Happy National Margarita Day

I call them The Sisters.

And they were delicious!

Did I mention I make my own Margarita mix?

Pineapple, strawberries and papaya... Oh My!

Tequila makes the world go round!

Happy Margarita Day!

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 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

Downtown Parties, Gin and Lemonade

A friend of mine just moved into a beautiful downtown loft. It is just as you would expect. Stylish and perfect for a single man about town. The official house warming happened with food, music friends and neighbors. What a great night for a refreshing drink that is as stylish as the loft and the gentleman who resides there.

I give you, Tyler's Loft Lemonade.

For my batch cocktails, I use a large, recycled pickle jar. It has a lid an travels well.

The day before, I combined:
6 cups of fresh pressed lemonade (recipe to come)
1 large cucumber sliced

Right before serving:
I added 2 large sliced lemons
2 cups of Aviation Gin (the best and only gin I drink ;) )
Add a bit of Vanilla Simple Syrup if needed
Add some ice

Curl slices of cucumbers into pretty garnishes and Drink up!

So perfectly brilliant for a summer party.

Congrats on the place Tyler! Here's to many more!

cheers,
andrea

“Keep your damn pine tree out of my cocktail.”

I was hesitant. However, not anymore.

So, the day at work was frustrating. There were many points where I wanted to through my arms up and say, "I'm out." We all have those days.

Luckily, my drive home is great meditation time, when I turn of the radio and just breathe.

Knowing I needed a cocktail, knowing I don't have to be awake early in the morning, I was ready to mix up a bit of tasty happiness.

I reached for the lone pineapple juice can I have been saving and the small Ciroc Pinapple Vodka in my party stash.

I thought to myself, 'Self, this may not be enough.'

I ran my finger across the Mixer Bottle Shelf - yes, I have a shelf. There it sat. The last unopened bottle from my Mantry Craft Cocktails at Home Crate. I saved it because quite frankly, it scared me. Siberian Fir. Really? Siberian Fir? Not exactly what I thought I wanted. Continuing to read, it stated organic lemon, Siberian fir and sweet orange. I said, "Yes, please." I cracked open a bottle of White Whale's Your Older Brother Vodka Mixer.

Here is my Older Pineapple

2 parts Ciroc Pineapple Vodka
2 parts pineapple juice
1 part Your Older Brother Vodka Mixer
Fresh squeeze of lemon
Lemon Wedge garnish

It was perfect.

It was the perfect addition. Even when I ran out pineapple juice and added a non flavored vodka. You will not disappointed in the Siberian Fir taste.

Talk about bold. Bold but not over powering. Just enough.

2 parts vodka
2 parts Your Older Brother Vodka Mixer
Fresh squeeze of lemon

Here's to good days, and the bad days that make the good days great.

Cheers,
drea

Rhode Island Red

Jack Andersen / Getty Images

Drink: Rhode Island Red
Why?: While hailing from California, this drink was created to salute the 350th anniversary of Rhode Island’s reception of a Colonial Charter.

So, I was living in Denver and had just been let go from the job, the reason I had relocated to Denver in the first place. I needed to get away, so I got on a play and traveled to Boston to visit my friend, Spencer.

'But this drink is from Rhode Island, Andrea, you just said you flew to Boston.'

Ah, yes, I did, didn't I. Spencer knew I had never visited Rhode Island, so we got into is car and he drove me to the Dave & Buster's in RI. That was my only contact and/or desire to visit RI. No offense, Rhode Island. We will always have Dave & Buster's.

Here is my Rhode Island Red, adapted from Liquor.com

2 oz of Tequila, Blanco
.5 oz of Chambord
.75 oz of Fresh Lemon Juice
.5 oz of Agave Nectar
Dash of Orange Bitters
Ginger Beer

Shake all ingredients, minus the ginger beer, together in ice. Strain into a Collins glass with fresh ice. Top with the ginger beer and garnish with lemon and lime zest.

It is actually a great drink and very simple to execute. If you are a fan of ginger beer, you will love this. If it is not your favorite, not to worry, fresh juice and the dash of bitters is super tasty!

Cheers,
drea