Quick Sips: What to Drink on National Vodka Day

Let's Be Clear

Pinnacle Vodka Citrus Fizz/ Courtesy Image

Do you know what today is? Nope, it's not our anniversary. It's National Vodka Day! That means you should take a shot of the clear spirit with every meal today. Kidding. However, you may want to consider a bloody mary at lunch (if you can be trusted to go back to work after). You could also wait until happy hour and have a martini or some other delicious cocktail. Vodka is so versatile that your options are endless. Typically, it's distilled from Potatoes, wheat or another grain. However, it can also be made from grapes and other fruits. Like we said... versatile. It's produced in more flavors than virtually any other spirit, too. With so many options, it's hard to know what to order at happy hour or buy at the liquor store. Today, we say keep it simple. Afterall, it's only wednesday.

Opt for an easy drink with few ingredients, like Pinnacle Vodka's Citrus Fizz. Here's the recipe so you know what to ask for at the bar (or pick up from the store to try your hand at making it yourself).

Citrus Fizz

• 1 part Pinnacle® Original Vodka
• 2 parts Club Soda
• Garnish with Raspberries
• Garnish with Lemon Wheel

Preparation: Mix ingredients and serve over ice. Garnish with raspberries and a lemon wheel.

Oh, and here are some cute accoutremont for your home bar:

Perfect Pairing: Jeffrey Campbell Mules + Ciroc French Vanilla Cocktails

Shine On!

Between the recent solar eclipse and the astrological shift from Leo to Virgo, just about everyone is feeling the need to get their shine on. We're totally here for it... glow all the way up, no matter your astrological sign. And if you're headed out tonight (or in the near future), your mission—should you choose to accept it—is to step fiercely and sip sparkly.

ON YOUR FEET

Courtesy Photo

We've still got our focus on the fiery sun, so we love this Peggy Bundy-meets-Barbie-meets-2017 Minuit Mule by Jeffrey Campbell  (available HERE) in all its orange glory. The slide silhouette, translucent toe strap and metallic footbed lend a 70s disco princess feel. Meanwhile a sculpted lucite column heel brings this sandal into the now. These shoes were made to stand out, just like you.

IN YOUR GLASS

Courtesy Photo

CÎROC recently launched its French Vanilla ultra-premium vodka and is celebrating it with the creation of a new cocktail— the CÎROC-STAR MARTINI a riff on the "Porn Star" cocktail (those slides up there kinda give those vibes, too, but in a good way. Don't they?). It's a tangy, vibrant drink, with a little passionfruit, the smooth essence of vanilla and an effervescent shot of champagne to add a sparkling finish. Want to make it at home? Here's the recipe:

CÎROC-STAR MARTINI  

35ml CÎROC French Vanilla

15ml Passionfruit Syrup

10ml Rhubarb Aperitif

25ml White Peach Puree

5ml Lemon Juice

50ml Champagne (on the side)

Martini glass/ straight up / shake and fine strain

Garnished with half a passionfruit floated in the drink.

Add all ingredients except for the champagne to a Boston tin with ice, shake and fine strain into a large martini glass. Serve champagne in a separate shot glass.

As always, we must insist that you indulge responsibly and legally. Also, we'd love to know your thoughts on these shoes and this drink. If you have shoes you'd like paired with a cocktail, we're at your service!

Quick Sips: 3 Cocktails for National Rum Day

On the Rum

Happy National Rum Day! While it's easy enough to toast with a typical rum & coke at happy hour today, why not do something a little different? Today IS a celebration of one of the world's favorite cane spirits, after all. We have a few suggestions below, but before you start sipping, check out a few fun rum facts we previously posted. Now, the drinks:

Morgan Mule Gelatin Shots

6 oz. Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum

8.5 oz. ginger ale

1.5 oz. fresh lime juice

2 envelops of lime gelatin (approx. 5.5 teaspoons) - If you don't eat pork, there are gelatins out there without it. You just may have to search a bit.

Naked on the Beach

1.5 oz. The Naked Turtle White Rum

3 oz. Cranberry Juice

3 oz Freshly Squeeze Orange Juice

1 Peach muddled

Fresh Cherries for Garnish

Saville Premium Rumtini

It's a pre-mixed cocktail made with premium rum and tropical fruits. Just add ice and with fresh fruit.

We hope you enjoy National Rum Day. We insist that you do so legally and responsibly. XO

*Captain Morgan Rum is a product sponsor and occasionally sends Shoes N Booze complimentary bottles.

Perfect Pairing: Katy Perry Sandals + Smirnoff Sourced Watermelon

Drinkin' Watermelon

Today's National Watermelon Day, and we're celebrating with shoes and a cocktail inspired by summer's favorite fruit. If you're trying to do the same but you're not sure where to start, we've got you covered.

On Your Feet

The simplest thing would be to just wear a pair of red or red-pink shoes. However, if you want to go full-out, we suggest shoes that actually feature watermelons. This Carmen lace-up sandal from Katy Perry Collection is a good start. Depending on where you work, it might not be a good fit for the office (unless you get it in black). However it's definitely happy hour-approved. The tiny fruit accents (especially the watermelons) are adorable, and the stiletto heel, coupled with the trend-right ankle laces make them a sassy, sexy conversation piece wherever you go. (Also, you can likely get them for less than $100 via Amazon.)

If flats are more on your level, these Happy Fruity Slides by Topshop will work, especially if you're sipping al fresco. Available at Nordstrom.

And if you're living la vida luxury, this sandal from Camilla Elphick will do the trick. Does anyone else envision themselves twirling the night away on the dancefloor in these? They're currently on sale at Luisa via Roma.

In Your Glass

Smirnoff Sourced released a watermelon flavor just in time for today. The above-pictured Tropical Melon Bliss is sweet, refreshing and fairly easy to make at home:

Ingredients:
1.5 oz SMIRNOFF SOURCED Watermelon
1 oz coconut water
1 oz pomegranate juice
.5 oz lemon juice
.75 oz simple syrup

Method:
Combine ingredients in a glass over ice. Garnish with a watermelon wedge.

If your favorite bar doesn't have SMIRNOFF SOURCED Watermelon, you may be able to request a mixture of Smirnoff Vodka mixed with watermelon juice and the other ingredients. We're sure it'll also be pretty refreshing.

Will you be drinkin' watermelon today? Whatever you drink, please do it legally and responsibly.

*Shoes N Booze is an Amazon affiliate and receives commission from the purchase of linked products. Smirnoff is a product partner of Shoes N Booze and occasionally sends complimentary products for review.

Perfect Pairing: Captain Morgan Loco Nut & Nine West Wedges

Baywatch / Baewatch... Kinda the Same.

Baywatch hit theaters last night, and if you decided to start your Memorial Day weekend with a trip to the theaters (and then the bar), we've found you some perfectly themed footwear and frozen cocktails. (They'll actually work for your weekend boardwalk or barbecue plans, too. Score!)

On your Feet: Nine West Aprilshower Wedges

Don't worry... we're not about to suggest you wear a pair of wedges to the beach. However, the red and white stripes on these espadrille sandals—along with the thick lug soles—do make one think of those old school lifesavers on every lifeguard's chair, no? The ankle strap adds a little leg-elongating magic, too. So weather you're down by the bay or hunting for bae (or heading out with someone special), these Nine West wedges have you covered. They also have a bit of patriotic appeal. Double weekend-themed win. Get them HERE (they're less than $100).

In Your Glass (Sorta): Captain Morgan Loco Nut Red Suit Ready

We all love a good icy. These, like the shoes above, are a double score—perfect for your Baywatch-themed party or for any Memorial Day festivities. Here's how you make them:

Ingredients:

1½ oz LocoNut

1½ oz Coconut Water

¾ oz Captain Morgan White Rum

1½ oz Strawberry Daiquiri Mix

¾ oz Water

Method:
Combine LocoNut and coconut water. Stir to combine. Separately, combine Captain Morgan White Rum, strawberry daiquiri mix, and water. Stir to combine. Fill a plastic freezie sleeve halfway up with strawberry daiquiri mixture. Top with LocoNut mixture and freeze overnight before serving.

If you make a batch of Red Suit Ready pops, promise to invite us to the party? Please? Seriously, though, what's on your agenda for the weekend, and what will you have on your feet?


*Disclosure: Shoes N Booze is an Amazon affiliate and receives commission on products purchased by clicking its links. Captain Morgan is a product partner, and Shoes N Booze receives complimentary bottles.

Quick Sips: A Cocktail Recipe for National Daiquiri Day

Daiquiri, Easy as 1-2-3

Today is National Daiquiri Day. Although at this point there are various flavors and iterations of Ernest Hemingway's favorite cocktail, we're toasting with the original. According to the folks at Bacardi, the daiquiri was created in 1898 in Cuba by Jennings Cox and then introduced to the U.S.A. by Rear Admiral Lucius W. Johnson in the early 1900s at the Army & Navy Club in Washington, DC. While the modern daiquiri is often served in slush form, especially in New Orleans, here's how you make the original:

The Original BACARDÍ® Daiquiri

INGREDIENTS:

3 parts BACARDÍ Superior

1 part freshly squeezed lime

1 part simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water boiled until sugar has been diluted.)

METHOD: 

Put all ingredients into a shaker.  Fill with half cubed ice and half crushed ice.  Shake vigorously until chilled.  Double strain into a coupe or rocks glass.

World Kiss Day Wednesday: Charlotte Olympia Mules & Pink Limoncello Cocktails

Maybe we Could do the Twirl

In case you didn't know, July 6th is International Kissing Day, or World Kiss Day. Established in 2006, the day celebrates the act of puckering up simply for the enjoyment of it and not just as a prelude to more frisky pursuits. Like the kiss, cocktails and hot shoes often lead to... cheeky activities. However, here, we enjoy fancy footwear and fun drinks simply for what they are, and our fave place to put our lips is the rim of a cocktail glass. Here's how we suggest acknowledging this lip-inspired day.

On Your Feet: Charlotte Olympia "Kiss My Feet" Mules

Let's be honest, if you opened a kissing booth, you'd make enough cash to cover a year's worth of designer shoes. That's not your thing, though. Nonetheless, leave people wanting to kiss the ground you walk on in a playfully sexy shoe, like this satin mule from Charlotte Olympia's Kiss and Make Up Collection. In must-wear silhouette for this season, the "Kiss My Feet" sandal features a dainty stiletto heal and a puckered lip-inspired front strap. Keep your look sweet with a flared skirt and flirty off-the-shoulder top or add some edge with frayed skinny jeans and a deep-v tee.

In your Glass: A LiDestri Pink Limoncello Summer Fling 

The best summer flings start with amazing kisses, don't they? They're sweet, intense, refreshing and powerful... just like this cocktail LiDestri Pink Limoncello cocktail by Delissa Reinosa. Here's the recipe:

INGREDIENTS:
1 part LiDestri Pink Limoncello
1 part Whiskey
1 part Orange juice
Splash of Grenadine
Club Soda topper

METHOD
Build over ice in rocks glass. Garnish with slice of orange and cherry.

Remember, like a casual romance, a cocktail can leave you with some pretty bad after-effects if not handled responsibly. Please enjoy this and all drinks in moderation. XOXO!

Do you have fun plans for World Kiss Day? We'd love to know! In the meantime... some options for the perfect pout print:



*All images are courtesy images.

Booze News: Boston's Schuyler Hunton Named the Northeast's Most Imaginative Bartender

Cheers and Congrats

USBG & Bombay Sapphire's Most Imaginative Bartender Competition Participants - Courtesy Image

A few days ago, we attended the United States Bartenders' Guild's finals for the 10th Annual Most Imaginative Bartender Competition, sponsored by Bombay Sapphire Gin in Manhattan. Held at Pier A, the competition challenged 10 of the top bartenders from New York, Boston, Washington D.C. and Philadelphia to create cocktails that made memorable first impressions, not only in flavor, but also presentation.




















There was a cocktail inspired by one contestant's recently-deceased Kung Fu master, which featured tea as a main ingredient and was presented in a beautiful mini garden. Another bartender created a cocktail to help "reduce the ethanol footprint of the alcohol," with raw honey and bee pollen among its ingredients. Then there was the cocktail that infused manzanilla sherry with seaweed. We think they were all amazing. However, the judges were apparently blown away by Schuyler Hunton's presentation, which was inspired by a classic English breakfast and featured toast and jam with his "Breakfast in Bombay" cocktail taking the place of the egg. Here's the cocktail and its recipe.

"Breakfast in Bombay" by Schuyler Hunton

Breakfast in Bombay
2 oz Bombay Sapphire Gin
¾ oz Grapefruit Earl Grey Oleo Saccharum
½ oz Lemon Juice
½ oz Egg White
Tea Pot Bitter Spritz

Hunton will move on to the North American Finals in England, where he'll face off against 9 of the top bartenders across the U.S. and Canada. That batch of candidates will get visit the Layerstoke Mill Distillery— the brand home of Bombay Sapphire Gin, where they'll compete for the 2016 North American title. The grand prize winner will get a trip to Tuscany to learn about the special blend of botanicals that make up Bombay Sapphire's recipe and will also be featured on the cover of GQ Magazine's December issue.

We salute all the entrants and look forward to seeing who wins. Cheers!

Magical Monday: Alexandra G Sandals & Bundaberg Cocktails

Welcome to Summer!

On Your Feet: Ariana Sandals by Alejandra G

Because: It's Summer Solstice, or the first day of Summer and the day we get the most time to play in the sun. There's something positively magical in the air. You might as well channel it in a pair of mesmerizing shoes, like Alejandra G's Ariana Sandal. If your personal charm doesn't put people under your spell, the psychodelic print on this sandal will. The 4.75 inch heel says you're daring, and the sexy (so-summer-16) ankle laces say you know what's hot now. If your office culture isn't fierce-friendly, pull these stunners out for happy hour and beyond... you've got plenty of time to enchant before the Strawberry Moon makes its appearance.

In Your Glass: a Bundaberg Solar Flare

Today's all about solar energy, so why not channel it in the form of a cocktail that's chock-full of citrus. Enter Bundaberg's Solar Flare. Featuring vodka, Bundaberg Blood Orange sparkling fruit drink, lime and grapefruit, it's sweet, effervescent and just tangy enough. You may not be able to get this exact cocktail at happy hour, but you can get something similar- and it'll say you're a bit more complex than someone who simply orders "vodka orange". Also, it nods to your sunny outlook and sweet personality.

Sipping at home? Here's the recipe:

Ingredients:
1.7 fl.oz Vodka
Bundaberg Blood Orange
0.7 fl.oz Lime juice
0.5 fl.oz Grapefruit juice
0.5 fl.oz Orange juice

Method:
Build in tall glass. Garnish with Orange, grapefruit and lime wedges.

We received complimentary samples of Bundaberg Sparkling Fruit Drink recently, and we're loving the variety of flavors. Made in Australia, they're craft brewed over 2 days, and they locally source most of their ingredients. To learn more or find out how to get your hands on some, click here.

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!

Wild Wednesday: Frances Valentine Shoes & Made Real Booze

Flock Together, Rock Together

As Women's History Month comes to a close, we're toasting girl gangs, especially the ones behind Frances Valentine shoes and Made Real Vodka. Wild Wednesday is all about injecting a dose of whimsy into your week, so here's to magic that's made when birds of a fancy feather find each other and rock together. 

On Your Feet

Let's say you've always loved those marabou slippers worn by retro silver screen sirens, but you could never seem to figure out a way to incorporate them into an outfit that was appropriate for outside wear. Well, the folks at Frances Valentine apparently felt that same challenge and did something about it... and the called her Violet ($595). Standing on a 4-inch stiletto heel with a dainty ankle strap and a fun marabou pom pom, this snakeskin beauty is equal parts cute and bad-ass. Yet she's surprisingly versatile.It makes sense, though, when you consider the fact that Frances Valentine is the newest offering from the original team behind Kate Spade (OK... not all girls, but three women and a man... it still counts!).

In Your Glass

OK, so have you heard of Made Real Vodka yet? Well, it's a honey/ wheat-distilled vodka brand backed by Absolut and created by women with the goal of not only inspiring women entrepreneurs but also bringing them together over cool drinks. It's 80 proof and proof positive that "Self-made doesn't have to be solo." The brand often hosts events for female entrepreneurs and also donates partial proceeds to organizations that benefit female entrepreneurs. (We fell in love with them via Instagram) You may or may not be able to find it at your favorite bar for happy hour, but if you're in NYC, you can have your own bottled delivered to you in under an hour.  About the cocktail, though:

The Plus One Lavender

Ingredients

2oz Made Real Vodka

1oz Organic/Natural Lemonade

Muddled Fresh Lavender

Splash of Soda

Method

Muddle fresh lavender in a collins glass. Add ice. Pour in Made Real Vodka and lemonade. Add a splash of soda. Garnish with fresh lavender and a lemon wedge or lemon slice. 

Maybe you should schedule a cocktail & convo session with a few of your girls to see what new collaborations come to life. Don't have a tribe? Well... sound off in the comments about what's important to you in a girl crew. You never know what might happen. 

Booze Clues: 6 Fun St. Patrick's Day Drinks

To Glasses of Good Cheer and Pots of Gold

Whether you're Irish or not, chances are you'll find yourself at a bar this evening, toasting to St. Patrick and hoping to get lucky (ya know, in the pot of gold way, hehe). Hopefully you're beyond your green beer days, but if you're not sure what to drink beyond that initial shot of Jamo (Jameson), See below. From skinny margaritas to smoky scotch drinks and full-bodied bourbon sippers, we've got you covered (and not all of them are green!).

Strong, Spicy and Refreshing

Knob Creek Mint Ginger Old Fashioned- Created by Celebrity Chef Michael Symon

Ingredients
1 ½ Parts Knob Creek Rye Whiskey
Ginger Beer
½ Part Lemon Juice
¼ Part Green Chartreuse
6-8 Mint Leaves

Method

Combine all ingredients (except ginger beer) in a bar tin with ice and shake well. Strain into a chilled Collins glass, top off with ginger beer and garnish with a single mint leaf.

Sweet, Effervescent and a Little Spicy

Basil Hayden’s Lucky Ginger- Created by Zachary Brian Taylor (San Francisco, CA)

Ingredients
1 1/2 parts Basil Hayden’s Bourbon
3/4 parts Lemon Juice
1/2 part Brown Sugar Syrup*
1 spring of Rosemary
Ginger Beer

Method
Combine Basil Hayden’s Bourbon, lemon juice and brown sugar syrup into a cocktail shaker.
Remove rosemary needles from the bottom 3/4 of the spring and add to the shaker. Save the top of the spring for use as a garnish.
Add ice to shaker and shake.
Double strain into a Collins glass filled with ice.
Top with ginger beer.
Garnish with the remaining rosemary spring.

*Brown Sugar Syrup
1 part Water
1 part Brown Sugar

Hearty

Cruzan Strapped Stout

Ingredients
1 ½ parts Cruzan Black Strap Rum
1 bottle of Chocolate or coffee stout beer

Method

Combine ingredients in a pint glass. Stir gently.

Lighty & Spicy

Luck of the Irish

Ingredients

2 ¼ slices jalapeño chile, seeds removed (use more slices if you like it spicy)

3 parts Skinnygirl Margarita

Chili powder or Mexican chili seasoning mixed with coarse salt

Lime peel for garnish

Method 

Muddle the jalapeño slices in the bottom of a cocktail shaker. Pour Skinnygirl Margarita over the jalapeños. Add ice and shake well. Rim a rocks glass with the chili powder mixture and pour in the margarita. Garnish with a lime peel.

Smoky and Earthy- for Badasses Only

Luck of Laphroaig- Created by Tyson Buhler (New York, NY)

Ingredients
1 1/2 parts Laphroaig Select
1/4 part Sarsaparilla Syrup
2 dashes Angostura Bitters
Orange twist

Method 
Combine ingredients in a rocks glass with ice. Garnish with orange twist.

Stout and Simple

The Perfect Pint of Guinness Draught 

We learned the 7-step process to pouring the perfect pint of Guinness yesterday at a special lunch tasting. Make sure your bartender knows the method. It involves precision and a brief pause for settling, so be patient. After your first sip, post a pic on Instagram with your stout-stache. Because you're bae AF, right?

Oh and if you want to leave a lucky-looking lip print on your glass, green lipstick is the way to go.



Psst! A totally unrelated, but very important sale scoop! 25% off at Pour La Victoire & Kelsi Dagger!
Pour La Victoire: Spring forward with 25% off regular price items! Use code DSAVINGS25 - Shop Now!
Kelsi Dagger Brooklyn: Take 25% off regular priced items with code SPRING25 - Valid through 3/25!

*All images courtesy images. Shoes N Booze is an affiliate of Amazon, Kelsi Dagger and Pour La Victoire

Quick Sips: a Pi Day Cocktail from Piehole Whiskey

Take a Pie to the Face (In a Good Way)

Math and science enthusiasts see Pi Day as a time to celebrate the world's most famous irrational number. Those of us in the world of food and drink, however like to employ a pun and celebrate... well... pie. The easiest way to do so would be shots of Piehole Whiskey (which comes in three pie-inspired flavors, of which Apple Pie is our favorite.) If you'd like to go a little fancier, opt for a cocktail featuring the 70 proof Canadian whisky + liqueur concoction, like:

The Lucky Apple 

Ingredients

1.5 oz. PIEHOLE™ Whiskey with Apple Flavored Liqueur

3 oz. Ginger Beer              

A splash sour mix

A splash of lemon-lime soda

Method

Mix ingredients over ice. Stir. Strain into glass of choice over rocks. Garnish with lime wedge and apple slice.

Do Try this at Home: A Vday Cocktail from the Heart

For John Watson

My mother's father, John Watson was born in rural Alabama during the early part of the 20th century. He was a passionate storyteller, a loving grandfather, and a fan of the sauce, especially (as I recently learned) Four Roses Bourbon. He coined the term "hoop-n-doop" for his bourbon or actually any soothing drink, even going so far a jokingly applying it to a baby's bottle. So when I learned Four Roses was having a Valentine's Day cocktail contest, I jumped at a chance to pay him a bit of posthumous homage through a passion we share. A riff on the Old Fashioned, it includes one of his favorite condiments, Alaga Syrup. Without further ado:

Hoop-N-Doop for the Heart

Ingredients
2 oz Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon
2 teaspoons Alaga Syrup
2-3 dashes orange bitters

Method
Blend Alaga and Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon over ice and add bitters. Stir with a barspoon and then pour over large ice cube into rocks glass and garnish with orange peel.

In this picture, I used a glass from my grandmother's house. I'm pretty sure he sipped from it at some point. I also chose four small rose buds because his nickname was Buddy. Cheers, Granddaddy!

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.

Fun Friday: Becki Coakley Sandals & a Cute Cosmo

... And Red Allover

On Your Feet: 

Happy Memorial Weekend! Let's all take a moment to pause in gratitude to those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. Now, let's talk about what shoes you'll be wearing tonight when it's time to step out. I say celebrate the unofficial start of summer in a pair of hot red sandals. Strappy on one side, and solid on the other, this Tanaia hybrid sandal by Becki Coakley ($575 and available HERE) is the perfect style to signal changing seasons. The 4-inch stiletto heel complements those calf muscles you've been working on, and the dainty ankle strap has a great elongating effect.

In Your Glass: 

When it's time to toast the end of yet another week, sip something strong and sweet. If you normally drink the classic Cosmopolitan, maybe this time order your spirits by name at the bar (or select something new for your pregame session). This version features One80 Vodka, a small-batch corn-based spirit produced in Denver, CO (and of which Becki Coakley is the co-founder). Here's the recipe:

INGREDIENTS

2 ounces of One80 Vodka
1 ounce of Combier (orange flavored liqueur)
1 ounce of peach schnapps
3 ounces of cranberry juice
½ ounce of lime juice
Ice

METHOD
Pour One80 Vodka, Combier, cranberry juice, lime juice into a cocktail shaker over ice. Roll the shaker gently for 20 seconds. Do not shake- this will cause the mixture to froth. Strain into a chilled martini glass.