Bacardi Mai Tai Recipe

BACARDÍ MAI TAI

INGREDIENTS:

·        1.5 oz BACARDÍ Añejo Cuatro rum

·        0.75 oz Orange Curacao

·        0.5 oz Lime Juice

·        0.75 oz Orgreat

·        Orange Bitters

METHOD: Shake and serve over crushed ice in a tiki mug. Garnish with a dehydrated orange wheel and/or mint sprig

BACARDI Rum Room Event Rundown

Last weekend, I attended the BACARDI Rum Room event downtown. And yes, it was awesome! 

There was something for all the Atlanta socialites: endless selfie opportunities, music, and of course, DRINKS! However, being the nerd that I am, I enjoyed learning more about the history of Bacardi and the art of aging rum. 

This man is David Cid, the BACARDI Global Rum Master.  He talked to the media about the history of  the Premium Collection which includes  BACARDÍ Añejo Cuatro, BACARDÍ Reserva Ocho and BACARDÍ Gran Reserva Diez. I learned some cool things about the aging of rum. Did you know that most of the Bacardi rum is aged in barrels in Puerto Rico? Did you also know that a rum can taste two times its age if it is aged in a tropical climate? 

This installation does a great job of explaining how rum is aged. Once you understand it, you can really appreciate how precious every drop of rum we use in our cocktails is. 

Speaking of cocktails, there were a number of different BACARDI cocktails for attendees to try. Above is the Ocho Old Fashioned, which included the BACARDI Reserva Ocho Rum, syrup, and bitters. 

The VIP area had the feel of a really cool, old library. There, media and VIP guests had the opportunity to participate in a rum tasting. There was a cigar demo as well as live BACARDI bottle engravings. My bottle says LOVE, HOLLY. 

The VIP area also included artwork from Oriel Ceballos and, later in the evening, there was a performance by Swiss Beats. 

Are you ready to get your rum on? You can visit the BACARDI website here.

Summer Sips- Lychee Frosé Piscine

Ingredients & Tools:

1 Bottle of Rosé Piscine

1 Canned Lychee

1 Grenadine Syrup (optional)

Ice Cube Molds

Instructions:

1. Pour Rosé Piscine into ice cube molds

2. Freeze for 6 hours

3. Place ice cubes in blender,

4. Add 1 cup of Lychee syrup

5. Add 1 tsp of grenadine

6. Blend, decorate with red berries, and enjoy!

Bring in NYE with Haikara Saki

Winter Rose

-2 oz Haikara Yuzu or Haikara Momo
-½ oz rum
-1 oz Lime Juice
-Dash of Simple Syrup
-Dash of Rose Water
-Dash of Lavender Bitters
-Ginger Ale for topping

-Cranberries or orange peel (for garnish)

Directions:
-Add all ingredients, except ginger ale, to a cocktail shaker, add ice and shake vigorously until the outside of the shaker is frosted and beaded with sweat.
-Strain into rocks glass. Top with Ginger Ale and garnish.
Created by: Nick Mautone

Thanksgiving Cocktails with Santa Margherita Presecco Superiore DOCG

If you are like me, you may need a drink during the holidays. Here are some yummy libations made with Santa Margherita Prosecco Superiore DOCG. 

Orange Cinnamon Blossom

INGREDIENTS

1 bottle of Santa Margherita Prosecco Superiore DOCG

1/2 lemon

1/2 orange

1 tablespoon honey

1/4 cup sugar

3 whole cloves

3 whole allspice

2 cinnamon sticks

DIRECTIONS

Rinse lemon and orange and thinly slice them, discarding seeds; quarter the orange slices. Put fruit in a 4- to 5-quart pan. Add honey, sugar (use the smaller amount if you prefer drinks on the tart side, the larger if you want a sweeter flavor), cloves and allspice.  With a knife, cut the cinnamon sticks lengthwise into thinner strips. Add cinnamon and 2 cups water to pan; bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat and boil gently for 5 minutes. Pour Santa Margherita Prosecco Superiore DOCG into hot citrus base and heat until steaming, about 8 minutes.  Keep warm over low heat. Ladle into heatproof cups or wine glasses.

Holiday Sangria

INGREDIENTS

1 bottle of Santa Margherita Chianti Classico Riserva

1 large orange, sliced

1 large pear, chopped

Seeds of 1 pomegranate

4 cinnamon sticks

DIRECTIONS

Add fruit to a large pitcher. Top with Santa Margherita Chianti Classico Riserva. Place in fridge for an hour before serving. Spoon fruit into glass before pouring wine. Garnish with cinnamon stick. Add ice to top (optional).

Lemon Elderflower Cocktail

INGREDIENTS

Santa Margherita Prosecco Superiore DOCG

1-2 ounce St. Germain Elderflower liqueur

2-3 drops Angostura bitters

Lemon rind (as garnish)

DIRECTIONS

Place St. Germain Elderflower liqueur into a cocktail glass and add drops of Angostura bitters. Fill glass with Santa Margherita Prosecco Superiore DOCG to mix. Top with twist of lemon.

Continue the Eclipse fun with Jose Cuervo

I saw so many of you having a blast on social media, celebrating the eclipse. And although the next eclipse isn't 2024, you can enjoy these eclipse-themed Jose Cuervo drinks as soon as tonight!

Dark Side of the Sun

2 oz Jose Cuervo Especial 

3/4 oz lime juice 

3/4 oz 1:1 simple syrup

1/2 oz Creme de Cassis 

Shake tequila, lime and simple and pour into a rocks glass over ice. Top ice with Creme de Cassis and garnish with a mint sprig and lime wheel. 

Total Especial Eclipse 

2 oz Jose Cuervo Especial 

2 oz orange juice  

1 tsp grenadine 

1/2 oz. charcoal lemonade 

Shake tequila and orange juice and pour into a rocks glass over ice. Mix charcoal lemonade and grenadine and slowly pour into the cocktail. Garnish with lime wedge. 

Celebrate National Watermelon Day with Sparkling Ice!

Today is National Watermelon Day, and Sparkling Ice has a few cocktail recipes to help you celebrate the occasion!

Watermelon Ball Margarita 

INGREDIENTS

Watermelon

1.5 oz of tequila

1 lime (halved, one half cut in two wedges)

0.5 oz on Conintreau

1 oz of Sparking Ice Strawberry Watermelon

How to make watermelon shot glasses:

Scoop our watermelon balls with ice cream scooper. Cut slice on bottom to make flat. Use a melon baller to scoop out insides.

DIRECTIONS

Add one scoop of watermelon to shaker using a melon baller. Add lime wedges and Conintreau. Muddle together. Add tequila, juice from one-half lime, and ice. Shake and strain into measuring cup. Add Sparking Ice Strawberry Watermelon. Pour into Watermelon Shot glass.

Sparkling Watermelon Vodka Lemonade 

INGREDIENTS

3 cups seedless watermelon pieces

3 lemons, juiced

½ cup vodka

¼ cup fresh mint

2 cups Sparkling Ice Classic Lemonade

DIRECTIONS

In a blender, puree the watermelon and lemon juice, strain through a sieve into a drink pitcher. Add mint, vodka, and Sparkling Ice Classic Lemonade- then stir. Serve over ice and garnish with fresh mint.

Strawberry Watermelon Refresher

INGREDIENTS

3 oz.  Sparking Ice Strawberry Watermelon

1.5 oz. Vodka

½ oz. Peach Schnapps

Watermelon slices and strawberries for garnish

DIRECTIONS

Pour vodka and peach schnapps, then Sparking Ice Strawberry Watermelon over ice.  Stir gently to mix. Garnish with watermelon slices and strawberries. 

Enjoy July 4th with a DRY Sparkling Southern Bell

DRY Sparkling is a new line of sparkling drinks in an array of flavors that not only pair well with meals but it also a great twist for your favorite cocktails. The drinks have 45-70 calories and 11-19 grams of sugar per 12 oz., for those of you who are calorie and sugar conscious. I have enjoyed drinking them by themselves, but they also can add a kick to your favorite to alcoholic beverages like the DRY Sparkling signature drink, Southern Bell. 

4 oz. Ginger DRY

1½ oz. bourbon

¾ oz. peach liquor

½ oz. lemon juice

Garnish:

Lemon peel

Instructions:

Add bourbon, peach liquor and lemon juice to an ice filled cocktail shaker.

Shake, shake, shake.

Strain into glass half-filled with ice and add Ginger DRY.

Stir once and garnish with lemon peel.

Beware of neighbors and passers-by who might be interested in all that shaking.

My DRY favorites:

Out of all of the drinks, my favorites have been the fruity flavors. 

Watermelon

Drink with lamb and sparkling wine. See more pairings here.

Fuji Apple

Great with fried chicken and whiskey. See more pairing ideas here.

Blood Orange

Goes well with tacos and tequila. See more pairing ideas here.

Yummie Winter Cocktails with Allaire Privee

Jack Frost Martinis:

2.5 Oz. Allaire Rum 2 Oz. Pineapple Juice1/4 Oz. Blue Curacao 1/4 Oz.  Cream of Coconut

About Allaire Privee: Allaire rum is aged for a minimum of 3 years in oak barrels, enhancing the sensory richness of this festive cocktail.

Summer Sips: Sparkling Ice Drinks for Ice Cream Soda Day

June 20 is Ice Cream Soda Day! Beat the heat with these recipes using Sparkling Ice  drinks.

Sparkling Cherry Fro-Yo Float 

Ingredients:

Float

• 1 bottle (17 oz.) Sparkling ice Cherry Limeade
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 pack (0.13 oz.) fruit-flavored powdered drink mix
• 3 cups ice
• 2 cups frozen vanilla yogurt

Garnish

• Whipped topping
• Fresh cherry or lime slice

Instructions:

1. In blender, combine Sparkling Ice Cherry Limeade, sugar, powdered drink mix and ice; Blend thoroughly until slushy
2. Divide slushy mixture between 4 glasses, about 3/4 cup each, and add 1/2 cup frozen yogurt to each glass
3. Top with whipped topping and fresh cherry or lime slice
4. Serve immediately with a straw

Coconut Pineapple Sorbet Bellini Mocktail 

Ingredients:

Pineapple Sorbet

• 1/2 cup Sparkling Ice Coconut Pineapple
• 1/2 sugar
• 2 cups fresh pineapple, cut into chunks

Sorbet Bellini Mocktail

• 1 1/2 cups Sparkling Ice Coconut Pineapple
• 2/3 cup pineapple sorbet

Garnish

• Fresh pineapple wedges
• Coconut flakes

Instructions:

Pineapple Sorbet

• In blender, puree pineapple chunks with sugar and Sparkling Ice Coconut Pineapple until smooth
• Chill pineapple mixture in refrigerator for 1 hour
• Freeze in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions
• Store in tightly covered in freezer until ready to use

Sorbet Bellini Mocktail

• In two 12-oz. glasses, add 3/4 cup Sparkling Ice Coconut Pineapple
• Using small ice cream scoop, add 1/3 cup pineapple sorbet to each glass
• Garnish with fresh pineapple wedge and coconut flakes

Award Season Sips with Sparking Ice and Coco Joy

Take in this award's season with these delish cocktails. 

Red Carpet Ready

Ingredients:

• 4 cups apple cider, chilled
• 2 cups cranberry juice cocktail, chilled
• 2 cups SPARKLING ICE Crisp Apple, chilled
• 1 can (12oz.) frozen orange juice concentrate
• Apple slices for garnish
• Rosemary cranberry sprig for individual garnish, as shown in image, or float fresh or frozen cranberries in punch bowl

Add a splash of vodka or prosecco for a cocktail modification

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, mix all ingredients and let sit overnight
2. Serve chilled, garnish with rosemary cranberry sprig

Best Dressed Blueberry

Ingredients:

• 4 oz. Blueberry Pomegranate SPARKLING ICE
• 2 oz. Pomegranate Juice
• Blueberries
• Pomegranate Seeds

Add a splash of vodka or prosecco for a cocktail modification

Directions:

1. Fill a glass with Blueberry Pomegranate SPARKLING ICE
2. Add pomegranate juice
3. Top with 5-6 blueberries and a small handful of pomegranate seeds
4. Stir to combine

Black Cherry Bombshell

Ingredients:

• Frozen black cherries
• 1½ oz. Kentucky bourbon
• 1 oz. SPARKLING ICE Black Raspberry

Directions:

1. Crush cherries into bottom of a glass
2. Pour bourbon then SPARKLING ICE over crushed cherries and ice
3. Add more cherry for garnish

Celebrity Colada

Ingredients

• ½ crushed pineapple
• 1 cup crushed ice
• 1 cup vodka
• 2 cups cold Coco Joy Water
• 2 limes

Directions

1. Combine pineapple, ice, vodka and Coco Joy Water in a blender and pulse until smooth
2. Garnish with limes 

Holiday Sips with Smirnoff Peppermint Twist

Smirnoff is coming out with its Peppermint Twist just in time for the holidays! A splash of the vodka in your favorite winter drinks will add the taste of our most beloved holiday treat. Below, see recipes for yummy holiday Smirnoff Peppermint Twist cocktails. 

Smirnoff Peppermint Twist Shot

·         1.5 oz Smirnoff Peppermint Twist

Shake over ice and strain into a chilled shot glass with crushed peppermint rim.

Smirnoff Peppermint Martini

·         1.25 oz Smirnoff Peppermint Twist

·         0.5 oz Baileys Original Irish Cream

Shake ingredients over ice and strain into a chilled martini glass.  Garnish with grated nutmeg and a mini candy cane.

Smirnoff Peppermint Hot Chocolate

• 1.5 oz Smirnoff Peppermint Twist
• 6 oz hot chocolate

Pour shot of Smirnoff Peppermint Twist into hot chocolate.  Garnish with whipped cream and a peppermint stick

Summer Sips: Slushi with Viva Diva Wines

Ingredients:1 bottle Viva Diva Peach Moscato
2 cups frozen peaches (unsweetened)
½ cup powdered sugar
Instructions:Add frozen peaches, sugar and a few splashes of Viva Diva Moscato to food processor or blender.
Blend until completely smooth.
Pour in the rest of the Viva Diva Moscato and blend until incorporated.
Quickly pour mixture into ice cube trays. 
Freeze.
Place frozen cubes in a blender. 
Add a splash of wine to make blending easier.
Blend until slush consistency, adding a splash of wine to thin it out if needed.
Pour into wine glasses, add a straw (if desired) and serve immediately.
Garnish with fresh fruit like strawberries and peach slices

Summer Sips: Manhattan Moonshine

 

Not sure what type of drinks you can make with Moonshine, if any? See below for some cocktail recipes, courtesy of Manhattan Moonshine.

Manhattan Moonshine Sea Breeze:

          1 ¼ oz Manhattan Moonshine

            3 oz Cranberry Juice

            ¾ oz Contreau

            ¼ oz Fresh squeezed grapefruit juice

            Method: Serve in a chilled glass over ice!

 
Manhattan Moonshine Charleston Bramble 

 1 ½ oz Manhattan Moonshine
 Juice of half a lemon
 ½ Crème de Mure (or Chambord)
 3 Blackberried
 Method: Muddle blackberries and then add all of the ingredients into a mixing glass and shake. Strain into a rocks glass over crushed ice!
 

Manhattan Moonshine BIX-Bismark

 1 ¼ oz Manhattan Moonshine
 ¾  Aperol
 1 oz Cranberry Juice
 Squeeze of a lime wedge
 Method: Put all ingredients in a mixing glass and shake. Strain into a rocks glass over crushed ice!

Summer Sips: Parrot Bay® Margarita with Coconut Water

I love a good cocktail in the summer; something light and sweet and delish that I can sip on while I chill out pool side and look cute. The Parrot Bay Margarita with Coconut Water is perfect for this! 

Many of you are probably beerita fans. This drink is similar, but better! It's fruitier, more flavorful, and isn't tampered down with the taste of alcohol. It is also 150 calories for you calorie counters, which isn't bad.

It is yummy cold or on ice. It has been 100 degrees here in Atlanta, so I drunk mine frozen;) Have you already tried the Parrot Bay Margarita? Let me know your thoughts below.

Summer Sips: Old Fashioned

Old Fashioned
1.3 oz. I.W. Harper
1 sugar cube
Splash of water
Dash Angostura bitters
1 orange peel and 1 small cherry

Dash bitters onto sugar cube in rocks glass. Add one splash of water. Muddle cube and bitters. Add bourbon and fill glass with ice. Stir gently. Add one orange slice and cherry. Serve.

Summer Sips: Nielsen-Massey Lemon-Vanilla Simple Syrup and Nielsen-Massey Lemon Lime Raspberry Twist

Lemon-Vanilla Simple Syrup
(½ Cup)

Ingredients
¾ cup water
½ cup sugar
¼ teaspoon Nielsen-Massey Pure Lemon Extract
½ teaspoon Nielsen-Massey Tahitian Pure Vanilla Extract

Directions 

In a small saucepan, add water, sugar and lemon extract; stir to combine. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until syrup reduces, about 10-15 minutes. Remove from heat. After syrup has cooled, add vanilla extract and stir. Refrigerate unused syrup in an airtight container.

Lemon Lime Raspberry Twist 

(Serves 1)

Ingredients
6 fresh raspberries
½ ounce fresh lime juice
½ ounce Lemon-Vanilla Simple Syrup
1 ounce vodka
2 ounces organic lemon sparkling water
lime twist
2 frozen raspberries
orange wedge

Directions
In a cocktail shaker, muddle fresh raspberries, lime juice and Lemon-Vanilla Simple Syrup. Add vodka and sparkling water; shake and strain into an ice-filled rocks glass. Drop lime twist and frozen raspberries into glass. Top with a freshly squeezed orange wedge