Booze Clues: 5 Cocktails to Serve at Your Memorial Day BBQ

To Long Weekends...

You're the one in your crew who always knows what to drink (because you read this blog, of course). That's why you're in charge of cocktails at today's barbecue. If you're still wondering what will wow the crowd, here are a few suggestions. From sweet, girly drinks to complex ones that even the guys will love, we have you covered.

Sandra Lee Cocktail Time Strawberry Lemonade (Makes 1 cocktail)

INGREDIENTS 

Ice cubes

4 ounces Sandra LeeCocktail TimeTM Key Lime Margarita

2 ounces strawberry lemonade

1 ounce ginger ale

Sliced lemons

Sliced strawberries

METHOD 

In a small mason jar, combine Sandra Lee Cocktail TimeTMKey Lime Margarita, strawberry lemonade, 1 ounce ginger ale, sliced lemons, ice, and sliced strawberries.

Basil Hayden's Spiced Blueberry Punch 

Created by Debbi Peek (Louisville, KY) (Recipe serves 4-5)

INGREDIENTS
4 parts Basil Hayden's® Bourbon
8 parts Blueberry Juice
8 parts Passion Fruit Juice
Sparkling Wine or Club Soda
15-20 Fresh Mint Leaves
1 bag Frozen Blueberries, for ice ring 

METHOD
Add Basil Hayden’s® Bourbon, blueberry juice, passion fruit juice and mint leaves to a medium sized punch bowl and stir. Add blueberry ice ring*. (See recipe below.) Serve in a cocktail glass and top with club soda or sparkling wine. 

*Blueberry Ice RingFreeze one bag of frozen blueberries with water in a bundt cake pan.Dip frozen ring into hot water for a few seconds to unmold.Place in punch bowl with blueberry side up.

Deleón Platinum Pina

INGREDIENTS

1 ½ oz. DeLeón Platinum tequila

1 oz. fresh pineapple juice

½ oz. fresh lime juice

1 dash of jalapeño syrup

METHOD 

Shake and strain over the rocks in a rocks glass. Garnish with a slice of jalapeño.

Knob Creek Rye Blackhawk

INGREDIENTS
2 parts Knob Creek® Rye Whiskey
1 part DeKuyper® Sloe Gin
1 maraschino cherry for garnish

METHOD
In a mixing glass half-filled with ice cubes, combine the whiskey and gin. Stir and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a cherry.

Captain Morgan Palomaloha

(serves 1)

INGREDIENTS
1.5 oz. Captain Morgan Grapefruit Rum
Juice of ½ lime
Grapefruit soda to top

METHOD 
Fill tall glass with ice. Pour in Captain Morgan Grapefruit Rum, lime juice and grapefruit soda. Garnish with grapefruit wedge.

Wild Wednesday: Fendi Monster Booties & A Sarsaparilla Old Fashioned

It's Scary out There

It's official. Winter has arrived. Considering the fact that a few days ago it was pretty warm outside, Jack Frost seems like a new kind of monster. We're friends with the monsters though, right? Well, even if you don't like the ones under your bed or that brutal one called winter wind, this Monster Bootie by Fendi will likely win you over. Fox fur trim at the ankle provides whimsy and warmth, and they eyes add to the fun. The sculptural open heel gives it a modern feel. Worn right, this bootie says your style is untamed, you know how to have fun and you don't mind attracting an extra eye or two. (Pun slightly intended.)

The bite of winter's wind is soothed by a sip of whiskey. Rye whiskey, with it's frontier-sy feel, fits right in with our wild theme today, and if sipping it straight isn't your thing, you'll want a cocktail containing the flavorful spirit. Try a Sarsaparilla Old Fashioned made with Knob Creek Rye at happy hour. While bourbon and scotch have a refined connotation, ordering rye at a bar gives you a little extra edge. Sarsaparilla was popular among cowboys in the old west, so having it in your cocktail contributes to your rabblerouser image.

Sarsaparilla Old Fashioned

Recipe by Eddie Eakin |Dallas, TX

Ingredients:

- 2 parts Knob Creek® Rye

- 1/4 part Honey Syrup (1:1 honey and water)

- 1/2 part Root Beer Liqueur 

- 2 dashes Sarsaparilla Dry Bitters

- 1 dash Vanilla Bitters

Method:

1. Combine Knob Creek® Rye, Honey Syrup, Root Beer Liqueur, Sarsaparilla Dry Bitters and Vanilla Bitters in a mixing glass.

2. Add cracked ice and stir for 40 revolutions. 

3. Strain over ice in a rocks glass. 

4. Garnish with 1 whole star anise pod and a brandied cherry.

Outfit Idea 

Go for high-low in:
Fendi Monster Booties: available at NeimanMarcus.com
Annalise Cropped Sweater: available at candela.com
Jacquard Pencil Skirt: available at zara.com
Gattinoni Planetarium Crossbody Bag: available at Forzieri.com