Is it really #NationalMartiniDay?

I am all down for Celebrating All The Things, trust me, but I am not sure it is actually National Martini Day. But just in case it is.....

Here is, the High End Martini.

3oz of Very, Very Cold Absolut Vanilla Vodka
1oz of St.Germain
Ice to freeze your glass & ice to stir your drink

Chill your martini glass by loading up with ice water and let it sit will you prepare your cocktail. Into a stainless steel mixing glass, add a few ice cubes, your vodka and elderflower liqueur. Stir. Toss out your ice water and strain your cocktail into the glass.

Sip and admire the beautiful weather.

Until next time...

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 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 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

Crushing on the Watermelon

When walking in Market Square in San Antonio, Texas, vendors are selling agua frescas. Just fresh blended fruit as a drink. Now these vendors can be found in many, many locations, but the fruit tastes sweeter in SATX. This is my ode to summer in SA.

Here is the Watermelon Crush.

In a blender or mixing glass, add:
1 cup of watermelon
2 oz of Grey Goose Vodka
1 oz of Midori

Blend until no more chunks. Some will suggest to double strain over ice however, I don't bother.
You can top off with ginger ale or lemon-lime soda, but taste first. Sometimes your watermelon will be sweet enough. Garnish with a lime wheel. Enjoy.

Tip: So once I started sipping, I realized I wanted a bit of spice. I had been drinking through a straw, but I shook a little Tajin in the top edge. Drinking with the Tajin tingle on my lip made this drink even better!

What a terrific day for a drink this refreshing!

cheers,
andrea

My Sunday Wake Up Call

What better way to enjoy a lazy Sunday morning? I give you Strawberry Sunrise.

To a blender, add:

1 small banana
4 large strawberries, remove tops, quartered
1/2 orange, juice directly into glass - save a slice for garnish
1 1/2 oz of Smirnoff Vanilla Vodka
1 1/2 oz of Rumchata
Ice

Blend until smooth. Garnish with an orange slice.

Laying in a hammock...swinging in the sun...the most lovely of mornings.

cheers,
andrea

Late Night Green

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

The day is coming to a close and this morning seems so long ago.

My coworker lovingly asked me this morning, "Andrea, what cocktail do you have brewing for tonight?"

I mumbled something back, simply because I was sleepy and really didn't know if I would make it home in time to have a drink before I drifted off to sleep tonight.

           Side Note: The plans are to enjoy the nightlife of our town tomorrow night.

So, with a few hours left of today, I found something I would like to try.

Lads and Lassies, here is my Melon Drop:

Vodka
Midori
Sprite

2 shots of vodka, 4 shots of Sprite

Drop a shot of Midori into the pint glass.

Drink up!

It was tasty. Perfectly green and just right for a nightcap on St. Patrick's Day.

Cheers,
drea

“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

Colorado Snowball

Fotosearch / Getty Images

Drink: The Snowball
Why?: The interesting combo of vodka and lemonade is also popular in the U.K., but this combo of Colorado Premium Vodka and Fresca makes this drink uniquely Coloradan.

Vincent tagged me in a FaceBook photo today.

I wasn't the only one. 

In fact, it was the entire gang from that year we spent in Colorado Springs. Baseball in CS,CO starts in April and we had our fair share of rain outs that year. As Marketing Representatives, which is code for Interns, we spent just about everyday with each other. Working for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox was an incredible opportunity and we loved it! We have all come along way from then and think about it fondly. 

Currently, the field at Security Service Field is under a beautiful layer of the white stuff. Makes this drink all the more appropriate.

Here is my Snowball, adapted from coloradovodka.com

1 1/2 oz of vodka
Fresca
Lime wedge for garnish

I used Absolut because I didn't have a Colorado, or even Idaho vodka in my arsenal tonight. Also, I had a left over can of Fresca in the refrigerator. Very convenient.

Poor your vodka in a glass, drop in a fancy ice cube and top off with the sparkling beverage. Lime wedge just makes it pretty.

Don't forget that you just drank almost two ounces of vodka before standing up quickly. Very easy to drink many of these. Why must a good can of Fresca go to waste?

Cheers,
drea