Celebrate National Vodka Day Right with Belvedere Vodka Cocktails

I love me a holiday where I can celebrate with a cocktail in hand! October 4th is National Vodka Day, and the best way to toast to the fun day is with the world’s first super-premium vodka, Belvedere. Made from Polish rye, purified water and a distillation process by fire, Belvedere contains zero additives, in accordance with the legal regulations of Polska Vodka that dictate nothing can be added, is certified kosher and is gluten free. 

 If there’s any vodka I order in a cocktail when I am out, it’s definitely Belvedere! So why not celebrate with it at home, too? Here’s a few of my favorite Belvedere cocktails to enjoy and to do National Vodka Day right!

BELVEDERE AIR

Ingredients

1.5 oz / 45 ml Belvedere Vodka

.75 oz / 20 ml Fresh Lemon Juice

.5 oz / 15 ml Honey Water (2:1 Honey to Water)

2 oz / 60 ml Almond Milk

Sprig of Mint

Method: Place all ingredients into a shaker and shake hard with ice. Strain into highball glass over fresh ice, and garnish with mint sprig.

HERITAGE ROCKS

Ingredients

2 oz Belvedere Heritage 176

Lemon Twist

Method: Serve over a large chunk of ice or large cubes

EVERGREEN ROYAL

Ingredients

60 ml / 2 oz Belvedere Smogóry Forest

7.5 ml / ¼ ozChamomile Tea 

15 ml / ½ oz Honey

2 Dashes of Angostura Bitters

Grapefruit Peel 

 Method: Add all ingredients to mixing glass over cubed ice and stir. Fine strain into a rocks glass over block ice. Give the fresh grapefruit peel a gentle twist before garnishing

Welcome the Spirit of Fall with These Fall-Inspired Cocktails

As summer comes to a close and we trade in our spritzes for warm and spicy cocktails, it’s time to ring in the chillier season with some fall-inspired cocktails! I am not going to lie, while I am a total summer girl, something about fall cocktails really does something for me. I love the notes of spice, smokiness, cinnamon, fruit and nutmeg to name a few… the list goes on! It just gets you in a cozy mood.

The one spirit to transition you into fall? Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon.

Check out some of the recipes I’m loving this season!

BITTER BERRY SMASH

For those who may want to hold on to summer just a little longer, the Bitter Berry Smash serves as the perfect transitional cocktail marrying sweet strawberries and refreshing mint with the sweet and bold flavors of Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon. 

1.5 parts Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon

½ part Cynar Amaro

¼ part Simple Syrup

1 Strawberry

3 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters

METHOD: Muddle strawberry with Peychaud’s Bitters, Cynar and simple syrup in a rocks glass. Add a small scoop of crushed ice and bourbon, then stir for 15 seconds. Top with more crushed ice and garnish with a mint sprig.

HOT BUTTERED TODDY

For those cool nights with friends where you need something more than a sweater to warm you up, the Hot Buttered Toddy might just do the trick. This take on the Hot Toddy uses cinnamon, brown sugar, orange spice tea, Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon and the ultimate twist - butter! 

1.5 parts Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon

6 parts Orange & Spice tea (hot)

¾ part Cinnamon-brown sugar syrup*

½ teaspoon butter

METHOD: Combine all ingredients in a hot toddy glass or mug and stir. Garnish with grated cinnamon.

*CINNAMON-BROWN SUGAR SYRUP: 

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup water

2 cinnamon sticks

Method: Combine all ingredients in a pot and stir while bringing to a boil. Once boiling, reduce to a simmer for 10 minutes. Let cool to room temperature and strain out the cinnamon stick.

SMOKE & MIRRORS

A warm and smoky cocktail with a long and lingering spice served up in a chilled coupe glass. The Smoke & Mirrors secret ingredient? Lapsang Souchong smoky black tea, and Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon of course. 

2 parts Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon

¾ parts Amontillado Sherry

¼ part Demerara Sugar Syrup*

2 dashes Angostura Bitters

4 dashes Lapsang Souchong Tea Tincture**

METHOD: Add all ingredients to a mixing glass, add ice and stir. Strain into a chilled coupe or Nick & Nora glass. 

**LAPSANG SOUCHONG TEA TINCTURE: 

2 teaspoons Lapsang Souchong

4 parts vodka

Method: Let tea steep in vodka for 24 hours then strain. Put tincture in a dropper or dasher bottle. 

*DEMERARA SUGAR SYRUP: 

1 cup Demerara Sugar

1 cup warm water

Method: Stir together until sugar is completely dissolved. 

BANANA BREAD OLD FASHIONED

With a vanilla aroma and the bold and sweet flavors of walnuts, banana, and Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon, the Banana Bread Old Fashionedis sure to take you down memory lane.

2 parts Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon

¼ part Banana Liqueur

1 bar spoon Allspice Dram

1 bar spoon Simple Syrup

2 dashes Black Walnut Bitters

METHOD: Add all ingredients to a mixing glass, add ice and stir. Then strain into a rocks glass over a large cube.

Cupid-Approved Sips for Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day has to be one of my favorite holidays of all time, solely for how bright and colorful it always is. Growing up, I actually used to have Valentine’s Day parties every year - I became known for it! I’ve always had a soft spot for the day of love, and now in my adult years I can take it up a notch and celebrate even more with festive Valentine’s Day cocktails!

Whether you’re in the mood for something pink, something bubbly, something potent or even chocolatey, here are a few recipes I am loving this year that are so delicious, even Cupid would approve.

Photo Credit: Katie Stryjewski

Mumm Napa Raspberry Rosé Fizz

4 parts Mumm Napa Brut Rosé

2 parts Lime juice or Limeade

1 part Gin or Vodka

Fresh Raspberries

Method:

Muddle ~12 raspberries in cocktail shaker. Add gin/vodka, lime juice and ice, shake

until mixed. add large ice cube to a rocks glass and strain mixture over top. Add Mumm Napa Brut Rosé; stir gently to mix. Skewer three raspberries on toothpick and lay across side of

the glass for a beautiful garnish.

Photo Credit: Claire Mallett

OM ESPRESSO MARTINI

By Claire Mallett, OMbassador, Organic Mixology

1 ½ oz Mulholland Vodka

1 oz Mr Black Coffee Liqueur

1 oz Organic Mixology Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Liqueur

Garnish, Dirty Sue Whiskey Cherry

Method:

Pour all the ingredients into a shaker with ice,

Shake and pour into a cocktail glass or coup

Garnish with Dirty Sue Whiskey Cherry

Hey, Honey

2 fl oz Four Roses Small Batch

1 ½ fl oz Honey Simple Syrup

½ fl oz Lemon Juice

5 drops Angostura Bitters

Method:

Mix all ingredients. Serve and enjoy.

Photo Credit: Katie Stryjewski

Mumm Napa Grapefruit Spritz

3 parts Mumm Napa Cuvée M

1 part elderflower liqueur

1 small grapefruit

Fresh mint

Dash of soda water

Garnish with grapefruit slice and florals etc

Method:

Add ½ of cup-up grapefruit and mint to a cocktail shaker. Muddle. Add elderflower liqueur, splash of soda water and ice. Shake. Strain mixture into glass. Add Mumm Napa Cuvée M. Garnish with grapefruit slice and florals.

Sizzling Brunch Cocktails for International Spicy Food Day

Did you know that January 16th is International Spicy Food Day? Well if you didn’t, now you do and it couldn’t be a better reason to experiment with some sizzling recipes from dawn til dusk.

And as the worldwide pandemic surges on, we all could use a little reason to celebrate... in more ways than one! Bushwick Kitchen’s spicy, craft cocktails are made with their signature Bees Knees Spicy Honey, Trees Knees Spicy Maple Syrup and Weak Knees Gochujang Sriracha. Skip the triple sec and the simple syrup and swap in Bushwick Kitchen for top-notch flavor using pure, simple ingredients. Since the holiday falls on a Saturday this year, why not brunch all day long? From starting your day with a bloody to ending it with a margarita, Bushwick Kitchen has the ultimate spicy brunch cocktails fit and festive for this exciting holiday.

THE BUSHWICK KITCHEN BREAKFAST

1 ounce bourbon

1 ounce coffee liqueur

½ ounce Trees Knees Spicy Maple

1 egg white

Method: Dry-shake an egg white before adding ice. Add bourbon, coffee liqueur and syrup into a shaker and shake vigorously. Strain the cocktail into a coupe glass and serve.

WEAK KNEES BLOODY MARY

4 cups tomato juice
2 cups vodka
1 cup dill pickle juice
1⁄4 cup lemon juice
1⁄4 cup Weak Knees Gochujang Sriracha
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
8 celery stalks and lemon wedges, for garnish

Method: Add all ingredients except the celery stalks and lemon wedges to a large pitcher, stir well and chill for 1 hour. In a tall glass, pour the cocktail over ice and garnish with celery stalk and lemon wedge. 

SPICY MAPLE SAGE DAQUIRI

3 sage leaves
2 ounces light rum
1 ounce lime juice
1 ounce Trees Knees Spicy Maple

Method: Cut up two sage leaves and add to a cocktail shaker with rum, lime juice and Trees Knees Spicy Maple and ice. Shake vigorously until frosty and strain into rocks glass filled with fresh ice. Place remaining sage leaf in your palm and slap once, firmly, with the other hand. Float on top to garnish. 

SPICY HONEY MARGARITA

1 ounce lime juice
1⁄2 ounce Bees Knees Spicy Honey syrup 
2 ounces blanco tequila
Salt and lime wedge for garnish

Method: Rub a lime wedge around rim of a rocks glass and dip in salt. Add lime juice, honey syrup, tequila and ice to a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously until frosty and strain into the prepared rocks glass filled with fresh ice. Garnish with a lime wedge.

My Favorite Alcohol-Free Drinks I Discovered During Sober October

If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I decided to do a little bit of re-setting for my mind and body by eliminating alcohol for the entire month - SOBER OCTOBER! I really only ever have drinks on the weekend, but it goes without saying that it’s never a bad idea to take a step back for a minute and dial it all in. In October, I was all about creating mocktails and discovering brands that offer alcohol-free beverages. I was so surprised at not only how many options there were, but actually at how amazing and truly delicious each of them proved to be! A mocktail definitely does not need to be just a seltzer and lime. What I drank this past month surpasses what’s expected. The great part? You could whip up any of these at any time of day if you’re craving something with a bit more of a kick! Today, I’m sharing with you all of my favorites that I highly recommend, whether you’re going alcohol free for a month, you are alcohol free in general or if you just enjoy something really freaking tasty… I have a feeling most people fall under that category!

MOCKTAIL CLUB

Get ready to have your taste buds tantalized with the luscious non-alcoholic drinks from Mocktail Club. Made in the US with the highest quality and natural ingredients, Mocktail Club creates healthy, refreshing drinks reminiscent of classic cocktails, but with a modern twist. Each of these sophisticated drinks are created with functional benefits and include antioxidants and prebiotics for digestive health.

Mocktail Club has four flavors to choose from: 

Capri Sour: Tasty and tart, this drink has pomegranate, cranberry, apple cider vinegar and lemongrass – think Italian Spritz.

Bombay Fire: A unique blend of pomegranate, chili, agave and infused tea that leaves you with a warm burn like a traditional Old Fashioned. 

Havana Twist: Refreshingly sweet with a tangy zest of lime and hint of spice with cardamom; a new age take on a Mojito.

Manhattan Berry: Like its namesake, this drink is sophisticated with a mix of blackberries, pear shrub and a dominant linger of ginger.

DAMRAK Virgin

The non-alcoholic alternative contains the recognizable botanicals, including citrus peels, lavender, and coriander seeds, that its alcoholic counterpart, Damrak Original Gin, is known for. Damrak is the first gin brand to launch a non-alcoholic alternative, with Lucas Bols’ master distiller Piet van Leijenhorst spending two years perfecting the zero proof formula, ensuring that even at 0% alcohol, the spirit can stand out in a cocktail and mirror Damrak Gin’s flavor profile. Damrak Virgin 0.0, a gluten-, sugar-, and calorie-free distilled spirit, was the highest rated in the 2020 Ultimate Spirits Challenge Non-Alcoholic Spirit category. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that, worldwide, the rate of alcohol drinkers fell by nearly 5% over the past several years, creating the perfect window of opportunity for Damrak to introduce this non-alcoholic variant.

SUNTORY ALL-FREE

ALL-FREE is the latest exciting release from the renowned Japanese distiller and brewer, mostly known in the U.S. as the maker of Yamazaki and Hibiki whiskies. By combining modern technology with their brewing experience, the brand has created a crisp, light and innovative beverage with zero calories and 0.00% alcohol. Not sure what to concoct with a can of one of these? Here’s a fab recipe for the drink shown here.

Blackberry ALL-FREE Shandy by Elliott Clark (@apartment_bartender)

Suntory ALL-FREE

3-4 blackberries, muddled

1 oz fresh grapefruit juice

½ oz fresh lemon juice

2 oz green tea

½ oz simple syrup

Fresh mint and blackberries for garnish

Directions: Add ice, muddled blackberries, grapefruit juice, lemon juice, green tea and simple syrup to cocktail shaker. Shake and strain into a glass over ice. Top with Suntory ALL-FREE. Garnish with fresh mint and blackberries.

FERM FATALE SHRUB-BUCHA

Ferm Fatale isn’t JUST the world’s first line of zero sugar, wildly fermented, raw, live, and organic “ready to drink” mocktails in classic cocktail flavors. Ferm Fatale is a SOCIAL REVOLUTION.

Ferm Fatale mocktails are high in B vitamins, good bacteria, yeast, and enzymes that support and detoxify your liver instead of tax it. These detoxifying elements make you glow from the inside out, so you can wake up and crush it the next morning. Drinking dirty is about consuming good bacteria, knowing that the gut is the source of health. Local, seasonal, small-batch, and artisanal, these drinks are meant to inspire you to live your joy day or night.

Available in 4 varieties, including Nojito, Margarita, Madame Mule and Cosmopolitan.