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

What is a Spritz?

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

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

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

About Hotel Starlino Rosé Aperitivo

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

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

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

Grapefruit Spritz Recipe

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

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

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

Grapefruit Spritz

Yield: 1

Prep Time: 2 minutes

Total Time: 2 minutes

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

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Ingredients

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

Instructions

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

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

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

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

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

Maple Bourbon Margarita Recipe

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

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

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

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

Maple Bourbon Margarita

Yield: 1

Prep Time: 3 minutes

Total Time: 3 minutes

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

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Ingredients

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

Instructions

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

Nutrition Information:

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

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

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

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

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

Dry Shake vs. Reverse Dry Shake

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

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

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

Tequila Lemon Sour Recipe

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

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

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

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

Tequila Lemon Sour

Yield: 1

Prep Time: 3 minutes

Total Time: 3 minutes

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

Print

Ingredients

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

Instructions

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

Nutrition Information:

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

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

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

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

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

Irish Old Fashioned

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

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

Irish Lady

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

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

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

Grasshopper

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

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

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

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

Irish Cactus

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

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

Irish Coffee

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

Leprechaun Sangria

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

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

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

Lucky Punch

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Black Velvet

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

Lady Guinness

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

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

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

Guinness Milkshake

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

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

Jamaican Guinness Punch

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to Make Pine Ice Spheres and Pine Simple Syrup

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

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

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

Remove the needles from the branches and rinse them well.

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

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

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

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Making a Pine Gin and Tonic

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

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

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

Pine Gin & Tonic

Yield: 1

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Additional Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

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

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Ingredients

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

Instructions

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

Nutrition Information:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Beet Ginger Beer Mocktail

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

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

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

Make it a mule by adding 1.5 ounces of vodka!

Double Ginger Lemon Mocktail

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

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

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

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

Ginger Sunrise Mocktail

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

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

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

Ginger Pineapple Grapefruit Mocktail

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

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

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

Add 1.5 ounces of bourbon for a delicious cocktail!

Ginger Blood Orange Mocktail

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

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

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

To make this mocktail, you’ll need:

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

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

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

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

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

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

A stunning, unique whiskey decanter is the cherry on top of your home bar. But is there a specific reason why you put whiskey in a decanter? We’ll tell you the answer and show you six gorgeous decanters we love. You’ll have a hard time choosing just one!

I recently decided I NEEDED a whiskey decanter. And not just a random whiskey decanter, it needed to be classic, beautiful eye candy for the top of my bar. Something Don Draper of Mad Men fame would be proud to pour from.

My husband and I both love whiskey and bourbon, so I thought I’d try to surprise him with a nice decanter and some new glasses. I have an antique TV cabinet that I’ve been working on converting to a proper liquor cabinet, and I really wanted to finish it off with a gorgeous bit of bling on top. 

Is There a Reason You Put Whiskey in a Decanter?

And then I started wondering… Need is strong word. Clearly I really want a decanter to look pretty, but what about actual functionality? Does decanting whiskey change it the way it does with wine? Wine is generally decanted to allow for some oxidation to enhance the flavor, and to reduce any sediment that might be in the bottle. 

Whiskey decanters were originally filled right from the barrel and if nothing else, a necessary container. These days, we generally aren’t heading out back to fill our glass right from the barrel.

Since whiskey is so high in alcohol, it’s not subject to change from oxygen exposure. So the only reason to put your whiskey in a decanter is to make it look pretty.

And I am totally OK with that! Time to get shopping. 

Look Out for Lead

My original thought was to find a vintage set either locally or on Etsy, since the cabinet and most of my favorite things are Mid-Century Modern. I wanted to stick with the theme. I do LOVE all things vintage, as well as buying used rather than everything new, but after a little research and some thought I had to decide against it. 

Why? While leaded crystal may be okay for your glassware – as it’s only being used for a short period of time – a decanter that’s going to hold your liquor for longer stretches may leach lead into your whiskey and pose a serious health risk. And since I’d no way of knowing for sure with a vintage piece, I felt best to buy new. 

Unique Whiskey Decanters – Time to Shop!

I got to shopping and found a decanter gift set with glasses that I thought was really pretty for a decent price on Amazon. And then the crazy shipping delay mess that was December happened. And so a week after Christmas I got an email that my package was missing and I’d be getting a refund. And of course it’s no longer available. Womp, womp. 

Never fear, I was probably spending more than I should since we’ve already determined that I don’t NEED it, haha. So, back to finding the perfect decanter, and I thought I’d share my finds with you! For every budget and taste, there’s something here for everyone!

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This beauty from Decicio Glass on Etsy is absolutely dreamy. Definitely going on my wish list! 

This personalized monogram decanter and glass set would make such an amazing housewarming or wedding gift! 

Looking for something completely different to really make a statement? I love to travel and this would definitely be a great nod to that! Check out this fantastic globe decanter set.

This diamond design decanter from Amazon is absolutely stunning and comes in a beautiful gift box! 

I’m a bit obsessed with all things gold and just love the design on this modern decanter from Crate and Barrel. 

After spending waaaaay too much time looking at pretty glass, I ultimately decided on this decanter and glass set on Amazon and I love it! Classic, beautiful and so affordably priced.

Which one of these gorgeous decanters do you NEED? I think I’ll be revisiting this post myself at some point to get one of these beauties for my downstairs bar cart… Cheers!

The post 6 Unique Whiskey Decanters {and Why You NEED at Least One!} appeared first on Spilling Tequila.

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

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

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Have A Reason For Not Drinking

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

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

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

Have a Plan

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

Indoor Things To Do Instead of Drinking

1. Learn How To Play An Instrument

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

2. Cook Something New

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

3. Learn How To Dance

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

4. Learn A New Skill On SkillShare

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

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

5. Learn Something New on MasterClass

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

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

6. Make A New Pinterest Board

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

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

7. Build or Paint a Model Kit Truck/Car

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

• 1968 Chevy Camero
• 1978 GMC Pickup

8. Read A Book

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

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

9. Build A Puzzle

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

10. Play A Board Game / Online Game

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

• Battleship
• Operation
• Online Uno

11. Play Your Old Video Games

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

• Wii
• Sega
• Nintendo DS

12. Play With Your Kids

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

13. Online Fitness Classes

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

Outdoor Things To Do

14. Go For A Walk

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

15. Go Watch a Winter Sunset

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

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

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

17. Be A Photographer

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

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

18. Run!

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

19. Go Hiking

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

20. Go For A Bike Ride

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

21. The Fitness Trail At Your Local Park

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

Ways to Replace Your Cocktail

22. Drink Mocktails

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

23. Buy A New Water Bottle

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

24. Drink Some New Seltzer Flavors

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

25. Go for a Late Night Milk Shake Run

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

Self Care Things To Do

26. Self Tan!

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

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

27. Care For Your Hair

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

28. Plan Your Summer Vacation

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

29. Take a Bubble Bath

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

Home Things To Do

30. Tackle a DIY Project

Here are a few great DIY and Crafting Blogs…

• Paper & Stitch
• P.S.- I Made This

31. Deep Clean

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

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

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

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

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

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

Celebrities With Alcohol Brands

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

Snoop Dogg / 19 Crimes – Cali Red

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

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

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

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

Aaron Paul and Brian Cranston / Dos Hombres Mezcal

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

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

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

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A post shared by Aaron Paul (@aaronpaul)

George Clooney / Casamigos Tequila

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

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

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

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

Nick Jonas / Villa One Tequila

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

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

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

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

Sammy Hagar and Guy Fieri / Santo Tequila and Mezquila

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

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

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson / Teremana Tequila

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

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

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

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A post shared by Teremana Tequila (@teremana)

Kenny Chesney / Blue Chair Bay Rum

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

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

Ryan Reynolds / Aviation American Gin

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

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

Sam Huegan / The Sassenach Blended Scotch Whisky

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

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A post shared by Sassenach Spirits (@sassenachspirits)

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

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

Paul Wesley and Ian Somerhalder / Brother’s Bond Bourbon

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

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

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

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

Conor McGregor / Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey

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

Matthew McConaughey / Longbranch Bourbon

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

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

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

Val and Candace Cameron-Bure / Bure Family Wines

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

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

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

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

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