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

Better than Witches Brew | Hauntingly Good Halloween Cocktails

I love a good spook... especially during October! Anything that could help me get into the Halloween vibe, I am all for... and I am all about festive concoctions! With Halloween being right around the corner, I have a few creepy cocktails to imbibe this October!

A worthy treat for adults, the these cocktails are not for the faint of heart, making them perfect for your Halloween festivities.

BACARDÍ Zombie

Ingredients:

2 parts BACARDÍ Superior

1.75 parts BACARDÍ Gold

1 part Triple Sec

2 parts orange juice

1 part lime juice

 1 part simple syrup

 0.25 part Grenadine

 Garnish: Orange Slice & Cherry

Directions:

Pour all ingredients into a shaker full of ice and shake vigorously. Strain and pour into a highball glass filled with ice. Stir with a bar spoon and garnish with a cherry and orange slice.

Additionally, the BACARDÍ Zombie will be available for purchase throughout the month of October via Cocktail Courier – linked HERE.

THE DARKSIDE

Ingredients:

1½ oz. Nemiroff Original Vodka

2 oz. Black Currant Juice

½ oz. Chartreuse

Stir ingredients with ice, and strain into a chilled martini glass 

Directions:

Mix!

BROCKMANS BLACK & GOLD

Ingredients:

2 oz. Brockmans Gin

0.5 oz. Drambuie

1 oz. Lemon Juice

.75 oz. Honey and Heather Syrup

2.5 oz. Pineapple Juice

3 Drops of Black Food Coloring

Directions:

Shake all ingredients and serve over cubed ice into a Hurricane Glass.

Apply one spray of edible gold glitter to the top half of the glass to stand out against the black food coloring. Garnish with a lemon wedge fan.

CASA CRAZY EYE

Ingredients:

1.5 oz. Casamigos Blanco Tequila

2 oz. Lychee liqueur

.25 oz. Fresh lemon juice

4 Basil leaves

½ Thick rim of salt, sugar, oreo cookie crumbs* (equal parts)

Directions:

Combine all ingredients into tin shaker. Muddle herbs. Add ice. Shake vigorously for 12-15
seconds. Fine strain into small martini glass. Garnish luxardo cherry inside lychee ball (as eye ball) through skewer.

*To add sugar, salt, oreo rim – Wet rim of glass with lime wedge and agave nectar and roll rim through mixture.

SMOKIN’ HEAD CAESAR

Ingredients:

2 oz. Crystal Head Vodka

5 oz. Clamato (Caesar) or tomato juice (Bloody Mary)

dash of Worcestershire sauce

dash of hot sauce

[ny dash of liquid smoke

garnish of your choice

Ingredients for Rim Garnish:

1⁄4 tsp. salt

1⁄4 tsp. pepper

1⁄2 tsp. smoked paprika

Cachaça Zombie

Created by Jane Danger, Mother of Pearl NYC

Ingredients:

1 oz Novo Fogo Chameleon Cachaça

 1 oz Novo Fogo Tanager Cachaça

0.25 oz Giffard Triple Sec

0.75 oz lime juice 

0.5 oz orange juice

0.5 oz passionfruit syrup

1 dash Scrappy’s Aromatic Bitters

1 dash absinthe

Directions:

Shake, pour over crushed ice into a tiki mug

Drink Like Australians Do | Unique Gin Cocktail Recipes from Yamagen, QT Gold Coast

I don't know about you, but I have ALWAYS wanted to visit Australia. Especially now that it's fall and the chillier weather is upon us, I can't help but daydream about a fabulous vacation far away for some warmth,  a chill vibe, some killer Australian vacay cocktails (maybe sip on them with some locals too) and a truly fabulous experience. You too? But where would we go? Well...

Hollywood starlets like Amber Heard are jetting off to the hottest restaurants around the world like Yamagen, the newly launched restaurant nestled in designer hotel QT Gold Coast, for sassy summer vacations. But let’s face it, getting summer vacation time granted from your boss is stressful enough to drive you to drink! Fortunately, re-creating specialty cocktails from Yamagen are easy breezy and Gin is all the rage!  If the warm, smooth flavors of Gin spark your interest,  Yamagen has a few that are a must try.

The Utsumi Sour packs a peach punch for a flavorful and fruity cocktail. The Nama Spritzer is a perfect blend of ginger, lime and carbonated sake combined into a refreshingly healthy cocktail while the Tanqueray gives you the kick you need to keep the good times’ rollin. Trying to impress guests? Whip up a pitcher of Yamagens Sake It To Me. With gin, sake, lemon and muddled cucumbers, this refreshing cocktail is guaranteed to transport you to a sandy beach on the Gold Coast.

Don’t fret about missing that glorious Australian escape to the gold coast and white sandy beaches, designer hotel QT Gold Coast and Yamagen are bringing the endless summer to the comforts of your home and bar. 

NAMA SPRITZER

Ingredients

2oz Tanqueray gin, 
1Ž2 oz lime juice, 
1Ž2 oz Ginger Puree
1Ž2 oz Sugar Syrup
top up with 4 oz Carbonated sake

Directions:

Build in a large wine glass over cubed ice.

UTSUMI SOUR

Ingredients:

1 1Ž2 oz Tanqueray gin, 
1Ž2 oz peach liqueur, 
2 muddled aomomo Japanese baby peach, 
1Ž2 oz lemon

Directions:

Shake all ingredients over ice and strain into a rocks glass over ice.

SAKE IT TO ME