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

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 β€œorganic” and β€œliquor” 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… β€œhas 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. β€œ

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 β€œDole 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

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

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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! 🍍🍹🍍🍹🍍🍹🍍

Where To Find Fantastic #Gifts For #MothersDay & #Graduation @UPlaceNC University Place #UPlaceNC #ChapelHill

You heard the saying April showers bring May flowers, right? Well the month of May is here and two things it brings around every year are Graduation and Mother’s Day! It’s time to get shopping for these special occasions and I knew just where to go for fantastic gifts in Chapel Hill. University Place! Just down the road from UNC Chapel Hill, this shopping mall has a mix of national and locally owned stores. Here are some of the places to find great gifts for Mother’s Day and Graduation!

SILVERSPOT CINEMAS

Treat Moms & Grads to a Dinner and Movie Experience at SilverSpot Cinema! Moviegoers can order food and it will be delivered to your seat or you can opt to dine at Trilogy, their full service restaurant and bar adjacent to the cinemas. They have an upcoming event called “Brunch & A Movie” where they are offering a 3 course brunch with a mimosa or bloody Mary and a movie ticket for $30. Sounds like a great way to celebrate Mother’s Day and Graduation Day with family and friends. Gift Cards are also available for purchase and make a great gift.

GERRIE & CO.

I stopped in Gerrie & Co., a Fine Jewelry and Giftware store, after seeing their 50% off Mother’s Day sale table outside. I’m glad I did because they have quite a delightful selection of jewelry, glassware, accessories, scarves, items from Metropolitan Museum of Art and more. I also learned this is a mom and daughter operation so I loved supporting! Plus they will gift wrap your items for FREE.

Be Pure Beauty

Looking for an ethical beauty gift for Moms and Grads? Shop clean beauty products at Be Pure Beauty and also pick up a gift that gives back like jewelry from The Shine Project. You can also treat Mom to a beauty makeover or pick up a fragrance for your Grad. Still not sure what to buy? Check out Be Pure Beauty’s Mothers Day Gift Guide.

FRANK GALLERY

Support local artists and shop for Graduation and Mother’s Day gifts at Frank Gallery. They have affordable prints, handmade pottery and more items in their gift shop. If your Mom or Grad loves art, give a gift from the heart from Frank Art Gallery.

SOUTHERN SEASON

A visit to University Place is not complete without stopping in Southern Season for gourmet gifts and amazing treats! It’s a one stop shop for any celebration. From the food, to the champagne, you can buy gifts and the gift wrapping here! Graduation and Mother’s Day gifts galore can be found in this store! Moms, it’s ok to pick up a little something for yourself too.

For more unique gifts, stop in Peacock Alley Gifts, Night Gallery/Branching Out and Carolina Corner. Still not sure what to get? A gift card or two from Burlington Shoes and Bath & Body Works is always a great idea! Don’t forget to stop in The Frame and Print Shop to find the perfect greeting card to put those gift cards in!

For more Mother’s Day and Graduation gift ideas and to see more of my finds at University Place, I have made a twitter thread list for you to take a look here. From art galleries to one of a kind independent shops, University Place is a great place to shop, dine and be entertained all in one spot! Get there now before Mother’s Day and Graduation to pick up fantastic gifts today!

UNIVERSITY PLACE

201 S Estes Drive

Chapel Hill, NC 27514