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.

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.

Cranberries are the flavor of the holiday season. So instead of the traditional orange juice mimosa on Christmas morning, mix up this simple and delightful Cranberry Pomegranate Sparkler. It’s also perfect for Valentine’s Day or brunch any time of year!

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Essential Ingredient: Cranberry Simple Syrup

We here at Spilling Tequila are big fans of Royal Rose Organic Simple Syrups. Their products are organic, non-GMO, and gluten-free, with ingredients locally sourced near their Newcastle, Maine facility. Each syrup is made with raw sugars, farm-fresh ingredients, and without artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.

We do love to make our own simple syrups, but Royal Rose has some unique flavor profiles that are tougher to duplicate (like the Hot Ginger Lime we used in this Hot Ginger Mule!).

Their Cranberry Spice is perfect for all your fall and winter holiday drinks. It’s tart and warm and mixes well with whiskey and vodka. It also makes a stellar sparkling cocktail.

Cranberry Pomegranate Sparkler Recipe 

To make this drink, you’ll need 1/4 cup pomegranate seeds, 1 ounce of Royal Rose Cranberry Spice Organic Simple Syrup, and chilled Prosecco.

The hardest part of making this drink is getting those fresh seeds out of the pomegranate. Yep, it’s messy, but fresh ingredients are SO worth it.

Once you’ve liberated the pomegranate seeds from their captivity, put about 1/4 cup of seeds in measuring cup (or any other wide-mouthed container) and add 1 ounce of the Cranberry Spice syrup. Muddle well to release the pomegranate juice.

Give the mixture a stir and then strain into a glass. For this drink, you’ll want to use a champagne flute, a large coup glass or any sparkling wine glass. We chose this gorgeous glass not thinking about how big it was and ended up pouring half a bottle of Prosecco into one drink!!! Oops! I’d recommend one the smaller ones above.

Once you’ve strained into the perfect glass, top off the Cranberry Pomegranate Sparkler with Prosecco and garnish with some pomegranate seeds and a cinnamon stick. If you opt for giant glassware – you may want to double up on the pomegranate/syrup mixture to maximize the fruity flavor.

Cranberry Pomegranate Sparkler

Yield: 1

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Instead of the traditional orange juice mimosa on Christmas morning, mix up this refreshing Cranberry Pomegranate Sparkler.

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Ingredients

• 1/4 cup fresh pomegranate seeds
• 1 oz Royal Rose Cranberry Spice Simple Syrup
• Chilled Prosecco

Instructions

1. Combine pomegranate seeds and cranberry spice syrup in a measuring cup (or other container) and muddle well.
2. Strain into a glass and top with chilled Prosecco.
3. Garnish with a few pomegranate seeds and a cinnamon stick.
4. Please drink responsibly!

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 180Total 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 Cranberry Pomegranate Sparkler appeared first on Spilling Tequila.

We’re all making a lot more cocktails at home these days. And while it’s fun to experiment with new and unique ingredients, I’ve found that having a few flavored mixers and syrups on hand allows me to be creative without having to constantly buy a ton of ingredients. Here are three different cocktails you can make with “The Lemongrass” ROOT cocktail mixer.

When you’re making cocktails at home, it’s not always easy to get the fresh, high-quality ingredients you might find in a good, artisanal bar drink. But that doesn’t mean you have to resign yourself to a “high fructose corn syrup cocktail.” There are some great products on the market that are made with natural, organic ingredients and ROOT Cocktail Mixers are one such product.

ROOT Mixers make it easy to mix cocktails, and they come in several unique flavors such as hibiscus/elderflower, pear/lemon, grapefruit/cherry and more. Making a cocktail with these mixers can be as simple as stirring together your spirit of choice with the mixer over ice. Or you can get a little fancy, like with our Lemongrass Pisco Sparkler.

Lemongrass Pisco Sparkler Recipe

This sparkling cocktail is light, easy, and refreshing. The Lemongrass mixer adds a perfectly unique taste, elevating this drink a bit higher than a typical mimosa or bellini. It’s perfect for brunch, or for Thanksgiving or Christmas morning. It would also make an excellent alternative to champagne for your New Year’s Eve celebration.

To make our Lemongrass Pisco Sparkler, you’ll need The Lemongrass ROOT cocktail Mixer, Pisco, and sparkling white wine or Prosecco. Stir together one and a half ounces of Pisco and two ounces of ROOT Mixer. Top with sparkling white wine, garnish with lemon, and you’re all set!

In addition to the Lemongrass Pisco Sparkler, I’ve also tried ROOT’s Lemongrass mixer a couple other ways. It’s fantastic when mixed with tequila – one part Espanita ReposadoTequila to two parts Root mixer.

You can also make a deeeelicious Lemon Rum & Coke with this mixer. I mixed one ounce of dark rum, 1/2 ounce Dr. McGillicuddy’s Raw Vanilla Liqueur and 1.5 ounces of ROOT Lemongrass mixer with ice. Then topped it off with coke. Easy, sweet, and just a little more exciting than your regular rum and coke.

Grab yourself a bottle of ROOT’s “The Lemongrass” mixer, or try one of their other flavors such as “The Hound” (grapefruit/tart cherry), “The Cuke” (cucumber/lime/elderflower), “The Granada” (pomegranate/lemongrass), and more. ROOT Mixers retail for $16 for a 16-ounce bottle or $24 for a 32-ounce bottle.

Lemongrass Pisco Sparkler

Yield: 1

Prep Time: 2 minutes

Total Time: 2 minutes

This Lemongrass Pisco Sparkler made with ROOT cocktail mixer has a unique taste that elevates it above a typical mimosa or bellini. It's perfect for brunch, or for Thanksgiving or Christmas morning.

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Ingredients

• 1.5 oz Pisco
• 2 oz "The Lemongrass" ROOT cocktail mixer
• Sparkling white wine, chilled
• Lemon for garnish

Instructions

1. Add Pisco and ROOT mixer in a glass and stir with a bar spoon.
2. Top with chilled sparkling white wine.
3. Please drink responsibly.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 220Total 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 Lemongrass Pisco Sparkler with ROOT Cocktail Mixer appeared first on Spilling Tequila.

The original Mai Tai recipe is not the one you might recognize as a symbol of tropical paradise. There was no cherry, no pineapple, and definitely no paper umbrella in the classic, original Mai Tai cocktail. Read on for the recipe and a bit of history on this delicious drink.  

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Who Invented the Mai Tai?

As with most cocktails, the origin of the Mai Tai is somewhat disputed. But the prevailing belief is that the Mai Tai was invented by Victor J. Bergeron – better known as “Trader Vic” – in 1944. It was a simple drink meant to highlight the flavor of a 17-year-old Jamaican rum.

Trader Vic used a golden rum made by Jamaican distiller J. Wray and Nephew. His recipe included lime juice, orange curaçao, orgeat syrup, and simple syrup. Legend has it that Trader Vic served his creation to some Tahitian friends, who exclaimed, “Maita’i roa a’e!” This translates to “out of this world – the best!” And that is where the name Mai Tai (the best) comes from.

The drink is traditionally garnished with half of a spent lime shell and a sprig of mint. A small circle is cut to expose the pith of the lime. It’s meant to look like a small island with a palm tree.  Simple and beautiful.

The Hawaiian Mai Tai Recipe

So where did the more garish Mai Tai come from? The one with orange slices and pineapple juice and topped with a cherry and umbrella? This is the Mai Tai most are used to seeing these days in tiki bars around the world.

That cocktail was also created by Trader Vic around 1954 when he worked for the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Waikiki, Hawaii. Vic added pineapple and orange juices to his drink to sweeten his recipe for a more tourist-friendly cocktail. That sweeter recipe, for better or for worse, stole people’s hearts and is the one you’ll find most often on cocktail menus.

To make a Hawaiian Mai Tai, add all the following ingredients – except the dark rum – to your cocktail shaker with ice. Shake, pour into a glass, then pour the dark rum over the back of a bar spoon to float on top.

• 1.5 oz light rum
• 1/2 oz triple sec
• 1/2 oz orgeat syrup
• 1/2 oz fresh lime juice
• 1/2 oz fresh orange juice
• 1/2 oz pineapple juice
• 1/2 oz dark rum

But let’s get retro and learn how to make the original “out of this world” rum cocktail.

Original Mai Tai Recipe

To make the original Mai Tai, you’ll need a fresh lime, orange curaçao (Triple Sec can work), orgeat syrup (almond syrup), simple syrup, and a golden rum. This is a simple, rich drink so there’s nothing fancy about the preparation – just add all the ingredients to your cocktail shaker with a big handful of crushed ice and shake.

To show off your knowledge of the original Mai Tai recipe, be sure to get the garnish right! Take a half of lime after you’ve juiced it, and slice a small piece of the peel off to expose a little circle of the pith. Think of this as an island and the green of the lime is the water around your island. Then add a sprig of fresh mint to represent a palm tree.

Now that you know the proper way to make an original Mai Tai, you can start tweaking the ingredients and making your own riffs!

Original Mai Tai

Yield: 1

Prep Time: 3 minutes

Total Time: 3 minutes

The original Mai Tai cocktail, as created by Trader Vic.

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Ingredients

• 2 oz golden rum
• 3/4 oz fresh lime juice
• 1/2 oz orange curaçao or Triple Sec
• 1/4 oz orgeat syrup
• 1/4 oz simple syrup
• Crushed ice
• Sprig of mint and juiced lime half for garnish

Instructions

1. Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with a large handful of crushed ice.
2. Shake until frosty.
3. Pour into a rocks glass (ice included) and add more crushed ice as desired.
4. Cut a small circle of peel from the spent (juiced) lime half to expose the pith. Lay the lime half on top of the ice and add the sprig of mint. This is intended to look like an island with a palm tree!
5. Please drink responsibly.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 270Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 8mgCarbohydrates: 27gFiber: 1gSugar: 20gProtein: 0g

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

The post The Original Mai Tai Recipe appeared first on Spilling Tequila.

I came up with this Pomegranate Whiskey Sour recipe when I was trying to make a vampire-themed cocktail. This drink turned out to be a little too pink for the vampire theme, but it’s still delicious!

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My go-to drink is the whiskey sour. Before I started this blog and started taking my home bartending skills seriously, I always made a whiskey sour with bourbon, lemon juice and simple syrup. I never used a sour mix and the idea of a raw egg white kinda grossed me out.

But I have evolved.

The first time I tried an egg white in a drink is when Naomi made me her Pisco Sour. I loved the smooth, creaminess the egg white brought to the drink. Ever since then, I’ve been obsessed with foamy sour drinks!

I even did a little research and found that when egg whites are shaken thoroughly without ice, they emulsify. Agitating the whites causes their proteins to unfold and mixes in air bubbles, creating a nice foam that’s perfectly safe to drink. (Check out these other cocktail questions you’ve always wanted answered!)

Perfect Valentine’s Day Cocktail

When I was working on a vampire-themed cocktail (inspired by Stephanie Meyer’s new Twilight book – Midnight Sun), I turned first to my trusty whiskey sour. How could I make it red? And so the Pomegranate Whiskey Sour was born.

It’s definitely too pretty for a vampire cocktail, but its pink foaminess is just perfect for Valentine’s Day or even Christmas! To make this drink, you’ll need:

• 2 oz whiskey of your choice (rye and bourbon are both types of whiskey, so they work great, too)
• 1/2 oz fresh-squeezed lemon juice
• 1/2 oz simple syrup (or this skinny, sugar-free version!)
• 1/2 oz pomegranate juice
• 1/2 oz egg white

Pour all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake without ice. This is called a “dry shake” and it’s an important step to emulsify the egg white.

After a vigorous dry shake for 15-20 seconds, add ice and shake again for another 20-30 seconds. The outside of the shaker should be nice and frosty and your arm should be tired. 🙂 Then strain into a coup glass and let it sit for a few seconds to allow the foam to rise to the top.

Let’s talk a little more about that egg white. It can be difficult to measure a half-ounce of an egg white. It’s thick and not always easy to get the perfect amount. Don’t stress about it. A half ounce is typically half of an average egg white, so if you are making two whiskey sours, just put the whole egg white in. I rarely measure my egg whites anymore and it’s never made much of a difference in my drink.

If you really want to impress your guests – or your Valentine – garnish your sour with a pretty flower, a dried rosebud, a Luxardo cherry, or even some cocktail glitter!

Pomegranate Whiskey Sour

Yield: 1

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

The Pomegranate Whiskey Sour is a classic whiskey sour with the simple addition of pomegranate juice - making it pretty and foamy and pink!

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Ingredients

• 2 oz whiskey
• 1/2 oz fresh squeezed lemon juice
• 1/2 oz simple syrup
• 1/2 oz pomegranate juice
• 1/2 oz egg white

Instructions

1. Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker and vigorously dry shake (without ice) for 15-20 seconds. This is an important step to emulsify the egg white.
2. Add a few ice cubes and shake for another 20-30 seconds.
3. Strain into a coup glass and let sit for a few seconds to allow the foam to rise to the top.
4. Please drink responsibly.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 173Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 26mgCarbohydrates: 10gFiber: 0gSugar: 9gProtein: 2g

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

The post Pomegranate Whiskey Sour appeared first on Spilling Tequila.

These beet juice cocktail recipes might sound unusual, but adding beet juice and some ginger to your cocktail concoctions not only adds great taste and color, it’s super healthy too! Here are three twists on classic cocktails using these two amazing root vegetables. 

I had some beets and ginger root that were threatening to go bad so I decided to use them both in some cocktails. I juiced the beets and made honey simple syrup with the ginger. Since I’m working with such healthy ingredients I wanted to make sure I wasn’t adding any unnecessary processed sugars to sweeten my drinks. Ginger honey syrup for the win!

Getting to the Root of It

Both of these colorful root vegetables have lists a mile long of their incredible health benefits, ranging from possible cancer prevention to improved digestion. 

Beets are full of vitamins and antioxidants and are known to help lower cholesterol and blood pressure, increase energy and stamina and improve liver function, and boost your immune system. Ginger is a known digestive aid, infection fighter, pain reliever and nausea reliever. 

Both have been shown in studies to contain cancer fighting properties, improve heart disease risk, and even help brain function and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. 

Spicy Dirt?

Ok, so we all know these things are good for us, but we’re making cocktails here – not diet smoothies right? LOL. Ginger is a pretty common ingredient in cocktails so it’s not too much of a stretch. And I would probably put ginger in almost every drink – I LOVE IT.  I opted to use mine by making a homemade ginger honey simple syrup, which gives me a great natural sweetener and spice at the same time! 

Beets seem to be a bit more of a love it or hate it sorta thing. My husband insists that they just taste like dirt, and while I do admit that they have a kind of earthy vibe, there’s something about it that I just cannot get enough of.

I’ve only been turned onto beet juice recently at a local (pre-covid) smoothie bar and have been hooked ever since. I could drink it every day (and have been recently)! Give it a nice kick with the ginger and oh my goodness, so good. 

Classics with a Dirt-y Twist

Since I wanted to make sure these wonderful, vitamin-filled veggies didn’t go to waste, I thought I’d try to turn some classic cocktails into beet juice cocktails. I went with three staples: the Gin and Tonic; Margarita; and Moscow Mule. The mule was definitely my favorite of the three. 

Here’s how to make these three rooty classics! 

Start with a ginger honey syrup:

• 2/3 c chopped, fresh ginger
• 1 1/2 c water
• 4 TB honey

Combine in a pan, bring to a boil and then let it simmer for 40 minutes or to desired consistency. Once cool, strain and store in the refrigerator to use in tea or cocktails, like this Grapefruit Ginger Bourbon Sour recipe!

Beet Ginger Gin and Tonic

• 1 oz  Beet Juice
• 1.5 oz Gin
• 1 oz Lemon Juice 
• 1/2 oz Ginger Honey Simple Syrup
• Tonic Water

Shake first 4 ingredients, strain over ice and top with tonic. 

Tequila Beet Juice Cocktail

• 2 oz Beet Juice
• 2 oz Tequila
• 1 oz Lime Juice
• 1/2 oz Ginger Honey Simple Syrup

This Beet Ginger Margarita is super simple. Just shake all the ingredients and strain over ice. Don’t forget to rim your glass with salt first!

Vodka Beet Juice Cocktail

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And now for my favorite, the Beet Ginger Mule! 

This one has muddled fresh mint, both the beet juice and ginger syrup, lime juice, vodka and ginger beer. Recipe below!

Beet Ginger Mule

Yield: 1

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Give your Moscow Mule a healty kick with beets and ginger.

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Ingredients

• Mint leaves
• 1/2 oz lime juice
• 2 oz beet juice
• 2 oz vodka
• 1/2 oz ginger honey syrup
• Ginger beer

Instructions

1. Muddle mint leaves with lime juice in shaker.
2. Add beet juice, vodka and ginger syrup and shake.
3. Pour over ice into a copper mug.
4. Top with ginger beer.
5. Please drink responsibly.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 300Total 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 Beet and Ginger – Twists on Classic Cocktails 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.

No mint leaves? Here’s how to make a mojito without mint. You can also turn this recipe into a mojito mocktail, or add any number of fruit variations to change it up!

July 11th is National Mojito Day. When we were talking about what to create for our Instagram post, I found out that Chrissy had never tried a mojito, Naomi wanted to work on mocktail, and I had no fresh mint in the house. So we set out to come up with some variations on the classic.

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Classic Mojito Recipe

A classic mojito is made with 1.5 ounces of white rum, 1 ounce of lime juice, 1/2 ounce simple syrup (or 2 teaspoons granulated sugar), and 4-6 fresh mint leaves. Muddle the ingredients in a tall glass, then add ice, top with club soda, and give it a good stir.

You can also make a mojito in a cocktail shaker. I prefer to make most of my drinks in a shaker and strain them. I like a more even mix, a slightly frothy texture, and a clean drinking experience with no pieces of herbs or fruit. For the mojito, muddle the ingredients and give it a quick shake with a little ice. Strain into an ice-filled glass and top with club soda.

What if you don’t have fresh mint, but you’re craving a refreshing rum and lime drink? Don’t worry, there’s more than one way to make a mojito.

How to Make a Mojito Without Mint

No mint leaves? Try substituting basil, rosemary, cilantro, or jalapeno. You could also use a mint-flavored liqueur, mint bitters, or even a peppermint tea bag. Avoid mint extract or essential oil – they are both too concentrated and strong. They’ll overpower the drink and make it taste artificial.

To make a mojito without mint leaves, you basically follow the classic mojito recipe, but muddle in a different herb or fruit – or both! Here are few ideas we recommend.

Blueberry Basil Skinny Mojito Recipe

Chrissy had basil growing, so she decided her first mojito would be this beautiful Blueberry Basil Skinny Mojito!

If you’re skeptical about basil in a drink, I get it. I was too. But I highly recommend you try it because it’s absolutely delicious.

• 1.5 oz white rum
• 1 oz lime juice
• 1 Stevia packet
• 6 fresh basil leaves
• 2 spoonfuls of frozen blueberries
• plain seltzer / club soda

Muddle the ingredients (minus the seltzer), give it a quick shake or stir, then pour over ice. Top with plain seltzer / club soda.

You can use just about any fruit in place of blueberries in this recipe. Or swap the basil for another herb. There are so many options!

Jalapeno Mojito Recipe

I wasn’t going to drink today. But then I decided to make risotto for dinner. When I’m standing around the kitchen cooking for a long time, I crave a drink. Also, my husband recently made basil-infused ice cubes that I wanted to try out.

I like to be creative and take risks. I had some jalapeno simple syrup I needed to use up and I loooove my Mezcal Jalapeno Margaritas. So why not apply that idea to a mojito?

• 1.5 oz white rum
• 1 lime, cut into quarters
• 1/2 oz jalapeno simple syrup
• 2 basil-infused ice cubes (see below)
• club soda

Combine the simple syrup and 3 of the lime quarters in a cocktail shaker. Muddle well to release the lime juice. Add rum and basil ice cubes and shake for 20-30 seconds. Strain into an ice-filled glass and top with club soda. Garnish with the final lime wedge and a basil leaf.

Making herb-infused ice cubes is easy! My husband put about a cup of fresh basil leaves in a large mason jar with water and let it sit in the refrigerator overnight. Then we strained it into ice cube trays. The flavor is pretty strong when you use them in a drink, so depending on the intensity I’m after, I will shake a drink with the ice cubes instead of putting them directly into my cocktail.

Iced Tea Mojito Recipe

This recipe uses mint tea in place of the mint leaves. Again, it’s super flexible in that you can use any kind of tea you like. You can use Stevia or simple syrup. And you can even muddle in any fruit or herb if you desire!

• 1.5 oz white rum
• 1 oz lime juice
• 1/2 oz simple syrup (or one packet Stevia)
• 1/2 cup strongly brewed mint tea, cooled
• plain seltzer / club soda

How to Make a Mojito Mocktail

Naomi was the only one of us that had mint leaves on hand. So she made a mojito mocktail.

To make this mocktail, you’ll need:

• 1 oz lime juice
• 1 oz simple syrup
• 10-15 mint leaves
• lime seltzer

In a tall glass, muddle the mint leaves in the lime juice, then add the simple syrup. Fill the glass with ice, top with lime seltzer, and stir.

This mojito mocktail is so refreshing. You could add almost any fruit to it and it would be delicious.

The post How to Make a Mojito Without Mint (Plus a Mojito Mocktail!) appeared first on Spilling Tequila.

You could drink the same layered, sweet slushies you often find on July 4th. Or you could try something a little different like a red, white, and blue gin and tonic! I’ve got four July 4th cocktails simple enough to serve to a few guests or just to mix up for yourself.

Next week is Independence Day here in the US and while our celebrations may look a little different this year (thanks pandemic), one thing probably remains the same… you’ll want a nice cocktail.

July 4th Cocktails WITHOUT Blue Curacao

There are tons of recipes online for red, white, and blue layered slushy drinks. These generally involve creating three different batches of slushies: one with strawberries, one with lemonade, and one with blue curacao.

You make them ahead of time and store them in three separate bags in your freezer. Before serving, let them thaw a bit and then layer them in a glass. They look lovely and taste sweet.

I don’t know about you, but to me that sounds like a lot of work and risk. What if they didn’t thaw properly? What if I didn’t have enough for my guests?

Also? Not really a fan of Blue Curacao.

I wanted something simpler. So I set out to create some cocktails that are festive, easy, and a little different. Here’s what I came up with:

What goes with Red White and Berry Smirnoff Vodka?

If you’ve browsed the liquor store in early summer, you’ve seen Smirnoff’s Red White & Berry Vodka featured on an end cap. Yes, it tastes just like the label looks: like the classic Bomb Pop (aka Firecracker).

Independence Lemonade

The easiest way to use this vodka is in lemonade! So my first recipe was a simple vodka lemonade. Mix two ounces of Smirnoff into your favorite sparkling lemonade.

This recipe is fantastic because it’s so flexible. Instead of sparkling lemonade, you could use regular lemonade, a low-cal version, a homemade lemonade with the sugar of your choice, club soda, or lemon seltzer.

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Patriotic Moscow Mule

This is my own take on a Moscow Mule using lemon juice and Luxardo maraschino liqueur to complement the Red, White and Berry vodka.

First, make the blue sugar by adding two drops of blue food coloring to two heaping tablespoons of white sugar in a Ziploc bag. Mash it around with your fingers and shake the bag until the coloring is evenly distributed.

Dump the sugar onto a plate or a wide bowl. Rub a piece of lemon around the edge of your glass, then roll it in the sugar.

In a cocktail shaker with ice, pour 2 ounces of Smirnoff, 1/2 ounce of Luxardo, and 1 ounce of lemon juice. Shake and strain into a glass over ice. Top with ginger beer. I like Q Mixers Ginger Beer because it’s natural and not too sweet.

Please ignore the ice in my photo! I tried to freeze cherries in my ice ball tray… but they just look like eyeballs. (Or something worse!)

Firecracker Hard Lemonade

This is for all the fans of Mike’s Hard Lemonade. It used to be one of my absolute favorites, though I’m slowly growing out of overly-sweet, malt beverages. My 21-year-old son loved this one though!

For this super-simple cocktail, just pour a chilled Mike’s Hard Lemonade into a highball or collins glass and add 2 ounces of Smirnoff’s Red, White & Berry vodka. The vodka cuts the malt taste of the Mike’s and gives your drink a boost of alcohol (since the Mike’s has barely any!).

Float a Bomb Pop in there for extra presentation points!

Red, White and Blue Gin and Tonic

And now we get to the pièce de résistance! The layered, red, white and blue gin and tonic!

It was Naomi that originally found this recipe on Instagram. The first time I made it, I used plain tonic water. It was just “ok.” I like a little more sweetness in my G&T.

On my next try I used Fever Tree Lemon Tonic Water and OMG. It is delicious!

For this impressive-looking drink, you simply need to pour a half-ounce (or one ounce if you like it sweeter) of Grenadine in the bottom of a tall glass. Then fill the glass with crushed ice all the way to the top and pour in about 5 ounces of tonic water. The amount of tonic will depend on your glass size. Just leave an inch or so at the top for the blue gin!

Measure two ounces of Empress 1908 Gin into a jigger or large shot glass. Using a bar spoon, slowly pour the gin over the back of the spoon so it spreads across the top of your tonic water.

This 4th of July-themed gin and tonic is easy to make and your guests will love it! Give it a nice stir before drinking to mix up the flavors and it will settle into a nice bright pinkish-red color.

Have a wonderful holiday everyone and please share your drinks with us on Instagram – just tag us @spillingtequila!

Red White and Blue Gin & Tonic

Yield: 1

Prep Time: 3 minutes

Total Time: 3 minutes

This layered, red, white and blue gin & tonic is impressive to look at and easy to make!

Print

Ingredients

• 1/2 oz Grenadine
• 5 oz Fever Tree Lemon Tonic Water
• 2 oz Empress 1908 Gin
• Tall glass of crushed ice

Instructions

1. Pour the Grenadine into the bottom of an EMPTY glass.
2. Add crushed ice to fill to the top.
3. Slowly pour 5 ounces of lemon tonic water (use more if your glass is tall - you want about an inch left at the top of the glass).
4. Pour the Gin into a jigger or shot glass, then SLOWLY pour it over the back of a bar spoon to float it on top of your drink.
5. Serve for presentation, but give it a stir before drinking.
6. Please drink responsibly.

Notes

If you like your drinks sweeter, use one ounce of Grenadine. You can also experiment with different flavors of tonic water.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 240

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

The post Red White and Blue Gin & Tonic (and 3 More July 4th Cocktails) appeared first on Spilling Tequila.