25 Days of Cocktails | Day 7: Sweet Tea Smash

It has been a day. Not all bad, but when you commute to work, in a northern climate, winters can be cruel.

Home is a warm, inviting place. I needed a warm, inviting drink. Bourbons and whiskeys are always good for that. Sometimes with a really, really good bourbon, I feel guilty for using it in a mixed drink. However, Jack Rudy's Sweet Tea Syrup is worthy of the best liquors.

Here is a Sweet Tea Smash.

2 1/2 oz Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon
1 1/2 oz Jack Rudy's Sweet Tea Syrup
2 tsp Your favorite fruit puree
Lime wheels
Cocktail cherries

Muddle lime wheels in a mixing glass. Add bourbon, Sweet Tea Syrup and fruit puree. I used a strawberry, but peach is superb. Add ice and shake, shake and shake some more. Strain into a drinking glass with lime wheels and crushed ice and top with cocktail cherries. Sip and dream about the day when you can sit outside again.

cheers,
andrea

25 Days of Cocktails | Day 6: Apple Cider Mimosa

I absolutely love it when my friends tag me in photos of cool cocktails. It lets me know they are certain I will try just about anything!

A dear friend tagged me in a recipe that was sure to draw my attention. I vowed to make that cocktail and maybe even invite him over for a drink.

As you can imagine, days turned into weeks and it might even be months by now. I was thinking of him, so I decided I wouldn't let any more time pass. Life is too short to not make a delicious drink.

To that very strong and courageous friend... you are inspirational.

He and I give you a recreation, the Apple Cider Mimosa.

1 oz of Smirnoff Kissed Caramel Vodka
2 oz of apple cider
Champagne
Caramel Sauce
Sugar for rimming the glass

Dip your flute into caramel sauce and then into sugar. Pour in the vodka, cider and top with champagne. Serve, drink and be prepared to make many many more. They are delicious!

cheers,
andrea

25 Days of Cocktails | Day 5: The Magarian

Carson Kitchen in Downtown Las Vegas is easily my favorite restaurant, for the last year. On December 5, 2015, wanting to celebrate Repeal Day, I asked the bartender for a drink. Even though I didn't like gin, she assured me, I would enjoy this drink. She was not wrong.

I have recreated the drink on many occasions, and encourage you to try variations to suit your tastes.

I give you, my recreation of, The Magarian

Over ice
2 oz Aviation Gin
1 oz Thyme & Honey Syrup (steep a few sprigs of thyme in water, remove from heat; stir in honey until a syrup is achieved)
1/2 oz fresh lemon juice, or to taste
Top off with Mr. Q Cumber soda
Garnish with a cucumber slice and a sprig of thyme

 
Happy Repeal Day!
cheers,
andrea

25 Days of Cocktails | Day 4: Andrea's White Russian

Once a year, a local downtown favorite opens for brunch. There is always a wait, you will always see friends and the food is always amazing. Today was that day.

After stuffing my face with an Herb Goat Cheese omelet,  I met up with a few more friends to sample and buy wine at another local favorite. I found the perfect champagne for New Years Eve and my friend found the perfect, 'I am having foot surgery so I will be bed ridden for a month' wine. If you can't find me, I will be sitting in her room with my feet up too!

Walking back to my loft, full and happy, I needed one more thing. Cookies. Oreo Thins to be exact. As soon as I hit the door, three crispy wafer cookies made it into my mouth. Needing to wash the delightful chocolate taste down, I knew exactly what I had to do.

I give you, Andrea's White Russian:

1 1/2 oz Smirnoff Cinna-Sugar Twist Vodka
1 1/2 oz Kahlua
4 oz Almond Milk
2 oz Cream Soda

Place a small handful of ice cubes in a blending glass. Add vodka, then Kahlua, almond milk and finally cream soda. Blend, I use a stick blender, until satisfied and pour into your favorite glass. Top with a few dashes of cinnamon. Drink up!

It really was the perfect cap to my day, even though it is only 3 pm! I Think I'm going to grab a few more cookies!

cheers,
andrea

25 Days of Cocktails | Day 3: Apple Hotness

After an INCREDIBLY long work week, my dear husband came home with an unfortunate cold. The temperatures, and not to mention, the leaves have fallen in my part of the world, so staying warm isn't always easy.

He is a trooper, and not at all a drinker, so I set out to make him a concoction to knock the cold right outta him. Well, at least for me to drink and stay warm.

I give you, Apple Hotness

2 oz of Crown Royal Apple
4 oz of Apple Cider or Apple Juice (I like Simply Apple)
Pinch of sugar
Dash of cinnamon

Warm the apple juice to your liking. (I like the beverage setting on my microwave.)
Add in the Crown Royal Apple, sugar and dash of cinnamon. Stir and enjoy.

Even he liked the sip he had. Perfectly suited for a winter evening.

cheers,
andrea

25 Days of Cocktails | Day 2: Wild Orange Honey

After a recent trip to a Nevada border town, Dear Husband and I stopped to pick up a number of contraband bottles. This Wild Honey Smirnoff was one of them.

Not too sweet at all, I added a little sweetness to make this orange-y lemonade.

Remember, fresh is best!

Here is my, Wild Orange Honey

2 oz Smirnoff Wild Honey
1 tsp Disaronno Soaked Strawberry puree
2 oz fresh pressed lemonade
2 oz fresh pressed orange juice
2-3 dashes of Orange Bitters

Shake all ingredients vigorously, with ice and strain over ice into your favorite glass. Garnish how you would like.

Sip or drink with a straw. Either way is appropriate!

cheers,
andrea

25 Days of Cocktails | Day 1: Spiced Bay-Berry

My neighbor was nice enough to introduce me to this coconut concoction. Normally, I don't gravitate to a spice rum, but the coconut made this so smooth and well worth the effort of putting this drink together.

I soaked a few fresh strawberries in a cup of Disaronno. After a day or two, I strained the liquid and used the scented infusion for this drink.

Here is my, Spiced Bay Berry

1 1/2 oz Blue Chair Bay Spiced Coconut Rum
1 1/2 oz Disaronno infused with strawberries
3 oz of fresh pressed lemonade

Shake and strain into your favorite glass. Garnish as you wish. I always have limes.

Always use fresh ingredients and don't be afraid to use what you have on-hand!

cheers,
andrea