The classic spritz cocktail is one you absolutely need in your home bartending arsenal. There are a few different ways to make a spritz, but we think our Grapefruit Spritz will be your new favorite summer cocktail!

What is a Spritz?

A spritz is a cocktail made with prosecco, a bitter liqueur, and a splash of soda water. It originated in Italy and it’s traditionally a pre-dinner drink. The bitter ingredient – called an aperitivo – is usually something like Aperol, Campari, Cynar, or Lillet.

The purpose of an aperitivo (also known as aperitif) as part of a pre-dinner cocktail is to stimulate the appetite with its dry, bitter nature. Italians often enjoy a spritz with a small snack before their larger evening meal.

We were gifted a bottle of Hotel Starlino Rosé Aperitivo to taste and create our own spritz for summer. And it’s one of our new favorites!

About Hotel Starlino Rosé Aperitivo

First of all, how gorgeous is this apothecary-style bottle? I just like looking at it on my bar. It feels like summer!

Hotel Starlino Rosé Aperitivo is made by the family-run Torino Distillati in Piedmont, Italy, the birthplace of aperitivo. After the grapes are harvested, herbs and botanicals such as elderflower, coriander, cloves, thyme, grapefruit and lemon peel are added. After 30 days in the still, the botanicals are extracted and the liquid distilled. It’s then mixed with wine and rested in stainless steel for six months. The final step is chill filtration before bottling.

This aperitivo is refreshing and delightful. It’s only 17% ABV, which is perfect for a pre-dinner drink or happy hour by the pool.

Grapefruit Spritz Recipe

We paired Hotel Starlino Rosé Aperitivo with Prosecco and grapefruit soda for a super-refreshing cocktail that’s simple as 1-2-3 to make! You can measure the ingredients, but this cocktail is just as easy to eyeball.

Just pour 3 oz chilled Prosecco, 2 oz Hotel Starlino Rosé Aperitivo, and 1 oz grapefruit soda into a glass over ice and garnish with a slice of grapefruit.

This Rosé Aperitivo would also be wonderful in cocktails such as the Bellini (add Prosecco and peach purée), the Paper Plane (add bourbon, amaro, and lemon juice), and the Naked & Famous (add mezcal, yellow Chartreuse, and lime juice). I’ll definitely be trying some of these out soon!

Grapefruit Spritz

Yield: 1

Prep Time: 2 minutes

Total Time: 2 minutes

Light and refreshing, the Grapefruit Spritz is perfect for a day by the pool or pre-gaming before a night out!

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Ingredients

• 1 oz Grapefruit soda
• 2 oz Hotel Starlino Rosé Aperitivo
• 3 oz Prosecco
• Slice of grapefruit
• Ice

Instructions

1. Pour all ingredients in a glass over ice.
2. Garnish with grapefruit slice.
3. Please drink responsibly.

The post Grapefruit Spritz {Your New Favorite Summer Cocktail!} appeared first on Spilling Tequila.

Tequila is often the spirit of choice on Cinco de Mayo, so what’s a bourbon lover to do? Turns out that tequila and bourbon combine just fine in this rich, smooth Maple Bourbon Margarita recipe.

I’m a big fan of bourbon. So I never hesitate to mix it in a cocktail when I want to try something new. When we were experimenting with new Cinco de Mayo cocktails, I wanted to try a bourbon’d up version of a margarita.

This drink has all the usual margarita ingredients, but with a twist. I settled on maple syrup for a sweetener in this Maple Bourbon Margarita because maple and bourbon go so nicely together. Throw in a few dashes of orange bitters and you’ve got a rich, slightly sweet, delicious cocktail.

Maple Bourbon Margarita Recipe

To make this cocktail, you’ll need 1 ounce of tequila, 1 ounce of bourbon, 1 ounce of pure maple syrup, 1/2 ounce of Triple Sec, 1/2 ounce of fresh-squeezed lime juice, and 3-4 dashes of orange bitters. I recommend a nice reposada tequila because they are aged in oak barrels and complement the bourbon well. We only had silver tequila on hand when we were photographing this drink, but I made it again with reposada and it’s even better.

If you usually drink your margaritas with salt, consider another option for this drink. It’s excellent with no additions at all, but for an extra sweet touch, rim your glass with maple syrup and dip in sugar before making your drink.

This margarita is easy to make. Simply combine all ingredients with ice in a cocktail shaker, shake until frosty cold, then strain into a glass with fresh ice.

When your bourbon-loving friends swing by for a Cinco de Mayo drink, surprise them with this excellent bourbon-infused margarita!

Maple Bourbon Margarita

Yield: 1

Prep Time: 3 minutes

Total Time: 3 minutes

A rich, bourbon'd up version of the classic margarita.

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Ingredients

• 1 oz reposado tequila
• 1 oz bourbon
• 1 oz pure maple syrup
• 1/2 oz Triple Sec
• 1/2 oz fresh-squeezed lime juice
• 3-4 dashes of orange bitters

Instructions

1. Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Shake until frosty cold, then strain into a glass with fresh ice.
3. Please drink responsibly.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 319Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 5mgCarbohydrates: 26gFiber: 0gSugar: 23gProtein: 0g

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

The post Maple Bourbon Margarita: Something New for Cinco de Mayo appeared first on Spilling Tequila.

We’ve all heard of the whiskey sour, but did you know you can make a “sour” cocktail with just about any alcohol? This Tequila Lemon Sour recipe is bright and delicious – a perfect cocktail for Cinco de Mayo.

Sours are mixed drinks made with a base liquor, lemon or lime juice, and a sweetener/syrup. The whole “sour” category of drinks was also traditionally made with egg whites to produce a silky texture and a foam head.

Dry Shake vs. Reverse Dry Shake

For many years, I drank whiskey sours with a pre-packaged sour mix. The thought of raw egg in my drink? Blech. But then I tried it and I never looked back. Making a sour with an egg white gives it a wonderful, creamy texture that just can’t be beat.

The method I learned to make a sour is called a dry shake. You combine all your ingredients in a cocktail shaker without ice and shake vigorously. Agitating the whites causes their proteins to unfold and mixes in air bubbles, creating a nice foam that’s perfectly safe to drink. Once the ingredients are emulsified, you add ice to chill the drink and shake again.

Then recently I read about a reverse dry shake. What was this dark magic, I wondered? It was said that shaking your cocktail with ice after the dry shake was not recommended because it watered down the nice foam of the egg white. It sounded logical, so I put it to the test.

Tequila Lemon Sour Recipe

This tequila sour recipe calls for 1.5 ounces of tequila, 1 ounce of Limoncello, 1/2 ounce of Triple Sec, 3/4 ounce lemon juice, and 3/4 ounce egg white. I made one drink with the traditional dry shake: I combined all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker without ice then, after a good shake, I added in ice for another shake. Strain into a glass and you get the drink on the left in this photo:

Next, I tried the reverse dry shake. I combined all ingredients except the egg white in a cocktail shaker with ice. After shaking to chill, I strained out the ice, added the egg white, and shook again. This ensures the drink is chilled, but the egg white foam is not watered down. You can see the result in the drink on the right.

After tasting both drinks, I much preferred the traditional dry shake followed by the wet shake. It does break down the egg white foam a bit more, but it results in an even, silky consistency. The reverse dry shake resulted in an meringue-like foam with much more air and much more separation. The foam sat on the top of the drink, while the drink itself lacked the velvety taste of the traditional sour.

I hope you will test out both shaking methods for your next sour and let me know what you prefer. And enjoy this Tequila Lemon Sour!

Tequila Lemon Sour

Yield: 1

Prep Time: 3 minutes

Total Time: 3 minutes

A bright tequila sour that's perfect for Cinco de Mayo.

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Ingredients

• 1.5 oz tequila blanco
• 1 oz Limoncello
• 1/2 oz Triple Sec
• 3/4 oz fresh-squeezed lemon juice
• 3/4 oz egg white

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker without ice and shake vigorously for 20-30 seconds.
2. Add ice to the cocktail shaker and shake again until the shaker is frosty.
3. Strain into a glass and serve.
4. Please drink responsibly.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 249Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 36mgCarbohydrates: 19gFiber: 0gSugar: 18gProtein: 2g

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

The post Tequila Lemon Sour Recipe appeared first on Spilling Tequila.

After New Year’s Eve, St. Patrick’s Day may be the holiday most associated with drinking. These 7 St. Patrick’s Day drinks range from the classic Irish whiskey to the green Grasshopper, as well as a couple unique cocktails you might not associate with St. Patty’s Day. Tequila anyone?

And if beer is your chosen St. Patrick’s Day drink, check out our Guinness cocktail recipes!

Irish Old Fashioned

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The classic Old Fashioned is usually made with bourbon, but for this St. Patrick’s Day drink we’re using Irish whiskey, of course! We also used a honey simple syrup (get the recipe in our Ultimate Guide to Simple Syrups!) for a warm, rich taste.

In a rocks glass, add 2 ounces of your favorite Irish whiskey, 1/2 ounce honey simple syrup, and two dashes each of orange bitters and Angostura bitters. Add ice and stir well. Cut a piece of orange peel and express is over the drink. Rub the orange peel on the rim of the glass, then drop it in the drink.

Irish Lady

The Irish Lady is smooth and sweet and it might be your new favorite whiskey sour! To make this cocktail, add the following ingredients to a cocktail shaker (with NO ice):

• 1 1/2 ounces of Irish whiskey
• 1/2 ounce of triple sec
• 1 ounce fresh-squeezed lemon juice,
• 1/2 ounce simple syrup
• 1 egg white

Give it all a vigorous dry (without ice) shake to emulsify the egg white. Then add a couple ice cubes and shake again. Strain into a beautiful coupe glass and watch the foam rise to the top.

Grasshopper

Everyone wants a green cocktail for St. Patrick’s Day. But not many of them taste good. We experimented with several recipes using crème de menthe and they mostly tasted like medicine. But the Grasshopper – a classic, green dessert cocktail – has enough sweet to balance out the minty medicine taste.

To make a Grasshopper, first prepare your glass. Grate a chocolate bar onto a plate. Rub the rim of your glass with a little crème de cacao, then dip the rim in chocolate shavings. Next, add the following to your cocktail shaker with ice:

• 1 ounce cream
• 1 ounce white crème de cacao
• 1 ounce green crème de menthe

Shake well and strain into your prepared glass. Garnish with a clover to give this cocktail a beautiful finish!

Irish Cactus

You don’t normally think of tequila for your St. Patrick’s Day drinks, do you? Well, think again! This cocktail was probably our favorite of all the drinks we tried.

The Irish Cactus is super simple to make. Just combine two ounces of Bailey’s Irish Cream and one ounce of tequila in a shaker with ice. Give it a quick shake just to chill it, then strain and enjoy.

Irish Coffee

Another favorite, this boozy coffee is a perfect after-dinner drink. Start with 4 ounces of hot coffee and add 2 teaspoons of brown sugar. Stir to fully dissolve the sugar, then add 1 1/2 ounces of Irish whiskey. Stir and top with whipped cream and a dash of cinnamon or nutmeg.

Leprechaun Sangria

This sweet, tart, white sangria is a unique addition to your St. Patrick’s Day drink menu. To make it, pour the following ingredients into a large pitcher:

• 1 bottle of Pinot Grigio or similar white wine
• 1/2 cup triple sec
• 1 green apple, sliced
• 1 cucumber, peeled and sliced
• 3 kiwis, peeled and sliced
• 2 limes, sliced
• 1 cup limeade (we like Santa Cruz Organic Limeade)

Stir all ingredients together and chill for a couple hours before serving.

Lucky Punch

This one’s for the kid in all of us. Do you remember that punch your mom made by combining sherbet and ginger ale? It’s my kids’ favorite.

You can make this in a punch bowl – with or without alcohol. Combine a 2:1 ratio of limeade to ginger ale in a big bowl, then add in several scoops of lime sherbet. For an alcoholic version, add in lemon vodka equal to the amount of ginger ale.

To make a single serving of this cocktail, use the same 2:1:1 ratio. Pour 4 ounces of chilled limeade, 2 ounces of ginger ale, and 2 ounces of lemon vodka into a glass and stir. Top with a scoop of lime sherbet. It’s sweet and so delicious!

Feel free to play with your ratios – this recipe is very forgiving. You can make it more or less “sparkling” by adjusting the ginger ale, or add more vodka if you want it super boozy!

Let us know if you try any of these St. Patrick’s Day drinks!

The post 7 Lucky St. Patrick’s Day Drinks {Classic to Unique!} appeared first on Spilling Tequila.

If I had to pick my favorite day of the year, I might just have to say it’s St. Patrick’s Day. Aside from being a great day to celebrate my Irish roots, it’s a day full of music, silliness and cheer that everyone can be a part of anywhere in the world. So when I knew we were going to work on some themed cocktails I couldn’t contain my excitement. And what better place to start than with the Irish staple, Guinness! My St. Paddy’s day would not be complete without a Guinness or two (or three..?). Funnily enough, I swore I never liked it until I had it in Ireland and I’ve been hooked ever since!

Guinness is perfect for St. Patrick’s Day, but these four Guinness cocktails will level up your celebration! Guinness is a dark Irish dry stout that originated in the brewery of Arthur Guinness in Dublin, Ireland, in 1759. It’s now one of the world’s most iconic beers. But not everyone loves a stout. Try one (or all) of these when you want something a little different – or a little more boozy! – than a beer.

Black Velvet

This delicious drink is perfect for the person who doesn’t love Guinness, but likes it a little! Just mix equal parts chilled Prosecco and Guinness Extra Stout in a champagne glass. It’s elegant, light, and so tasty. We absolutely loved it!

Lady Guinness

Pour one ounce of black currant liqueur in a glass and top with Guinness Extra Stout. And don’t you love our adorable shamrock garnish? It’s a cucumber cut with a shamrock cookie cutter!

For this one, you want to use a glass that will hold 6-8 ounces. Don’t use a beer or pint glass because you won’t have the right ratio of beer to liqueur.

We loved the flavor of this Guinness cocktail. It had just the right amount of sweet. We then wondered what other flavored liqueur might be good in a Guinness? Obviously Bailey’s Irish Cream came to mind and coffee liqueur might be pretty amazing too!

Guinness Milkshake

This delicious Guinness milkshake is perfect for your friend with the sweet tooth! Add 2 large scoops of ice cream, 1.5 ounces of whiskey, and 1 cup of Guinness to a blender and mix until smooth. Pour into a pint glass and top with whipped cream and chocolate syrup. So yummy!

You can use any flavor ice cream you want – we used one scoop vanilla and one scoop mint chocolate chip. You could also try chocolate or coffee ice cream. You could also sub the whiskey with Irish cream! This recipe is so versatile, let us know what you try with it!

Jamaican Guinness Punch

This Guinness punch is a traditional favorite served at holidays and family gatherings in Jamaica! It has a sweet, milky, stout flavor and is easy to make in large batches for a party. Just be sure to keep it chilled well. The recipe below makes four drinks, but you can easily adjust it to make more. You’ll need:

• 12 oz Guinness Extra Stout
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
• 1/8 tsp cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract

Blend all ingredients in a blender (or use an immersion blender), then divide into four glasses. A rocks-size glass works best for this cocktail. Top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of nutmeg or cinnamon and enjoy.

We hope you enjoy these Guinness cocktails for St. Patrick’s Day – or any day!

The post 4 Guinness Cocktails to Level Up St. Patrick’s Day appeared first on Spilling Tequila.

This Pine Gin and Tonic recipe may seem a bit untraditional. Simple syrup and ice cubes made from pine needles? Who wants to drink a tree? Trust us – it’s surprisingly tasty (not to mention GORGEOUS!), with an earthy flavor that brings winter and Christmas to your taste buds.

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This cocktail involves a couple extra steps that you might want to prep the day before you actually want to make your drinks. You’ll need at least 2-3 hours to make your ice cubes and simple syrup.

How to Make Pine Ice Spheres and Pine Simple Syrup

The first step in creating this beautiful drink is to make the pine ice spheres. Start with a set of sphere ice molds. Place a small twig from a pine tree into each, cover with water, and let them freeze up.

Next, make your pine simple syrup. Simple syrup is a key ingredient used as a sweetener in many cocktail recipes. In its most basic form, it is made by combining equal parts sugar and hot water. Since sugar does not dissolve well in alcohol or in cold beverages, simple syrup is used to ensure that sweetness is uniformly mixed into a cocktail. 

To make this pine simple syrup, you first need to gather a couple boughs from a pine tree. We used about this much:

Remove the needles from the branches and rinse them well.

• Combine one cup sugar and one cup of water in a saucepan over medium-high heat. 
• Heat the mixture to a gentle simmer for 5 minutes to fully dissolve the sugar, stirring a few times. You want to see steam coming from the surface and a few bubbles. Do not let the water come to a vigorous boil or you’ll start boiling off water, which will affect your water to sugar ratio. 
• Lower your heat to medium-low. Add the pine needles to the pan and simmer gently for 15 minutes. Stir several times during the heating process. 
• Remove from the heat and cool for 5 to 10 minutes.
• Strain out the pine needles and pour the syrup into a clean, air-tight jar.

A mason jar is ideal for your homemade simple syrup, and it’s a good idea to sterilize your jar in boiling water before storing your syrup to guard against any bacterial growth. Store it in your refrigerator and it will stay good for about 2 weeks. If you want it to last longer, mix in a half-ounce of vodka to act as a preservative. This will extend your syrup’s life to about 4-6 weeks.

You can find a lot more detail and more than 40 recipes in our Ultimate Guide to Simple Syrup.

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Making a Pine Gin and Tonic

When your ice cubes and syrup are ready, it’s time to make the drink. Find a gorgeous glass that holds 8-10 ounces. Place a pine ice sphere in the glass. (Don’t forget to take a photo because it’s just so pretty!)

Pour 2 ounces of your favorite gin, a half-ounce of pine simple syrup, and an ounce of fresh-squeezed lime juice into a cocktail shaker with just one ice cube and give it a quick shake. You don’t want to water this drink down (since you’ll also be adding tonic water), but you want it to get mixed and cold before you pour it into the glass so the pine ice sphere doesn’t melt too quickly!

Strain into your glass, top with tonic water and enjoy!

Pine Gin & Tonic

Yield: 1

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Additional Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

A beautiful, wintry, unique cocktail that will impress your guests.

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Ingredients

• 2-3 pine tree boughs
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup water
• 2 oz gin
• 1 oz fresh lime juice
• Tonic water

Instructions

1. To make the pine ice spheres: Place small pine twigs into sphere ice molds and let them freeze.
2. To make the pine simple syrup: Simmer 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup of water with the needles from 2 pine tree boughs. Gently simmer - do not boil! - for 15-20 minutes. Strain and cool.
3. To make the drink: Mix 2 oz gin, 1/2 oz pine simple syrup, and 1 oz lime juice with just ONE ice cube in a cocktail shaker. Give it a quick shake, then strain into a glass with your pine ice sphere.
4. Top with tonic water.
5. Please drink responsibly.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 250Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 0mgCarbohydrates: 0gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 0g

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

The post Pine Gin and Tonic: A Drink to Impress Your Friends appeared first on Spilling Tequila.

If you love the spicy, not-too-sweet taste of ginger beer, you’ll love these ginger beer mocktails. These drinks are chock-full of vitamin- and antioxidant-rich juices, but they’re fancy enough to make you feel like you’re drinking a cocktail. And when you’re ready for an alcoholic beverage, I’ve provided alcohol suggestions to easily transform these mocktails into cocktails.

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Ginger beer is not actually beer and contains no alcohol. It’s a stronger, spicier, and less-sweet version of ginger ale. I love the robust taste and the fiery kick of ginger. Some of my favorite ginger beers include:

• Q Mixers Spectacular Ginger Beer: made with agave nectar and extra spices.
• Franklin & Sons Ginger Beer: extra-carbonated and super flavorful.
• Fever-Tree Premium Ginger Beer: brewed with three types of ginger for extra flavor.
• Zevia Mixer Ginger Beer: a sugar-free option made with Stevia.

Beet Ginger Beer Mocktail

Beet juice is a delicious, super-healthy ingredient for mocktails. Even if you don’t love the flavor of beet juice, it transforms in this delicious, vitamin-packed drink. It also adds amazing color!

• 4-5 mint leaves
• 1/2 oz lime juice
• 1/2 oz ginger honey syrup
• 2 oz beet juice
• ginger beer

Put the mint leaves and lime juice in a cocktail shaker and muddle gently. Add the ginger honey syrup, beet juice and ice, then shake until frosty. Strain into a glass with fresh ice and top with ginger beer. Add a sprig of mint for garnish.

Make it a mule by adding 1.5 ounces of vodka!

Double Ginger Lemon Mocktail

Getting bored with plain water or seltzer? This mocktail will level up your hydration game!

• 1 oz fresh-squeezed lemon juice
• 1/4 tsp freshly-grated ginger
• seltzer or sparkling water
• ginger beer
• lemon slice (or wedge) and blueberries

Mix the fresh ginger into the lemon juice in a tall glass. Top with equal parts seltzer and ginger beer – or use whatever ratio tastes good to you! Top with a few blueberries and a slice of lemon.

This mocktail is just screaming for a couple ounces of your favorite gin!

Ginger Sunrise Mocktail

This mocktail is super easy to make. Simply stir together the shrub and all the juices with ice and top with ginger beer. It’s delicious in the morning, after a workout, or any time of day!

• 1/2 oz ginger shrub
• 1/2 oz lime juice
• 2 oz pineapple juice
• 2 oz orange juice
• ginger beer

Add 1.5 ounces of tequila and a splash of grenadine for a tasty riff on the Tequila Sunrise!

Ginger Pineapple Grapefruit Mocktail

The sweet flavors of pineapple and strawberry are balanced with grapefruit, bitters, and ginger beer in this beautiful mocktail.

• 1 oz pineapple juice
• 1 oz grapefruit juice
• 1/2 oz strawberry simple syrup
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• ginger beer

Add all ingredients except the ginger beer to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well until the outside of the shaker is cold and frosty. Strain into a tall glass with fresh ice and top with ginger beer.

Add 1.5 ounces of bourbon for a delicious cocktail!

Ginger Blood Orange Mocktail

This mocktail is made with ginger beer and another carbonated beverage I want to tell you about – HOP WTR.

HOP WTR is a sparkling water that is brewed with hops, giving it a light, beer-flavored seltzer taste. It’s completely non-alcoholic, but it claims to give you a “buzz” due to the addition of adaptogens (herbs that work to counteract stress in the body) and nootropics (supplements that may improve cognitive function). It’s calorie-free, sugar-free and gluten-free, and tastes a lot better than a regular seltzer.

After trying out HOP WTR for several days, I can say that for me, it helps take the edge off a stressful day. I feel a bit more relaxed and little more focused after I drink a can.

To make this mocktail, you’ll need:

• 1 blood orange
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated ginger (or more to your taste)
• ginger beer
• 1 can Blood Orange HOP WTR

In a tall glass, mix the juice of half the blood orange with the freshly grated ginger. Add ice to the glass and top with HOP WTR and a generous splash of ginger beer. Drop in a couple slices of blood orange and give it a good stir before drinking.

(Note: In the photo above, we made our mocktail in a smaller glass because we drank half the can of HOP WTR before making the mocktail.)

It’s not recommended to mix HOP WTR with alcohol. To make this a cocktail, take out the HOP WTR and add 1.5 ounces of orange flavored vodka.

These ginger beer mocktails are the perfect way to mix yourself up a fancy beverage while staying sober and healthy. Cheers!

The post 5 Ginger Beer Mocktails To Spice Up Your Life appeared first on Spilling Tequila.

This Fireball Eggnog recipe will spice up your favorite Christmas drink! Creamy eggnog blends deliciously with the cinnamon heat of Fireball Whiskey. Then we added a bit of orange flavor for a twist!

It’s the season of eggnog and sure, you can buy a boozy, pre-made version in your local liquor store, but what fun is that? Just buy some eggnog at the grocery store and try one of these two recipes to spike it up for the holidays.

Does Fireball Go With Eggnog? Yes!

Ever since Walmart started selling a non-alcoholic Fireball eggnog, people have been going crazy for this flavor combination. But if you want an alcoholic drink, you’ll need to add Fireball whiskey. And while I usually can’t get enough of Fireball, adding it to already-flavored eggnog just seems WAY too sweet.

The Fireball web site has a recipe they call Firenog. It’s 2 parts Fireball Whiskey and 1 part eggnog. Sounds fine, but I can never just follow a recipe. I need to make it my own.

I’ve been experimenting a lot with bitters lately and I wanted to use these orange bitters from Scrappy’s to balance the sweetness of this drink. I also decided to add a touch of Triple Sec to enhance the orange flavor.

This Fireball Eggnog recipe is simple. Pour 4 ounces of eggnog, 1.5 ounces of Fireball whiskey, 1/2 ounce Triple Sec, and 3-4 dashes of orange bitters in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well until frosty cold, then strain and enjoy.

But if Fireball is not your thing, any whiskey or bourbon is generally excellent in eggnog.

How Much Whiskey Do You Put in Eggnog?

You’ll want a ratio of 4:1 eggnog to whiskey. For each glass, mix 4 ounces of eggnog with one ounce of whiskey, bourbon, or your spirit of choice. Mix well and served chilled or over ice.

There are many types of whiskey, so be sure to experiment with your alcohol of choice. I tried Misunderstood’s Ginger Spiced Whiskey, it was especially delicious! Chill this drink well and garnish with some crystallized ginger for a beautiful Christmas cocktail.

I hope you enjoy these eggnog variations and have a Happy Holiday season!

Fireball Eggnog

Yield: 1

Prep Time: 3 minutes

Total Time: 3 minutes

This Fireball Eggnog recipe will spice up your favorite Christmas drink!

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Ingredients

• 4 oz chilled eggnog
• 1.5 oz Fireball whiskey
• 1/2 oz Triple Sec
• 3-4 dashes orange bitters

Instructions

1. Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Shake well until frosty, strain into a glass, and enjoy!
3. Please drink responsibly.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 332Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 75mgSodium: 70mgCarbohydrates: 27gFiber: 0gSugar: 27gProtein: 6g

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

The post Fireball Eggnog Recipe {With a Twist!} appeared first on Spilling Tequila.

When it comes to big-batch beverages for your party, Sangria is one of the most fun and flexible. With fresh cranberries and a ginger kick, our Ginger Pear Sangria recipe is unique, delicious and gorgeous! And the presentation just screams “Christmas.”

There are so many ways to make a sangria. Most involve wine, fruit, brandy, and some type of fizz. Often thought of as a summer drink, we think our Ginger Pear Sangria is best in the fall or winter. It blends the spicy kick of ginger with a rich pear syrup. Throw in some cranberries and it’s perfect for Christmas!

The fizz in our sangria recipe comes from Franklin & Sons ginger beer. Franklin & Sons products were first introduced in Britain in 1886 and the Franklin brothers quickly established themselves as experts in creating authentic, high quality recipes made from delicious hand-picked ingredients. The foundation of the Franklin & Sons tonic and mixer range is Staffordshire water and the finest British sugar with the highest carbonation possible to lift the most delicate botanicals of any spirit.

They have recently launched their tonic and mixer line in the USA and they can be found at your local Fresh Market! They have club soda, tonic water, ginger beer, ginger ale, and more.

We were gifted some samples of Franklin & Sons products and were delighted by the taste and the extra-fizziness of their mixers. Their ginger beer especially caught our attention. It’s not overly spicy like some ginger beers and it has a distinct lemon flavor that we thought would be perfect for sangria.

We happened to be planning a small holiday get-together, so we set to work creating this Christmas sangria and an awesome charcuterie board to pair with it.

How to Make Ginger Pear Sangria

To make our sangria, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• 2 bottles of dry white wine (we used Dark Horse Pinot Grigio)
• 2 oz pear simple syrup (we made ours with 1/2 brown sugar and 1/2 white sugar for a richer taste)
• 2 oz ginger liqueur (we used Domaine de Canton)
• 12 oz ginger beer (we used Franklin & Sons)
• 3 pears, sliced
• 1 bag of fresh cranberries

Pour the wine, pear simple syrup, and ginger liqueur into a large pitcher or punch bowl and stir. Wash and slice your pears into thin slices. Add the pears and cranberries to the sangria. Pour in the ginger beer and stir again. Keep cold in the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving.

When it’s time to serve, pour the sangria into a glass and top off with a little fresh ginger beer. Enjoy!

Ginger Pear Sangria

Yield: 10

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

A unique and beautiful sangria that is perfect for your party!

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Ingredients

• 2 bottles of dry white wine (we used Dark Horse Pinot Grigio)
• 2 oz pear simple syrup (we made ours with 1/2 brown sugar and 1/2 white sugar for a richer taste)
• 2 oz ginger liqueur (we used Domaine de Canton)
• 12 oz ginger beer (we used Franklin & Sons)
• 3 pears, sliced
• 1 bag of fresh cranberries

Instructions

1. Mix the wine, pear syrup, ginger liqueur, and ginger beer in a large pitcher or punch bowl. Mix well.
2. Add sliced pears and cranberries, and chill for at least an hour.
3. When serving, top each glass off with a little fresh ginger beer.
4. Please drink responsibly.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 10 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 256Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 12mgCarbohydrates: 36gFiber: 2gSugar: 29gProtein: 0g

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

The post Ginger Pear Sangria Recipe appeared first on Spilling Tequila.

The Mistletoe Mojito is a festive riff on the classic mojito. If you love a refreshing, minty mojito, you’ll love this holiday-themed version made with cranberry juice and cranberry simple syrup.

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We love mojitos. We’ve made them with blueberry, jalapeno, coconut, apple and basil, and even as a mocktail. So naturally we needed to make a Christmas version. And it needed cranberry juice and snowball ice cubes.

How to Make a Christmas Mistletoe Mojito

The first thing you need for this Christmas mojito is cranberry simple syrup. We love this Organic Cranberry Spice Syrup from Royal Rose Syrups, but making your own cranberry simple syrup is easy and delicious.

Combine one cup of fresh cranberries, one cup of sugar, and one cup of water in a saucepan and simmer for about 10-15 minutes. You want the cranberries to be softened but not popped. Remove from the heat and let it cool slightly.

Strain the fruit out with a fine mesh strainer, but don’t press the berries through because that will cloud the syrup. The cooked, strained cranberries are the equivalent of fresh cranberry sauce, so eat them with your holiday meal or enjoy them on yogurt or ice cream. And save a spoonful because you’ll use it in this drink.

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While your syrup is cooling, gather the rest of the ingredients for the Mistletoe Mojito: 6-7 mint leaves (or more to your taste), 2 ounces rum, 1 ounce fresh-squeezed lime juice, 1 ounce cranberry juice, 1 ounce cranberry simple syrup, and 1 spoonful (about a tablespoon) of cooked cranberries.

Add the mint leaves, spoonful of cooked cranberries, and lime juice to a cocktail shaker and muddle gently. You don’t want to mash the mint leaves, you just want to massage them to release the oils.

Next, add ice, simple syrup, cranberry juice, and rum to the shaker and shake well until frosty. Strain into a highball glass — and to really make the mistletoe magic, you’ll need three ice spheres (get these ice molds to make spheres) so it looks like a snowman!

Finally, top with club soda or seltzer and garnish with a couple fresh cranberries and a sprig of mint. Cheers!

Mistletoe Mojito

Yield: 1

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Additional Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

The Mistletoe Mojito is a festive, holiday cocktail made with cranberry juice and cranberry simple syrup.

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Ingredients

• 1 cup fresh cranberries, plus a few for garnish
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup water
• 2 oz light rum
• 1 oz fresh lime juice
• 1 oz cranberry juice
• 6-7 mint leaves (or more to your taste)
• Seltzer or club soda

Instructions

1. To make the syrup: Simmer the cranberries, sugar, and water in a saucepan over medium heat for 10-15 minutes, then strain and allow to cool.
2. Strain gently, don't press the cranberries through the strainer because it will cloud your syrup.
3. Reserve a spoonful of strained cranberries. Save the rest of the cranberry sauce for a meal or dessert!
4. To make the cocktail: In a cocktail shaker, gently muddle the mint leaves, lime juice and about a tablespoon of cranberry sauce.
5. Add a few ice cubes, rum, cranberry juice, and 1 ounce of your cranberry syrup. Shake well until frosty.
6. Strain into a highball glass over ice spheres, top with club soda, and garnish with a couple fresh cranberries and a sprig of mint.
7. Please drink responsibly.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 250Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 0mgCarbohydrates: 0gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 0g

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

The post Mistletoe Mojito appeared first on Spilling Tequila.