cocktails

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

Ā¾ cup sugar

Ā¼ cup chopped peeled ginger

.25oz St. Germain

2 sprigs fresh rosemary, for garnish

Method:

For the Ginger Simple Syrup: Bring sugar, ginger, and Ā¾ 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, DiplomĆ”tico, 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 DiplomƔtico 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! šŸŽ‰šŸøšŸŽ‰šŸøšŸŽ‰šŸø

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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? šŸ™‹ā€ā™€ļø 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. Itā€™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 itā€™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 isnā€™t your cup of tea, then it can be used with real tea, so little fingers up and drink in class. Itā€™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:

    ā€¢ a G&Tea cocktail set from Root7

    ā€¢ ‘Drinking Like Ladies’ book

    ā€¢ ‘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

    ā—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? CheersšŸ„ƒ!

    Need #Superbowl Sips for the Big Game? Try @Beetology #CocktailRecipes + @RoyalWineCorpšŸ·

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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

    Ā½ cup sugar

    Ā½ cup Beetology Beet + Cherry

    1 stick cinnamon

    Ā¼ 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

    Ā½ 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

    1Ā½ 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 arenā€™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?

    Throw a ladies only #HappyHour at home with #SXchachacha #tequila @SXLiquors #yourdrinksexier

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    DISCLAIMER: This is a sponsored post, however 100% of the opinions are my own. 
    When I hear the term ” Cha Cha Cha” , I think of dancing to a Cuban Mambo beat. Not anymore. Sx Liquors have teamed up with R&B sensation Trey Songz in promoting a line of their spirits. Check out his interview with Forbes Magazine as he explains why he wanted to partner with this brand

    Their SX Cha Cha Cha is a premium reposado Tequila. They blended it with touches of honey and lime. Last Friday I decided to throw a happy hour for some of my girlfriends at my house and serve some crafted cocktails to see what they thought about it. My guests also commented on how beautiful and sexy the bottle was ! 

    Makeup Artist @neelyglamstudios_mua ready for her closeup with SX ChaChaCha

    One of my hubby’s many talents includes bartending. He loves to take fresh ingredients and play around with recipes that make sure the base liquor remains the star. I cannot tell you the number of times I have ordered a cocktail, only to have my favorite liquor lost in some bizarre high fructose syrup concocotion.

    Throwing a happy hour can be simple as long as you stay on course. Happy hour does not equal dinner party. One or two appetizers in a casual stand up atmosphere with a signature spirit, beer or wine. Friday’s spirit was Sx Cha Cha Cha. I had some sweet & spicy wing bites and meatballs marinara sitting on our bar counter for guests to help themselves. Some billboard top twenty R&B streaming on my soundboard and voila ! Happy hour is all set.

    We started with a simple shot. Shots may be a frat or sorority favorite way to drink, but honestly a shot is where a liquor either sinks or swims. There is simply nowhere for it to hide. As Trey Songz hit song says, it was “Bottoms Up” time. The ladies agreed it was smooth and a touch sweet. ” Wow” ! was the most common reaction
    “Who wants a cocktail” ?, said our own personal happy hour “bartender”

    First up was a Paloma cocktail. A classic recipe of tequila, red grapefruit juice with fresh squeezed lime juice. It was a magical drink. So simple and pure. The Cha Cha Cha really mixed effortlessly with the grapefruit juice.

    Next up was what he called ” Strawberry Smash”. He muddled fresh strawberries with a little simple syrup. Put in the shaker with Cha Cha Cha, fresh lime juice , fresh squeezed juice from one orange and a teaspoon of grenadine. It was delish beyond description.
    I looked up and it was time for our guests to depart. A great time at happy hour. A great time with SX Cha Cha Cha .

    You can purchase SX ChaChaCha online at https://www.reservrbar.com/buysx and get ready to drink sexier! 

    #SobeSavvy .Com Celebrates #NationalRumPunchDay with @GubbaRum! #GubbaRum #CocktailRecipes #Rum

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    2PM Sunday Afternoon in Miami. 91 Degrees and I’m thirsty. Not for water and not for wine. I want something tropical. Something tropical with a punch. Like a Rum Punch. Lucky for me, Sunday was NATIONAL RUM PUNCH DAY ! It’s celebrated every year on the 20th of September. I needed a top shelf rum. I was in the mood for a white rum. With infused flavors of coconut. I went for my all time favorite. Gubba Rum Silver.http://gubbarum.com/rum/paradise-bay-silver/ It is an artisanal rum that they describe as “wicked smooth”. I couldn’t agree more. It’s made using pure (Agricultural) Organic Cane and Organic Coconut.

    My hubby and I strolled down to the bayside park to watch sailboats. Gubba Rum joined us as we sipped on a rum punch{or two} that we made using cranberry, orange and pineapple juices. The subtle coconut flavor profile of their Silver rum really makes this cocktail exceptional. Perfect drink. Perfect Place. Gubba Rum may not be the biggest name in the Rum world but they don’t seem to strive for that. But in my opinion {and it will be yours too !} they are the best.

    Get a bottle now and you too can have a “vacation in a glass” with Gubba Rum.

    Also try out these two recipes below :

    Sweet:
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    Tart:
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    @YardHouse Introduces #Beer #Cocktails! ~ #SummerCocktails Recap by #SobeSavvy

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    YARD HOUSE INTRODUCES NEW BEER COCKTAILS

    WHAT:
    Just in time for summer, Yard House has introduced a range of refreshing beer cocktails. Each creative cocktail begins with a select beer from Yard Houseā€™s extensive draft list, which is mixed with a variety of ingredients, ranging from exotic spirits to creative garnishes.

    Each Yard House location features six new beer cocktails, such as the West Coast Shandy, Dreamsicle and Jack & Ginger.

    – West Coast Shandy: A play on the classic beer cocktail, the House IPA is paired with citrus flavors from X-rated fusion liqueur, citrus agave, bitters and a fresh grapefruit garnish.

    – The Dreamsicle: To create an adult version of the childhood treat, Yard House mixes white ale with pinnacle whipped vodka, Cointreau, citrus agave and orange bitters.

    Ready for refreshment? Try your hand at the beer cocktail recipe below:

    YardHouseBeerCocktail-Jack&Ginger

    Jack & Ginger
    Ā½ oz Agave Syrup
    Ā¾ oz Jack Daniels Honey
    Dash of Aromatic Bitters
    Squeeze of a Lemon & a Lime
    3 oz of Ginger Beer
    5 oz of Bavarian Weiss Beer

    Place two ice cubes in a goblet or highball glass. Pour ingredients in order listed over the ice.

    WHERE:
    Miami Beach: 1681 Lenox Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139
    Coral Gables: 320 San Lorenzo Avenue, Coral Gables, FL 33146
    Hallandale Beach: 320 San Lorenzo Avenue, Coral Gables, FL 33146

    WHO:
    Yard House is an upscale, casual eatery where beer and food enthusiasts gather. Each Yard House features over 125 draft beer taps, including a rotating selection of seasonal and limited selections on the ā€œChalkboard Series.ā€ Yard House features an array of favorite and classic dishes, each updated with quality ingredients and innovative flavors. The menu ranges from shareable snacks and appetizers to grilled burgers and fresh seafood. For local draft offerings or additional information, please visit YardHouse.com, like on Facebook at Facebook.com/YardHouse or follow @YardHouse on Twitter.

    RECAP:
    The General Manager at Yardhouse Miami Beach, Andre La Grange, greeted my husband and I and guided us thru their new beer cocktail menu. You read it right, “BEER COCKTAILS” : Beer mixed with sprits and liqueurs. They are exactly what you think and nothing like you think. We had never heard of such a thing and we were excited to try this new concept. Andre had us sample each of their new creations. No matter what your favorite beer or liquor taste are, Yardhouse beer cocktails are sure to catch your fancy. I can attest that there is a cocktail for you. My favorite was the Sunburn. It was light and refreshing for a hot Miami day. My husband loved the Silly European. He said it had the right amount of kick and taste. Enoy the photo recap and be sure to visit the nearest Yardhouse to quench that summer thirst!

    ‘Lovely’ Leslie Heigh / Freelance Photojournalist
    The ‘Bon Vivant ‘ Blogger
    http://www.SobeSavvy.com
    Follow Twitter/Instagram @IJust_LoveThis
    Hashtag #SobeSavvy

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