Pimm's Punch

Midsummer cookouts, picnics, and nighttime fire pit hangouts are the stuff dreams are made of. I like to think that any reason to get together is a good enough excuse to drink. Am I right or am I right?This recipe is great to make in a big 'ole pitcher for such occasions. It's a mix between a traditional Pimm's Cup and a sangria so what's not to like about it? Although Pimm's is kind of the big star, it could be replaced by a non-alcoholic beverage such as Chinotto and the drink would still be yummy and refreshing.

What you'll need:

 - Pimm's Liqueur 

 - Limeade

 - Ginger Ale

 - 1 cup of blackberries

 - Mint, 4 leaves to muddle and more to garnish

 - 1 lemon

 - 1 lime

 - Ice

Begin by muddling the blackberries and mint together in the bottom of the pitcher. Add ice and the thinly-sliced lemon and lime. Pour in two parts Pimm's*, one part Ginger Ale, and one part Limeade. Stir with a wooden spoon. If you want to be extra fancy, set aside some extra lemon and lime slices, blackberries, and mint aside to garnish individual glasses. 

*if you're making this drink with Chinotto, use one part.

YUM. As always, sip responsibly. 

xo,

e.m.

Grapefruit & Ginger Cocktail

Love me some grapefruit. It's such a wonderful flavor, especially on these ridiculously hot days. (For real guys, it's been over 100 degrees here. Disgusting.) I whipped up this little hooch in the midst of desperation for something refreshing. It's composed of three of my favorites: ginger, grapefruit, and basil. It may not be the most patriotic beverage for Independence Day tomorrow but it'll sure help you beat the heat and it'll be a crowd-pleaser for sure.

What you'll need:
 - Gin
 - Ginger Liqueur (Domaine de Canton is delicious and look at that fancy-shmancy bottle!)
 - Grapefruit Italian Soda
 - Basil Leaves

Muddle basil leaves in the bottom of your glass, or, if you're making this for a group, a pitcher. One or two leaves for a single serving, five or six for a pitcher. Add one part gin and one part ginger liqueur to two parts grapefruit. If you want a little extra zing, a splash of ginger beer will go spectacularly. Serve over ice and sip through a fancy straw-- preferably not before doing anything firework-related. (But you already knew that.)


Stay cool and drink responsibly! Have a great holiday weekend.

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.

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.