Cocktails

Blood Orange Sour

February 11, 2019 by Natalie 2 Comments

I think I’ve said this before but I’m a sucker for Valentine’s Day. I know, it’s a silly made-up holiday, but I LOVE love and sweets and can we be honest here? Anything in pink and red is A-OK with me! I’ve teamed up with my friends at KINKY Beverages for this post to bring you a delicious Blood Orange Sour cocktail for Valentine’s Day.

It’s funny how some things never change. Whether I’ve been single or in a relationship for this holiday you can always catch me binge-watching Sleepless in Seattle or You’ve Got Mail. Anyone else a fan of Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks romantic comedies? If you can remember back in the Myspace days (holy shit – Myspace?) there was a who I’d like to meet section in your profile. Sixteen year old me had a photo of Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks when they meet in the garden at the end of You’ve Got Mail. To be perfectly honest with you, that’s still who I’d like to meet. Here I am still looking for my Tom Hanks almost 16 years later but that will not make me hate a holiday meant to celebrate love. What it will do though is make me drink about it. 😉

Blood Orange Sour, makes 1 serving

1 oz. Spirit of your choice

1 oz. KINKY Pink

1 oz. fresh blood orange juice

1/2 oz. fresh lemon juice

1/2 oz. simple syrup

1 egg white

In a cocktail shaker combine spirit, KINKY Pink, juices, syrup, and egg white. Dry shake without ice for about 10 seconds to emulsify the egg and then shake again with ice. Strain into a coupe glass and garnish with a slice of blood orange.

I’ve shared a recipe previously on the blog with KINKY Pink. It’s definitely my favorite KINKY expression because it’s bursting with fresh flavors of mango, blood orange, and passionfruit and it pairs with so many other ingredients and spirits. What is really fun about this recipe is that I’ve left the base spirit up to your preference. I personally love it with something traditional like gin but it’s also great with white rum. Additionally, tequila or even a whiskey like a bourbon would be amazing options as well. I want you and whoever you’re sharing a drink with to have fun and get creative. Maybe try a few to see which one you like more.

I couldn’t resist using fresh blood oranges one last time in a recipe before they disappear until next Winter. Using fresh blood orange juice in this Blood Orange Sour really makes the blood orange notes in the KINKY Pink stand out even more. This drink is fruity, juicy, bittersweet, and silky on the palette. I hope you’ll enjoy one with me this Valentine’s Day. Have you found your Tom Hanks or are you still looking like me? What’s your favorite romcom? I want to hear all about it in the comments below. Cheers everyone. x

Bitter Blood Orange French 75

December 30, 2018 by Natalie Leave a Comment

Can 2018 get the hell out of town already? Sending this year off with something bitter and sparkling because it only seemed appropriate. I took a popular classic champagne cocktail, the French 75 (gin, lemon, simple, champagne), and changed it up a bit by adding fresh blood orange juice and Campari. My bitter blood orange riff on the French 75 is the perfect cocktail to send 2018 packing.

The original French 75 was created by Harry Macelhone at Harry’s New York Bar in Paris in 1915. The cocktail was said to have such a kick that it felt like being shelled with the powerful French 75mm Howitzer field gun. The cocktail was popularized in America at The Stork Club in NYC and with its publication in the Savoy Cocktail book in 1930. It also makes an appearance in one of my favorite Humphrey Bogart movies, Casablanca.

Bitter Blood Orange French 75, makes 1 serving

1 oz. gin

1/4 oz. campari

1/2 oz. blood orange juice

1/2 oz. simple syrup

Champagne or Prosecco

First add all ingredients (except champagne) to a cocktail shaker, fill completely with ice and then shake vigorously. Strain into a coupe glass and top with champagne. Garnish with a slice of blood orange.

The changes that I made to this classic cocktail were so simple yet made such a huge impact on the flavor. Blood oranges have deep red flesh and the flavor is much more intense than a normal orange. This fruit is sweet, bitter, and has a slight hint of raspberry flavor. They pair perfectly with Campari, which is also crimson red and has a bittersweet taste with distinct notes of cherry, cascarilla, clove, rhubarb, cinnamon, and orange peel. As a result of the color of both of these ingredients, and their delicious flavors we are left with a delicious and stunningly hued cocktail.

While many great and positive things happened in my life during 2018, unfortunately, it has come to a bittersweet ending. It only felt right to make a bubbly and bittersweet cocktail to coincide with that. I’m looking forward to the future, continuing to grow my business, and making some big life changes in 2019. But most of all I am most excited for a fresh start and a chance to be happy again. I’m raising my glass and wishing you all a very Happy New Year! xo

All I Want For Christmas is Gin: Peppermint Negroni

December 23, 2018 by Natalie 1 Comment

Hey everyone! Just thought I’d jump in here and squeeze in one Christmas post before it’s too late. I needed something easy to make for Christmas so I variated on one of my favorite classics and made a Peppermint Negroni. Sorry for being MIA the last few weeks but life has taken some crazy turns and I needed to step away and take care of myself. I will probably share more about that soon but let’s just say I’m more excited to start a new year than you could possibly know. So let’s have a drink, shall we?

Peppermint Negroni, makes 1 serving

1 oz. peppermint tea-infused gin (I used Brooklyn Gin)

1 oz. sweet vermouth

1 oz. Campari

Making a tea infusion is a super simple way to change up a classic. I decided to infuse the gin for this one because it is the highest ABV of the three ingredients so I know it would infuse pretty quickly. I used two peppermint tea bags and steeped half a bottle of gin for an hour and then removed the tea bags. That should suffice taste wise but give it a test and if you want it more peppermint forward add another tea bag or leave them in for longer.

To make the Peppermint Negroni add all of your ingredients to a mixing glass and stir on ice. Strain into a rocks glass over a large cube and garnish with an orange twist. Perhaps even a candy cane on the side. Not going to lie, I totally stirred this with a candy cane and then ate it. It’s Christmas, what can I say?

All I want for Christmas is Gin.

I love how a simple tweak can change a cocktail entirely plus make it more festive for the holidays. Enjoyed quite a few of these last night by the tree. I hope you’ll give this Peppermint Negroni a try for Christmas Eve or Christmas. As always I would love to hear your thoughts below and I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas. xo

Cranberry Mulled Wine for Fall Entertaining

November 19, 2018 by Natalie 1 Comment

Warm drinks are so cozy and soothing to the soul this time of year. To be perfectly honest, my soul has been feeling a little down lately so it needs all the soothing it can get. I’ve teamed up with Santa Margherita Wines to share a super easy mulled wine recipe that is perfect for Fall and holiday entertaining. The only thing better than indulging in a warm cozy cup of spiced wine is sharing it with the people you love.

I used Santa Margherita Chianti Classico Reserva for this Cranberry Mulled Wine recipe. An authentic Italian Chianti made from grapes grown in the heart of Tuscany’s Chianti Classico region. The aromas of this complex red wine range from cherries and plums to gladiolus flowers and earthy flint which makes it a perfect pairing for the baking spices associated with mulled wine. In addition to using classic mulled wine ingredients, I also added cranberries to make it festive for Thanksgiving!

Cranberry Mulled Wine, makes 6 servings

1 bottle of Santa Margherita Chianti Classico Reserva
1/2 cup cranberries
1/4 cup honey
2 cinnamon sticks
1/2 tsp. fresh nutmeg
1 vanilla bean or 1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 small oranges
10 whole cloves
3 whole star anise

First slice one orange into wheels and juice the other orange. If you’re using a vanilla bean instead of extract, split the vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape the bean into the wine. Add your wine, spices, juice and fruit to a saucepan and turn the heat up to medium, until the wine is hot. Reduce heat to a very low simmer and keep warm until ready to serve. Before serving use a slotted spoon to remove all of the spices from the wine, and then ladle into mugs. Garnish with cranberries, a cinnamon stick, and a slice of orange.

Mulled wine has a distinct, spiced flavor brought out all the more by sipping it hot. If you prefer something boozier, you can add a few ounces of brandy, bourbon, rye or even rum! I love the tart and fruity finish that the cranberries added to this mulled wine recipe. Santa Margherita Chianti Reserva made the perfect base for the mulled wine because of it’s bright, round, warm, dry, earthy finish.

It’s been a little hard for me to get into the holiday spirit this year. Even just thinking about making this mulled wine has me more excited for Thanksgiving though! I hope you’ll try this Cranberry Mulled Wine recipe and please send some holiday cheer my way in the comments below. xo

Sparkling Rosé Paloma

November 7, 2018 by Natalie 3 Comments

It’s always rosé season in this house! So excited to team up with 90+ Cellars for this post to share my Sparkling Rosé Paloma recipe with you.

If you haven’t heard of 90+ Cellars, it’s a really cool wine brand that curates a portfolio of wines from all over the globe. They love great wine and their mission is to make drinking great wine easier and more affordable for everyone. They do this by buying wine at a discount from acclaimed wineries and vineyards — then they are able to sell great wine at a reduced price under their label. Thus bringing better wine to more people at a lower price. It’s a pretty brilliant concept!

I’ve used their Sparkling Rosé in this recipe which is lovely in a glass on its own but also works marvelously in cocktails. 90+ Cellars Sparkling Rosé is made with Pinot Noir grapes from Northern Italy. It is pale pink in color, dry, fruity, and has charming effervescence. It’s notes of strawberry, passionfruit, and rose petals make it perfect for complimenting spirits and adding a delightful flavor to cocktails.

Sparkling Rosé Paloma, serves 1

1 1/2 oz. blanco tequila

1 oz. fresh grapefruit juice

1/2 oz. fresh lime juice

1/2 oz. simple syrup (1:1)

top with 90+ Cellars Sparkling Rosé

sprigs of thyme, for shaking with and garnish

grapefruit wedges, for garnish

ancho chile salt, for rimming

First, make your ancho chile salt by combining equal parts salt and ancho chile powder. I also sprinkled in some crushed red pepper for extra texture. Rim the edge of your serving glass by running a lime wedge around it and then dipping it into a bowl of your prepared ancho chile salt.

Next, add tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice, simple syrup and thyme to a cocktail shaker. Add ice, shake, and then strain into your salted glass filled with ice. Top with 90+ Cellars Sparkling Rosé and garnish with a sprig of thyme and grapefruit wedge.

Have I ever told you how much I love Palomas? I do. I do.

They’re citrusy and oh so refreshing. They’re like little fizzy effervescent grapefruit margaritas. Then I went ahead and added rosé to it and made it 100,000,000x better.

Traditionally a Paloma is made with tequila, lime, and grapefruit soda. I like to make mine with the fresh juice of lime and grapefruit and then I use club soda to add the carbonated element. Here I simply swapped out soda for 90+ Cellars Sparkling Rosé and it truly came out amazing! This Sparkling Rosé Paloma is fruity, juicy, fresh, clean, fizzy and herbaceous. Did I mention delicious? Why yes it is!

I hope you’ll be enjoying one this weekend. You can check out 90+ Cellars website here to view and purchase their entire wine collection online. Cheers everyone! xo

Trick or Treat: The Monster Fizz

October 26, 2018 by Natalie 1 Comment

I’m just here for the BOOS! That’s why I’ve teamed up with my friends at KINKY Beverages to bring you the perfect Halloween treat—the Monster Fizz.

I worked with KINKY Beverages over the Summer to develop this Tropical Mango Frosé that turned out so delicious! Ever since then I’ve really enjoyed using their liqueurs to compliment other spirits in cocktails. KINKY Green Liqueur is a fusion of super premium vodka distilled five times with flavors of crisp green apples and pears. Not only does KINKY Green give this drink its spooky green hue but it also adds delicious fall flavors to the Monster Fizz. I’ve added a monster candy skewer garnish to make this drink super fun for all your Halloween festivities!

Monster Fizz, serves 1

1 oz. KINKY Green Liqueur

1 oz. gin

3/4 oz. lemon juice

3/4 oz. simple syrup

1 egg white

club soda

assorted monster candy for garnish

First, make your monster candy skewer. This part is so easy and super fun. I bought all my candy at Party City and Target but I’m sure you could find some fun monster candy at a specialty candy store too. I just arranged the candy in a way that made them look like little faces. The only tricky part to these is getting the smaller thin pieces of candy onto the skewer. My tip is to thread a small portion of the back of the candy onto the skewer instead of sticking it through the middle of the entire piece of candy. I did a few skewers before I realized this method was easier. The other great thing about these monster candy skewers is that you can make them as favors for a Halloween party or even use them as cake toppers too.

Now let’s make a Monster Fizz! Add the KINKY Green, gin, lemon, simple syrup, and egg white to a cocktail shaker and dry shake to incorporate all ingredients. Next, add ice and shake again very vigorously. Strain into a highball glass and top with soda. Garnish with a monster candy skewer.

This Monster Fizz is just too adorable not to mention the perfect cocktail to serve at a Halloween party. It’s super fruity, fizzy, refreshing and tart which makes the sour candy the perfect accompaniment to the drink. If you’re not throwing a Halloween party that’s okay, there’s no better way to get yourself into the Halloween spirit than by whipping up a few spooky cocktails.

Have a great weekend and Happy Halloween! I hope you’ll be making a few of these Monster Fizzes. Thanks to KINKY Beverages for supplying a delicious and perfectly hued spirit to make festive Halloween drinks with. Don’t forget to eat, drink, and be scary everyone! xo

Boozy Mexican Mocha

September 29, 2018 by Natalie 4 Comments

Has anyone ever made Mexican hot chocolate in the Winter? This Boozy Mexican Mocha recipe is similar to hot chocolate but with the addition of coffee — which automatically makes it my favorite. I pretty much look for any excuse to sneak another cup of joe into my day. Totally 100% have a coffee addiction and that’s why we’re celebrating National Coffee Day on the blog today!

Mexican Mocha is a rich chocolatey drink with a kick of warm baking spices and a little bit of heat from cayenne pepper. I prefer to use espresso in this recipe but strong coffee will work as well. Once you whip up the mocha mix, building the drink is super easy. It’s officially Fall now, and this Boozy Mexican Mocha is the perfect cocktail to make for the cooler nights we’re having.

Boozy Mexican Mocha, serves 1

6 oz. strong coffee (or two shots of espresso)

2 oz. Kerrygold Irish Cream

2 tbsp. Mexican mocha mix*

splash of milk or cream (optional)

grated cinnamon, for garnish

*Mexican Mocha Mix

2 tbsp. powdered sugar

1 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper

First, make you Mexican Mocha Mix by combining all the dry ingredients together in a bowl. Stir until mixed. This will make about enough for 2 cocktails. I love making a larger batch of this and then just storing it in a jar. That way I have the mix ready for whenever I’m in the mood. You know, for those cold or rainy days.

Dare I even mention snow yet?

I don’t want to think about it.

To make a cup of Boozy Mexican Mocha. Brew coffee or espresso and add 6 oz. to a mug. Add 2 tbsp. of Mexican Mocha Mix and stir until completely dissolved. Then mix in 2 oz. of Kerrygold Irish Cream. Stir and garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon on top. If you’re looking for something less boozy or you want to add a little more creaminess, add a splash of heavy cream, half & half, or the milk of your choice.

Kerrygold Irish Cream couldn’t be any more perfect for this Boozy Mexican Mocha recipe. I basically used it as a substitute for milk in this recipe and it adds just the right amount of booze without being overpowering. Not to mention the extra lovely chocolate flavors it adds. A great idea for the holiday season is gifting jars of homemade Mexican Mocha Mix with a cute instructional tag and a bottle of Kerrygold Irish Cream. Sipping on this Boozy Mexican Mocha makes my heart so happy and I know you will love it too! Happy National Coffee Day everyone! xo

Strawberry Ginger Pineapple Punch

September 10, 2018 by Natalie Leave a Comment

HEY GUYS! Sorry to have gone dark on you for the last few weeks but I needed a break. I’m back with this Strawberry Ginger Pineapple Punch because Summer is not over yet. Totally not ready for Fall cocktails or anything pumpkin related. Can we just wait till 9/23 for all of that? I want to soak up every last ray of sunshine, every warm day, and every opportunity to drink a fruity cocktail. Who’s with me?

Strawberry Ginger Pineapple Punch, serves 1

2 oz. dark or aged rum

1 oz. fresh pineapple juice

1/2 oz. fresh lime juice

3/4 oz. ginger syrup

handful of sliced strawberries

soda water or sparkling wine

First, make your ginger syrup. There are a few ways you can do this. Here I go over how to make it in a blender and here I go over how to do it with a slow juicer. I love my Hurom Slow Juicer and highly recommend buying this type of juicer. I can pretty much juice anything and I love making fresh fruit and veggies juices. It really comes in handy to make syrups like this too. After extracting the ginger juice, measure it and add 2x the amount of sugar. Ginger syrup should be 2:1 sugar to ginger juice.

When your ginger syrup is made you can build your cocktail. Add strawberries to your cocktail shaker with pineapple juice, lime juice, and ginger syrup. Give it a quick muddle and then add rum. Shake with ice and strain into a highball over ice. Top with soda or for a boozier option top with sparkling wine.

This Strawberry Ginger Pineapple Punch is a great drink to end Summer with. It’s fruity, fizzy, and refreshing but also spicy from the fresh ginger. I love ginger in pretty much everything at this time of year! This is a one serving cocktail but can easily be converted into a pitcher drink or punch bowl for large gatherings and entertaining. Simply multiply each ingredient by the number of guests you want to accommodate and voila! You have a large format drink that will be sure to please everyone in attendance. Another great thing about it is that you can use virtually any spirit your heart desires. I’ve used rum in this recipe but vodka, gin, whiskey, or tequila would be fine choices as well.

Hope you had a great Summer and I hope you’ll give this Strawberry Ginger Pineapple Punch a try before it gets too chilly. Cheers everyone! xo

Boozy S’mores Milkshake

August 2, 2018 by Natalie 1 Comment

It’s currently about 100% humidity here which means life is really hard and HOT! Where’s the blender at? I’ve turned your favorite campfire treat into a delicious Boozy S’mores Milkshake.

I went camping every weekend as a kid with my family growing up. So campfires and s’mores have a special place in my heart. Although now that I’m an adult, I can definitely say I am not a camping kind of girl. Give me the beach or the desert or give me death! I guess I like sand. The weather feels like I’m living inside of a campfire though, so why not take a warm and gooey treat and turn it into something cold, sweet, and refreshing? Not entirely sure why I have never thought of such a brilliant idea before, but the results are heavenly and decadent.

Boozy S’mores Milkshake, serves 1-2

1 1/2 cups chocolate ice cream

1/2 cup vanilla ice cream

1 graham cracker sheet plus crushed graham crackers for rimming

2 toasted marshmallows plus more for garnish

1/2 cup whole milk

1 1/2 oz. Kerrygold Irish Cream

2 tbsp. chocolate syrup plus more for garnish

whipped cream for garnish (optional)

Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. Rim your glass by dipping into honey and then into crushed graham crackers. Pour milkshake into the graham cracker rimmed glass and top with whipped cream, toasted marshmallows, and chocolate syrup. If the consistency of your milkshake is too thin, you can add more ice cream or a little ice to compensate.

I toasted my marshmallows with a kitchen torch but by all means, if you have a campfire, have at it! This Boozy S’more Milkshake is probably my new favorite dessert drink of the Summer. I have such a sweet tooth, or perhaps, every one of my teeth is a sweet tooth. I’ve totally cut back on sweets as I have gotten older but I make an exception every once in a while. The Kerrygold Irish Cream adds just the right amount of flavor and booziness but if you wanted to make this drink a little boozier — adding bourbon would be so delicious too! Soaking up the remainder of Summer even if it’s sticky and warm. Hopefully, this Boozy S’mores Milkshake will cool you down! xo

Blended Watermelon Mojitos + Weekday Weekend Giveaway

July 28, 2018 by Natalie 3 Comments

Happy weekend everyone! I’m sharing a recipe for Blended Watermelon Mojitos from A Beautiful Mess’s cookbook Weekday Weekend. If you haven’t picked up a copy of this book yet, I urge you to! As someone who has struggled with an on again off again vegetarian diet, this book has really helped me stay on track with healthy eating habits.

The whole idea behind this book and the Weekday Weekend concept is simple. For 5 days a week, you eat according to 5 rules.

eat a variety of foods
no refined or artificial sugars or sweeteners
no refined white flour or white rice
no dairy
no alcohol

Then on the weekend, there are no rules! At first, it was a little hard, especially the no alcohol part. But these rules, or diet if you want to call it that, is totally sustainable. You eat healthy all week and then there’s still time to indulge in all the sweets and cocktails your heart desires. In moderation of course! 😉

This weekend I’m indulging in these Blended Watermelon Mojitos plus I will be giving away copies of Weekday Weekend to 3 lucky readers over on Instagram. So head here and check out the rules for entering. I will be announcing winners on my IG stories on Monday. I’m so happy to be able to share this book with you because it has really helped me with my own healthy eating struggles and I hope it will help you too!

Blended Watermelon Mojitos, serves two

2 cups cubed seedless watermelon

4 oz. light rum (I used Plantation)

1/4 cup simple syrup (1:1)

juice and zest of 1 lime

12 fresh mint leaves plus more for garnish

2 cups ice cubes

First, make your simple syrup. Combine 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup of water in a saucepan. Place on medium heat and stir to help dissolve the sugar. Do not boil. Let cool and store in a bottle in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

To make your blended watermelon mojitos combine all the ingredients in a blender and process on high until smooth. Divide between 2 glasses or serve in a half of a small hollowed out watermelon. Garnish with mint sprigs, lime, and anything else fun that your heart desires.

I love eating healthy all week because I know that I’m doing something good for myself and my body. Eating healthy does not mean you have to sacrifice flavor. Weekday Weekend will show you how to become more aware of your eating habits and learn more easy options for improving them. There are so many delicious recipe ideas for breakfast, meals, snacks & sweets, and of course drinks. Sweets and cocktails are my favorite so I’m usually counting down the days until Saturday. These Blended Watermelon Mojitos are so easy to make and the perfect weekend treat.

I hope you will enter the giveaway over on Instagram and give Weekday Weekend a read and try!

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