Sparkling Rhubarb & Flower Cocktail

I'm seeing a pattern here. The common ingredient in all of my favorite cocktails is St. Germain. It's just so classy and so delicious. Now that the sun is starting to show its face again around these parts, Spring feels closer than ever and I want everything floral. Lucky for me, I can have my flowers and drink them too. (Oh, and you as well, which is why I'm sharing the recipe.)

What you'll need:

 - 1 ½ oz. Art in the Age Rhubarb Tea

 - 1 ½ oz. St. Germain

 - Tonic Water

 - Ice

 - A sprig of Rosemary and a slice of grapefruit, plus more to garnish

Muddle the grapefruit and rosemary in the bottom of a shaker. If you don't have a muddler, a wooden spoon will work just fine. Add ice followed by a shot of Rhubarb Tea and a shot of St. Germain. Shake and strain over ice. Add tonic water. Garnish to your liking and enjoy!

Simple, elegant, and refreshing. Now if only it would stay warm so I can enjoy one of these drinks while also working on my tan. Okay, who am I kidding, I don't get tan. It would be nice to sit outside anyway though. Drink responsibly!

xo,

e.m.

Party Idea: A Create-Your-Own Cocktail Bar

Last night (Friday) was a wonderful, glorious girls' night. I never had girlfriends until recently and I don't understand how I survived for so long without them. (Some thoughts on that here.) We're all pretty creative ladies so thinking of fun ideas kept me awake at night. What are we supposed to do, drink some Black Russians, pop in a rom com, play cards and call it a night? No. Our hands must create. Glancing over at my overflowing liquor cabinet, my mind devised this plan: a create-your-own cocktail bar. BOOM.

It seems like such a simple idea but it is one that is open to endless possibilities of ending so poorly. Not enough booze, not enough possible combinations, too much booze,  not enough blackberries... For my first little make-your-own bar night, I think it went pretty well. Here's what I learned:

The most important thing to remember is variety, variety, variety. Some are whiskey girls. Some are vodka girls. Some like gin. Others enjoy champagne. Find your staples but don't make it boring. Find a good balance of liquors and liqueurs. Variety doesn't stop at the hard beverages though! Include many different choices for mixers. Tonic water and pineapple juice are staples but why not branch out a little more? Pomegranate juice and Blood Orange San Pellegrino were big hits. Fresh fruit and herbs are also a must-have. They're good for muddling as well as garnishing. The more unexpected, the better. We loved having lychees and starfruit on hand.

Sharing is to be encouraged. The name of the game is to try as many combinations as you can without getting too... tipsy. This is why we share. It's fun tasting concoctions that you never would have thought of conjuring up.

Never underestimate the power of having extra ice handy. I didn't think this through and ended up running back and forth from the fridge in the kitchen to the dining room table many times. It's not a far trek but it's also not conducive to party-time conversation. Yelling into the other room over the buzz and clatter of falling ice cubes falling into a glass vase is not a good look for anyone. Have plenty for the glasses as well as the shaker.


I'll definitely be doing this again. It was so much. Just remember to drink responsibly and if you have to, hide the car keys. 

Hope you all have a fantastic weekend!

xo,
e.m.

Chocolate & Citrus Cocktail

Is there anything better than chocolate-covered fruit? The answer is no, absolutely not. Having said that, of course I would be experimenting with a fruit and chocolate cocktail for February. Spodee is one of my new favorites and is the perfect candidate for satisfying that craving in a wonderful and boozy way. It's grape wine mixed with chocolate moonshine. Are you sold yet? This drink is chocolatey, citrusy, and a little bit bubbly.

What you'll need:

 - Spodee Wine

 - Cointreau

 - St. Germain

 - Ginger Ale

Pour one shot each of Cointreau and St. Germain into the glass. Add a shot and a half of Spodee and top it off with Ginger Ale. 

Enjoy at a Valentine's soiree, while cuddling with your significant other, or while curled up on the couch with your beloved pet while watching Scorsese films. (Like I will!) Remember to sip responsibly.

xo,

e.m.

Peach Candy Cocktail

After improvising this cocktail for some "me time" last weekend, I decided that it needed to be tweaked and shared with the world. Gummy peach rings used to be my favorite candy but since I've discovered Peach Schnapps, I'm barely missing them. Because of the pretty color, this drink would be perfect for... dare I say it... Valentine's Day festivities. (Because what else is February than an excuse to be surrounded by the color pink?)

What you'll need:

 - Raspberry Vodka (You all know that I'm a Stoli girl!)

 - Peach Schnapps 

 - Sparkling Water

 - Grenadine Syrup

Begin by pouring one shot (1.5 oz) of raspberry vodka and two shots (3 oz) of Peach Schnapps into a glass filled halfway with ice. Fill the rest of the way with sparkling water and add a splash of grenadine.

So simple and so tasty! Remember to drink responsibly.

xo,

e.m.

Blood Orange Cocktail

It's Blood Orange season, whoop whoop! Although a bit macabre, the name is fitting and even if you're turned off at the prospect of gore, a tiny sampling and you'll see that Blood is one of the tastiest varieties of orange around. This cocktail is a mix of some of my favorite flavors: the sweet citrus of the Blood Orange, the freshness of the basil and the warm aromas and flavors of the honey all blend together harmoniously to create this delectable treat.

What you'll need: 

 - 1 Blood Orange

 - 2 Basil Leaves

 - Sparking Water

 - Cointreau

 - Honey Whiskey*

*if you're a real vegan (sorry, I'm just a fakey fake, can't seem to give it up!) and don't do honey, regular whiskey and a little bit of agave syrup will do just fine. 

You'll also need a shaker/strainer, ice, straw, and muddler. (A wooden spoon works if you don't have a muddler.)

Begin by muddling half of the blood orange and one basil leaf in the bottom of the shaker. Add ice followed by two parts Cointreau to one part Honey Whiskey. (If you think that two 1.5oz shots of Cointreau and one 1.5oz shot of whiskey is too strong, feel free to only add only half of the Cointreau.) Shake and strain into a glass with ice and more orange slices. Pour some sparkling water over it, add a straw and mix. Top it off with a basil leaf and enjoy! 

Sip responsibly, and remember: Blood Oranges are only in season from December to March so try this one out while you still can!

xo,

e.m.

Christmint Cocktail

Italian Christmases are no joke. They last an entire week and are filled with lots of family, food and, well, booze. It's all a cycle. Can't have family without food, and you certainly can't have food without vino and other assorted spirits. You can't drink alone or else you're an alcoholic, thus the family presence, and the circle of life repeats itself. Yesterday marked the unofficial beginning of Christmas. Yes indeed, we began our preparation for the feast of the seven fishes. We go hard. We start making Christmas Eve dinner a few days early. Also, Christmas Eve is almost a bigger deal than Christmas day. It also marked the official beginning of extended family members pushing traditional Italian cuisine on me and the beginning of me attempting to explain that my plant-based diet prevents me from partaking. They always respond with a look of disbelief of bewilderment. I know. Crazy me. 

While the family was stuffing the calamari (pronounced GAH-LA-MOD, which I know, it makes no sense but that's just what we do) they realized that a hard beverage would make the experience even better. I crossed my fingers and hoped that this combination would be a winning one. It was such a hit that I just HAD to take some photos to share it with you!

What you'll need:

 - 2oz Crème de Cacao

 - 2oz Crème de Menthe

 - Your choice of Half & Half or Creamer (Fellow vegans, I LOVE Coconut Milk Creamer.)

 - Dark Chocolate for garnish

You'll also need a shaker and ice. Begin by filling the shaker halfway with the ice and pour in the alcohol. Fill the shaker the rest of the way with your creamer and shake, shake, shake! Pour into a glass and shave dark chocolate over the top. If you want, you can add a candy cane for a little extra touch. 

xo,

e.m.

Hot Ginger and Rhubarb Tea Cocktail

I like to take this part of the year one holiday at a time. What's the use in getting caught up in all of the stressfulness of the ever-increasingly-more-commercialized holiday season? It's not even Thanksgivukkah yet, people! Relax and enjoy the autumn wind and crunchy leaves. If you need a little help doing so, you're going to want to keep reading and give this drink a try. When the good folks over at Art in the Age saw my Gingersnap Cocktail, they loved it and wanted more. They sent me a bottle of their Rhubarb Tea flavored liqueur to try out and to mix into a new delicious concoction. After a couple of tries, I decided that ginger, rhubarb, cranberry, and rosemary would be a winning combination. 

What you'll need:

 - Art in the Age's Rhubarb Tea

 - A piping hot mug of ginger tea (I used two bags)

 - Honey

 - Sugar in the Raw

 - Cranberries (and a bamboo skewer)

 - A spring of rosemary

Begin by steeping the tea as you normally would for a good cuppa. I'm going to be honest with you here, I'm pretty bad at making tea. I'm always either much too impatient and take the bag out too soon or I leave it in too long. It also depends on what kind of tea you're using. If you're unsure, check the directions on the box, they shouldn't lead you astray! While my tea was steeping, I assembled the garnish. I put cranberries on a bamboo skewer, drizzled some honey over it, and rolled it around in some sugar in the raw. (Tip: If you're planning on making a lot of these, you may want to put the cranberry skewers together beforehand in order to save time.) Once the tea is to your liking, add 1 1/2 ounces of Rhubarb Tea. Stick the cranberry skewer in it and add a spring of fresh rosemary. Festive, no? If you feel the need, there's no shame in adding a little bit of extra honey or sugar. 

This drink is the perfect amount of rustic and classy. To me, it captures all of the best parts of this time of year. Give it a try at your next bonfire or even at the dinner table on get fat day-- erm, I mean Thanksgiving.

xo,

e.m.

p.s. Huge thank you to AITA for being generally awesome! All you readers, go check out their website. There's more than just alcohol on there, there's a ton of great stuff.

Gingersnap Cocktail

Although my September 20th birthday qualifies me as a summer baby, I count my birthday as being the first day of Fall. For me. I've been waiting for a month to try this Snap liquor. It did not disappoint. Completely worth the wait! I can't wait to try more recipes but it'll be pretty hard to top this one.

What you'll need: 

 - Snap liquor

 - Spiced whiskey

 - Chinotto

 - Orange zest

 - Ice

 - A shaker

Begin by filling the shaker halfway with ice. Add orange zest, as little or as much as you'd like. (Tip: I like a little more!) Add equal parts whiskey to Snap liquor and shake. Fill the glass halfway with ice as well, and then halfway with Chinotto. Add in the whiskey and Snap from the shaker and enjoy!

I love this drink, it tastes just like a gingersnap cookie, just a little more "fun." Ya know?

xo,

e.m.

Peach Pie Bellini

There's nothing that bridges the gap between summer and autumn quite like peach pie. Actually, I was never a fan of pie. I am, however, a fan of the Peach Bellini. Why not add a few pie spices? Peaches are so summer, cinnamon is so fall, perfect compromise. 

What you'll need: Peach Schnapps, Prosecco, Honey, Cinnamon, and Sugar.

Begin by rimming the glass with honey, cinnamon, and sugar. I used sugar in the raw because of the texture but you can use whichever kind you see fit. Sprinkle a dab of cinnamon in the bottom of the glass along with a teeny bit of honey as well. Pour in one part peach schnapps to two parts Prosecco. Sip and enjoy!

This would be a good cocktail for your Labor Day picnics and get togethers this weekend. It's bubbly, classy, and tasty. Enjoy, and drink responsibly!

xo,

e.m.

what I've learned:

If you're here frequently, you know that I love to make cocktails. Mixing and thinking up new combinations is one of my favorite hobbies. It's always a pleasure to make special drinks for special occasions and special people! Something I've found is that there are a few basic formulas for coming up with new cocktail recipes. I'm going to share a few of them here so that you guys can get out and make some of your own delicious drinks. 

If you don't have a liquor cart or cabinet in your home, a good place to start is one bottle of vodka, one bottle of whisky, grenadine syrup, simple syrup, and club soda. You'll use these the most! Also invest in a couple liqueurs/cordials that strike your fancy. Some good tools to have on hand are a muddler and a shaker/strainer. 

Make it bubbly. There's a reason why "the classics" are called "the classics." Timeless combinations such as vodka & club soda, vodka & sprite, rum & coke, and Jack & coke are great go-to's at the bar and can be a lot of fun to add on to when you're mixing drinks at home. I like to add fresh muddled fruit (berries are always a good idea) and syrups such as grenadine or lime. One great example of this formula is The Buck Slap Cocktail. Play around with garnishes to make your already fancier-than-normal beverage even more impressive.

Make it fruity. If bubbles aren't your thing, (this may just be me but sometimes carbonation is just not something I want to deal with) juice is also a great base for cocktails. Lemonade and orange juice are popular but why stop there? I love mixing drinks with grapefruit juice, pineapple juice, and coconut milk as well. Need a little inspiration? This Vodka Raspberry Lemonade is a good place to start.

Make it classy. Who doesn't love wine? There are so many different kinds to choose from that it's difficult not to. Dessert wines and champagne add a little extra class to a cocktail. These can be a bit tricky to mix with because of how varied the tastes are but a little research online will go a long way. My Fleur de Lillet Martini and Berry Grapefruit Cocktail both use wine or champagne.

Cocktail still a little dull? Never underestimate the power of syrups. They're heavier than the other liquids that typically get mixed into a cocktail so they'll add a pretty ombré effect. These are always great to have on hand because there are so many different flavors and colors to choose from, there's one for every mood. They're also fairly inexpensive so stock up!

Happy mixing! Remember to drink responsibly.

xo,

e.m.

Fleur de Lillet Martini

This cocktail is easily my favorite concoction thus far. It's classy, refreshing, and the prettiest shade of pink. St. Germain gets me every time and before I even tasted Lillet, I knew that I'd love it simply because James Bond does. (He has excellent taste.) Basil and mint never disappoint and watermelon is a no-brainer. Basically, I should have named this one "a chalice full of whimsy." Make this to impress your guests and show them how sophisticated you are (fancy French wines and liqueurs, does it get more sophisticated than that?) or enjoy it by yourself on the porch to unwind after a long, hot summer day. Either way, you'll probably have to make a couple of servings because, well yeah, it's that good.

What you'll need: Lillet Blanc, St. Germain, 4 1"x1" cubes of watermelon, 3 mint leaves, 2 basil leaves, edible flowers (optional, just to garnish) and ice. You'll also need a shaker and a martini glass. (Or in my case, a margarita glass.) 

Begin by placing one cube of watermelon, a mint leaf, and a flower in a glass. To me, it's just easier to make everything sit the way you want it to before adding the liquid rather than after. Muddle 3 watermelon cubes, 2 basil leaves, and 2 mint leaves in the bottom of the shaker. Add a regular kitchen glass full of crushed ice followed by two parts Lillet to one part St. Germain. I used dessert wine glasses to measure and that seemed to be the perfect amount. If you don't have dessert wine glasses, you can easily use shot glasses. Try 4 shots of Lillet and 2 shots of St. Germain. Shake and then strain into your glass. One shaker will make two drinks. 

C'est magnifique! Remember to hold your pinky out whilst sipping daintily. Hope you all have a wonderful and safe weekend. I'll beck back on Monday, I have a double-header wedding weekend ahead of me! AAAH! (In a good way.)

xo,

e.m.