If there’s one drink that’s the embodiment of summertime in America, it’s good ol’ fashioned, homemade lemonade! The simple, timeless combination of lemons, sugar, and water creates the most refreshing beverage during these dog days of summer. Pretty much every recipe out there will tell you to juice some lemons, add sugar and water, stir well - and voila! Good stuff. The really smart recipes will instruct you to make a quick simple syrup first, which is a big improvement. But I have an upgrade that will make for the best damn lemonade you’ve ever tasted - and you still only need those three ingredients: lemons, sugar, and water!
You can sip on tiki cocktails year round, but they’re that much better on the beach, poolside, or even just lounging on the couch in front of the AC on a hot summer day. The tiki genre is a vast and eclectic sea of cocktail recipes, but most have the following characteristics in common: the use of rum, tropical fruits, citrus juices, and often exotic spices in the form of syrups, liqueurs, or bitters. You can’t go wrong with a classic Mai Tai, but if you’re looking for something new and different, give one of these a try the next time you’re in the mood for something tropical.
If you haven’t tried cheese cream coffee or tea yet, let me be the one to tell you you’re really missing out! Check out my original post about cheese tea here. The cream cheese-based whipped topping works on a variety of hot and cold beverages, but I think this creamy, salted pillow of love adds something really magical to a decadently sweet iced coffee cocktail.
Today is officially the first day of Fall and what better way to ring in a new season than with festive seasonal cocktails! There’s something for everyone, from roasted pumpkin Bloody Marys to apple cinnamon Negronis and everything in between.
For many people, it doesn’t get more fall-flavored than pumpkin spice, but for me it’s all about chai! One of my favorite chai teas is Mountain Rose Herbs’ Organic Turmeric Chai, which is a beautiful loose tea blend with whole green cardamom pods, cloves, ground turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, fennel, black pepper, and a bit of cayenne for a little kick. It’s caffeine free, which is nice if you avoid caffeine, and also makes it a wonderful bedtime tea (mmmm Golden Milk!). And if you’re like me, it means it’s perfect for sipping day or night - especially in a cozy riff on a Hot Buttered Rum!
It’s June, it’s finally warm outside, and it’s finally Negroni Week! I’m super excited to share my new favorite rocks glasses, some fun variations on the classic red cocktail, and not one, but four Instagram giveaways!
I’m really into making simple summery cocktails using some of my favorite bottled beverages from Whole Foods at the moment. Harmless Harvest Coconut Water is my go-to coconut water (and pretty much the ultimate hangover cure).
In the spirit of International Womens Day, I made a cocktail inspired by the most incredible woman I know, my mother. My mom is also the person who first really introduced me to craft cocktails and a favorite of hers is the classic daiquiri. I’ve added the floral flavors of hibiscus, rose, and honeysuckle as a tribute to her favorite time of year, those wonderful warm summer months when she’s off from teaching! 🌷
Fellow drinkstagrammer and NZ bartender Ollie Mason (@carmelinacocktail) asked if I would try his Bacardi Legacy cocktail, Carmelina, and it was love at first sip! The Carmelina is a delicious and refreshing rum + sake cocktail that was just the pick me up I needed during yesterday’s snow storm. Is it summer yet?? ☀️
I’ve teamed up with @bossladytarot to create a series of cocktails inspired by tarot cards. Today’s cocktail is The Star ⭐️. This card represents the astrological sun sign Aquarius (shout out to my fellow water bearers) and it represents hope, faith, and inspiration. ✨ I’ll drink to that!
Better late than never, here’s my humble contribution to #tikithesnowaway (a month of celebrating tiki on Instagram). I’m just beginning to learn about the wonderful world of rum, so I anticipate many more tiki drinks to come. The name Hoku Hele is Hawaiian for ‘wandering star’. 💫
With a low of -14 last night, I’m really dreaming about those first flowers of springtime! 🌸🌷🌼 Also, somehow last summer I ended up with two bottles of coconut rum, so I’ve been looking for creative ways to use them up to make room for better booze. This low abv cocktail is sweet and intensely floral, and the very clean cornflower and lavender flavors mellow the coconut rum to a soft vanilla undertone
In honor of the epic snowstorm currently burying my front door, I whipped up a nice ice cold, tropically-inspired cocktail 🌴 This melange of vanilla, coconut, and festive spices is sort of like the love child of a Coquito and Egg Nog. I used almond milk because it’s what I had on hand, but I highly recommend trying this with a higher fat liquid like coconut milk or half and half for a truly indulgent experience.
