Come cool off with a cocktail
To celebrate the end of summer and bring in the cooler fall weather, we are back with another roundup of our favorite spirits and cocktails.
Kicking off this roundup is one of our favorite vodka brands, Belvedere Vodka. And with this roundup we wanted to highlight their special Belvedere Cosmopolitan – an easy yet delicious drink to make at home for yourself or for others!
Belvedere Cosmopolitan
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz Belvedere
- 1 oz Orange Liqueur
- .75 oz fresh lime juice
- .75 oz Cranberry juice
Method: Place all ingredients into a cocktail shaker. Shake with ice, strain into a cocktail shaker and garnish with a lime wheel.
If you have been living under a rock, you may have heard that the classic dessert, the Choco Taco, is being discontinued. But don’t worry, there is a boozy alternative we have for you to try. Only being served throughout the month of August, Amy Fontaine’s in NYC has created a new and exciting cocktail that is an homage to that famous dessert. This dessert cocktail is called the Tacotini.
Tacotini
Created by Cody Goldstein of Muddling Memories (New York, NY)
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 ounces Tequila Cazadores Blanco
- 2 ounces Chicory Cold Brew
- .50 ounce Heavy Cream or Coconut Cream (for non dairy guests)
- .50 ounce Averna Amaro
- .50 ounce Waffle Cone Syrup (vanilla, cinnamon, almond)
- Sea Salt
Garnish: Chocolate Fudge Shell Rim and Dry Roasted Peanuts
Method: Add Tequila Cazadores Blanco, Chicory Cold Brew, Heavy Cream, Averna, Waffle Cone Syrup and Sea Salt into a shaker. Dry shake for 10 seconds then add 3 ice cubes and shake for another 5 seconds. Strain into a coupe glass that has been rimmed with fudge shell chocolate and rolled in dry roasted peanuts.
Next we have a Betty Buzz recipe which is the Betty Buzz Sparkling Margarita and this is perfect for those who like a little bubbles in their drink. This cocktail has only three ingredients and is so refreshing
Betty Buzz Sparkling Margarita
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz Tequila
- 1/2 Bottle Betty Buzz Sparkling Lemon Lime
- 1 oz agave or simple syrup
Method: Start with a lowball glass and add ice, tequila, agave, Betty Buzz Sparkling Lemon Lime, and stir together. Garnish with a lime wheel.
Glenmorangie has been one of our go to whiskey’s to try especially when making whiskey cocktails. And X by Glenmorangie was made with cocktails in mind making it the perfect base for any drink.
Glenmorangie X BBQ
Ingredients:
- 50ml (2oz) X by Glenmorangie
- 50ml (2oz) Ginger Beer
Method: Fill highball glass with crushed ice. Add X by Glenmorangie and ginger beer. Stir, squeeze 3 lime wedges over the drink, then use them to garnish.
One whisky we have been raving about is Starward Australian Whisky, which is one of the smoothest whisky’s we have tried. With a deep and rich flavor of red fruits, caramel, and more, it’s no surprise that we wanted to feature Starward. And recently, Starward has introduced a new expression called Starward Octave Barrels. This is a new distinctly Australian single malt whisky that celebrates the very best of whisky craftsmanship and Australian winemaking. Extending Starward’s progressive red wine barrel maturation practices, the Octave Barrels takes some of the world’s oldest Shiraz plantings from Australia’s oldest family-owned winery and takes these barrels to create a world first Single Estate Australian Whisky.
Starward Octave Barrel
And we couldn’t do this roundup without mentioning Macallan. And on August 25th, you can celebrate one of our favorite holidays, National Whisky Sour Day. And the Macallan Double Cask 15 Years Old provides the perfect base to make this the best whisky sour you will ever make.
The Macallan Sour
Ingredients:
- The Macallan Double Cask 15 Years Old
- 20ml lemon juice
- 10ml brown sugar syrup
- Egg white
- Oloroso sherry float
Method: Shake all ingredients, except sherry, into an ice filled shaker. Strain into glass over ice. Using a bar spoon, slowly layer the sherry over the top of the cocktail.
For those that like a smooth Irish Whiskey, Proper No. Twelve has a few cocktails for you to try out. This whiskey was actually started by MMA Champion Conor McGregor, so you know it packs a punch.
The first of the Proper No. Twelve cocktails is the Proper Peach, a fruity and refreshing cocktail to have on a hot summer day.
Proper Peaches
Ingredients:
- 2 parts Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey
- 1/2 part simple syrup
- 1 peach, diced
- 3-4 mint leaves
- Splash of soda water
Method: Muddle peaches, simple syrup & mint leaves in a shaker. Add Proper No. Twelve and fill shaker with ice. Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice. Top with a splash of soda water. Garnish with mint leaves and a peach slice
And for the Arnold Palmer lovers, there is a specialty cocktail just for you.
Proper Palmer
Ingredients:
- 2 parts Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey
- 2 parts Lemonade
- 2 parts Iced Tea
Method: Pour Proper No. Twelve over ice. Add lemonade and iced tea. Stir. Garnish with lemon slice.
And the last Proper No. Twelve cocktail we are featuring is a brunch classic and perfect for cutting through hangovers.
Proper Bloody Mary
Ingredients:
- 1.5 parts Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey
- 3 parts Tomato Juice
- 1/3 part Lemon Juice
- 4 dashes Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 bar spoon Pickle Juice
- 1/2 bar spoon Horseradish
- Squeeze of Lime Juice
- 1 pinch Celery Salt or Table Salt
- 1 pinch Ground Black Pepper
Method: Add all ingredients to a shaker and fill with ice. Shake and strain into a tall glass filled with fresh ice. Garnish with a celery stalk, lemon wedge, and olives.
We also recently got our hands on some new spirits produced Mulholland Distilling. Having a range of products to try, Mulholland Distilling is know for creating amazing spirits including the Double Gold award-winning Gin, versatile 100% Corn Vodka, and signature 100-proof Whiskey. And they are also featuring some delicious cocktails that you can make at home.
The first up is a take on the martini but with a twist by adding notes of grapefruit and orange into the mix
Bond Girl
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz Mulholland Gin
- .75 oz Mezcal
- 5 oz Lillet
- .25 oz Amaro Angelino + 1 dash orange bitters
Method: Stir until chilled and serve up in a chilled glass. Garnish with an orange peel.
The next cocktail is something for those that like a deep and dark sweetness to their drinks.
Bramble
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz Mulholland Gin
- 1 oz lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons simple syrup
- 50 oz creme de mure (blackberry liqueur)
Method: Shake until chilled and strain over ice in your favorite glass. Slowly pour creme de mure over the top of the drink. Garnish with a lemon half-wheel and blackberry or raspberry speared together with a garnish pick.
The next featured cocktail from Mulholland is a refreshing watermelon drink that even uses some watermelon chunks for that extra sweet kick.
The Water Melon
- 1.5 oz Mulholland Vodka
- .75 oz lime juice
- .50-.75 oz agave syrup to desired sweetness
- .75 cups watermelon chunks
Method: Shake until chilled and strain over ice in your favorite glass. Garnish with Watermelon and Tajin for a spicy kick!
The last Mulholland cocktail we wanted to feature is an interesting drink with a peppery kick to it.
Mulholland Dalmation
- 2 oz Mulholland Vodka
- 6 oz fresh grapefruit juice
- .05 oz black pepper simple syrup
Method: Mix 1 cup sugar, 1 cup water, 1 tsp cracked black pepper over low heat, until sugar is completely dissolved. Leave the pepper bits in syrup for a bolder flavor, or remove sooner for something milder.
And for the tequila lovers we have a few options for you to try out.
The first one being from Volcan Tequila and this cocktail is perfect for the paloma lovers out there.
La Valoma
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Volcan Blanco Tequila
- ¾ oz Fresh Lime Juice
- 5 oz Fresh Grapefruit Juice
- ¾ Oz Agave Syrup
- A pinch of salt
Method: Combine Volcan Blanco, fresh lime and grapefruit juice, salt and agave syrup in a shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously and strain over ice in a highball glass. Top with soda water and garnish with a grapefruit wedge.
And just because summer is ending does not mean you have to stop making those tropical drinks that you love. And we have a new cocktail we wanted to feature from Novo Fogo that resembles that of a pina colada.
Batida
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Novo Fogo Silver Cachaça
- 1oz Passionfruit Syrup
- 0.5 oz coconut milk
- 0.5 oz lime juice
Method: Add all ingredients in a blender with ½ cup of ice and blend until smooth.
And a new recipe we wanted to feature comes from Del Maguey Vida Single Village Mezcal and it’s called the Pink Ghost.
Pink Ghost
Ingredients:
- 3/4 part Del Maguey Vida Single Village Mezcal
- 1 part strawberry puree or muddled fresh strawberries
- 1/4 parts coconut milk
- 1/4 parts freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1⁄4 parts honey syrup (recipe below)
- 1 spritz hemp oil
- 1 mint sprig, for garnish
Method: Combine all the ingredients, except the oil and garnish, in a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake until well chilled. Strain into a tall glass over crushed ice. Spray with hemp oil and garnish with the mint sprig.
And for the rum lovers, we have something exciting for you. National Rum Month is in full swing this August and our friends at Zaya Rum have recently partnered with Dough Doughnuts to create the perfect rum glazed doughnut. This is made with a classic yeast brioche and glazed with the creamy Zaya Rum glaze and finished with a topping of smokey turkey bacon. The Zaya Rum Glazed Doughnut runs throughout August and wraps up by Labor Day. And if you are looking to find the closest location to you, you can visit https://www.doughdoughnuts.com/store/
Next up is one of the best-selling rosés in the US, Whispering. The fruit-forward, creamy palate is balanced with a crisp acidity and notes of red berries, florals and discreet hint of spice which is why this has become one of our favorites of the summer.
WHISPERING ANGEL
As summer begins to wind down, it’s harder to get that motivation to make those delicious cocktails sometimes. Which is why Tequila Cazadores’ new Ready-to-Serve (RTS) cocktails are the perfect addition to any and all upcoming fiestas.
Available in classic Margarita and Paloma, these ready-to-serve cocktails are as authentic and real as it gets. Expertly crafted using 100% Blue Weber Agave Tequila and 100% real, natural ingredients (no artificial flavors), these offerings are ready to drink with zero effort required. Simply pour over ice & enjoy!
Tequila Cazadores Ready-to-Serve Margarita & Paloma
- Available nationwide in Margarita and Paloma flavors
- Made with award-winning 100% Agave Tequila Cazadores Blanco
- Gluten-free, no artificial flavors
- 100% real, natural ingredients
- ABV 12.5%, 1.75L Glass Bottle
- SRP $19.99, available in stores and for purchase online via Drizly, Instacart, ReserveBar and more
And we love it when there are new challenges or contests when it comes to cocktail making. And there is some big news from Flor de Caña. Flor de Caña and the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation have teamed up to launch the Sustainable Cocktail Challenge, a global competition that aims to inspire the bartending community to build a greener future together by creating spectacular cocktails using sustainable ingredients and techniques.
Bartenders from across the US are welcome to enter the Sustainable Cocktail Challenge by visiting https://flordecanachallenge.com/usa/. Each bartender that submits a sustainable cocktail recipe and photo will be entered to win one of THREE big prizes, and 1st place winners will head to Nicaragua to participate in the North American Regional Final in October 2022!
Entry closes on August 31, so be sure to check it out.
