Happy Friday! It’s a rainy one here in San Diego, but I actually don’t mind it this time. Since it’s so gloomy out, I thought this refreshing cocktail would bring a little bit of sunshine to the weekend. This Cucumber Collins has a little twist with the edition of the elderflower flavor from the St. Germain. It’s quite delightful, and definitely a must-try for the spring & summer season! Have a lovely weekend!

 

Cucumber Collins (serves 1)

2 Slices of cucumber

1 oz. Lemon juice

1/2 oz. Simple syrup

1/2 oz. St. Germain Liqueur

2 oz. Gin

Club Soda

Ice

Muddle the cucumbers, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a mixing glass. Add gin and St. Germain. Strain into two glasses filled with ice. Top with club soda, and enjoy!

xx

Elliot and I couldn’t be further apart when it comes to cocktails. I’ll take a margarita or cosmo any day, while he picks anything with gin or whiskey. So, once in awhile, I feel like it’s best to come up with a cocktail that fits his fancy more than mine (which means leaving out the vodka or tequilla.) I really wish I liked whiskey, but I just don’t think I’m cut out for it. However, if you do enjoy a good bourbon cocktail, this one is definitely a must try. It’s Elliot’s favorite drink that we’ve made at home so far, so it’s been officially approved by a bourbon-lover. I figured a spin on an old fashioned might be interesting, and this one was definitely fun to make.The berries and lemon lighten up the drink a bit, making it a tad more summery.

One note on the tart cherry grenadine… if you don’t have the Quince & Apple brand syrup, you can make your own grenadine at home. If you use the regular kind, it will be much too sweet and maraschino cherry-tasting. To make the syrup, just combine 1 cup of dark cherry juice and 1/4 cup sugar in a pan, and bring to a boil. Let the sauce simmer until it reduces to a thick syrup (about 15 minutes). Otherwise, you can omit the grenadine from the recipe all together, and you’ll still have a yummy drink!

For those non-whiskey lovers out there, this recipe can also be converted to a vodka cocktail. Just replace the bourbon with a shot and a half of vodka, and top it off with club soda. Cheers!

Berry Old Fashioned (serves 1)

4 Raspberries

5-7 Blueberries

1 Sugar cube

2 Dashes of bitters

1/2 oz. Lemon juice

1/2 oz. Tart cherry grenadine

2 Shots bourbon

Ice

Muddle berries, sugar cube, and bitters in a glass. Add lemon juice, grenadine, bourbon, and ice. Stir well.

xx

 

 

 

There’s so many things to be happy about today.. It’s finally May, its Cocktail Friday, AND it’s almost Cinco de Mayo! For those of you throwing a “Dos de Mayo” party this weekend, I wanted to give you a little fiesta inspiration. I had so much fun with the cocktail this week (as you can probably tell). I am absolutely in love with these “Hola” & “Fiesta” stir sticks, too! The Roc Shop has amazing cocktail/party ware, so head over to her site for some colorful happy hour accessories. I can’t WAIT for her new summer collection to come out… I already know it will be inspiring some summer cocktail posts!

As for this week’s cocktail, this Jalapeño + Strawberry Margarita is so much fun. It has a little sweet and spicy going on, which is perfect to pair with some yummy Mexican food. Speaking of food, in case you need some Cinco menu help, I figured I would share some of my go-to recipes. I make these all the time, but they are extra special on the holiday!

Ina Garten’s Guacamole Salad is one of my all time favorite dishes. It’s basically deconstructed guacamole, so it’s healthy and delicious. I am also a huge fan of salsa, so what better day than Cinco de Mayo to whip up some fresh Pico de Gallo?! I love making my own because I can customize it a little bit, and then keep it in the fridge to use whenever I want! Finally, the day wouldn’t be complete without Chicken Enchiladas. The recipe I use comes from the Trader Joe’s cookbook, but I change it up a bit by cooking my own chicken and using authentic enchilada sauce. If you don’t have the cookbook, you can find the recipe posted here.

So grab yourself a margarita (and maybe a mini piñata) and have yourself a little fiesta this weekend!

Jalapeño Strawberry Margaritas (serves 2)

10-12 strawberries (I used slightly defrosted frozen ones to make it colder)

2 Limes

2 Lime wedges

2 Slices of Jalapeño

1.5 oz. Agave nectar or simple syrup

2 oz. Triple Sec

4 oz. Tequilla

Muddle the strawberries, juice of 2 limes, lime wedges, agave, and jalapeño slices (deseed if you want less spice). Add triple sec and tequilla. Strain into two glasses filled with ice.

Cheers!

xx

 

 

Happy Friday! For a girl who doesn’t like gin, this week’s recipe definitely won me over. Typically, I’ll choose a cocktail with vodka or tequila, and the gin stays in Elliot’s glass. Since gin and tonics are his go-to, I figured I would try and make something a little more special.

The blackberry and lemons in this cocktail are delightfully fresh and sweet. You can use the lemon juice to your own discretion (I like putting  a little bit more in mine to make it taste more like lemonade).  Also keep in mind that the blackberries need to be muddled very well. If they aren’t broken down enough, you won’t taste as much berry flavor.

Hope you enjoy the recipe and the weekend!

Blackberry Gin Fizz (serves 2)

12 Blackberries

1.5 oz. Lemon Juice

1.5 oz. Simple syrup

4 oz. Gin

8 oz. Club soda

Ice

Lemon and blackberries for garnish

Muddle blackberries and simple syrup in a glass or jar. Add lemon juice, gin, and club soda. Fill two glasses with ice and add the cocktail mixture. Garnish with a lemon slice and blackberries. Cheers!

 

xx