Do Try This Pina Colada Dessert Drink Recipe at Home

The Uncharted Dessert Isle

I scream, you scream, we all scream for... spring (bet you thought I'd say 'ice cream'. Gotcha!) Now that it's warming up, images of tropical drinks, frosty desserts and fun are fluttering through my mind like butterflies. When a bottle of the newly released Smirnoff Sourced Pineapple Vodka recently arrived at my door to create a recipe for Thebar.com, I felt compelled to see if I could capture the feel of spring in a glass. Since it's the season when we start seeing more tropical fruits in stores, (and I'm a fan of pina coladas), I immediately thought of adding coconut in some way. Ginger also came to mind (and then the theme song to a certain shipwreck-themed show followed).... Before I knew it, I had figured out a recipe for a drink that's actually more confection than concoction — the Dessert Isle. There are actually 2 ways to make it— one for a quick fix, and another (pictured above), which takes a bit more preparation, for entertaining guests)

INGREDIENTS
1.5 oz Smirnoff Sourced Pineapple Vodka

1 oz coconut water

.5 oz ginger beer

1 scoop vanilla gelato

1/4 ripe mango, diced

sprinkle of grated ginger

sprinkle of grated mango skin

METHOD (quick fix)

Blend Smirnoff Sourced Pineapple Vodka, ginger beer and coconut water in a mixing glass. Place mango pieces into a coupe glass. Add scoop of vanilla gelato (fro-yo) to coupe. Pour Smirnoff Sourced Pineapple Vodka mixture onto gelato. Sprinkle grated ginger and mango skin on top to garnish.

METHOD (for guests)

Mix coconut water with gelato and place in freezer in an ice tray. Once mixture is firm, mix Smirnoff Sourced Pineapple Vodka and ginger beer in a mixing glass. Place diced mango pieces into a coupe glass. Add most of vodka mixture, leaving just a bit in the mixing glass. Add gelato cubes. Spoon the rest of vodka mixture over gelato cubes. Sprinkle grated ginger and mango skin for garnish. 

The result is a mix between a ginger pina colada (do you get the name yet? tropical flavors + ginger... "the movie star, the professor and Mary Ann...") and an ice cream float. Yum! 

Oh, FYI, Smirnoff Sourced Vodkas are 60 proof and infused with (concentrated) real fruit juice. They're also gluten-free and made without high-fructose corn syrup.

I'd love to know your thoughts if you try this recipe. I'd also love to hear your opinions on the other flavors. Sound off in the comments or feel free to shoot me an email.

**Disclosure: I am working in partnership with thebar.com brand and I am receiving rewards for my participation in this campaign. All thoughts/opinions are 100% my own. Drink is intended for those whom alcohol is legal and appropriate. Please Drink Responsibly!

Do Try This Rosé and Rye Spring Sangria Recipe at Home

Do the Rye Thing... 

It finally feels like spring in the New York area, and you know what that means... it's Rosé season! I've been obsessed with rye whiskey lately, and rosé is one of my favorite wines, so I figured mixing them would make a tasty sangria. I was right! The resulting Sang-RYE-a is a simple recipe featuring George Dickel Rye Whiskey that's perfect for home-hosted spring brunches with the girls.

I Prefer to let the fruit soak up the rye for an hour or so before adding other ingredients. Then I add the rosé, raw sugar and coconut water.

Here's the complete recipe (4 servings per pitcher):

SangRYE-a

Ingredients
8oz George Dickel Rye
12 oz cocnut water
1 bottle rosé
3/4 a medium peach, diced
1 small nectarine, diced
1/8 medium papaya diced
2 tablespoons raw sugar

Method
Add fruit, sugar and George Dickel Rye to a pitcher. Let sit for an hour or more. Add coconut water and rosé. Stir with bar spoon or wooden mixing spoon. Enjoy!

Those who like their drinks a bit sweeter may want to add more sugar or coconut water to taste. Do you have a favorite spring drink that features rye? If you try this at home, I'd love to know your thoughts and the ways you put your own spin on it in the comments.


**Disclosure: I am working in partnership with thebar.com brand and I am receiving rewards for my participation in this campaign. All thoughts/opinions are 100% my own. Drink is intended for those whom alcohol is legal and appropriate. Please Drink Responsibly!

Do Try This At Home: The Perfect Tailgate Toast

The Peligroso Cinnamon Score

We're pretty deep into football season, and with it comes tailgate time. Whether you're convening with friends in the parking lot of a stadium, or watching the games from home, you're likely going to be having a cocktail (or five) while you do it. With that in mind, I, created a delicious drink to enjoy at tailgate time featuring Peligroso Tequila Cinnamon. Warm, sweet and a little bit spicy, it's perfect for sipping when temperatures are chilly.

Here's the recipe:
8 oz instant hot chocolate
3 oz Peligroso Tequila Cinnamon
5 dashes orange bitter
1 pinch of sea salt
1 pinch of nutmeg

Method:
Prepare 1 packet of instant hot chocolate. Pour into your favorite thermos or portable mug. Add 3 oz Peligroso Tequila Cinnamon. Add 5 dashes of orange bitters, a pinch of sea salt and a pinch of nutmeg to taste. Then pour into small mugs or cups.

***Disclosure: I am working in partnership with thebar.com brand and I am receiving rewards for my participation in this campaign.All thoughts/opinions are 100% my own. Drink is intended for those whom alcohol is legal and appropriate. Please Drink Responsibly!