Spring is in the air, and with that, comes refreshing drink suggestions from Rain Organics Vodka featuring its leading flavor combination Cucumber Lime. Over the past year, Rain Organic’s Cucumber Lime vodka has experienced double digit growth and has developed a raving fan base among consumers and restaurants alike. “The flavored vodka category is up as a whole 19.7% on a 52 week basis, according to Nielsen data reports, and our Cucumber Lime is up more than that for the same period,” said Tracey Clapp, vodka brand manager. “It’s evident consumers are interested in trying new and unique taste combinations. Our Rain Organics Cucumber Lime Vodka offers exactly that type of discovery experience by delivering the delicious flavors of just-picked cucumbers with fresh squeezed limes. We are pleased to share these elegant and talk-worthy cocktails for you and your guests to enjoy this season.”
Spring Rain (Photo attached)
1 ¼ oz. Rain Organics Cucumber Lime Vodka
2 oz. Jumex® Strawberry Nectar (available at your grocery store)
Splash of simple syrup
Squeeze of lime juice
Combine and finish with a splash of lemon-lime soda. Serve in a Collins glass with a lime wheel and a sprig of mint.
Rain Summertime Refresher
1.5 oz. Rain Organics Cucumber Lime Vodka
Dash of fennel simple syrup (see below)
Club Soda
Place a cucumber slice at the bottom of a Collins glass and fill with ice. Add the Rain Organics Cucumber Lime Vodka, a dash of fennel simple syrup and finish with club soda. Stir gently.
Garnish with a lime wedge and fresh fennel sprigs.
To make fennel simple syrup:
Boil equal parts sugar to water and then simmer with fennel leaves.
For Bloody Mary enthusiasts, Rain Cucumber Lime adds certain brightness to an old favorite and a fun, unexpected culinary twist.
The Cucumber Lime Vodka from Rain is part of the Rain Organics family, including Honey Mango Melon and unflavored original. All of the vodkas are seven-times distilled, USDA certified organic and are packaged in a beautiful glass bottle with an enticing splash of color as the stopper.
About Rain Organics Vodka
Rain Organics Vodka is hand-made in small batches using white organic corn and is distilled seven times for exceptional taste and smoothness. The incredible quality comes from a delicate 20 day production process that includes cold-water, sweet mash fermentation, seven distinct distillations and a polishing stage that adds pure limestone filtered water. Rain Organics vodka is crafted exclusively at Buffalo Trace Distillery, three-time winner of Malt Advocate Magazine’s “Distillery of the Year” award. Rain Organics is marketed by the Sazerac Co., Inc, one of the leading international suppliers, importers and distributors of distilled spirits.
This weekend for the Kentucky Derby, enjoy some great cocktails Kentucky Bourbon or an American classic rye whiskey. Whether you prefer bourbon or consider yourself more of a rye whiskey fan, all party revelers can enjoy the official drink of the Kentucky Derby, the Mint Julep, thanks to recipes contributed by Bulleit Bourbon Frontier Whiskey:
The Ginger Julep ’68 Fastback
Ingredients:
o 1 ½ oz. Ginger Infused Bulleit Bourbon
o ½ oz. Organic Brown Sugar
o ¼ oz. Peeled Minced Fresh Ginger
o 1 ½ oz. Soda Water
o 1 Lemon or Lime Twist
Directions: Muddle the ginger and brown sugar together until all of the sugar is moistened and nearly dissolved. Add a dash of soda to finish dissolving the sugar, stir in your Bourbon. Finish with ice, soda to taste and a lemon or lime twist.
Why we love it: The Ginger Julep ’68 Fastback brings a warm, gentle heat to the julep cocktail family with an invigorating ginger kick and splash of lime zest.
The Bulleit Rye Mint Julep
Ingredients:
o 1 1/3 oz. Bulleit Rye
o 1 ½-2 oz. Stirrings Simple Syrup
o Fresh mint leaves
Directions: Muddle mint leaves, Stirrings Simple Syrup and crushed ice in rocks glass. Add Bulleit Rye and fill glass with ice. Pour into cocktail shaker, shake vigorously and serve in rocks glass with fresh mint garnish.
Why we love it: The mint julep has been the refreshing spring cocktail icon of the Kentucky Derby since 1938, proving its test of time as a classic and distinguished recipe.
On April 24th, throw on your flapper dress or your finest suit and get inspired by classic Hollywood glamour as you celebrate the DVD release of this year’s best picture, The Artist! The 1920′s Hollywood inspired film marked the return of romance and made it clear that some things are better left unsaid. But star Penelope Ann Miller couldn’t keep quiet about her love affair with Basil Hayden’s! So take a cue from Penelope and make Basil Hayden’s Your Whiskey!
Bail Hayden’s Golden Age (created by Brian Gastaldi) INGREDIENTS: 1 1/2 parts Basil Hayden’s® Bourbon 3 Dash Bitters 1 Tablespoon Dark Fruit Preserves such as Plum, Black Cherry or Currant ½ part of Orange Juice
PREPARATION: 1. Combine all ingredients and ice in a mixing glass 2. Shake glass vigorously to a ten count and strain into a martini glass 3. Garnish with an Orange twist
Derby season has arrived, and with it the seventh annual Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep Cup sale. There will be 65 “Traditional” cups and 10 “Prestige” cups available as 2012 marks the 75th year the mint julep has been the official drink of the Kentucky Derby – the Traditional and Prestige cups total 75. Every cup will be presented in the signature Woodford Reserve casing made from the same wood as Woodford Reserve barrels.
“Traditional” Julep Cups
These individually numbered cups have been meticulously hand-engraved with a beautiful horse scene along with the 2012 Kentucky Derby date and Woodford Reserve logo and will come with a sterling silver sipping straw. The lost art of hand-engraving involves the use of seven different graver tools, and takes approximately two and a half hours per cup, which means each cup is unique.
“Prestige” Julep Cups
In addition to the 65 Traditional cups there will also be 10 Prestige cups up for sale. These cups are sterling silver, plated in 24 karat gold and feature a diamond horseshoe with 43 diamonds totaling approximately one carat. A jeweler selects and sets each diamond by hand. These extremely rare cups will be double the price of the Traditional cups at $2,000 each.
The Exotic Ingredients
Owners of the Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep Cup will have the choice to enjoy a mint julep featuring a uniquely exotic set of ingredients from around the globe. For the first time ever, cup buyers will get to experience “double” the festivities as the Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep Cup Experience will feature “double” the ingredients:
The $1,000 Mint Julep Cup will feature the new, ultra-premium bourbon Woodford Reserve Double Oaked. Twice barreled in White Oak and matured to perfection in two unique, handcrafted barrels.
As Versailles, KY is named after Versailles, France and the two cities have shared that common bond for more than 200 years the $1,000 Mint Julep Cup will include water from Versailles, KY where Woodford Reserve is crafted as well as water from France to honor the French roots of Versailles, KY – the home of Woodford Reserve. Rare Lemon mint grown in California as well as Kentucky Spearmint. The combination of the very unique Lemon mint and the Spearmint adds a fresh, light enhancement to the classic mint julep.
Bourbon Mint Julep Sugar and Bourbon Vanilla Sugar from Bourbon Barrel Foods in Louisville, KY. The Bourbon-Mint Julep Sugar has all the rich caramel flavors of raw sugar as well as the refreshing flavors of mint while the Bourbon Vanilla Sugar is an all natural Demerara sugar that’s packed and aged with Bourbon-Madagascar vanilla beans to enhance the molasses flavors of the sugar with the richness of vanilla.
The Crystal Head Vodka is one of the best vodka’s in the world. Check out these great vodka cocktails from Crystal Head mixologists. First, Try the ‘Heads Up,’ when you ask a bartender to give you a ‘Heads Up’, it’s Crystal Head, 7UP with a splash of bar lime over crushed ice. Another favorite is the ‘Cranium’. The Cranium is Crystal Head Vodka and cranberry topped with club soda over crushed ice. Crushed ice is perfect in the Crystal Head shot glasses as there is not much room for full sized ice.
Another favorite Crystal Head drink is the ‘Pure-Tini.’ It’s a simple martini, garnished with little olives on a fancy little toothpick. Pure: because of the pure spirit Crystal Head Vodka.
Dan’s (Aykroyd) favorite way to drink it is, as he calls it, the ‘Crystal Driver.’ Crystal Head and fresh squeezed orange or tangerine juice poured over it. Dan says it should look like your adding an egg over it. Don’t mix or stir.
Check out these great signature cocktails by the Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey and the Cooley Distiller. Kilbeggan Irish whiskey and the Old Kilbeggan Distillery are part of Cooley Distillery, the only independent Irish-owned whiskey distillery. Cooley was established in 1987, the first Irish whiskey distillery to be setup in over 100 years with a clear vision of saving some of the historic brand names of Irish whiskey. The Old Kilbeggan Distillery is the oldest continually licensed distillery in the world and has enjoyed the good times but also the tough times for Irish whiskey over its 250 years.
Kilbeggan Dubliner
Ingredients:
• 3 parts Kilbeggan® Irish whiskey
• 2 parts Sweet Vermouth
• 1.5 parts Cherry Syrup
• 1.5 parts Cranberry Juice
• Dash Simple Syrup (optional)
To Serve: Combine all ingredients into a shaker with ice and shake for 60 seconds. Strain neat into a martini glass. Garnish with a black cherry or raspberry.
Kilbeggan Irish Mule
Ingredients:
• 3 parts Kilbeggan® Irish whiskey
• 2 parts Triple Sec
• 2 parts Simple Syrup
• Lime Juice
• Ginger Ale
To Serve: Combine Kilbeggan, Triple Sec, simple syrup and lime juice into a shaker with ice and shake for 60 seconds. Strain over ice into a tall glass. Top with ginger ale and garnish with lime wedges.
Kilbeggan Shamrock Spritzer
Ingredients:
• 1 part Kilbeggan® Irish Whiskey
• 4 parts Apple Juice
• Lemon-Lime Soda
To Serve: Pour Kilbeggan and apple juice over ice into a tall glass. Top with lemon-lime soda and garnish with a lemon.
The cocktail, Draper’s Manhattan, is a twist on the classic Manhattan and inspired by Mad Men’s own Don Draper. The show’s creator, Matthew Weiner, even told us that Basil Hayden’s is his favorite bourbon and he enjoys the spicy finish after a long day in the writers in the writers’ room! It’s a great cocktail to mix up in the office or while you watch the premiere if you’re looking to channel the Mad Men era.
Basil Hayden’s Draper’s Manhattan
Ingredients:
2 parts Basil Hayden’s Bourbon
3/4 parts Dolin Blanc Vermouth de Chambery
1 bar spoon Luxardo® Maraschino Cherries
1 dash Orange Bitters
Preparation:
1. Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with ice and stir until combined.
Don Draper and his colleagues are back March 25th for another season of Mad Men and what better way to celebrate than with retro cocktail recipes inspired by the 1960’s based series. Food authority and cookbook author, Rick Rodgers, is taking modern cooking back in time with his Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Sixties Cookbook. Whether you’re hosting your own Mad Men premiere party or you’re looking to expand your recipe repertoire, Rick Rodgers can take you back in time with his take on the cocktails of the Sixties.
The book includes lots of nostalgia inducing trivia, guidance on how to concoct a mean cocktail (shaken OR stirred) and party ready menus that will have you entertaining like Peggy Olson in no time. Check out Rick’s version of an Old-Fashioned featuring Four Roses Bourbon below.
Old Fashioned
1 sugar cube
2 or 3 dashes of aromatic bitters, such as Angostura
2 1⁄2 ounces Four Roses Bourbon (limited edition small batch)
Soda water
Orange slice, for garnish
Maraschino cherry, for garnish
Lemon zest twist, for garnish
Instructions: Put the sugar in an old-fashioned glass and moisten with the bitters. Crush them together with a muddler. Add the whiskey and fill the glass with ice. Stir well. If desired, fill the glass with soda water. Add the orange and cherry, and lemon twist, if using. Serve.
Maybe the winter was too short, maybe we didn’t get enough snow for your weird twisted taste, but Spring has arrived and Canadian Club Whiskey has created some great cocktails to kick back and have that drink on the porch with your feet up. Soak in the breeze, relax and enjoy Canadian Club Whiskey as a mixer in one of these great whiskey cocktails.
Mango Smash
1.50 parts Canadian Club
3 – 1”chunks of fresh mango
1 half moon slice of orange
2 sugar cubes
2-3 dashes of Orange Bitters
Soda water
Maraschino cherry for garnish
Directions: In an Old Fashion or double rocks glass, muddle the sugar cube with the bitters, add fruit and muddle again, insuring the release of oils from the orange peel. Fill glass with small, cubed ice, add whisky and stir. Add splash of soda water, stir once more, drop in a cherry for garnish.
Honey Do This
1.50 parts Canadian Club
.50 parts DeKuyper Triple Sec
.50 parts Simple Syrup
3 – 1” chunks of Honeydew melon
3 ½” pieces Cucumber
4-6 Mint leaves
Directions: In a mixing glass, muddle melon, cucumber, mint, and simple syrup. Add remaining ingredients and shake with ice and pour all into a double old fashion glass. Add cucumber slice & mint sprig for garnish. Serve with “malt” straw (a large diameter straw.)
The Thunderbird
1.50 parts Canadian Club
.75 parts Amaretto
2 parts Pineapple Juice
1 part Orange Juice
2 dashes of Grenadine
Orange wedge and Maraschino cherry for garnish
Directions: Build cocktail in order over ice in a highball glass, allowing the grenadine to slowly sink through the cocktail. Garnish with an orange wedge and cherry.
Here’s a simple way to show your support and solidarity with top players from Northern Ireland–like the extraordinary Rory McIlroy, this year’s U.S. Open winner. Mix up a batch of cocktails with Northern Ireland’s own Bushmills! Since 1608 Bushmills whiskey has been synonymous with the country; the historic distillery is even pictured on the £5 Irish bank note. Of course, on the rocks or with soda are always appropriate–but Bushmills Irish whiskey is also great mixer for summer beverages in front of the TV or at backyard barbecues. Recipes that make it easy…even for duffers:
.
Bushmills Irish Buck
1.5 oz Bushmills Original Irish Whiskey
1 squeeze fresh lime juice
2 oz. ginger ale
1 wheel lime
Combine Bushmills Original Irish Whiskey and lime juice over ice in a tall glass. Top with ginger ale and garnish with lime wheel
.
Bushmills & Ginger
1.5 oz Bushmills Original Irish Whiskey
3 oz. ginger ale
1 twist orange
Pour Bushmills Original Irish Whiskey and ginger ale over ice cubes into a tall glass.
Spring is in the air, and with that, comes refreshing drink suggestions from Rain Organics Vodka featuring its leading flavor combination Cucumber Lime. Over the past year, Rain Organic’s Cucumber Lime vodka has experienced double digit growth and has developed a raving fan base among consumers and restaurants alike. “The flavored vodka category is up as a whole 19.7% on a 52 week basis, according to Nielsen data reports, and our Cucumber Lime is up more than that for the same period,” said Tracey Clapp, vodka brand manager. “It’s evident consumers are interested in trying new and unique taste combinations. Our Rain Organics Cucumber Lime Vodka offers exactly that type of discovery experience by delivering the delicious flavors of just-picked cucumbers with fresh squeezed limes. We are pleased to share these elegant and talk-worthy cocktails for you and your guests to enjoy this season.”
Recent Comments