Working your way through Dry January? Detoxing after vacation? Just need to give your liver a break? There are lots of ways to stay strong and distract yourself when you are not drinking alcohol. Try one of these useful things to do instead of drinking at night after work. You might just pick up a new hobby or healthy habit while you’re at it!

Disclaimer: I am not an addiction coach or a health professional. I have no experience with addiction. This post may not be helpful for an alcoholic. I am not claiming to know what addiction or withdrawal feels like or what things can help it. I am simply giving up alcohol for a period of time and suggesting things that I know to be helpful in my own experience.

This post contains affiliate links to products and services we recommend. We may make a commission, and there is no cost to you.

Have A Reason For Not Drinking

Everyone has their reasons to attempt a dry January, or any kind of break from alcohol.  Maybe it’s to clean up your system and start fresh for the New Year, or maybe it’s just because it sounded like a good idea.  Whatever your reason, having a reason is important to your success. That reason, silly or serious, will help keep you on track when the middle days of January drag on longer and longer.

No matter what we say – “I’m not addicted, of course I can stop. I only drink on the weekends anyways…” – change is hard!  It is not easy to give up things you enjoy or to remove habits that have a strong place in your routine. 

My reasons this January are health issues I have been putting on the back burner for way too long. Everywhere I turn for help I see the same suggestion… quit the alcohol. I’ve been kicking and screaming, and now I am finally giving in. It’s time to clean up my act and get serious about my health.

Have a Plan

So how will I do it? How will I not give in when I feel the urge to pour a drink? Below I have listed 31 things to do instead of drinking at night. It’s already 23 days into January. I am doing many things on this list, and I feel great! I might extend my drinking hiatus into February!

Indoor Things To Do Instead of Drinking

1. Learn How To Play An Instrument

• DrumeoEdge is a great platform for drummers. It does have a yearly fee, but we use this daily and have found it to be an impressive value for the price.
• Guitareo – Guitar System is our pick for a great guitar lesson library.
• Ukulele – A 10 day Beginner Course on YouTube!
  • Don’t have a Ukulele yet? This is the one we have.

2. Cook Something New

• Dig out the old family cookbooks.
• Call your Mom and ask her for a favorite family recipe.
• Subscribe to a meal home delivery service like Gobble or Home Chef (get $90 off with this link!)
• Follow some new accounts on Instagram.
  • @halfbakedharvest
  • @healthylittlepeach
  • @primal_gourmet

3. Learn How To Dance

• Moonwalk, Glide and Slide Step like Micheal Jackson
• Salsa, Cha Cha, Rumba and Swing – learn to dance as a couple

4. Learn A New Skill On SkillShare

Skillshare is a platform where you can learn just about anything! Here are some examples of the wide rage of subjects they offer.

• Watercolor Painting
• Calligraphy
• Web Design
• Interior Design
• GarageBand (We all want to use that app on our computer, now we can learn how!)

5. Learn Something New on MasterClass

Masterclass is a platform where your classes are taught by masters in their field.

• Skateboarding – with Tony hawk
• Cooking – with Gordon Ramsay
• The Art of Magic – with Penn & Teller
• Photography – with Annie Leibovitz
• Acting – with Natalie Portman

6. Make A New Pinterest Board

There are literally thousands of ideas you could put onto a new Pinterest board. The best part is that Pinterest could occupy you for hours! So many possibilities!

• Vision Boards
• Cooking / Desserts
• Beautiful Rings
• Places To Visit
• Guns
• Ball Gowns

7. Build or Paint a Model Kit Truck/Car

Browse your local hobby shop, or head over to Amazon. These are two my family wants to try.

• 1968 Chevy Camero
• 1978 GMC Pickup

8. Read A Book

Here are 4 books in my “To-Be-Read” pile.

• The Silent Patient -by Alex Michaelides
• The Guest List – by Lucy Foley
• Me Before You – by Jojo Moyes
• The Chestnut Man – by Soren Sveistrup (coming to Netflix!)

9. Build A Puzzle

• Lego Paint Party – 1000 piece puzzle
• Minifigure Faces – 1000 piece puzzle
• London – 2000 Piece puzzle

10. Play A Board Game / Online Game

Old school games, or online they all provide a night of entertainment.

• Battleship
• Operation
• Online Uno

11. Play Your Old Video Games

Our old video games are sitting in a box in the closet. When we get them out they keep us busy four hours. The new games have amazing graphics, but there is something appealing about Mario Brothers and having to start all over when you run out of lives.

• Wii
• Sega
• Nintendo DS

12. Play With Your Kids

• Legos
• Dress up
• Make a TikTok with them!
• Teach them an old card game.
  • Gin Rummy
  • Blackjack

13. Online Fitness Classes

• Beachbody – a yearly fee and you will be assigned a coach
• Openfit – a month fee and you can work the programs at your own pace
• VShred – programs that can help you shred at the gym

Outdoor Things To Do

14. Go For A Walk

Listen to audiobooks or podcasts, or listen to nothing and clear your mind. The fresh air will make you feel rejuvenated.

15. Go Watch a Winter Sunset

The sun sets early in the winter, you could be back before dinner!

16. Make A Chick-Fil-A Run Before Bed

Since you aren’t drinking you are able to jump in the car and head out to get chicken nuggets for a late night snack!

17. Be A Photographer

Grab your camera/phone and walk around your neighborhood. Pretend you are a professional photographer.

• Download a photo editing app then post them on instagram! (Don’t forget to tag us @SpillingTequila)
  • Snapseed
  • Foodie
  • Prisma

18. Run!

• Beginners can try the Couch to 5K
• Already a runner – sign up for a virtual race

19. Go Hiking

• Use the AllTrails app to find hiking trails near you.

20. Go For A Bike Ride

• Around your neighborhood
• At a local park
• Biking apps can help you find trails or map a course
  • Strava
  • MapMyRide

21. The Fitness Trail At Your Local Park

We’ve all seen them, attached to the walking trail at your local park. Try some of the stations! They are harder than they look. How many pull-ups can you do?

Ways to Replace Your Cocktail

22. Drink Mocktails

• Mojito Mocktail
• Seltzer Mocktails – remember to leave the alcohol out of the recipes in this post.

23. Buy A New Water Bottle

• Hydroflask – I try to fill this 3 times a day…one before lunch, one before dinner, and the final one before bed.
• Starbucks cup – This helps when I can’t go to Starbucks everyday.

24. Drink Some New Seltzer Flavors

• SodaStream – and make your own recipes
• Bubly
• Spindrift

25. Go for a Late Night Milk Shake Run

The best part of not drinking… being able to drive! Head out to McDonalds, Five Guys, or Dairy Queen and get a milkshake. Or, better yet, get ingredients and make your own!

Self Care Things To Do

26. Self Tan!

Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean we need to be pasty white!

• St. Tropas – It won’t leave you orange… I promise!

27. Care For Your Hair

• Use your essential oils and make an oil serum for your hair.
• Try a new Hair Mask

28. Plan Your Summer Vacation

• The Beach
• The Mountains
• A Lake
• The City

29. Take a Bubble Bath

• Bath Bombs
• Bubble Bath
• Bath Tray – You’ll never want to get out and you’ll have a place for all your things.

Home Things To Do

30. Tackle a DIY Project

Here are a few great DIY and Crafting Blogs…

• Paper & Stitch
• P.S.- I Made This

31. Deep Clean

For some people deep cleaning is relaxing. I fall into this camp now and then. Here are a few ideas to get you started!

• Clean out a closet
• Organize your junk drawer
• Shine your sink! A little trick I learned from FlyLady years ago.

The post 31 Useful Things To Do Instead of Drinking at Night appeared first on Spilling Tequila.

When you think of celebrities who have their own alcohol brands, do you picture them in their garage or guest house-turned-distillery? Do you envision a cellar full of wine barrels and backyards with rows of grapevines? I know I do!

I was definitely a little disappointed to hear that most of these celebrities aren’t involved at all in the production, but are just the spokesperson. Some are a little closer to the production process than others, but many just put up the funds to back the project then hit the road until it’s time to promote it.

Don’t get me wrong, celebrity alcohol brands are still pretty cool and I will totally buy them every time. But I still wish Ryan Reynolds was bottling my gin in his garage.

Celebrities With Alcohol Brands

Here are 13 alcohol brands owned or endorsed by celebrities we love. Some we have already tried, and a few were new, pleasant surprises!

Snoop Dogg / 19 Crimes – Cali Red

Snoop is a connoisseur of more than just cannabis – he has a pallet for wine as well! I’ll admit that when I saw this at the store, I purchased it just because his face was on the bottle. And at $12.00, I wasn’t expecting much.

I was absolutely stunned when it turned out to be one of my favorite wines ever. Not too sweet, strong blackberry and cherry notes, some spice, and that oak finish that I love.

And Snoop is not just the face on the label. He was actively involved in creating the recipe for the first California wine of the 19 Crimes brand. It’s one of the best things to come out of 2020 and I will definitely be purchasing this wine again!

Snoop’s also been involved with a few other alcohol brands, and in September 2020 he launched INDOGGO Gin, his first owned and operated project.

Aaron Paul and Brian Cranston / Dos Hombres Mezcal

When Breaking Bad co-stars Aaron Paul and Brian Cranston knew they wouldn’t be sharing the screen anymore, they started thinking about a new project to work on together. They decided to find a Mezcal “so damn good even people who don’t think they like Mezcal will love it.” 

According to an Instagram post by Paul, the two “searched high and low all over Oaxaca” (Mexico) and found the perfect Mezcal.

Shannon is a HUGE Breaking Bad fan and a mezcal lover, so she got a little over-excited about Dos Hombres and immediately ordered it online! Stay tuned for our review!

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George Clooney / Casamigos Tequila

Casamigos was founded in 2013 by George Clooney and friends Rande Gerber and Mike Meldman. George and Rande had neighboring vacation homes in Mexico and spent many nights sipping tequila before they birthed the idea of Casamigos. They actually created their tequila as their personal “house tequila” and didn’t originally intend to release it to the public.

They hoped to create a smooth, sippable tequila that didn’t have to be covered up with salt or lime and didn’t give you a hangover the next day. They were very hands-on with the project, testing recipes with their master distiller in Jalisco, Mexico for years until they got it right.

As far as I am concerned, they accomplished the sippable goal, but I am scared to test the hangover claim!

After consuming over 1000 bottles a year, they were forced to obtain a distribution license. So, due to government guidelines, we are now all able to enjoy this delicious creation. In 2017, Clooney and friends sold Casamigos in a deal that valued the company at up to $1 billion.

Nick Jonas / Villa One Tequila

There must be something in the Mexico air that brings your tequila-making dreams to life!

Villa One was inspired by a 2017 trip to Mexico where Nick Jonas and fashion designer friend John Varvatos “came together over a love for tequila and for experiencing ‘life as it should be,’ with friends old and new, one glass at a time.” A couple years later, their product is on the shelf and while it’s on the top shelf at my local liquor store, it’s still pretty affordable for a premium tequila.

It seems natural that Jonas would be drawn to tequila as a diabetic. Studies have shown that the natural sugars in agave don’t spike blood sugar the same way as other alcohols. Tequila is also gluten-free and we like to think of it as the healthiest of all spirits!

Their tequila sources 100% blue weber agave from both the Highland and Lowland regions of Jalisco, Mexico, resulting in a well-rounded profile.

Sammy Hagar and Guy Fieri / Santo Tequila and Mezquila

Rocker Sammy Hagar and Chef Guy Fieri – who look like they should be brothers – teamed up with master distiller Juan Eduardo Nunez (who also created Hagar’s Cabo Wabo brand more than 10 years ago) to bring you Santo Blanco and Santo Mezquila.

The Mezquila is the world’s first blend of mezcal and tequila and it’s on our “to-buy” list for sure!

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson / Teremana Tequila

Another celebrity tequila? Yup! Dwayne Johnson worked with a Mexican family-owned distillery in the highlands of Jalisco to build his Distileria Teremana.

Teremana combines two words: “tere” derived from the Latin “terra” meaning earth and “mana,” the Polynesian word meaning spirit. Teremana is the “Spirit of the Earth,” described as a “a bright flavorful tequila that honors the land it comes from.”

How can you not love The Rock? His movies have provided my family with many laughs and we quote them regularly. And while I’m sure he’s not actually working in the agave fields as this photo suggests, I still like what he stands for.

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Kenny Chesney / Blue Chair Bay Rum

Of course Kenny Chesney owns a rum brand in the Caribbean! Blue Chair Bay Rum is located on the coast of Barbados, and is fully owned by Chesney, who worked with one of the world’s great master blenders, Mike Booth, to create the blends. As Chairman of the Board and Chief Brand Officer, he is very involved in all product decisions right down to the smallest details.

The Blue Chair Bay web site says each bottle is “infused with Kenny Chesney’s heart and soul, from beach to bottle.” There are 10 flavors to choose from, but I am partial to the coconut and white rum. Check out this Coconut Rum Seltzer!

Ryan Reynolds / Aviation American Gin

Ryan Reynolds became a minority co-owner and ambassador for Aviation American Gin in 2018 because he said he “tried every gin on the planet and liked Aviation the best.” In 2020, Reynolds sold his stake in the company for a cool $610 million.

The humor he infused into marketing Aviation catapulted it to becoming the second-largest brand within the US super-premium gin segment. I think Ryan could sell sand in the desert – he is just SO FUNNY! Check out this “Rejected Slogans” video (and more hilarious videos on their web site!).

Sam Huegan / The Sassenach Blended Scotch Whisky

If you’ve seen the TV show Outlander (Shannon and Naomi love this show!), you know you want to buy this whisky. How can you possibly resist anything this gorgeous man has to sell?

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In an interview with the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, Huegan said, “I set up the Great Glen Company to produce products that I believe in, using my heritage and passion as inspiration. … First stop is obviously the lifelong dream of having my own dram.”

The flavor notes of this whisky are described as butterscotch, apricot and honey. But the hard part is finding it! The Sassenach is sold out everywhere online as of right now, but we’ll keep trying!

Paul Wesley and Ian Somerhalder / Brother’s Bond Bourbon

These “brothers” could make cat food and I would buy it.

Paul Wesley and Ian Somerhalder played the Salvatore brothers on the TV series The Vampire Diaries, where they were often shown drinking bourbon. Like Aaron Paul and Brian Cranston, they formed a bond that they wanted to continue into another project. And so Brother’s Bond Bourbon was founded.

Following along on their Instagram, it seemed that the two spent a good amount of time crafting the taste of their bourbon and it’s clear that they both love this spirit.

Shannon was on the list to be notified about the pre-sale of Brother’s Bond, but she didn’t get any notification and now it’s sold out. She’s a little (lot) annoyed.

Conor McGregor / Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey

Irish professional mixed martial artist and boxer Conor McGregor has a passion for Ireland and whiskey, so he sought out the master distiller at the oldest whiskey distillery on the Isle of Ireland. Through much trial and error, they worked together to create a blend of sweet Irish grain and single malt Irish whiskey.

Matthew McConaughey / Longbranch Bourbon

Matthew McConaughey is the Creative Director of Wild Turkey, but I like that the iconic bourbon brand doesn’t throw that in your face. In fact, I had to dig a bit to even find mention of him on their web site. He has worked with the company since 2016, and launched a bourbon with his name on it in 2018.

While McConaughey didn’t produce Wild Turkey’s Longbranch bourbon in his barn, as we would like to imagine, he does appear to have had a significant part in creating the taste of it.

Longbranch is inspired by McConaughey’s Kentucky and Texas roots. It’s refined with Texas Mesquite and oak charcoals to create the “Texas” half he was looking for. This bourbon is the first time Wild Turkey has launched a product that bears a signature of someone other than the Master Distillers Jimmy and Eddie Russell.

Val and Candace Cameron-Bure / Bure Family Wines

We all knew DJ Tanner would go far in life and now she’s got her own wines. Actually, it seems that her husband, retired pro hockey player Val Bure, is the driving force behind this venture. Apparently as he traveled the world during his hockey career, he became quite the wine connoisseur and collector.

Val and Candace own a second home in Napa Valley and it’s there that they grow some of the grapes for their wines, though most are locally sourced from Napa and Sonoma Counties.

This wine has been on my list to try for awhile, but it’s not easy to get a hold of. They are a small operation and you have to get on the purchase list. I’ve signed up, now I wait!

Do you have a favorite celebrity owned (or endorsed) alcohol?

The post 13 Celebrities Who Have Their Own Alcohol {Sort Of} appeared first on Spilling Tequila.

Do you need a quick and easy Halloween decoration that also recycles some of your old alcohol bottles? These DIY Potion Bottles are both elegant and spooky and only take about 30 minutes from start to finish.

Today we have it too easy. We can just run to the store and buy everything we need to decorate or throw a Halloween party! But what’s the fun in that? This year, my family is having a good old-fashioned 1980’s Halloween. It will be complete with homemade costumes, pumpkin carvings, and maybe even bobbing for apples. So I wanted my decorations to be DIY as well!

Supplies for DIY Potion Bottles

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• Empty bottles – I used tequila, gin, and bourbon bottles.
• Spray paint – I used Rust-oleum in gold and Krylon in matte black.
• Small dollar store type decorations – I used small skulls and skeletons.
• A hot glue gun – To attach the small pieces.
• Bottle labels or tags – I found mine in the Target dollar spot, but you can download these, or these from Etsy.
• Glue stick – If you are using paper labels for your bottles, a glue stick (like the ones for school art projects) will work the best.
• Painters tape– To tape off the cork part of the toppers.
• Rubber gloves – I didn’t use these and my hands were covered in paint.

Step #1 – Gather Your Bottles

I tend to have trouble throwing nice, or unique shaped bottles into the recycle bin. I don’t know why I save them, but I’m always glad I did when it’s time for projects like this.

Tip: If possible, try to get different shapes and sizes. They will look great displayed together.

Step #2 – Remove The Labels

Tips to getting the labels off: Start picking away at those stickers. Some will come off easier than you think, others will give you hard time. If you are stuck with an unruly label you can try scraping it with a razor blade or an abrasive scrubber like the ones you use for pots and pans. You can also try something like Goo Gone.

You don’t have to worry about sanitizing the bottles if they are just for decoration. I am not filling mine with anything to drink. I didn’t even soap the inside. If you want to sterilize yours you will need a large bottle brush, and some sanitizing solution.

Step #3 – Spray Paint

Even though I’m sure you’ve spray painted things before, here are a few of my tips to keep this project from becoming a crafting disaster.

• Throw down a drop cloth – I hate to admit it but my husband was right, the drop cloth does help keep my messes minimal.
• Set up a paint station – Put all the things you paint black in one area, and all the gold in another.
• Use painters tape and tape off the cork part of the toppers, they will fit back into your bottles if they are clean of paint.

Step #4 – Finishing Touches

Use your glue stick to apply any paper labels you printed out and use the hot glue gun to attach the skulls and skeletons.

Step #5 – Put Them on Display

Now that they are all finished and look great, you need to display them. Some ideas for displaying them:

• Use the extra spray paint and spray small branches or sticks.
• Spray paint a few artificial flowers black.
• Fake spider webs would look great with these.

So go ahead and have fun creating some amazing DIY Potion Bottles with your old alcohol or wine bottles. Don’t forget to tag us on Instagram… We want to see your end results! Happy Halloween!

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Does your drink feel like it has lost its luster? You don’t have to find an exciting new recipe or whip up an exotic drink to find bliss. Try some of these tips to breathe new life into your go-to drink.

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For months now I have been drinking the same thing over and over… and over again. I am serious, no variety at all. It’s either a skinny margarita or a glass of Pinot Grigio. Over and over… and over again!

I will admit, it has been hard to be a cocktail blogger thinking I was having a bad case of writers block. But, I think it’s pretty common to find a drink and stick to it. Many of us find a drink we love and embrace it.

The Only Four Things In My Kitchen!

We don’t have a cupboard filled with bottles of liquors we’ll never use again. We don’t have a bunch of random ingredients laying around from recipes we really didn’t like.

To make my skinny margarita (recipe below) these are the only things I need to keep track of.

• Limes or a bottle of juice (it’s easier)
• stevia packets
• flavored seltzer (blueberry, coconut, orange, strawberry)
• tequila

How To Make Your Drink Look and Feel Brand New

#1. Pour It In A New Glass

There is something magical about a new glass for your everyday drink. It’s like buying a new outfit and heading out on the town. Same girl, new clothes… completely new attitude! The same rules apply for your drink! Dress it up! I will link these Elle Decor pink highball glasses I found on amazon. I am in love with the crocodile skin pattern!

#2. Buy A New Brand or Different Bottle

Tequila, vodka, bourbon… whatever your poison, pick a new brand or a new bottle! Maybe this time you splurge on a premium bottle, or get one that has a pretty label. A different brand will definitely make your drink taste and feel new.

Some of the bottles I have around at the moment. (the Teremana is empty… I really like that one!)

• Jose Cuervo Tradicional Tequila – nicely priced
• Espolon Tequila Blanco – Fun label
• Tres Agaves Organic Tequila – Organic
• Teremana Small Batch Tequila – The Rocks’ tequila
• Cabo Waco Tequila Blanco – very tasty

#3. Use Fresh Juice

The bottled stuff is easy, but fresh is BEST! It even feels fancier to cut and squeeze that lime into your drink. The taste of fresh lime is second to none.

#4. Add A Garnish

Add some flare! Give it that professional signature. Cut your lime into circle or wedge, use the peel and twist it around your straw. make it fun!

Bonus Points: Take some pictures of your “new” drink and post it to Instagram. Get near a window, find some good light and move your camera around to find the best angle. Be sure to tag us @spillingtequila so we can add it to our stories!

If you try all these ideas and it still doesn’t have that born again feel, just embrace your regular drink! There is something comforting about knowing what to expect. You know where your glass is, exactly the right amounts to pour, and that one bottle of tequila will make exactly 6.5 large mason jar margaritas.

Double Skinny Margarita

Yield: 18 ounces

Prep Time: 2 minutes

Total Time: 2 minutes

Make it a double! This recipe is HUGE. It's totally shareable, but if you want your own, one is surely enough.

Print

Ingredients

• 4 packs stevia (1 tsp)
• 2 limes juiced (2 oz)
• 4 oz tequila
• 1 can flavored seltzer (12 oz)

Instructions

1. Mix stevia and lime juice.
2. Add tequila and ice. Stir.
3. Add seltzer and stir.
4. Please drink responsibly.

Notes

This recipe works well with just about all flavors of seltzer. Strawberry, blueberry, and coconut are always crowd pleasers.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 297Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 6mgCarbohydrates: 28gFiber: 4gSugar: 2gProtein: 1g

Nutrition information is estimated and should only be used as a general guideline.

The post 4 Easy Ways To Make Over Your Go-To Drink appeared first on Spilling Tequila.

It’s so easy to make your own hard seltzer with any flavors and alcohols that you like. Here are 7 skinny hard seltzer recipes to get you started!

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Seltzer is a an absolute staple in our house. There are some days we even have it at breakfast. I could drink a cold Coconut Lacroix all day, every day. What do we do with all the seltzer we buy every week? We make skinny seltzer cocktails of course!

It’s easy (and cheaper!) to make your own hard seltzer. Here are 7 different skinny seltzer cocktails that are perfect for when you want to choose something on the healthier side.

#1. Blueberry Lemon Vodka Seltzer

Mix six ounces of blueberry seltzer, two ounces of vodka, two or three lemon slices and a handful of blueberries.

Very light and refreshing. The waterloo is my favorite seltzer for this one. It tastes amazing! I haven’t seen any other brands that offer just a plain blueberry. Please comment below if you know of any!

If the vodka taste a little strong for you, make sure you squeeze out some of that lemon juice into your drink.

#2. Cherry Bourbon Seltzer

The unexpected choice of bourbon in this cherry seltzer cocktail will make you wonder why you don’t mix bourbon in more drinks! You’ll probably want to play with the amount of bourbon you’re adding. Some like it strong, and some like just a hint of bourbon flavor.

For this one, mix six ounces of cherry seltzer, one ounce of bourbon and 1.5 ounces of lime juice. Garnish with a cherry and lime wedge.

If this sounds good, also check out my Kentucky Slim Cherry Punch!

#3. Coconut Rum Seltzer

The beach is one of my favorite places and this tastes just like vacation! It’s the combination of the coconut and pineapple that makes this one a family favorite for sure. But it’s not just for summer, my brother in law requests this even at Christmas!

Mix six ounces of coconut seltzer, two ounces of coconut rum, one ounce of cranberry juice and one ounce of pineapple juice.

#4. Strawberry Vodka Seltzer

Mix six ounces of strawberry seltzer, two ounces of vodka, three lemon slices and a handful of diced strawberries (optional).

Just slice the lemon as pictured and add them in the vodka seltzer. Sometimes when I have fresh strawberries on hand I will chop and add them is as well. Refreshing and so easy!

If you find the vodka a little strong, just be sure to give them lemons a little squeeze.

#5. Grapefruit and Gin

This gin and juice recipe is a newer addition to my recipe box, but it will definitely be sticking around. I absolutely love these flavor with my gin. Just mix six ounces of grapefruit seltzer, two ounces of gin, two ounces of grapefruit juice, and one ounce lime juice.

Be sure to check out our full post on this Grapefruit and Gin cocktail.

#6. Orange Seltzer Magarita

This is definitely a crowd favorite. We usually make a double batch and put them in big mason jars – check out my post on these Skinny Mason Jar Margaritas.

Mix six ounces of orange seltzer, two ounces of tequila, one ounce of lime juice, and one Stevia packet. You can also change it up and use different flavor seltzers. Some of our favorites are strawberry, blueberry, and mango.

#7. Coconut Lime Vodka Seltzer

I saved the best for last! My personal favorite of the bunch is the Coconut Lime Vodka Seltzer. It is super quick and easy to make with only three ingredients: six ounces of coconut seltzer, two ounces of vodka, and a few slices of lime – be sure to give them a little squeeze to express the juice and oils from the peel.

Remember, all seven of these drinks can be made non-alcoholic! Just leave out the liquors and you have a drink for anyone to enjoy.

The post Make Your Own Hard Seltzer: 7 Skinny Hard Seltzer Recipes appeared first on Spilling Tequila.

Gin and juice! After you try it, you are going to want to have the ingredients around for this gin and grapefruit juice cocktail all the time.  It is super easy to make with only 4 ingredients and no fuss! Just add them to a glass and stir. Seriously, less than 2 minutes a drink!

I created this drink one day after my sister called to say she was coming over. I had a new bottle of gin and a new bottle of Simply Grapefruit Juice in the fridge. It was super quick to put together, and it’s fun and beautiful!  How can you say no to fun and beautiful!  They are requirements on the checklist for exceptional host status!

Gin and Juice

I grabbed my new bottle of gin and I mixed it with juice!  That just screams Snoop Dogg to me.  But, lo and behold, I guess he knows what he is talking about. It’s fantastic!  Fresh, naturally sweet, and refreshing.

Fun fact: I had never tried gin until very recently.  I know, I know… “What!”  Sadly it’s true, I have always been a vodka girl.  Mostly because I was just familiar with vodka, but also because I thought gin was for old ladies. Who knew it was so amazing? 

Wait a minute, maybe I am an old lady?  Either way, I love it!

Grapefruit and Limes

Grapefruit has been a favorite of mine for as long as I can remember. There is usually at least one in my fridge at all times. I like to take my time and peel them and get every last juicy pod out of them, then sit with a big bowl as dessert while I watch tv.  Heaven.  Putting the juice in a cocktail is new to me, but it’s just as delicious.  

Limes, limes, limes.  I put limes in everything!  Sometimes they work and sometimes I’m like, “What was I thinking?” In this drink though they totally work!

Fresh lime juice is always my preferred method, but bottled is easier.  It really doesn’t matter how you add your limes, just make sure you add them.

Health Benefits

I know sometimes its hard to rationalize alcohol with being healthy, especially when you add the words Snoop Dogg in a post about it.  Hear me out!  Many, many years ago pharmacists were known to mix tonics and elixirs with herbs, flowers and fruits. Is it that out of the question to say that a naturally sweetened grapefruit juice and gin has some heath benefits? 

Grapefruit juice is packed with vitamins.  It is very high in vitamin C which is known to protect your cells from bacteria and viruses. In this year, 2020, I am looking for all the immune system help I can get! If that help comes from a gin and grapefruit juice cocktail, I am open to it.

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Hey Good Looking!

The most superficial trait about this drink is it is beautiful!  The colors of the limes and grapefruit compliment each other so well.  It will definitely be the prettiest drink I photograph this month!  When you hand these out to your guests they will absolutely be stunned by their beauty. 

And if you want to make them even more beautiful, these are the glasses I used in the pictures.

For a different – but similar – look, these glasses are on Amazon and look fabulous. I’ve already added them to my cart.

Let me know if you try this gin and grapefruit juice cocktail. And if you make it pretty, tag us on Instagram!

Grapefruit Juice and Gin

Yield: 1

Prep Time: 2 minutes

Total Time: 2 minutes

With only 4 ingredients, this gin and grapefruit juice cocktail is super easy to make, low calorie, and refreshing.

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Ingredients

• 2 oz Gin
• 2 oz Grapefruit Juice (fresh squeezed or Simply Grapefruit)
• 6 oz Grapefruit flavored seltzer (such as Waterloo Grapefruit or LaCroix Pamplemousse)
• 1 oz Lime Juice

Instructions

1. Add ice to a beautiful glass.
2. Add your ingredients and stir.
3. Please drink responsibly.

Notes

Fresh squeezed citrus will always be best, but the bottled stuff works great and is less mess! Try Simply Grapefruit Juice (it is near the orange juice in the grocery store).

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 225Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 4mgCarbohydrates: 26gFiber: 3gSugar: 12gProtein: 2g

Nutritional information is estimated and should only be used as a general guideline.

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Did you pick up a bunch of cherries at the store, but now you’re not really feeling like Betty Crocker or making a pie? Pit them, chop them and juice them to create a bourbon punch cocktail recipe instead! This Kentucky Slim Cherry Punch is a great addition to any summer cookout. (Keep reading even if you don’t have fresh cherries.)

“Wait, did you say bourbon?” Yes! We tried vodka, tequila, gin, you name it. When we got to bourbon it stopped us in our tracks!

I always thought of bourbon as a Dad drink. After crafting this bourbon punch cocktail, I think it’s time to drop the stereotypes. These flavor combinations are absolutely delightful together. Everyone at your barbecue will be sipping on this bourbon punch, so you should probably make a double batch to begin with!

Cherries: Fresh, Frozen or Juiced

This recipe is so flexible. You can use cherries in any form.

Fresh Cherries

• pit and halve a pound of cherries
• add the cherries and 2 cups of filtered water to a small sauce pan
• turn the heat to medium low and bring to a simmer
• let simmer for 7-10 minutes
• cool and strain with a fine mesh strainer

Frozen Cherries

• 12 oz bag of frozen cherries (they are usually already pitted)
• let thaw for a few mins so you can cut them in half
• add the cherries and 2 cups of filtered water to a small sauce pan
• turn the heat to medium low and bring to a simmer
• let simmer for 7-10 minutes
• let cool and strain with a fine mesh strainer

Store-Bought Cherry Juice

• Check the ingredient label to be sure there is no added sugar

Limes: Perfect with Cherries

The thing about limes is… I love them! I would put limes in every drink if I could. This recipe is a testament to that, as it is very “limey.”

You’ll need 5-7 limes for this punch. Bottled lime juice will work in a pinch, but if you’re going to the grocery store anyway, add fresh limes to your list. It makes all the difference between a good punch and great punch!

Juice them up! You’ll need 3/4 cup of lime juice. Remember to cut some up for garnishes as well.

Making a Healthy Bourbon Punch Cocktail

While creating this recipe with my family we could all agree that bourbon was the secret ingredient, but we all had different opinions on the sweetness part. Half of the family likes sugary drinks and half of us like them on the healthier side.

This drink is full of healthy ingredients. Cherries bursting with antioxidants, apples keeping the doctor away, and limes to improve digestion and fight infection. I have even read that bourbon can help reduce the risk of certain carcinogens! (I do not remember where I read this, therefore I have no proof.) I didn’t want to ruin this healthy bourbon punch with unnecessary added sugar.

We played with the juices and stevia ratios all afternoon and after many taste tests we settled on this recipe. The result is a tasty, fruity, healthy cocktail that’s not too sweet, but just sweet enough. (Check out my Skinny Margarita recipe for more!)

The Kentucky Slim Cherry Punch works great as a pitcher drink, or make half the recipe for two to enjoy.

Kentucky Slim Cherry Punch

Yield: 4

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Wait, did you say bourbon? Yes! The flavor combinations in this bourbon cherry punch are absolutely delightful together. Perfect for your summer cookout, you should probably make a double batch!

Print

Ingredients

• 2 cup Cherry Juice
• 1 1/4 cup Apple juice
• 3/4 cup Lime juice
• 1 cup Kentucky Bourbon
• 1 1/2 tsp Stevia (6 packets)
• 1 can Seltzer (cherry, lime or plain)

Instructions

1. Prepare cherry juice (see notes below) or use a store-bought, no-sugar-added cherry juice.
2. Add juices and stevia to a 1/2 gallon pitcher and stir until stevia is dissolved.
3. Add bourbon and seltzer.
4. Serve over ice and garnish with lime.
5. Please drink responsibly.

Notes

You can use store-bought, no-sugar-added cherry juice or make your own with fresh or frozen cherries:

- 1 pound fresh (or one 12 oz bag frozen) cherries pitted and halved.

- Add cherries and 2 cups of water to small sauce pan.

- Simmer for 7-10 mins over medium-low heat.

- Let cool and strain with a fine mesh strainer.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 106Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 39mgCarbohydrates: 15gFiber: 0gSugar: 11gProtein: 0g

Nutritional information is estimated and should only be used as a general guideline.

The post Kentucky Slim Cherry Punch appeared first on Spilling Tequila.

Need a gift for a dad that likes to drink? We’ve got you covered with these great gifts for Father’s Day, birthdays, or any time!

There are so many different kinds of dads we know and love. Some dads like bourbon, some like beer. My dad likes wine. No matter what your dad likes to pour in his cup on fathers day, let’s celebrate him!

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These T-shirts are the perfect gifts for the dad who wants to up his T-shirt game and earn best dressed honors at corn hole.

1. WHISKEY MADE ME DO IT T-SHIRT
2. CALL ME OLD FASHIONED T-SHIRT
3. BEER MAKES ME HOPPY T-SHIRT

These tumblers are great for the dad who enjoys an icy cold beverage with every sip. The Yeti Rambler is the perfect size for a whiskey, a vodka soda, or even a glass of wine. The Brumate will fit 12 oz and 16 oz cans straight out of the cooler! And the Stanley growler is perfect for filling up at your local brewery to enjoy at home or on a weekend camping trip.

4. YETI RAMBLER 10 oz. LOWBALL

5. BRüMATE HOPSULATOR TRíO 3-in-1

6. STANLEY INSULATED GROWLER

If the dad in your life loves making cocktails at home, check out these extras for their home bar. Dad will be able to smoke an Old Fashioned to perfection with this smoker gun. Or he can use this elegant decanter to pour a drink for a friend like they do in the movies. This was one is seen being used by Tony Stark in one of the Marvel Movies!

7. BREVILLE DRINK SMOKER

8. WHISKEY DECANTER AND GLASS SET

Is your dad a James Bond fan? These gifts are for the dad who wishes he was a secret agent. The StowCo Cooler Bag lets him stylishly keep his drinks cold at the picnic without carrying a huge bulky cooler. And the whiskey bullets will keep his bourbon cold but not watered down. They’re sure to be a conversation starter!

9. StowCo COOLER BAG

10. BULLET WHISKEY STONES

This gorgeous bar set is perfect for the dad who likes to show off his drink crafting skills in style! It’s a little “Game of Thrones-esque” don’t you think?

11. BARTENDER COCKTAIL SHAKER SET by SkyFish

Pair any of these items with dad’s favorite spirit or beverage, and you’ve got a wonderful gift for the dad who likes to drink.

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as well as notifications when we post new cocktail recipes!

The post 11 Boozy Gifts for Dads Who Like to Drink appeared first on Spilling Tequila.

Mason Jar Skinny Margaritas are a healthy option when you are craving a margarita. They make a great gift for your bestie, or just to store some pre-made cocktails in your fridge for another day!

This is a story about a margarita during Quarantine.  However, I’m sure it will be sticking around long after this Quarantine is over.

During one of the 1,000 days of April 2020, (I’m not even sure what day of the week it was, April was that bad!) Naomi called to let us know the face masks she made us were ready and she was going to drive over and “porch deliver” them. 

I knew I wanted to do more than say, “Thank you.”  I was already making her a big batch of spinach dip, but I’m sure it was a crazy day driving all around town delivering masks to her friends.  I knew just what she needed… a drink! 

Normally she would just come in and we would sit at the kitchen counter for a while and have a drink.  Quarantine is not making it easy for friends to stay social!  

Quarantine Margaritas!

Well, if we couldn’t sit at the counter and have a drink, maybe I could send her home with one and we could FaceTime!  

The hard part was digging around my kitchen to come up with a drink. I had vodka and tequila.  I had limes, and seltzer water.  I was getting pretty tired of vodka seltzer. It’s delicious, but I needed to switch it up.  So I took the limes, seltzer and tequila and turned it into a pretty tasty SKINNY margarita!

Next, I had to make it transportable.  I decided to use a mason jar.  The best part of this plan was I could use one of my old spaghetti sauce jars.  Classico has the best jars.  They are so pretty after you clean them up you would never know there was spaghetti sauce in there.  (See below about how to clean them.)

Mason Jars

This drink really was simple to make.  Take two packets of stevia (or 1/2 tsp), mix it with a few drops of water to make a “simple syrup” and add it to the mason jar. 

Next juice your lime and add it to the mason jar (or a shot glass of bottled lime juice).  Stir well and make sure all the stevia is dissolved.  Then add your two shots of tequila!  

You can add the seltzer now or send the can of seltzer separate so they can mix it in when they get home.  Either way, put the lid on and you now have a mason jar skinny margarita!  

Naomi showed up with a bag of face masks.  She left with a mason jar of margarita, and a big bowl of homemade spinach dip.  Even though I couldn’t give her a hug and the exchange was a boring porch drop off I am grateful for friends like her.  

A little while later we sat in front of our computer screens and FaceTimed.  One thing I can thank quarantine for is getting used to being in front of my FaceTime screen.  With your besties, you never have to be worried about your hair or your messy house on a FaceTime call.

This recipe makes a great Mock-a-rita too. No tequila required and it is totally teen approved!

To clean the jars:  Soak the lids in distilled vinegar for 1/2 hour to remove the sauce smell. Soak the jar in hot soapy water for 1/2 hour to get the labels off.  Use dish soap, a scrubber sponge, and some elbow grease to get the sticker glue off. And nail polish remover will get the expiration dates off!

Mason Jar Skinny Margarita

Yield: 1

Prep Time: 3 minutes

Total Time: 3 minutes

A clean drink recipe you can enjoy with a group of friends. Its large enough that you can sip for a while before you need a refill!

Print

Ingredients

• 1 12-oz can orange seltzer
• 4 oz tequila
• 1 oz fresh-squeezed lime juice
• 2 Stevia packets (or 1/2 tsp)
• Ice

Instructions

1. Mix lime juice and Stevia in a large glass or mason jar. Add a few drops of water if you are having trouble getting it to dissolve.
2. Add tequila and ice.
3. Add can of seltzer and stir.
4. Please drink responsibly.

Notes

This recipe will work with any seltzer flavor. Strawberry is one of my favorites! Mango and blueberry are also tasty in this recipe.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 265Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 0mgCarbohydrates: 0gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 0g

Nutritional information is estimated and should only be used as a general guideline.

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This Paleo Citrus Margarita recipe is a cleaner, healthier version of the classic margarita that just makes you yearn for vacation!

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This margarita recipe is a variation of Danielle Walker’s Against All Grain Margarita, found in her Celebrations cookbook.

I have been following Danielle Walker online for what feels like forever now.  I have all of her cookbooks and use her instagram for daily inspiration in my life.  Although I don’t have the severe gluten reactions she does, I have autoimmune issues and need to keep my diet as gluten and sugar free as possible.  

I know alcohol probably isn’t the best thing I could be doing for my autoimmune issues.  It is something that I enjoying doing when I get together with my friends or watching weekend tv with my husband.

Drinks full of sugar and fillers are rarely on the menu. I always try to chose the best clean and pure ingredients I can find.  We can talk about diet and alcohol another time, but for now let’s just say this is drink is a healthier version of a traditional margarita.

Margaritas have this magical way of making me yearn to have my toes in the sand. When my husband and I make them we always seem to bring up the fact that VACATION IS ALMOST HERE! But, even if we’re not at the beach, cold margaritas with friends at a backyard barbecue is just as good!

For this Paleo Citrus Margarita you will need 100% agave tequila, a lime, an orange, honey, and orange seltzer. 

Tequila – 100% agave

When choosing your tequila make sure you are choosing 100% agave tequila.  If your bottle does not say this, put it back and get one that does.  If your tequila is 100% agave it means there is no sugar, water or fillers added.  I also am a big fan of Blanco tequila for margaritas, save Reposado for sipping.

I began to search for my favorite tequila and this time I tried Milagro. I was pleased with this Tequila! It had a wonderful citrus flavor with a spicy peppery finish.  The cost was reasonable at $30 so I will definitely keep this one on my good list.

Honey Syrup

A lighter color and lighter flavor honey will work best in this recipe as you don’t want the honey to over power the taste of the margarita.

To prepare your honey syrup you only need to combine one part warm water and one part honey.  Be sure to use warm water and not to boil. Honey will lose its delicious flavor and its healthy nutritional values when boiled.

I love to use orange flavored seltzer for this drink, but you can also experiment with other flavors. Mango, strawberry, and blueberry all work well in this recipe.

I am dreaming of the days I can get together with my friends have real drinks on the deck and sit in the sunshine while our kids play frisbee in the yard.  The clean ingredients in this drink will you keep you happy all summer long. Hope you enjoy paleo citrus margaritas on the deck this summer!

Paleo Citrus Margarita

Yield: 1

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

This margarita is so full of flavor! Clean ingredients make it a perfect drink for a sunny afternoon with your friends.

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Ingredients

• 2 oz 100% agave Blanco Tequila
• 1 oz fresh lime juice
• 1/2 oz warm honey syrup (add more to taste)
• 4 oz orange seltzer
• Lime, lemon and orange garnish
• Ice

Instructions

1. Use lime wedge to moisten the rim of the glass and dip into a plate of salt. (Skip this step if you don't want a salted rim.)
2. Add ice, tequila, lime juice, and honey syrup to shaker and shake.
3. Strain into your prepared glass and add additional ice.
4. Add 4 ounces of orange seltzer
5. Garnish with lemon, lime, and orange slices.

Notes

To make the honey syrup, combine equal parts honey and warm water and mix gently.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 150Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 0mgCarbohydrates: 0gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 0g

Nutritional information is estimated and should only be used as a general guideline.

The post Paleo Citrus Margarita appeared first on Spilling Tequila.