On a hot Labor Day think cool Cocktails from Snow Leopard Vodka

Can you believe it’s ALREADY Labor Day?! During these last hot days of summer, there is no better cocktail to help celebrate than Snow Leopard Vodka. It’s cool, refreshing and these cocktails will go down oh-so-refreshingly smooth. Are you planning your engagement party this weekend? Why not make one of these your signature cocktail. If you’re not feeling like cooking or are looking for a fun evening out, then you really have to try either Trattoria Il Mulino (36 E 20th St, New York, NY 10003) or Pergola (36 W 28th St, New York, NY 10001) where you can experience the SnowHound and Bright Lotus respectfully there and then re-create it at home.

If you are a vodka lover (like I am) you will truly enjoy Snow Leopard Vodka. So be cool, think cool and have a “snow” kind of Labor Day.

Remember…drink responsibly.

SnowHound
Trattoria Il Mulino (36 E 20th St, New York, NY 10003)
Snow Leopard Vodka
Grapefruit Cordial
Fresh Lemon

Bright Lotus
by Scott Fitzgerald at Pergola (36 W 28th St, New York, NY 10001)
2 oz. Snow Leopard
.75 oz. Passionfruit Puree
.75 oz. Simple Syrup
.5 oz. Lime Juice
3 drops Creme de Cassis

Snow Leopard Garden

Created by John Christie
1.5 oz. Snow Leopard Vodka
2 oz. fresh watermelon juice
.5 oz. lemon juice
.5 oz. agave nectar
.25 oz. elderflower cordial

Glassware: Coupe,  Garnish: Frozen Watermelon Ball

Sparrow Swizzle
Created by Garrett Mikell at Eveleigh in Los Angeles, CA
1.5 oz Snow Leopard
1.5 oz Lavender Lemonade
Build in a collins glass, add crushed ice, swizzle and a lemon twist

Jewel of Asia
1.25oz Snow Leopard Vodka
1oz Lychee Liqueur
1oz Lime Juice
0.5oz Pomegranate Syrup
Top with Champagne
Add ingredients into a rocks glass fill with cubed ice and swizzle garnish with pink grapefruit and serve

Himalayan Spritz
1oz Snow leopard Vodka
1oz Aperol
1oz Cherry Brandy OR Maraschino
Top with chilled Prosecco
Add ingredients into a rocks glass fill with cubed ice and stir. Garnish with lemon wheel and cherry then serve.

Wine Wednesday: Belevedere Valentine’s Day kiss

Belvedere will get your party started or make your romantic night, more romantic.  Belvedere in any of their flavor will make your Valentine’s Day, night, one to remember.

Raspberry Chocolate Kiss
3 muddled raspberries.
2 1/2oz Belvedere Vodka
1/2 oz creme de cocoa
1/2 mint infused simple syrup
Splash cranberry juice

Chocolate graham cracker crust rim
Garnish with 1 Hershey Kiss at bottom of martini glass

Girls Night

Italian Love Affair – Add a bite to your Spritz and enjoy this cocktail with your best gal pals.

30 ml Belvedere Pink Grapefruit

20 ml Aperol

Top Chandon

 

Combine all ingredients in a wine glass over ice and gentle stir. Garnish with a pink grapefruit twist.

Night on the Town

Express Your Love – Enjoy this delightful after dinner drink with your special sweetie.

50 ml Belvedere Vodka

20 ml chilled espresso

20 ml vanilla infused simple syrup

Dash cream

 

Combine all ingredients and shake vigorously with ice. Strain into a chilled martini glass or coupette. Garnish with 3 espresso beans.

 

First Date

Valentine‘s Martini Pour Deux – Make the first date memorable with this classic Belvedere Martini.

120 ml Belvedere Vodka

20 ml Dolin Dry

 

Combine ingredients in large mixing glass and stir over ice until very cold. Strain equal parts mixture into two chilled mini martini glasses and pour remaining liquid into a mini carafe. Keep carafe on ice and garnish martinis with an olive each.

Cozy at Home

Cupid’s Champagne Potion –  Toast to your love and celebrate the good times with this festive sparkling cocktail!

30 ml Belvedere Vodka

30 ml peach puree

Top Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label

 

Combine Belvedere and peach puree in a tin and shake with ice. Fine strain into a chilled flute and top with Veuve Clicquot.

 

Guys Night

Unfiltered on the Rocks – Guys night out? No problem choosing, Belvedere on the rocks it is!

50 ml Belvedere Unfiltered

1 large black olive

 

Pour Belvedere Unfiltered over ice into a rocks glass. Garnish with a large black olive.

Create your Emmy-themed engagement cocktail with Belvedere Vodka

Planning an engagement or wedding is a big job.  BELIEVE ME….it’s another full time job.  So let’s start with something that is pretty easy….cocktails.  Belevedere Vodka has some great Emmy Awards themed cocktails, that I think will be a huge hit if one of these themes fits you.

Fans of Mad Men (nominated for 12 categories including Outstanding Drama Series), can toast the series with the “Draper-tini” – a classic Belvedere martini that evokes all the glamour and style of the 1960s era. If you’re addicted to Netflix’s political thriller House of Cards (Outstanding Drama Series and additional performer nominations), mix up the “Smithsonian” – a refined citrus-based cocktail in honor of Frank Underwood himself. If Breaking Bad (13 nominations including Outstanding Drama Series) is your show of choice, tip your hat to Walter White with “The Heisenberg,” a deceptively simple yet flavorful combination of Belvedere Unfiltered and fresh cucumber.

So mix these up and your guests will say “And the winner is….YOU”.

Draper-tini

2 oz Belvedere Vodka

Handful fresh mint

1 oz Elder Flower Cordial

1/2 oz Lemon Juice

 

Shake all ingredients and strain into a cocktail glass

Garnish with a lemon twist

 

Smithsonian

1.5 oz  Belvedere Citrus

3 oz  San Pellegrino Aranciata

Build over cubed ice into a highball

Garnish with orange and lemon slice

 

The Heisenberg

2oz Belvedere Unfiltered

1 twist of cracked black pepper

 

Stir all ingredients over cubed ice in a rocks glass

Garnish with a cucumber slice

Kentucky Derby Cocktails – on your mark, get set…

In honor of this year’s Derby favorite, “Verrazano,” La Bottega in The Maritime Hotel has created an Italian-themed mint julep to honor the horse’s Florentine namesake.  

The drink starts off with Jack Daniel’s for a nod to the Derby, then swamps out mint for the Italian staple, basil, and adds a dash of apple juice instead of sugar for the sweetness. A bit of ginger syrup goes in, to settle the stomach of those with a bit of cash riding on the race and the drink is complete! This Italian julep is named “La Mela” (apple in Italian), after a horse’s favorite snack!

 

SO as you watch the race tomorrow…in your finest hat and clothes, pour yourself this delish cocktail.

 

2 oz Jack Daniels

2 oz Apple Juice

4 dashes Angostura Bitters

½ oz Ginger Syrup

4 Basil Leaves

 

Muddle the basil leaves and ginger syrup then shake with all other ingredients and pour over ice.  Enjoy!

Wine Wednesday: Shots and Bombs

The shot has so many different meanings for every person. Birthdays, graduations, weddings–these can be toasted with a healthy-sized shot of whatever you like. Above all else, a shot is just a fun way to have a drink. After a tray of shots is presented, the party can really start!

Whether you are trying to get a drink down quickly or attempting to channel your inner fraternity brother, selecting a shot is a much more casual drink order than a traditional cocktail. A cocktail takes time and, if done well, creativity. A traditional shot is simple, one note, classic.

Below are some great shot and bomb recipes for your next party. Yes, these might be a fun twist on your engagement party or your bachelorette/bachelor party.  Some of these you’ll know and there new ones too! Cheers and happy shooting!

Flaming Doctor Pepper Bomb

Courtesy of AllRecipes

1 cup beer
1 fluid ounce amaretto liqueur
1/4 fluid ounce 151 proof rum
Fill a pint glass half full of beer. Pour the amaretto into a shot glass. Pour the 151 rum over the amaretto as a floater. Carefully light the shot on fire, and drop the lit shot into the half full glass of beer.

Apple Jack Shot

Courtesy of AllRecipes

1 oz whiskey (We recommend Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey)
1 oz sour apple schnapps
Pour whiskey and sour apple schnapps into a shot glass and serve.

Pickle Back Shot

1 oz Jameson Irish Whiskey
1 oz Pickle Juice
Shoot the whiskey shot and immediately follow with the shot of pickle juice.

Irish Car Bomb

Courtesy of DrinksMixer

3/4 pint Guinness stout
1/2 shot Irish cream (We recommend Bailey’s Original Irish Cream)
1/2 shot Irish whiskey (We recommend Jameson Irish Whiskey)
Add the Irish cream and Irish whiskey to a shot glass, layering the cream on the bottom. Pour the Guinness into a pint glass 3/4 of the way full and let settle. Drop the shot glass into the Guinness and chug quickly. If you don’t chug it fast enough, the cream will start to curdle and the drink will taste bad.

Sake Bomb

Courtesy of DrinksMixer

1 shot sake rice wine (We recommend Hiro Junmai Sake)
1 glass beer (We recommend Sapporo)
Before dropping the shot of sake into the beer and chugging, you should cheer “sake, sake, sake BOMB” while banging on the table.

Louisiana Shooter

Courtesy of Squidoo

1 Piece of Raw Oyster
1 Part Tequila
1/4 Teaspoon Horseradish Sauce
Dash of Hot Sauce
Pour ingredients into a glass neat.

Jager Bomb

3/4 pint Red Bull
1 oz Jagermeister
Drop the shot of Jagermeister into the Red Bull and chug!

Pumpkin Bomb

Courtesy of BarMeister

1/2 pint Pumpkin Beer
3/4 shot Whipped Cream Vodka (We recommend Pinnacle Whipped Cream Vodka)
1/4 shot Goldschlager
Fill a pint glass up to halfway with pumpkin beer. Fill a shot glass 3/4 the way with whipped cream vodka, and fill the rest with Goldschlager. Drop the shot glass in the pint glass and chug. This tastes like a slice of pumpkin pie with whipped cream on top!

Wine Wednesday: St. Patrick’s Day cocktails sure to put a spring in your step

The year is moving so quickly. I mean it’s already March.  There’s March Madness (that’s basketball for you non-sports folks), Daylight’s Saving’s time, Spring and of course St. Patrick’s Day. I guess everyone is “Irish” on St. Patty’s but if you want to spice up your own, or you simply don’t want a pint of Guinness, these beautiful cocktails will put you right in the mood.  So, get ready to see a lot of Green this weekend and do be careful.  It’s fine to enjoy, just don’t over indulge.

The Shamrocker

Ingredients

1 part Hornitos Plata tequila

1 part DeKuyper melon liqueur

½ part triple sec

Splash of orange juice

Preparation:

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine all of the ingredients. Shake vigorously and strain into a shot glass. Garnish with an orange slice.

Boozy shamrock shake recipe

Ingredients:

2-1/2 cups vanilla ice cream

3/4 cup milk

1/3 cup whipping cream

3 tablespoons vodka (we used Voli lyte)

2 tablespoons crème de menthe

Green food coloring

Green sprinkles and shamrock cookies

Preparation:

Place the ice cream, milk, whipped cream, vodka, crème de menthe and a few drops of food coloring into a blender. Blend on low until the mixture is thick and creamy. Add additional crème de menthe for a mintier flavor.

Pour shakes into jars or milkshake glasses. Garnish with more whipped cream, green sprinkles and a shamrock cookie.

Emerald mint milkshake recipe

Ingredients:

1 pint (2 cups) vanilla ice cream

1 cup milk

1/2 teaspoon McCormick® Pure Peppermint Extract

1/4 teaspoon McCormick® Green Food Color

Whipped cream and green sprinkles (optional)

Preparation:

Place ice cream, milk, peppermint extract and green food color in blender; cover. Blend on high-speed until smooth.

Pour into glasses. Top with whipped cream and sprinkles, if desired. Serve immediately.

Irish Sour Apple

Ingredients:

1 part Jameson Irish Whiskey

1 1/2 parts Hiram Walker Sour Apple Schnapps

5 parts Ginger Ale

Preparation:

Fill a tall glass with fresh ice. Combine the Jameson and Schnapps, and top with Ginger Ale. Garnish with a lemon wedge.

TODAY however, are celebrating the 100^th Anniversary of the Girl Scouts of Greater New York and the famous Thin Mint Shake. Oh it’s ok to admit that you gorge yourself on those cookies. Now, you can have your cookie and drink it too.  Enjoy!

Thin Mint Milkshake 

Ingredients:
8-10 Thin Mint Cookies (whole)
3-4 Thin Mint Cookies (crushed)
1 cup milk
2 scoops Chocolate, Vanilla, or Mint Ice Cream
Preparation:
Place milk and whole cookies into a blender, and blend on a medium speed until smooth. Add ice cream carefully, and blend on a high-speed until fully blended and creamy. Place most of the crushed cookies on the bottom of a shake glass (saving some cookies to put on the top). Slowly pour the shake into the glass and top with remaining cookies. Serve with a straw AND a spoon, as it will be VERY thick. Makes 2 shakes.

Wine Wednesday: Alcohol-Free summer cocktails

The heat is really doing a number on everyone and sometimes you just don’t need or want a ‘cocktail’.  However, it’s always wonderful if you want to offer your guests a little something to cool them off.  How about a variety of cocktails that are refreshing as well as non-alcoholic?  These are elegant coolers for those hot and steamy nights.

Green tea cranberry – Serves 4

Ingredients

1/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup water

4 green tea bags

1/2 cup chilled unsweetened cranberry juice

Ice

3 cups chilled seltzer

Directions

Bring sugar and water to a boil in a saucepan. Cook, stirring, until sugar dissolves. Let cool completely. Steep tea bags in 2 cups boiling water for 2 minutes. Remove bags. Let cool completely. Divide tea, cranberry juice, and the simple syrup among 4 ice-filled glasses. Top with chilled seltzer.

With cilantro sprigs, which add a herbaceous note to this tart cocktail, and gin, this is definitely the grown-up version of a soda-fountain favorite.

Lime Rickeys with Cilantro  – Serves 6 to 8

1 1/2 cups Limeade

3/4 cup gin

5 tablespoons superfine sugar

3 limes (cut into rounds)

3 cups club soda

Ice

Lime wedges and cilantro sprigs, for garnish

Directions

Combine limeade, gin, sugar, and limes in a large pitcher. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Add club soda. Serve over ice. Garnish with lime wedges and cilantro sprigs.

Rosy Raspbery Spritzer – serves 4

Ingredients

1/4 cup raspberries

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon superfine sugar

3/4 teaspoon rose-water (kalustyans.com)

2 cups chilled rose wine

3 cups chilled seltzer

Directions

Lightly crush raspberries with sugar and rose-water. Divide among
4 glasses. Stir in wine. Top with seltzer.

Honey-Vanilla Spritzer – serves 4

Ingredients

2/3 cup honey

1/2 cup water

1 vanilla bean, split and scraped

1/4 cup fresh lime juice

Ice

4 cups chilled seltzer

Directions

Bring honey, water, and vanilla bean to a simmer in a saucepan. Cook, stirring, until honey dissolves. Let cool completely. Strain through a fine sieve (there will be some seeds). Stir in lime juice. Divide among 4 ice-filled glasses. Top with seltzer.

A great way to celebrate your love.  If you do decide to add a ‘splash’ of something to these, please remember to drink responsibly.