Gin – 100ml
  • Apple – 1/2 cut into slices
  • Cinnamon – 1 Stick
  • Muscovado Sugar – 3 teaspoons
  • Tonic – 500ml
  • Ice – handful

Harder

Vesper Mar’tea’ni
  • Breakfast Tea – 1 bag (scoop)
  • Gin – 100ml
  • Lemon Grass – 1 stick
  • Lillet – 50ml
  • Hibiscus – 2 flowers
  • Lime Zest – 1/2 a lime
  • Tonic – 500ml
  • Ice – handful
    Follow @Root7products for more recipes and cocktail ideas.

    #DrinkDifferently

    Enter my #SobeSavvyGiveaway for your chance to win:

    • a G&Tea cocktail set from Root7

    • ‘Drinking Like Ladies’ book

    • ‘The Cocktail Companion’ book

    Comment below your favorite cocktail or tea! BONUS entry- Follow @SobeSavvy on IG. Winner will be chosen randomnly Dec.6, 2018 at noon. Good Luck!

    Celebrate #NationalVodkaDay with @BedlamVodka + Try this Fall #Vodka #CocktailRecipe

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    October is here?! Can you believe it. Seems like the summer has gone by so quickly, which is why I try to make the most of every season. Life in general is to be celebrated and I like making the most of any occasion.

    Today I am celebrating National Vodka Day and sharing with you a Fall cocktail recipe using Bedlam Vodka. Based in Durham, NC, Bedlam has a unique smooth flavor profile and was recently voted top 10 by USA Today as one of the 10 Best Craft Vodka Distilleries in the United States! A panel of 7 distinguished spirits experts from throughout the US nominated the final 10 distilleries and it was a proud moment to see my fave that is made here locally on the list! One taste and you will see why this vodka is an outstanding base for a myriad of different cocktails recipes as well as great served chilled by its self.

    Fall means shorter days and a chill in the air (although here in NC, we are forcasted for high 80s this week). It also means fans of cocktail culture get a chance to indulge in seasonal favorites. Now I do enjoy Bedlam all year long, but I like to make one of my favorite cocktails for friends in celebration of the arrival of Autumn.

    Hubby likes to mix things up for our patio chats and this time he created what I like to call “The Fall Harvest“. Served in traditional mule copper mug, the recipe is below:

    THE FALL HARVEST COCKTAIL INGREDIENTS

    Fresh Lime Juice
    Ginger Beer
    Apple Cider
    Bedlam Vodka
    half slice Fuji Apple on Top

    ●Shake ingredients and pour over ice filled Copper Mug and top w/apple

    It’s an awesome fall cocktail for the season! Check out more Bedlam Vodka cocktail recipes here: https://bedlamvodka.com/cocktails/

    Thank you for reading and please let me know in the comments below what cocktail will you be enjoying this Fall? Cheers🥃!

    #CheerstoMom Cocktail Recipe with @TOPOdistillery Organic Spiced Rum🍍Inspired by #DisneyDoleWhip

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    In celebration of warmer temps in NC and Mother’s Day weekend, I plan to host some Mom friends on my outdoor patio for a fun, ‘Cheers to Mom‘ celebration! I like to create speciality drinks when I entertain and to me, nothing says summer is near more that a good rum cocktail. I have been seeing all these Disney Dole Whip recipes and decided to try one of my own using NC’s own award winning organic spirits: TOPO Carolina Spiced Rum!

    The Spirit

    Admit it, the words “organic” and “liquor” do not usually exist in the same sentence. Not anymore. After being a fan and consumer of TOPO Organic Spirits [they offer a whiskey, vodka, gin and moonshine], I was excited when my friends at TOPO sent a sample of their new release, TOPO Organic Spiced Rum. After living in Miami for almost 20 years and attending several Rum festivals [like the Miami Rum Renaissance Festival], I became somewhat of a rum expert. dark rum, light rum, Haitian Rum, Jamaican rum, Puerto Rican rum. I have had them all at one time or the other. What I was not familiar with however was rum from North Carolina!

    TOPO has the distinction as the only Green + Certified distillery in the country. Environmentally friendly and 100 % organic ingredients go into their lines of spirits. I didn’t quite know what to expect. But after the initial smell and sip, I was in love!

    Per their website, the rum… “has flavors of the coastline: allspice, vanilla, orange peel, peppercorns, cinnamon and clove. It’s a marriage of the finest organic botanicals with an incredibly smooth rum. We make a tasty white rum and then use a mortar and pestle to grind spices to add more flavor. You can smell and taste the difference. “

    The Cocktail

    More than one of my Disney Social Media Mom friends [that I recently got to connect with at the Disney Social Media Moms Conference On The Road Celebration in Miami] has made me aware over the years of a special concoction they had enjoyed at one of the Walt Disney World Theme Parks called “Dole Whip”. It is sometimes in the form of a soft serve ice cream or as a non alcoholic beverage. However there are some places in the park that will serve this as a rum infused tropical cocktail, sort of like a grown up smoothie! I have not had one yet, but I am on a mission to get there soon to enjoy one or two for myself. Until then, I thought I would DIY my own Disney Dole Whip Rum drink and call it a ‘Cheers To Mom’ Cocktail.

    The Recipe

    🍍🍍🍍🍍🍍🍍🍍🍍🍍🍍🍍🍍🍍🍍🍍

    Dole Frozen Pineapple Chunks
    Vanilla Coconut Milk
    Topo Organic Spiced Rum 2 TBLS of White Granulated Sugar
    Ice Cubes

    🍍🍍🍍🍍🍍🍍🍍🍍🍍🍍🍍🍍🍍🍍🍍

    Blend the above in a blender at high speed for 30 seconds and sample. Adjust any ingredients to taste. I added a little more rum because well, more rum equals more fun! Top of with Whip Cream [optional] and enjoy!

    SobeSavvy Tip: Give the gift of TOPO for Mother’s Day!

    Known far and wide as one of the nations premier local breweries, plan a date and take Mom on a TOPO Distillery Tour at their Chapel Hill complex. When you are done, go upstairs to dine at their restaurant and patio bar, The Top Of The Hill, which offers great sunset views of Chapel Hill! You can also give your Mom a TOPO Gift Card or simply go to your local ABC, purchase her favorite TOPO Organic Spirits and box it up with love!

    HAVE YOU EVER TRIED ANY OF THE TOPO ORGANIC SPIRITS? HOW ABOUT A DISNEY DOLE WHIP? If not, here is your chance to enjoy the two together on your very own with the above Cheers to Mom cocktail recipe!

    Enjoy and Cheers to Moms everywhere! 🍍🍹🍍🍹🍍🍹🍍

    Need #Superbowl Sips for the Big Game? Try @Beetology #CocktailRecipes + @RoyalWineCorp🍷

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    Recently I learned about some handcrafted juice mixers from Beetology and a berry different Sangria by Joyvin and how they would be great game day drinks to serve on Superbowl Sunday. Although that day is known for beer, assorted dips and wings, it’s always a good idea to serve cocktails, mocktails or even wine for guests who are non-beer drinkers.

    Beetology blends are handcrafted from organic beets,veggies,fruits and offer versatile mixers that are good for you. Rich in antioxidents, Beetology packs vitamin C, iron, fiber, magnesium, and other nutrients essential for good health. Therefore you can enjoy the beet juice blends by themselves as mocktails or can be mixed into cool cocktails like the following refreshing recipes:

    Cocktail/Mocktail Super Bowl Recipes

    Beetology Zinger

    3 oz. Beetology Beet + Lemon + Ginger

    1.5 oz. Gin

    Candied ginger and lemon peel garnish

    Directions

    Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add Beetology and gin.

    Shake until chilled, strain and garnish with a lemon peel and candied ginger.

    Bourbon Beet-It

    3 oz. Beetology Beet+Cherry

    1.5 oz. Boondocks Bourbon

    1 dash bitters

    Spiced Cocktail Cherry (recipe below) or your favorite store bought maraschino cherries

    Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add Beetology and Boondocks Bourbon. Shake until chilled, strain and garnish with a cocktail cherry.

    Cocktail Cherry Recipe

    ½ cup sugar

    ½ cup Beetology Beet + Cherry

    1 stick cinnamon

    ¼ tsp. ground nutmeg

    Pinch of salt

    1 cup Boondocks Bourbon

    1 pound stemmed and pitted cherries

    Directions

    In medium saucepan, combine sugar, Beetology, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Bring to a low simmer, stirring until sugar is fully dissolved. Remove from heat and add bourbon, and stir to combine. Add cherries and stir until coated with syrup. Let cool to room temperature and then refrigerate before serving.

    Berry-Beet-a-rita

    3 oz. Beetology Beet + Berry

    2 oz. Silver Tequila

    ½ oz. lime juice

    Directions

    Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Add Beetology, lime juice and tequila. Shake vigorously for about 20 seconds, and serve in a glass with or without salt.

    Beety Bloody Mary

    4 oz. Beetology Beet + Veggie

    1/2 tsp. grated horseradish

    2 dashes Worcestershire sauce

    1 dash hot sauce (more if you want it extra spicy!)

    2 oz. LVOV Vodka

    Celery stalks for garnish

    Directions

    In a tall glass, add Beetology, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce, stir to combine. Add ice to fill the glass, LVOV vodka and stir. Garnish with celery stalk.

    Tropical Beet-a-colada

    4 oz. Beetology Beet + Tropical Fruit

    2 oz. coconut cream

    2 oz. dark rum

    2 oz. coconut rum

    1½ cups ice

    Pineapple slice for garnish

    Directions

    Put the ice, Beetology, coconut cream and rums into a blender. Blend until smooth and frosty. Pour the drink into 2 glasses and garnish with pineapple slices. Makes 2 drinks.

    Look for Beetology in the refrigerator section at health food, specialty, grocery, and kosher food markets in five varieties. For additional information about Beetology visit beetology.com.

    Joyvin Sangria, from Royal Wine, is another Superbowl Sip to serve for guests who aren’t into mixed drinks. It’s a crisp, satisfying sangria with just a touch of fizz to go with fresh citrus and berries. Garnish with a few pieces of fruit for a refreshing, light Super Bowl beverage sure to please game time guests. You can learn more about Royal Wine on FaceBook.com/RoyalWineCorp/, and instagram.com/royalwinecorp/, and twitter.com/royalwinecorp

    I hope you enjoy Superbowl Sunday and have a toast to your winning team with one of these cocktails! Thanks for reading and please leave a comment below …

    Which one of the above cocktail recipes from Beetology would you try? Have you tried any Royal Wine such as Joyvin Sangria before?