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.

Vodka is the perfect spirit for Christmas cocktails because it doesn’t add a strong flavor to your drinks. You can let the flavors of the season shine! We created three vodka cocktails for Christmas that are sure to impress your friends and family.

Christmas Vodka Cocktails with NEFT

We were gifted a sample of NEFT Vodka and we loved everything about it – from the unique packaging to the smooth, clean taste with its slightly sweet finish. Crafted in the Alps of Austria for its oxygen-rich spring water, NEFT is an ultra-premium vodka with a taste as memorable as its container – this sophisticated metal drum that protects the vodka from light and heat. It’s available in black, white, or a seasonal pride theme.

Not only is the barrel stylish, it’s highly functional. After pouring, you screw the cap back on and push it down into the barrel top – making it portable, leak-proof and unbreakable. The barrel also keeps NEFT Vodka cold for up to 6 hours. But don’t freeze your vodka! Did you know that freezing vodka dulls its taste? Just chill it in the frig a couple hours before using.

Rosemary Vodka Cranberry

Our first Christmas cocktail is a riff on the classic vodka cranberry. Cranberry is a popular holiday flavor, but adding in a bit of orange and rosemary brings this drink to the next level.

• 2 oz NEFT Vodka
• 1 oz cranberry juice
• 1 oz orange juice
• 1/2 oz cranberry simple syrup
• 2 inches of fresh rosemary
• Frozen cranberries, sugar, rosemary and an orange slice for garnish

Muddle the rosemary in orange juice, then add the rest of the ingredients to the cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well and strain over fresh ice. Add an orange slice, rosemary, and frozen cranberries for garnish and sprinkle with sugar.

Ginger Vodka Cranberry

Another vodka cranberry riff, this cocktail uses ginger liqueur for a bit of a kick!

• 1.5 oz NEFT Vodka
• 1 oz Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur
• 1 oz cranberry juice
• 1/2 oz fresh-squeezed lime juice

For this beauty, simply shake all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice, then strain over fresh ice and garnish with cranberries and lime.

Coconut Chocolate Martini

Did you know that the classic martini is made with gin and vermouth – not vodka? But over time vodka became an acceptable substitute and bartenders everywhere started calling anything with vodka in it a “martini.”

This recipe is really about as far from a true martini as you can get, but it is served in a martini glass! And it makes a fantastic dessert cocktail.

• 2 oz NEFT Vodka
• 3/4 oz Cream of Coconut
• 1/2 oz Godiva Chocolate Liqueur
• 1/4 oz chocolate syrup (leave this out if you like it less sweet)
• Chocolate chips and coconut flakes to rim the glass

First, you’ll want to garnish your glass. Pour some coconut flakes on a plate. Melt 1/4 cup of chocolate chips (or more if you’re making several drinks) in wide bowl or plate in the microwave. Stir well so the chocolate is smooth, then roll the rim of your glass in the chocolate. Immediately dip the glass in the coconut flakes.

Pro tip: After making this drink, we recommend you only rim half the glass with chocolate and coconut. Rimming the full glass looks pretty, but the coconut hardens in the chocolate and it’s a bit “spiky” on your lips when you try to drink it!

Once your glass is prepared, pour the vodka, cream of coconut, chocolate liqueur, and chocolate syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well – 30-60 seconds – to fully incorporate all the ingredients. Strain into your prepared glass and enjoy!

The post Three Christmas Vodka Cocktails That Will Impress Your Guests 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.

This Witch’s Brew Halloween cocktail is perfect for your spooky-season gathering. Get your punch bowl ready for this mysterious-looking drink!

Whenever I’m having a party that includes kids, I always make sherbet punch. It’s a simple recipe: pour 2 bottles of ginger ale in a punch bowl and add in scoops of rainbow-colored sherbet. It’s colorful, sweet, frothy, and festive. Always a crowd-pleaser.

Another reason I love it is because it’s easy to serve. I put out cups and a ladle and let the kids serve themselves. When the party involves adults, I’d also like to have something colorful, festive, and easy to serve. I want to enjoy the party and not always be the bartender!

This Witch’s Brew cocktail fits the bill.

How to Use Dry Ice in a Cocktail

The secret ingredient to this punch-cocktail is dry ice. If you’ve ever worked with dry ice, you know that it’s fun, but there are safety tips you must know.

• Dry ice is carbon dioxide in frozen form. As it warms, it turns into a gas, giving it that awesome, smoky effect. But in frozen form, it’s -110°F, so handling it properly is a top priority.
• Use gloves when handling dry ice and don’t let it touch your skin. (Keep reading for how to properly serve dry ice in this cocktail!)
• Don’t buy it too early. Five pounds of dry ice will evaporate in less than 24 hours. Ideally, you should get your dry ice just a few hours before your party. Dry ice is available at many grocery stores, Walmarts, and other retailers.
• Once you do bring it home, store dry ice in a styrofoam or insulated cooler with the lid slightly open. It needs to have ventilation for the gas to escape. You may think you need to keep it in a closed freezer or cooler, but that can result in your container exploding or your freezer shutting down!
• Use dry ice in a well-ventilated area. It gives off carbon dioxide that you don’t want building up in a closed, poorly-ventilated room. The same goes for any unused dry ice – be sure to let the gas dissipate in a well-ventilated area.

How to Make Witch’s Brew

To make Witch’s Brew, you’ll need dry ice, 36 ounces of cream soda, 12 ounces of vodka, green food coloring, and 1/3 teaspoon of matcha powder. You won’t be able to taste the matcha – it is mainly for coloring!

In a large bowl, combine cold cream soda, vodka, and matcha powder. Whisk well to fully dissolve the matcha. If clumps remain, remove them with a spoon.

Check if the color of your cocktail is right for you. If you want a different shade of green, add two drops of green food coloring at a time and mix well. Continue adding drops, then whisking, until your desired color has been reached.

Once you have the perfect “witchy” color, add a little ice to keep your brew cold. But don’t use too much ice or you’ll dilute the cocktail. For best results, make sure your vodka and soda are very cold before making the brew.

You have a couple options to create the dry ice fog. You can place your dry ice right in the punch bowl. It will stay at the bottom and guests can enjoy the fog effect without having the dry ice in their drink. My preferred option is to use two bowls. Put your cocktail into a punch bowl, then place that into a larger bowl. Carefully place the dry ice in the outer bowl, then add water to get it smoking. Check out this helpful video:

But if you want each individual drink to have the fog effect, you can place small, 1-inch cubes of dry ice into each drink. I highly recommend using a mason jar to serve if you do the ice this way – the ice will sink to the bottom and it will stay away from your guests’ lips. Be sure to advise them NOT to consume the ice!

Vodka and soda is one of the easiest, most basic cocktails you can make, so this recipe is highly customizable. You could literally mix any flavor vodka and soda and food coloring and have so much fun with it!

Looking for more Halloween-themed drinks? Try my Twilight-Inspired Vampire Cocktail!

Witch's Brew Halloween Cocktail

Yield: 6

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

This Witch’s Brew Halloween cocktail is perfect for your spooky-season gathering.

Print

Ingredients

• 36 oz cold cream soda
• 12 oz cold vodka
• 1/3 tsp matcha powder
• Green food coloring (optional)
• Dry ice (do NOT consume dry ice – it is strictly for decoration)

Instructions

1. In a large punch bowl, combine cold cream soda, vodka, and matcha powder.
2. Whisk well to fully dissolve the matcha. If clumps remain, remove them with a spoon.
3. Check if the color of your cocktail is right for you. If you want a different shade of green, add two drops of green food coloring at a time and mix well. Continue adding drops, then whisking, until your desired color has been reached.
4. There are a few options for using the dry ice to get the foggy, spooky effect: You can add the dry ice directly to the punch bowl; you can add small 1" pieces of dry ice to each serving; or you can place your punch bowl inside a larger bowl and add the dry ice and some water around it. I prefer the third method because it gives the effect without the risk that anyone will touch the dry ice to their lips! Please use caution when using dry ice and read my full post for tips!
5. Please drink responsibly.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 223Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 23mgCarbohydrates: 25gFiber: 0gSugar: 25gProtein: 0g

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

The post How to Make a Witch’s Brew Halloween Cocktail appeared first on Spilling Tequila.

The Hot Ginger Mule is a variation of the classic Moscow Mule using Hot Ginger Lime Syrup from Royal Rose Syrups. Your mule will have a little extra kick when using this organic syrup!

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Mixology is such an interesting topic. Every day I’m fascinated by the different ways to make a drink. Let’s take the classic Moscow Mule for example. Vodka, lime juice, simple syrup, and ginger beer. But when I tried to determine if this drink should be shaken or stirred, I found conflicting opinions.

Some say to stir the first three ingredients, then add ice and top with ginger beer. Others suggest pouring all the ingredients into a glass over ice and leaving the stirring to the person drinking it. Still another opinion is that the drink is better when first shaken with ice – to break up the oils in the citrus and to create a delicate froth – then topped with ginger beer.

Each of these methods would result in a slightly different taste and there is no right or wrong answer. You can also alter the ingredients slightly to give a new dimension to the cocktail or alter it a lot for something totally unique.

It’s just so damn fun!

Making the Hot Ginger Mule

For this variation of the Moscow Mule, I used Hot Ginger Lime syrup from Royal Rose Syrups. I’m a big fan of their small-batch, locally sourced, certified organic syrups. The Hot Ginger Lime is an infusion of organic ginger, jalapeño peppers, and lime juice that creates a spicy and fruity profile.

To make this drink, you’ll need two ounces of vodka, one ounce of Hot Ginger Lime Syrup, one ounce of fresh-squeezed lime juice, and ginger beer. And you absolutely need a copper mule mug to serve it in!

Now, the big question… did I stir, build, or shake my Mule? I’m usually a big fan of shaking cocktails. I think the bit of foam shaking creates gives a really smooth mouthfeel and I like shaking to thoroughly combine the ingredients. I’ll also admit that it makes me feel like more of a “bartender” when I shake a drink! 😀

But for this drink, I went with the stir. This drink gets a fair amount of ice and I didn’t want to dilute it more by shaking with ice. It was just gut feeling. Next time, I’ll try it with a shake. Because I will definitely be making this drink again.

To make the Hot Ginger Mule, start with a mule mug about half-filled with crushed ice. Pour in two ounces of vodka, one ounce of Hot Ginger Lime Syrup, and one ounce of fresh-squeezed lime juice. Stir, then top with ginger beer (we love Q Mixers!).

About Royal Rose Syrups

We were gifted a sample of Royal Rose Syrups to test out and create cocktails and I have fallen in love with them. Yes, I do like to make my own simple syrups, but Royal Rose is constantly coming out with new, seasonal flavors that I couldn’t duplicate on my own. 

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.

In addition to making cocktails, these syrups are an all-purpose, natural sweetener for mocktails, cooking, baking, desserts, teas, coffees, seltzer and more. Shop Royal Rose Organic Syrups here!

Hot Ginger Mule Cocktail

Yield: 1

Prep Time: 3 minutes

Total Time: 3 minutes

The Hot Ginger Mule is a kicked-up variation of the classic Moscow Mule using Hot Ginger Lime Syrup from Royal Rose Organic Syrups.

Print

Ingredients

• 2 oz Vodka
• 1 oz Hot Ginger Lime Syrup from Royal Rose Syrups
• 1 oz fresh-squeezed lime juice
• Ginger Beer
• Crushed ice

Instructions

1. Put a handful of crushed ice in a copper mule mug.
2. Pour in the vodka, Hot Ginger Lime syrup, and lime juice.
3. Stir, then top off with ginger beer.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 275

The post Hot Ginger Mule: Spicy Moscow Mule Riff 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.

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.

Strawberry Vodka Lemonade is a quick and easy cocktail that’s perfect for summer parties! This fun, summery drink has an easy ingredient list, and it’s great for porch drops to all your favorite people!

Happy Mother’s Day!

This post goes out to all my fellow moms who have been doing extra, extra duty during this crazy pandemic time. You all work SO HARD every single day and you deserve… a cocktail of course!

My mother-in-law and sister-in-law both live just a few minutes away, and since we couldn’t get the whole big family together this year like we usually do, I decided to gift them both with a cocktail delivery! My mother in law is a nurse and works so hard caring for folks in an assisted living facility, and my sis is the most dedicated momma to two little boys. They were both in dire need and very deserving of a relaxing treat. 

Both of these ladies have a sweet tooth so I wanted it to be nice and fruity. It was also going to be a lovely sunny day, so a summery drink seemed appropriate. And what says summer like lemonade? Make it strawberry lemonade and you just can’t lose. 

Here in New Jersey, strawberries will be in season in just a few weeks, and we have always gone out picking together as a family. The little ones eat more than they pick, the adults throw a bunch in their drinks after the long day. What’s not to love?

Big Batch Cocktails

Since I was going to need several drinks (two for them, the rest for me?… It’s Mother’s Day for me too after all), I decided to make a big batch in a pitcher and then divvy up into mason jars for easy porch delivery. Important to note… pick the right sized pitcher so you don’t run out room like I did! Haha. 

This fun, summery drink has a pretty easy ingredient list! Strawberries, lemons, simple syrup, water and vodka! 

Get Mixing

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I made my own simple syrup using Florida Crystals Organic Cane Sugar but the pre-made stuff works just as well. I just can’t seem to keep it on hand, and think I’m going to keep trying to make my own when I can. It saves money and packaging, and it’s really so “simple”! Just mix one cup of sugar with one cup of water, cook over medium heat and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat, cool and you’re ready to add it to your drink. I keep it in a mason jar in the refrigerator, where it will keep for about a month. 

To make your pitcher of Strawberry Vodka Lemonade, start by cutting the tops off of your strawberries and adding them to your blender or vessel of choice. I use a hand mixer, so I usually use a half gallon mason jar to keep the mess to a minimum. 

Puree your strawberries and then strain to keep all those pesky seeds out of your drink. This step can take a bit of time, but in my opinion it’s worth not getting strawberry seeds stuck in your teeth! 

Juice your lemons, and make sure to squeeze every bit of goodness you can out of them. I am for sure tempted to use the bottled stuff but it’s definitely not the same!

Combine strawberry puree, lemon juice, simple syrup, vodka and water in your pitcher. Give it a good stir and chill in the fridge. To serve, pour over a full glass of ice, add slices of lemon and strawberries and drink with your favorite reusable straw. 

Photo below is the part where I realized I couldn’t fit the water in to my pitcher… That is just the first cup or so and I had 3 more to go! Transferred to a larger pitcher (not pictured) mixed and re-poured into the pretty one. 🙂

Cocktail Delivery!

But the best part of this story is the delivery! It was so fun surprising these ladies that I love so much with cocktails made especially for them. Poured it into a few mason jars for my girls, sealed tight and dropped off along with a big air hug. <3

Happy Mother’s Day!

Strawberry Vodka Lemonade

Yield: 8

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Make this sweet, refreshing, summery cocktail for your next gathering!

Print

Ingredients

• Pint of strawberries
• 1 C Fresh squeezed lemon juice
• 1 C Simple syrup
• 2 C Vodka
• 4 C Water
• Sliced strawberries and lemon for garnish

Instructions

1. Puree strawberries and strain to elminate seeds
2. In a large pitcher, mix lemon juice, simple syrup, vodka and water
3. Pour over a full glass of ice
4. Add sliced strawberries and lemon (can be added to pitcher if preferred)
5. Please drink responsibly.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 229Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 7mgCarbohydrates: 26gFiber: 2gSugar: 22gProtein: 1g

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

The post Strawberry Vodka Lemonade: Pitcher Cocktails appeared first on Spilling Tequila.