The Campari On The Rocks | Cocktail Bling Recipe

I know when that COCKTAIL BLING! Isn't that how the song goes?? Cc: Drake. Kidding. But it should!!! 

But do I love me some Campari! I am so excited about The Campari on the Rocks: a new, limited edition collaboration between confectionary creator extraordinaire Sweet Saba and Campari. 

The stylish crystal candy ring has the unmistakable color and flavor of everyone’s favorite Italian icon, Campari, and does double duty as a “cocktail ring,” able to be worn alone or garnished in a cocktail. 

You can find the ring now through the holiday season on SweetSaba.com for $62. 10% of proceeds will benefit City Harvest, a nonprofit that rescues excess food from restaurants and retailers and distributes to the hungry.

Here's the recipe created by NYC’s Pamela Wiznitzer to be garnished with the Campari on the Rocks! I think this may actually be the most fabulous drink ever....

Cocktail Bling

Created by Pam Wiznitzer, Creative Director of Seamstress (NYC)

Ingredients:
3/4 oz Campari
1.5 oz SKYY Vodka
1 oz Lemon-infused Cinzano Bianco*

Directions:

Stir ingredients in mixing glass with ice and strain into a coupe glass over crushed ice. Garnish with edible gold flake and, if desired, Campari on the Rocks candy ring from Sweet Saba.

* Lemon-infused Cinzano Bianco: Slice four lemons and let them steep in one bottle’s worth of vermouth overnight. Strain back into bottle and keep refrigerated.

Get Into The Holiday Spirit with My Favorite Festive Cocktail Recipes

If it's one thing about the holiday season, it's that I look forward to all the fun festive cocktails that come out of Winter Wonderland that have been in hiding all year long!!! Is there nothing better that spiked egg nog or that hint of peppermint in your cocktail? Like many other people, the holidays often seem to lose their sparkle as the years go on. I hate for that to happen, so if Christmas cocktails are one of the few things to keep the magic of the season alive every year, I am ALL for it!!! Here are a few of my favorites that I know I'll be sipping on in the next few weeks despite the weather being 80 degrees here in LA every day. That 50 degree night chill totally justifies getting cozy and cuddling up with one of these! I think I have become a little TOO adjusted to this west coast weather! ;) Cheers! 

TRULY EGG NOG

Created by Natasha David, Nitecap

Ingredients: 

1 oz. Spiced Rum
1 oz. Vanilla Almond Milk
1 tsp. Stevia Powder
1 Egg White
4 oz. Truly Spiked & Sparkling Colima Lime
Grated Nutmeg

Directions:
Combine spiced rum, vanilla almond milk, stevia powder and egg white in a cocktail shake. Begin by shaking without ice to incorporate all ingredients. Next, add ice to the cocktail shaker and continue to shake. Strain the liquid into a  Collins glass without ice and top with Truly Spiked & Sparkling Colima Lime. Garnish with grated nutmeg.

WINTER ROSE

Created by: Nick Mautone

Ingredients:

2 oz Haikara Yuzu or Haikara Momo
½ oz rum
1 oz Lime Juice
Dash of Simple Syrup
Dash of Rose Water
Dash of Lavender Bitters
Ginger Ale for topping

Cranberries or orange peel (for garnish)

Directions:
Add all ingredients, except ginger ale, to a cocktail shaker, add ice and shake vigorously until the outside of the shaker is frosted and beaded with sweat.
Strain into rocks glass. Top with Ginger Ale and garnish.

BACARDi GINGER SNAP

Ingredients:

1 part BACARDÍ Superior or BACARDÍ Gold Rum

2 parts Ginger Ale

1 lime wedge

Method:

 Fill a tall highball glass with ice. Pour BACARDI Superior or Gold into glass. Add ginger ale, and gently stir before serving. Garnish with a lime wedge (optional: dash of bitters).  

WINTER WHITE 75

Ingredients:

1.5 oz. NOLET’S Silver Gin

.5 oz. Lemon Juice

.5 oz. Simple Sugar

1 oz. White Cranberry Juice

Champagne to top

Garnish: Rosemary and Cranberry sprig dusted with powdered sugar

Directions:

Fill shaker with NOLET’S, lemon juice, simple syrup, white cranberry juice and 1 cup of ice

Shake hard to chill and combine ingredients

Fine strain into coupe or flute

Top with champagne

Garnish with rosemary cranberry sprig

CANDY CANE KORBEL

Created by Jeremy Oertel

Ingredients:

1 oz. White Crème de Cacao

4 oz. Korbel California Brut

White Chocolate, melted

Peppermint Candy Cane, crushed

TOPSY TURVY

Ingredients:

2 oz Carpano Antica

1 oz Lock Stock & Barrel Rye

1 tsp. Borghetti Coffee Liqueur

1 dash Mole Bitters (preferably Bittermens)

Directions:

Stir, Strain

Glass: Nick & Nora

Garnish: Orange Twist

BAHAMA BREEZE COQUITO

Ingredients:

4 oz. Castillo Silver Rum

6 oz. evaporated milk

6.5 oz. coconut milk

5 oz. sweetened condensed milk

1 oz. Coco Lopez, Cream of Coconut

1/8 tsp. cinnamon, ground

1 cup of ice

Directions:

Combine the rum, cream of coconut, evaporated milk, coconut milk and condensed milk in a cocktail shaker full of ice. Shake and strain into four chilled martini glasses, and garnish with cinnamon.

Recipe serves four.

A Beachy Christmas with Seagram's Escapes | Holiday Cocktail Recipes

The holiday season is finally here! I don't know about you, but I am always craving a holiday in the sun! There's nothing like laying on a beach with a tropical cocktail in hand basking in the warmth. Whether you're able to escape or not, luckily there is a way to bring the beachy holiday vacation to you at home: with Seagram's Escapes! 

Seagram's Escapes offers so many different flavors that are festive and colorful - perfect to add some tropical flair to your holiday celebrations! Maybe you have a home by the beach, or perhaps you are throwing a beachy Christmas party with friends and family... Here are my holiday cocktail recipes I've created using Seagram's Escapes that will have you trading decking the halls, for decking the palms!

Deck The Palm Tree

Ingredients:

4oz Seagram's Escapes Blueberry Acai Lemonade

2oz Vodka

Splash of Lemon Juice

Garnish with fresh berries

 

Santa’s Trip To The South Pole

Ingredients:

4oz Seagram’s Escapes Jamaican Me Happy

2oz Tequila

Splash of Lime Juice

Holiday In The Sun

Ingredients:

Seagram’s Escapes Peach Fuzzy Navel

Champagne

 Directions:

Fill a champagne glass half way up with champagne

Fill the remainder of the glass with Seagram’s Escapes Peach Fuzzy Navel

Santa’s Mermaid Water

Ingredients:

1 Bottle Seagram’s Escapes Calypso Colada

4oz Coconut Rum

24oz Pineapple Juice

Fresh Pineapple Wedge

Frozen Coconut Chunks

Seas and Greetings

Ingredients:

4oz.  Seagram’s Escapes Wild Berries

2oz.  Sparkling Wine

Mixed berries for garnish

I’m Dreaming of a Beachy Christmas

Ingredients:

4oz Seagram’s Escapes Strawberry Daiquiri

2oz Vodka

2oz Lemon/Lime soda or Seltzer

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Photography by: Rebecca Gnasso

Beach Decor by: Candy's Cottage

My Favorite Far-From-Basic Pumpkin Cocktails

I can't even lie one bit. I. LOVE. anything. PUMPKIN. Yes, I am yelling it!!! Like... why is it so good? It's probably hands down my favorite thing about fall. Pumpkin flavored food and lattes are one thing, but when it comes to pumpkin flavored cocktails... man, you've really got my attenion. I don't know about you, but I'd trade my usual tequila soda with 3 limes any day for a spiked pumpkin concoction.  But where does one find a really amazing pumpkin cocktail? In Las Vegas, New Jersey and Florida. Well, maybe other places too but I think they've got some of the best. Here are my favorite far-from-basic pumpkin cocktails from some fun bars and restaurants around the country, with recipes so you could make at home! Which one would you try? I'm thinking I am going to end my night with a sip of all four of these...!

Smashing Your Pumpkin

Available at: Felt & Blossom (MGM National Harbor)

½ oz. Cruzan Aged Light Rum

½ oz. Kappa Pisco

½ oz. Daron Fine Calvados

3 oz. Spiced Pumpkin Cordial

1 oz. Fresh Lemon Juice

½ oz. Egg Whites (Add After First Shake For Reverse Dry Shake)

Build: Add all ingredients into mixing tin, except the egg whites! Add ice and shake vigorously. Strain back into mixing tin and discard ice. Now add egg whites and reverse dry shake for 20 seconds. Pour over ice.

Ice: Chipped

Glass: Crystal Etched Hi Ball

Garnish: Graham Cracker, Cinnamon Stick, Cinnamon Sugar

Hey Pumpkin

Photo Credit: Tanya Isaeva 

Available at: South House (Jersey City, NJ)

Created by: Smitty

Ingredients: 

2.oz Slow & Low Rock & Rye Whiskey

.75 aquafaba 

.75 espresso pumpkin spice syrup

.75 Lemon juice 

Strike The Gold

Available at: Odd Bird (St. Augustine, FL)

Created by: Nick Hogan

Ingredients:

3/4 oz Fernet-Branca

3/4 oz Templeton Rye

1 1/2 oz Spiced Pumpkin Syrup

1/4 oz of Creme Yvette

Whole Egg

Top with Brancamenta Whipped Cream

Grated Nutmeg & Garnish with Star Anise

Directions: 

Add all ingredients into tin, shake, strain into cocktail glass, top with whipped cream, grate fresh nutmeg over top, sip slowly and enjoy!Due to different variables between coconut milk and pumpkin purées that when making the cocktail it should be done to taste

Spiced Pumpkin Syrup: 

One can organic Pumpkin. One can of organic coconut milk. 1/2 cup of brown sugar. 3/4 oz of pimento liqueur (allspice liqueur). Simmer in sauce pan for 10 minutes, let cool then strain through cheese cloth.

Brancamenta Whipped Cream:

Combine half pint of heavy whipping cream with 1 oz of Brancamenta and 2 oz of simple syrup into iSi whipper, charge and store in refrigerator until ready for use.

HARVEST MOON

Available at: Bottiglia Cucina & Enoteca, Hearthstone Kitchen & Cellar,

Libre Mexican Cantina, The Still Crafts, Drafts & Eats (All in VEGAS, baby!)

*Recipe can be mixed with multiple spirits

Ingredients:

*¾ OZ. Hennessy VSOP Cognac and ¾ oz. Plantation 5yr Rum - Bottiglia Cucina & Enoteca

*1 ½ OZ. HILHAVEN LODGE BLENDED AMERICAN WHISKEY - Hearthstone Kitchen & Cellar

*1 ½ OZ. Casamigas Reposado Tequila - Libre Mexican Cantina

*1 ½ OZ. GEORGE DICKEL RYE WHISKY - The Still Crafts, Drafts & Eats

½ OZ. ANCHO REYES ANCHO LIQUEUR

½ OZ. Benedictine

¼ OZ. Agave Syrup (1:1 RATIO)

2 OZ. LIBBEY’S PumpkinPie Purre

1 OZ. Carrot Juice (ODWALLA)

BUILD: Shake & Double Strain

GLASS: Martini Couple

GARNISH: Coconut Foam, Chopped Diced Pecan

COCONUT FOAM - (PER ISI DISPENSER)

200G Coconut Milk

200G Savoy Coconut Cream

100G Sweetend CondensedMilk

20G Sugar

Directions:

Mix all ingredients into a 2QT. cambro. Then, add the mixed coconut base into isi dispenser. Next, charge isi dispenser with isi nitrous oxide whip cream charger. Shake vigorously, then refrigerate for at least 2 hours. 

Tis The Season For Fall Cocktail Specials | My Favorites in LA

One of my favorite parts of a new season is the cocktail specials that are created at different bars and restaurants! There's nothing more fun than a festive concoction to get you in the spirit of the chillier weather and changing leaves. Take a break from your daily PSL and indulge in some of my favorite cocktails found at some of my favorite spots in LA. And if you're from out of town, have no fear: Recipes are included! Cheers!

CORNSTAR AT GRACIAS MADRE

Ingredients:

Cornchata

Corn flake washed reposado tequila

Vago elote

Agave

Aromatic bitters

Cinnamon-cornflake rim

STRAWPEÑO AT LUCCHINI PIZZERIA & BAR

Ingredients:

1.5oz Strawberry and Jalapeño infused “Riazul” Reposado Tequila

.5oz Cointreau

.5oz Agave Nectar

1oz Lime Juice

Garnish:

Strawberry and Jalapeño slice with Half Salted Rim

Glass:

Old Fashioned

Directions:

Add everything into mixing tin, shake well and strain over fresh ice in a half salted rim Old Fashioned glass

Lucchini Pizzeria & Bar is also doing football game day specials on Sunday’s, Monday’s and Thursday’s with Bottomless mimosas for $30, Bud Light bucket of beers for $30 and Bloody Mary pitchers for $30!

SLICE OF SPICE AT LUCCHINI PIZZERIA & BAR

Ingredients:

1.5oz Effen Cucumber Vodka

.5oz St Germain Elderflower Liqueur

1oz Lemon juice

.5oz Jalapeno and Cilantro Nectar

Garnish:

Jalapeno Slice and Half Celery Salt Rim

Glass: Old Fashioned

Directions:

Add all ingredients to mixing tin with ice. Shake well and strain over fresh ice

THE PINK KNOT AT RIVIERA 31

Ingredients:

Tequila

Lime Juice 

Agave Syrup

Fresh Raspberry

Triple Sec

Sofitel Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills is partnering with Breast Cancer Research in the month of October to donate $2 per Pink Knot purchased at their bar, Riviera 31.

M'OAXACA (MOHAWK-A) AT MOHAWK BEND

Ingredients:

Ixa Reposado Tequila

 St. George Raspberry Liqueur

 Hibiscus

 Fresh lime juice

 Basil & smoke

Served on the rocks

Mohawk Bend, Thom & Sergio 2017