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.

Hanukkah, oh Hanukkah, come light the menorah,
Let’s have a party, we’ll all dance the hora —

{{ Insert screeching sound of a vinyl record stopping abruptly }}

No, there won’t be much partying or hora-dancing for Hanukkah 2020. But that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy one of these amazing Hanukkah cocktails. Or two. Or five.

A Bit About Hanukkah

Somewhere around 2,200 years ago, the Jews lived in the Holy Land of Israel, which was ruled by the Persians and the Egyptian Greeks. They allowed the Jews to follow their religious traditions. But then King Antiochus IV came along and forced the Jews to worship Greek Gods. Anyone caught practicing Judaism could be killed.

A group of Jews called the Maccabees revolted and, after a 3-year war, they liberated Jerusalem from the Greeks. The Maccabees wanted to rededicate their temple to God, as the Greeks had been worshipping Zeus there. They lit the temple’s menorah (the Hebrew word for lamp) but they could only find enough oil to keep the menorah lit for one day. Miraculously, the menorah remained lit for 8 days!

Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is celebrated for 8 days and Jews traditionally eat fried foods such as potato latkes and jelly doughnuts to commemorate the miracle of the oil.

Now I enjoy a peppermint or eggnog cocktail as much as the next person, but they don’t go very well with brisket and latkes. So I created five Hanukkah-themed cocktails to help celebrate the Festival of Lights. L’chaim!

Menorah Margarita

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This margarita is a bit smoky – like the candles on your menorah. It gets its beautiful blue hue from simple syrup and ice cubes made from butterfly pea flower tea (recipe below).

• Mix 1 ounce mezcal tequila, 1 ounce blanco tequila, and 1 ounce lime juice in tall glass.
• Add crushed ice and club soda, leaving about 1-2 inches at the top of the glass.
• Carefully top with crushed blue ice cubes.
• Slowly pour 1 ounce of blue simple syrup on top. As the syrup and ice cubes slowly mix with the lime juice, the bottom of the drink will start to turn purple. Once you mix it, it will all turn purple.
• Mix well before drinking to distribute the flavors.

How to Make Blue Simple Syrup

I made my blue simple syrup with butterfly pea flowers (click to buy some – they are really fun!). Here’s the step-by-step:

• Steep 1/4 cup dried butterfly pea flowers in a teapot with 4 cups of boiling water.
• Steep for 10 minutes, then strain out the flowers.
• Combine 1 cup of the blue tea in a saucepan with 1 cup of sugar. (Keep the rest of the tea to drink and to make ice cubes.)
• Heat the mixture to a gentle simmer for 5 minutes to fully dissolve the sugar. 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. 
• Stir with a whisk several times during the heating process. 
• Remove from the heat and cool for at least 10 minutes.
• Pour into a clean, air-tight jar. A mason jar is ideal for your homemade simple syrup. It’s a good idea to sterilize your jar in boiling water before storing your syrup to guard against any bacterial growth.
• Find more simple syrups recipes in our Ultimate Guide to Simple Syrups!

The remainder of your butterfly pea flower tea can be used to make blue ice cubes or to simply drink as a healthy tea. And if you don’t know about its magic color-changing properties, squeeze some lemon in your tea and watch it turn purple!

Vodka Gimel

Gimel is the best letter on the dreidel.

Dreidel is a game played on Hanukkah that involves spinning a 4-sided top. At the beginning of each round, every player puts one game piece into the center “pot.” Game pieces can be anything from pennies to poker chips to chocolate Hanukkah coins called “gelt.”

When it’s your turn, you spin the dreidel and the letter it lands on tells you what to do. You might get nothing (nun), you might get half the pot (hey), or you might have to put a piece in (shin). But when the dreidel lands on gimel, you win the whole pot!

A riff on the Vodka Gimlet, I enhanced this cocktail with a bit of blueberry. If you prefer the classic Gimlet, use gin instead of vodka.

• Combine 2.5 ounces of vodka (or gin), ½ ounce lime juice, and ½ ounce blueberry simple syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice.
• Shake until frosty, the strain into a coupe glass.
• Add blueberries for garnish.

Mazel Tov Cocktail

No, not molotov cocktail, but this drink does have some fire in it. And I tried so hard to make it flame. Cinnamon sticks don’t burn, they only smoke. Same with rosemary and thyme. Then I read that you could soak a sugar cube in high-proof alcohol and it would burn. No dice – even when I made a little “pool” of 100 proof bourbon inside the orange peel shell. (If anyone knows how to make a flaming cocktail garnish, please let me know!)

Flame or no flame, this fireball mixed drink pairs wonderfully with the applesauce on your latkes.

• Pour 2 ounces of Fireball Whiskey into a rocks glass (you can personalized ones – click here!).
• Add 2-3 dashes of Bitterman’s Burlesque Bitters (You need these bitters! They are a mix of hibiscus, acai, and long pepper – seriously, this stuff is amazing!)
• Add ice and stir.
• Top off with ginger ale and stir again.
• Garnish with orange peel, cinnamon stick, or something flaming!

The Jelly Donut

Jelly donuts, or sufganiyot, are a traditional Hanukkah treat. And there’s nothing wrong with starting your day with jelly donuts and a cocktail. It’s 2020.

• Rub a glass rim with lemon juice, then roll it in powdered sugar.
• Carefully place ice in the glass (I recommend ice spheres made with these molds). Don’t “drop” the ice in the glass – it will make the powdered sugar fly all over and fall off the rim.
• Pour 2 ounces of vanilla vodka, 3/4 ounce lemon juice, and 3/4 ounce Chambord liqueur in a cocktail shaker with 2-3 ice cubes.
• Shake until frosty, and strain into your prepared glass.
• Garnish with lemon peel and raspberries.

The Spinning Dreidel Hanukkah Gelt Cocktail

This sweet concoction goes down easy and makes a lovely dessert cocktail while playing dreidel.

• Squeeze some chocolate syrup onto a plate and dip a glass in it. Roll it around to get a good amount of chocolate on there and let it drip down inside the glass. For a cleaner look, you can melt some chocolate chips in the microwave and rim the glass in the melted chocolate – this is thicker and the chocolate will harden on the glass rim instead of dripping.
• In a cocktail shaker, add 1 1/2 ounces each of vanilla vodka, Rumchata, and Godiva chocolate liqueur.
• Add 3-4 ice cubes and shake for about 30 seconds.
• Strain into your glass and top with chocolate shavings.

I hope you enjoy these Hanukkah cocktails and have as much fun with them as I did. Happy Hanukkah!

The post 5 Hanukkah Cocktails to Put the Mazel in your Tov 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.

Celebrate Dia de los Muertos with this surprisingly flexible Day of the Dead drink. No cherry juice on hand? You can substitute just about any red juice in this Cherry Chili Margarita – we recommend the beet juice!

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

An Introduction to Espanita Tequila

We were gifted a couple bottles of Espanita Tequila to taste test and to create some cocktails. And it might be our new favorite tequila. Chrissy, Naomi, and I loved the smooth, slightly sweet taste and these gorgeous bottles!

Espanita Artisanal Tequila is a handcrafted, award-winning tequila created by following traditional manufacturing techniques developed hundreds of years ago in Mexico.

The unique flavor of a tequila reflects the imprint of the geographical region where the Blue Agave plants are cultivated – in the mountainous terrain of Jalisco, Mexico, called the Highlands, or in the valley surrounding the city of Tequila, known as the Lowlands. Differences in altitudes above sea level, types of soil, climate, and rain patterns impact the intrinsic characteristics of Blue Agave and result in contrasting flavors. The Agave plants from the Highlands that are used in Espanita production are bigger in size, richer in sugar content and have a longer growing cycle, producing fruitier, sweeter tequilas.

Available in Blanco, Reposado and Añejo, Espanita Tequilas retail for $26.99 to $34.99 in the US. While Espanita Blanco is bottled fresh from the still, the Reposado and Añejo are aged in slightly charred ex-Bourbon American white oak barrels for 6 and 18 months, respectively.

And it’s celebrity endorsed. Armando Christian Pérez, aka Pitbull, is Espanita’s global brand ambassador and has equity in the brand.

How to Make this Day of the Dead Drink

Since Dia de los Muertos is upon us, we decided to create something rich, colorful and delicious with Espanita Tequila. And because we love spicy drinks (like this Jalapeno Mezcal Margarita or our Death by Cider), it needed some heat. We came up with a Cherry Chili Margarita.

Now, can I tell you a secret? The drink you see in these photos is made with beet juice instead of cherry juice. That’s all we had on hand when we were taking photos, and since it’s the same color, we figured it would be fine.

But to my surprise, it turned out better than fine. It was delicious! If you like healthy beet juice, give it a try in this tasty margarita. I’m sure you could use just about any red juice you like – pomegranate, cranberry, cherry, or beet.

To make a Cherry Chili Margarita, mix the following ingredients in a cocktail shaker with a few ice cubes:

• 2 ounces Espanita Tequila Blanco
• 1 ounce fresh-squeezed lime juice
• 1/4 ounce Sour Cherry Shrub from Tait Farm Foods
• 3/4 ounce Three Chili Syrup from Royal Rose Organic Syrups
• 2 ounces organic cherry juice (or beet, pomegranate or cranberry!)

Shake until the shaker is nice and frosty, then strain into a margarita glass with fresh ice cubes. Garnish with lime wheels and enjoy!

Bonus Recipe: Mango Star-Rise with Espanita Reposado

Here’s another recipe you can try, courtesy of Espanita Tequila!

• 2 oz Espanita Reposado Tequila
• 2 oz Mango Juice
• 1 oz Orange Juice
• 1 oz Grenadine
• 1 Starfruit

1. Slice one starfruit and remove visible seeds with a tip of a knife. Muddle sliced star fruit to a pulp and measure 1 ounce of pureed star fruit in a jigger and add to cocktail shaker.
2. Add mango and orange juice (freshly pressed juice is preferable), Espanita Reposado tequila, and a handful of ice.
3. Shake well and strain into a chilled cocktail glass filled with fresh ice.
4. Gently pour grenadine down the inside of the glass so that it does not get mixed with the cocktail and slowly sinks to the bottom of the glass.
5. Garnish the drink with a slice of star fruit and serve immediately.

Cherry Chili Margarita

Yield: 1

Prep Time: 3 minutes

Total Time: 3 minutes

Our Cherry Chili Margarita is surprisingly flexible - try it with beet juice!

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Ingredients

• 2 oz Espanita Tequila Blanco
• 1 oz fresh-squeezed lime juice
• 3/4 oz Royal Rose Three Chili Organic Simple Syrup
• 1/4 oz Tait Farm Foods Sour Cherry Shrub
• 2 oz organic cherry juice (or try beet, pomegranate, or cranberry!)

Instructions

1. Pour all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Shake until frosty cold, then strain over fresh ice.
3. Garnish with lime wheels.
4. Please drink responsibly.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 240

The post Day of the Dead Drink: Cherry Chili Margarita appeared first on Spilling Tequila.

If you like drinks with a lot of flavor and some serious heat, drop everything and make this spicy tequila recipe. Tequila infused with garden-grown cayenne peppers, mixed with fall-favorite apple cider and some fresh ginger? YES, please! 

I’m not a gardener. I’d love to be, and EVERY year I say I’m going to set up some amazing raised bed situation… But, alas, the best I’ve done so far is some pots on the deck. It is what it is, right?

This year I tried some herbs, tomatoes and peppers. Tomatoes were a bust for whatever reason but my herbs and hot peppers did great!

I was so proud of myself for growing these gorgeous cayenne peppers I just had to do something fantastic with them. And of course my first thought was drinks instead of food, haha. I made a fun summer spicy strawberry drink but I really wanted to do more. So I came up with the idea to infuse some tequila because spicy margaritas are the best margaritas! 

How to Infuse Tequila

To infuse my tequila, I filled a mason jar with Milagro Silver Tequila, chopped the tops off of three of my cayenne peppers and sliced them lengthwise. Dropped them into the tequila, seeds and all. Sealed it up and sat it on the counter to steep. And then I washed my hands a few times and tried to remind myself not to go near my eyes for a while…

I’d planned to leave it for just 2 days, but ya know, life happens. So 5 days later I finally got around to straining and tasting. It had turned a light yellowish color. I poured just a taste into a shot glass and went for it.

OH MY GOSH. Fantastic flavor at first taste, and then holy wonderful heat. And I mean feel it all the way down to your toes heat. So good. 

I had Chrissy and Shannon come over to mix some drinks and do some tasting and we all agreed that it was soooo good. If you want a killer shot, this is it.

But, we wanted to make a fun fall drink with it so I got to thinking about fall ingredients and what might pair well, and I came up with what we like to call “Death by Cider”.  (It’s not that scary, I promise!)

How to Make This Spicy Margarita

Since we’re working with tequila, we created a fall-themed, spicy margarita for you! This cocktail is made with apple cider, lime juice, agave syrup, and fresh, grated ginger. Apple cider is a sweet fall staple that helps balance the heat, ginger is always my go to, and the lime juice and agave balance it all out. And between the pepper-infused tequila and the ginger, you’ll taste the heat in this cocktail long after you sip.

Make this drink in a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour two ounces of your infused tequila and four ounces of apple cider, then add 1/2 ounce each of fresh-squeezed lime juice and agave syrup. Grate about 1/2 teaspoon of ginger into your shaker, then give it a shake until it’s frosty. Strain into a glass with fresh ice.

The sweet of the cider, flavor of the grated ginger, and heat of the tequila are an incredible mix that has made this my new favorite fall drink! I’m going to have to infuse some more tequila so I can make a few for Halloween!

Death by Cider

Yield: 1

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 2 minutes

Total Time: 7 minutes

Spicy apple cider margarita made with hot pepper infused tequila and fresh ginger.

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Ingredients

• 2 oz Spicy Tequila
• 4 oz Apple Cider
• 1/2 oz Fresh Lime Juice
• 1/2 oz Agave Syrup
• 1/2 tsp Fresh Grated Ginger
• Sliced apple, ginger and pepper for garnish (optional)

Instructions

1. Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice.
2. Shake and strain over ice into a margarita glass.
3. Garnish with a slice of apple, ginger and pepper.
4. Please drink responsibly.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 234Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 7mgCarbohydrates: 26gFiber: 0gSugar: 22gProtein: 0g

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

The post Spicy Tequila Recipe: Death By Cider appeared first on Spilling Tequila.

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.

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.

Print

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.