Arsenic Lace

craft cocktails

Holiday Pomegranate Mule

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It’s beginning to look a lot like cocktails (I mean Christmas) around here! The holidays can be a little hectic, so taking the stress out of entertaining is key. I put together this Holiday Pomegranate Mule that is perfect for your holiday celebrations. They’re easy to whip up in a larger batch but also simple if you just need to make a few. Maybe you need to kick up your feet up and relax with one. I promise this Holiday Pomegranate Mule will do the trick!

I’ve been using Zevia mixers a lot around here and I love, love, love their ginger beer. Their mixers are simple and the perfect compliment to any cocktail. This ginger beer is bold and spicy in flavor (which I love) with a hint of sweetness. Making smarter choices is important to me and I like using Zevia because there is no sugar, no calories, and no artificial sweeteners. That means they won’t overload cocktails with extra calories and they have a more sophisticated and drier flavor than most sodas on the market. I used Zevia ginger beer in my Holiday Pomegranate Mule and the results were amazing!

Holiday Pomegranate Mule, serves 1

2 oz. vodka

3/4 oz. lime juice

3/4 oz. pomegranate simple syrup

1 can Zevia Ginger Beer

I made a pomegranate simple syrup with stevia to further reduce the calories associated with drinking cocktails. I made it by reducing fresh pomegranate juice, lemon juice, and stevia. Place 2 cups pomegranate juice, 4 tbsp. of stevia and 1/2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice in a saucepan set over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally until the stevia has completely dissolved. Allow to cool completely and store in a glass jar or bottle.

Add your vodka, lime juice, and pomegranate simple syrup to a cocktail shaker with some ice and give it a quick shake. Pour into a copper mug filled with ice and top with Zevia Ginger Beer. Garnish with a slice of lime, a sprig of rosemary, and some pomegranate seeds. While I was scooping out the seeds from the pomegranate I produced a good amount of fresh pomegranate juice. If that’s the case for you as well, pour some of the juice into your cocktail. I love fresh pomegranate juice and it added so much flavor to the drink!

Pomegranates are tart, tangy, and rich but not sweet, with musky complexities similar to red wine. I love using this ingredient in cocktails because the flavors are so complex and mix well with so many spirits. I based this Holiday Pomegranate Mule off the classic Moscow Mule cocktail but feel free to use another spirit besides vodka. Rum, gin, tequila, or any type of whiskey would also be a great fit for this drink.

If you want to make this drink in a large batch multiply the recipe by how many drinks you’d like to make. Add all ingredients to a pitcher or punch bowl and stir. By making some slight adjustments like using a stevia sweetener instead of sugar and using Zevia, I made a healthy and low-calorie cocktail. It’s easy to pack on a few pounds during the holiday season so I’ll save my calories where I can. Does this mean I can have an extra cookie? I hope you will consider enjoying a few of these Holiday Pomegranate Mules with your loved ones at your upcoming holiday gatherings. May your days be merry and bright everyone! Cheers. xo

Blood Orange Sangria

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Blood Orange Sangria

Happy hour time? After a few days with children at Walt Disney World, I’m in need of a drink. TGIF everyone! I found blood oranges at the market and I can’t even contain my excitement. I decided to make this easy Blood Orange Sangria so I can enjoy it over the weekend. If you can get your hands on blood oranges already this would be great to make for an upcoming holiday party or gathering. Large format drinks are perfect for the holiday and entertaining season.

Blood Orange Sangria

Blood Orange Sangria, serves 4-6

1 bottle Pinot Grigio
1/2 cup blood orange juice
1/2 cup Lairds Apple Brandy
1/4 cup Campari
1 cup club soda
2 blood oranges sliced into wheels or chopped
12 oz. strawberries, sliced
1 pint of raspberries
1 apple, chopped

Blood Orange Sangria

First things first, juice your blood oranges. In a large pitcher combine the wine, apple brandy, campari, blood orange juice, club soda, apples, raspberries, strawberries, and blood oranges. Stir well to combine. Fill your glasses with ice then spoon some fruit from the sangria on top.Pour into each glass and serve.

Blood Orange Sangria

This sangria gets better as it sits, so you can make it ahead of time and store it in the fridge. It serves 4-6 people or just you all weekend. 😉

Blood Orange Sangria

Blood Orange Sangria

Blood Orange Sangria

Blood Orange Sangria

I added the Campari as a last minute idea but I’m so glad I did.  Campari is an Italian bitter aperitif and is a blend of fruit, herbs, and spices. Its prominent flavor is strong bitter orange so I thought it was a great ingredient to use in the addition of fresh blood oranges. I wanted to use a Brandy that added some seasonality and thought using Lairds Apple Brandy was the perfect option. Its fresh apple taste complements the other ingredients in this Blood Orange Sangria plus enhances the flavors of the freshly chopped apples. I used a Honeycrisp apple because those are my favorite. Their creamy white flesh is exceptionally crisp and aromatic and they have a pleasant sweet-tart flavor.

Blood Orange Sangria

I hope you enjoy your weekend. Are you doing anything fun? I’m excited to finish decorating for Christmas and to work on some new holiday posts. Oh, and I’ll be drinking this Blood Orange Sangria. Let me know if you will be too in the comments below. xo

Blood Orange Sangria

Holiday Hot Cocoa Bar

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I’m not a huge fan of the weather getting colder but there are a few perks. Enjoying warm drinks at this time of year is definitely one them! I put together this cute, colorful, and festive Holiday Hot Cocoa Bar for us to enjoy while Ethan and I decorated our Christmas tree. It did the trick for putting us in the holiday spirit.

This year I’m more excited than ever for the holidays. It’s the first time in my adult life that I have space for a regular sized Christmas tree and to do holiday decorating at all. I bought the pink Christmas tree of my dreams and I can’t wait to reveal it in all its glory! Perhaps I can even throw a little holiday party since I’m so proud of how everything came out. I don’t know about you but I love a “build your own anything station” at a holiday gathering. Today I’m sharing how to build a simple Holiday Hot Cocoa Bar for your own winter or holiday gathering.

You can make your own hot chocolate like the recipe I made here or put a Keurig out if you own one. I did both that way people could choose what they wanted. The Keurig route is definitely easier but I love making fresh hot chocolate from scratch. I put my fresh hot chocolate in an enamel serving pot and left out a jar of hot chocolate pods for the Keurig.

You can use little glass jars to house all your hot chocolate toppings. My favorite hot chocolate toppings include:

  • mini chocolate chips
  • mini marshmallows (I bought regular and peppermint)
  • sprinkles
  • crushed peppermint
  • flavored stirring spoons or straws
  • marshmallow snowflakes and snowmen

I don’t like to add booze to the hot chocolate mix. Since it’s hot it can burn the alcohol off. It’s nice to put out a few bottles that go best with hot chocolate. Guests can pick their favorite spirit and mix it to their own taste. It also allows the hot chocolate to be non-alcoholic. Hello children, non-drinkers, and pregnant ladies! They all need a holiday treat too! My favorite spirits to leave out on my Holiday Hot Cocoa Bar are:

This is an easy and delicious treat when you’re having holiday guests over. It takes the pressure off of you while you’re entertaining and guests get to make their own delicious wintery treat! I hope you consider putting a Holiday Hot Cocoa Bar together for your festivities. Don’t forget to include some fun holiday decor as well!

Be Merry Balloon Banner / Hot Cocoa Pot / Pink Marble Mugs / Bottle Brush Trees from Target and Homegoods / My Cinema Lightbox / Pink Tree

Easy 3 Ingredient Cranberry Gimlet

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The best part about Thanksgiving I think is the leftovers. Pilgrim sandwiches, tiny feasts, pie for breakfast, and post-holiday cocktails. For the third Thanksgiving in a row, I’ve made my Cranberry Harvest Punch and it’s always a hit! I had leftover cranberry spiced syrup so I made this Easy 3 Ingredient Cranberry Gimlet.

I love using cranberries in cooking, baking, and cocktails during the holiday season. Cranberries have such a short season that I usually freeze a few bags to last me the rest of the winter. After December it’s really hard to find fresh ones. You can consider this a warning. You’re welcome!

Cranberry Gimlet, serves 1

2 oz. gin
1 oz. lime juice
3/4 oz. spiced cranberry syrup (recipe here)

After making your syrup let it cool completely. Add all your ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake. Strain into your desired serving vessel. Usually, a gimlet is served up in a coupe glass but you can serve it on ice in a double rocks glass as well. I used these festive carnival punch glasses from my punch set. Garnish with fresh cranberries, rosemary, lime wheel, and a cinnamon stick. I’m a big fan of the elaborate garnish!

The cranberry syrup is super easy to make and tastes amazing! I love using it in replacement of simple syrup like I did here with this Easy 3 Ingredient Cranberry Gimlet. You can also use it in a daiquiri, tom collins, or any other classic cocktail that calls for simple syrup. This means the possibilities are endless! Also, if you have any leftover cranberry sauce please feel free to add a barspoon. I love adding jam or preserves to cocktails to add flavor and texture.

You can make this Easy 3 Ingredient Cranberry Gimlet to order or batch it if you’re having company. I love easy recipes that double as large format drinks for the holidays. Just multiply the recipe by the number of drinks you want to make and serve it in a punch bowl or pitcher with some ice. Easy peasy lime squeezy.

Easy 3 Ingredient Cranberry Gimlet

Boozy Hot Chocolate

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The history of hot chocolate dates back to Aztecs and Mayans, but it was the Spanish who first experimented with adding sugar and milk, in addition to a host of modifiers, including cinnamon, orange peel, and even ambergris, to spice it up. Spirited variations on the hot chocolate can take many forms. My favorite things to mix in Boozy Hot Chocolate is whiskey, rum, tequila, cream liqueur, vanilla liqueur, creme de cacao, coffee liqueur, or even sherry.

I created this Boozy Hot Chocolate variation with Kerrygold Irish Cream Liqueur to promote their Holiday Contest where those who enter the contest will be up for a chance to win a trip to NYC for St. Patrick’s Day complete with a cash prize and tickets to an exclusive, VIP event with Kerrygold Irish Cream Liqueur. Contestant’s cocktails will be judged, based on visual aspects, creativity, and overall execution. This contest will run from mid-November through the end of December, with the winner being announced in January. For more details on the contest and to enter, visit: www.kerrygoldirishcream.com/NYC. Rules and restrictions apply. US entrants only. Must be 21 years or older to enter.

Boozy Hot Chocolate, serves 1

1 oz. Kerrygold Irish Cream Liqueur

1 oz. Irish Whiskey

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

1 to 2 tablespoons of sugar

pinch of salt

1 cup of milk

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whisk together the cocoa, sugar, salt, and about 2 tablespoons milk in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir until all ingredients have dissolved and then whisk in the remainder of the milk. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until hot. Add the vanilla extract and whisk until completely incorporated.

Once the hot chocolate is prepared you can build your drink. Add the Kerrygold Irish Cream Liqueur and whiskey to your desired serving vessel. Pour the hot chocolate on top, stir, and garnish with marshmallows or whipped cream and a dusting of cocoa powder.

This recipe multiplies very easily in case you want to make a larger batch.  Add the hot chocolate and your spirits to an enamel pot or pitcher so that it stays warm for serving. This Boozy Hot Chocolate is a breeze to make and is sure to keep you nice and toasty on a cold day. I hope you try this one at home or come up with your own recipe. If you do don’t forget to enter the contest. I’d love to see you in NYC for St. Patrick’s Day. Happy sipping and good luck! xo

Pumpkin Butter Flip

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Halloween might be over but we have until Thanksgiving to capitalize on all things pumpkin flavor. Recently I did an apple cider + pumpkin butter cocktail for my farmers market cocktail column on Chicpeajc and I thought why not use pumpkin butter in another drink? I came up with this Pumpkin Butter Flip to bring you a seasonal and creamy dessert cocktail. It’s so good it might rival pumpkin pie for dessert at your Thanksgiving dinner table.

A flip is a category of mixed drink. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the term was first used in 1695 to describe a mixture of beer, rum, and sugar, heated with a red-hot iron. The iron caused the drink to froth, and this frothing (or “flipping”) engendered the name. Over time, eggs were added and the proportion of sugar increased, the beer was eliminated, and the drink ceased to be served hot.

The first bar guide to feature a flip (and to add eggs to the list of ingredients) was Jerry Thomas‘s 1862 How to Mix Drinks; or, The Bon-Vivant’s Companion. In this work, Thomas declares that “The essential in flips of all sorts is to produce the smoothness by repeated pouring back and forward between two vessels and beating up the eggs well in the first instance the sweetening and spices according to taste.”

With time, the distinction between eggnog (a spirit, egg, cream, sugar, and spice) and a flip (a spirit, egg, sugar, spice, but no cream) was gradually classified in America’s bar guides. In recent decades, bar guides have begun to indicate the presence of cream in a flip as optional.

Personally, I love a flip with a little cream in it. It mixes with the egg so well while adding a smooth and silky texture to the drink. Also, it tastes delicious!

Pumpkin Butter Flip

1 1/2 oz. spiced rum

1/2 oz. Faretti biscotti liqueur or amaretto 

1/2 oz. fall spice syrup

1/2 oz. heavy cream

1 heaping barspoon pumpkin butter

1 whole egg

pumpkin baking spice mix for garnish

In the larger side of your cocktail shaker add the whole egg and cream. Add the rest of your ingredients to the smaller side of your tin, pour into the large side and seal. Dry shake, add ice and shake again long and hard. Pour into a coupe glass and garnish with a dusting of pumpkin baking spice. Sip and enjoy!

I used my fall syrup in this cocktail and linked to the recipe above. You can also sub it out for regular demerara or simple syrup. I had it on hand and the flavors went so well with the drink it was a no-brainer to use it. The spiced rum contributes to the baking spice flavors of this Pumpkin Butter Flip but you can also use aged rum or even bourbon.

If you’ve never had Faretti Biscotti liqueur you are in for a treat. I use this in replace of amaretto all the time in cocktails. It’s sweet and delicate with hints of nuts, citrus, and anise. The liqueur is made in Northern Italy, near Lake Como, where delicious biscotti cookies are baked in rustic brick ovens. It goes great in coffee or as a little aperitif after dinner as well.

I love that this Pumpkin Butter Flip is reminiscent of eggnog but appropriate for the Fall and Thanksgiving. What will you be making for Thanksgiving dinner or dessert? This cocktail is definitely worth a try and consideration for your holiday menu. Cheers everyone! xo

 

Smoky Cinnamon Apple Cider Margaritas

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After the week I had I definitely need a drink! I’m so happy to team up with Teroforma for this post to talk about one of their newest collections 1pt. 1pt is a collection of infusion blends and kits for alcohol and spirits. I’ve used the 1pt Master Kit to create these Smoky Cinnamon Apple Cider Margaritas and I’ll show you how easy it is to use and how wonderful the end result can be.

Whether you’re an experienced bartender or an at home enthusiast the 1pt Master Kit is a must-have. It comes with a beautiful high-durability lab glass infusion bottle that infuses 375 ml of liquid (half of a standard bottle of spirits). There’s a stainless steel infusion basket that holds the infusion blends which makes infusing so much easier. No mess and no fine straining! You also get a reusable, gold-finish, stainless steel tasting straw so that you can taste-test during the infusion process. The kit also includes a simple instruction guide, 7 blends variety pack and some cocktail suggestions to start you off in the right direction.

I knew I wanted to make apple cider margaritas this month and thought the cinnamon infusion would be a great addition to this cocktail. Using the infusion kit is super simple. The first step is putting your infusion blend into the infusion basket. It clips right back into the top of the bottle with a little push and then you pour your spirit directly into the bottle. Let the infusion sit for 6 hours or to taste. Of course with your fancy gold straw! 😉

Smoky Cinnamon Apple Cider Margarita, serves one

1 oz. cinnamon infused tequila

1 oz. mezcal

1 1/2 oz. apple cider

1/2 oz. lime juice

1/2 oz. agave nectar

First, rim your glassware with an equal part mixture of cinnamon, sugar, and salt. Add all of your ingredients to a cocktail shaker and shake with ice. Strain into a double rocks glass over ice and garnish with a slice of apple, lime wedge, rosemary sprig and a cinnamon stick.

These smoky cinnamon apple cider margaritas were even better than I imagined. Cinnamon goes so well with tequila and I really love the smokiness the mezcal provides the drink. If you want the drink the be less sweet than swap out the agave nectar for some Cointreau. The 1pt infusion kit was so simple to use and really streamlined the whole infusion process. I love that you only infuse a half a bottle of spirit and that I don’t have to fine strain. It makes the whole process more simple but most importantly delivers consistent results. If you want to try any of the Teroforma 1pt collection products you can use “arseniclace10″ when you checkout for 10% off orders over $20, valid through January 31, 2018 on Teroforma.com. Cheers and happy infusing! xo

Frozen Cantaloupe Daiquiri

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With the end of Summer just a month away I had an itch to make a frozen drink. What’s more fun than a frozen drink? Drinking one out of fruit, right? I have drunk many piña coladas out of a pineapple and was trying to brainstorm what other fruits I could possibly turn into a serving vessel. Watermelon has had its fair share of the spotlight this summer with being the perfect addition and vessel for frosé. While I was perusing the produce at my local market last week I spotted a cantaloupe and I knew this fruit was THE ONE. When perfectly ripe it is juicy, sweet and has a floral aroma which sounds perfect to pair with rum. My mind went directly to the daiquiri which is a classic and simple drink but can be completely transformed with the addition of some fresh fruit. So I present to you a Frozen Cantaloupe Daiquiri!


Frozen Cantaloupe Daiquiri, serves 1

1 1/2 oz. rum (I used Plantation Dark)

3/4 oz. rich simple syrup (cane or demerara sugar)

1/2 oz. fresh lime juice

1 cup of fresh cantaloupe

Cut your cantaloupe evenly into two and scoop out the seeds in center. Carefully scoop out the insides of the fruit and reserve the shells as your serving vessels. You can freeze the shells and the fruit beforehand. Using frozen fruit in drinks or smoothie bowls yields a better and more slushy consistency.

Add all your ingredients to your blender pitcher and blend with a cup of ice. Pour into a cantaloupe shell and garnish with a mint spring and a slice of lime.

This Frozen Cantaloupe Daiquiri is super fruity, refreshing, and so simple to make. I used dark rum in this cocktail because I thought the flavors would mesh well with the richness of the demerara simple syrup and floral aromas of the cantaloupe. Frozen recipes sometimes need to be reworked because of how much water content they have. I like to cut the citrus in half and up the sugar to compensate for all the dilution. Using a richer sugar for your simple syrup, like demerara or cane, instead of plain white sugar also helps to combat an over diluted and tasteless frozen drink. I hope these tips help you next time you’re making frozen daiquiris at home. I’m super excited about how this frozen drink in a fruit cup turned out. I hope you try this recipe at home and if you do don’t forget to chime in on the comments below. Cheers everyone! xo

Everything’s Coming Up Rosé with Jord Wood Watches

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Looking for Valentine’s Day ideas already? I hate to admit it, but it’s one of my favorite holidays, even if it’s kind of made up! Anything that has to do with eating, drinking, chocolate, flowers and pink, I’m all about. Pink and red is one of my favorite color combos and this is the only time of year I can buy pretty much anything in that color scheme. You feel the same way, don’t you?

If you’re looking for a tasty cocktail and a gift for her or him, look no further! I’ve teamed up with Jord Wood Watches to shake you up a delicious treat this Valentine’s Day. Jord makes beautiful wood timepieces that are very modern, stunning and completely unique. They offer many beautiful wood finishes and color options, and make both women’s watches and men’s watches. Moments are bigger than minutes and your watch should tell more than time. This Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity to show your loved one that your time, is and will always belong to them. There’s a contest going on to win a $100 to use on the Jord site. All you have to do is go here, and fill out of entry form. Contest closes 2/12. Good luck everyone!

I have matched my drink to my watch with the Cora Zebrawood & Rosé. It has a beautiful light blush face that accents the wild and natural grain of the Zebrawood. I’m shaking up my Everything’s coming up Rosé cocktail that has Gin, Lillet Rosé, lemon, blood orange, and a hibiscus/passion fruit tea syrup. It’s sweet, floral, fruity, and slightly lower ABV, so you can have a few. Oh, and it’s this beautiful deep pink color. Perfect!

Like Lillet Blanc, which you may be more familiar with, Lillet Rose is a wine-based aperitif, made from the Grand Cru Bordeaux grapes used for Lillet’s white and red versions, and then combined with fruit liqueurs. As a result it’s bright and fruit-forward but not overly sweet — a pleasure to sip on its own, or in cocktails. Since this cocktail is slightly lower ABV, if you want to kick it up a notch top it with Champagne. This would be a good batched drink for a punch bowl at your Galentine’s Day party as well. I used TAZO Passion for the tea syrup, I love using it in cocktails and it’s very easy to find. It is a blend of hibiscus, orange peel, rose hips, and passion fruit. Very fruity, herbal and compliments the other flavors in this drink wonderfully.


Everything’s Coming Up Rosé

1 oz. Gin (I used Brooklyn)

1 oz. Lillet Rose

3/4 oz. Blood Orange Juice (if those aren’t available regular oranges work)

1/2 oz. Lemon Juice

3/4 oz. Hibiscus Tea Syrup

Combine all ingredients in tin, shake with ice, and strain into a coupe glass. If you want to dry this cocktail out a little and also add more ABV top with champagne. It will be delicious. For the tea syrup brew a cup of tea (8 oz.) and then add the same amount of sugar. If you’re making a larger batch you will have to add more tea bags.

Sparkling Apple Cider Punch

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I hope everyone is off to a good New Year! This week has been a little bit more mellow and I’m not going to lie, I’m enjoying it. I love the holidays but theres also stress and pressure that goes along with them. I’m excited to get back to normal life and a brand new year. I know its cliche to set all of these goals once the calender flips to January 1st, I know its not a clean slate, but it is a good time to get youself motivated to accomplish the things that maybe you’ve been putting off or didn’t have enough time for in the previous year. I did set a lot of goals for myself in 2016 and I am very proud of how far I’ve come, but there’s still work to be done!

Is there anything special that you’re setting some extra time aside for this year? Work goals? Relationship goals? Health goals? I’m looking forward to continuing the blog, I started running this week (I can only make it a 1/2 mile before dying), and I have some major home goals. I’ve been looking around at buying, but real estate is insane here in the NY/NJ area. If I can’t accomplish buying a house or condo in the new year, I’m going to do a major overhaul in the little rent controlled railroad apartment that I’ve been living in for the past 8 years. I’m going to be 30 in 49 days and I moved in when I was 21. THAT’S CRAZY!! The apartment has always been a work in progress but I have changed a lot and so have my tastes. I have been trying to slowly incorporate new things in over the past year but I’m getting a little overwhelmed. Someone please help me.

The most recent photo of my bedroom, which I hope to repaint and do some simple decor updates to. I painted the wardrobe myself and changed the hardware. Inside the drawers are ombre from light blue to navy. Salvation Army purchase along with that mid-century sideboard. The most recent photo of my bedroom, which I hope to repaint and do some simple decor updates to. I painted the wardrobe myself and changed the hardware. Inside the drawers are ombre from light blue to navy. Salvation Army purchase along with that mid-century sideboard.

Anyways, since I got way off track, I’ve teamed up with The Hair Room here in Jersey City to bring you delicious drinks (my Sparkling Apple Cider Punch) for the Golden Globes tomorrow. If you’re local swing by for a cocktail, pajama attire is recommended! If not, I’m posting the recipe here for your at home enjoyment. This punch is yummy! Its resfreshing, super fragrant and fruity. Comment below to let me know what you think. Either about all of my random thoughts, the cocktail or your favorite red carpet looks. I’d love to hear from you. Cheers to all of you from snowy New Jersey!


Sparkling Apple Cider Punch

1 1/2 oz. Gin (I used Fifty Pound)

3/4 oz. Elderflower Liqueur (Giffard or St. Germain work)

1 oz. Apple Cider

1/4 oz. Lemon Juice

Top Champagne or a Sparkling Wine, Club Soda also works in a pinch for something lower ABV.

You can make a batch of this cocktail by simply multiplying each ingredient by how many people you will be making drinks for. You can put it in a pitcher, build in a punch bowl or make to order. If you’re making to order add all ingredients besides sparkling wine to a tin, shake, strain into your desired glassware like a coupe or flute, and top with champagne/sparkling. Garnish with an apple slice. Cheers and enjoy!