Cheers now that Spring is here!
The long-awaited season of Spring has finally arrived. And nothing screams Spring than some new fun and fruity cocktails and spirits to try out.
We wanted to start out with some drinks that are perfect for Music Festival Season. First up we have the Kastra Spritz made with Kastra Elion vodka. These drink is super easy to make and is super refreshing and a perfect cocktail to drink while in the sun.
Kastra Spritz
Ingredients:
- 5 oz Kástra Elión Vodka
- 1 oz Aperol
- 4 oz Fever-Tree Elderflower Tonic or Mediterranean Tonic
- 4 oz Sparkling wine
Instructions: Build in balloon glass, stir, garnish with lemon and orange twist.
Up next we have a take on a classic Paloma, but made with Teremana Blanco. This drink has only three ingredients but has enough flavor to keep you coming back.
Mana Paloma
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. Teremana Blanco
- .25 oz. Lime juice
- 3 oz. Grapefruit juice
- Add ice and top with Soda
- Pinch of Salt
Instructions: Build in a highball glass. Garnish with a lime wedge.
And what screams Spring more than a cucumber drink that is sure to refresh and get you drunk. The Cool as a Cucumber cocktail is made with Curamia Tequila and goes down so smooth.
Cool as a Cucumber
Ingredients:
- 5 oz. Curamia Tequila Blanco
- 75 oz. Fresh Lime Juice
- 5 oz. Agave Nectar
- Sliced Cucumber
- Pinch of Salt
- Seltzer
Instructions: Muddle cucumber slices with salt in a shaking tin. Add tequila, lime and agave. Shake and double strain into a highball glass. Add ice and top with soda water.
Our next cocktail is perfect for those coffee addicts like me. There is truly no wrong time for an espresso martini and Frangelico has the mixer that takes this espresso martini over the edge. Their Hazelnut flavor really gives a nice subtle sweetness to the drink which pairs so well with the bitterness of the espresso.
Hazelnut Espresso Martini
Ingredients:
- ½ part Frangelico
- 1 part Skyy Vodka
- 1 ½ part Cold Brew or Espresso
- ¼ part Simple Syrup
Instructions: Pour over ice, shake, and strain into a coupe or martini glass. Garnish with 3 whole espresso beans (optional).
Next up we have one of the prettiest and tastiest drinks that we have had. Le Moné is a wonderful Meyer lemon-infused libation that offers a clean, contemporary alternative to traditional, bitter aperitifs. Now building on its signature, simple-yet-flavorful base with the addition of fruit and botanicals, Le Moné is available in three new, juicy flavors to match any mood:
And with Spring coming in, we would be remiss to mention some of our favorite wines to enjoy. What could be better than sitting outside with the wonderful Spring breeze while enjoying a nice glass of wine? That’s right! Nothing can compare! Some of our favorites can be found here:
Sonoma-Cutrer Rosé of Pinot Noir 2021
Sonoma-Cutrer has been crafting wines since 1981 in the esteemed Russian River Valley growing region of Sonoma County, California. Today, their female-led winemaking team produces sustainable certified wines. The 2021 Rosé of Pinot Noir is a beautiful and delicate example of why Russian River Valley Pinot Noir makes a wonderful rosé. The light salmon color of the wine catches the light in the glass and opens up with aromas of tangerine, pink grapefruit, strawberry, raspberry and a light hint of rose petal. A crisp, refreshing mouthfeel accentuates the fresh fruit flavors of citrus, red berry fruit with a tropical twist that leads to a long, juicy and tangy finish.
Avaline White is a clean and vegan-friendly wine by Cameron Diaz and Katherine Power. This dry Spanish wine is made with organic grapes, and offers a crisp flavor with a fresh finish. The end result is full of natural goodness and free of dozens of unwanted and undisclosed extras like sugars, colors, and concentrates, so you can pour with confidence for any occasion.
Avaline Rosé is a clean and vegan-friendly wine by Cameron Diaz and Katherine Power, offering a light and fresh mouthfeel with flavors of melon and zest to bring the wine’s light pink hues to life. Made with organic grapes and free of unnecessary extras like sugars, colors, and concentrates, this fruit-forward French wine ideal for any time, whether it is cozying up inside or spending an afternoon in the sun with your best friend.
2018 Banfi Chianti Classico DOCG, Tuscany
Banfi, producer and importer of fine wines, was founded in 1919 and is today woman-owned and operated by third generation family proprietor Cristina Mariani-May. Banfi is the sole U.S. importer of the Mariani family’s internationally renowned wine estates in Italy: Castello Banfi of Montalcino, Tuscany, and Banfi Piemonte of Strevi, Piedmont. For this wine, fermentation takes place with a traditional skin contact of 8-10 days. A short wood aging in large casks of French oak follows. Bottling is carried out in the summer following the harvest. On the nose, intense notes of cherries, plums, and violets. On the palate, rich flavors of cherry and leather, with supple tannins and good acidity. It is the perfect accompaniment to a wide variety of foods, including red-sauce pastas, grilled meats and roasts.
2017 Banfi Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG, Tuscany
Banfi, producer and importer of fine wines, was founded in 1919 and is today woman-owned and operated by third generation family proprietor Cristina Mariani-May. Banfi is the sole U.S. importer of the Mariani family’s internationally renowned wine estates in Italy: Castello Banfi of Montalcino, Tuscany, and Banfi Piemonte of Strevi, Piedmont. For this wine, fermentation with a medium period of maceration is followed by at least 2 years of aging, of which a minimum of 12 months is in Slavonian oak barrels. The wine concludes its evolution with at least 6 months of bottle aging. On the nose, rich with notes of cherries, plums, and iris. On the palate, deep cherry and leather flavors with subtle wood notes. Supple tannins, good acidity, and a lingering finish. FPerfect with flavorful roasts, pastas, and cheeses.
Boasts a delicate and fruity taste, making it perfect any time you want an extra sparkle.Founded in 1850 by Carlo Gancia, the first Italian sparkling wine creator, Gancia is an international leader in the category of sparkling wines.
And if you are someone like me, you love a good champagne cocktail. Here we have two lovely recipes to try out too!
The Gancia Classic Mimosa
Ingredients
- Gancia Prosecco DOC
- Orange juice freshly pressed, chilled
- 1 orange sliced (optional for garnish)
- Fresh basil sprig (optional for garnish)
Instructions
- Pour orange juice into Champagne flute to be 1/3 full.
- Top the rest with Gancia Prosecco DOC. Be sure to hold glasses at a slight angle while pouring to
stop the sparkling wine from bubbling over. - Garnish with sliced orange wedges and basil sprig and enjoy!
The Gancia Pineapple & Apricot Mimosa
Ingredients
- 3 cups of Gancia Prosecco DOC
- 1 1⁄2 cup of apricot nectar
- 1 1⁄2 cup of pineapple juice
- 3⁄4 cup water
- 6 ounces of frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
- Rosemary sprig
Instructions
- Combine apricot nectar, pineapple juice, water, and frozen orange juice concentrate in a large
pitcher and stir well. - Chill until ready to serve.
- Stir in Gancia Prosecco DOC just before serving, garnish with rosemary sprig and enjoy!
Features sparkling flavors of bright citrus, red apple, stone fruit and creamy vanilla aromas, with hints of toast, honey and gingerbread spice.
Kenwood Vineyards Discovery Chardonnay
A fruity and rich with aromas of Asian apple-pear, white chocolate, nutmeg, lemon cream and subtle hints of honeysuckle and toasty oak on the palate.
