cocktail recipes Archives

It’s the start of April, and if you’re planning on having a summer party, and who isn’t…that can mean only one thing. That the days are longer and nights are hotter, and expect to be invited to parties, festivals, celebrations, dinners, and barbecues. The feeling of easy days ahead is contagious, but why limit yourself to only serving canned beers or boring cocktails? Why not switch it up with some fun and lively new favors? You’ll be a big hit when you introduce your guests to these 5 wine-inspired cocktails for spring.

Here’s a list of 5 great wine-inspired cocktails that everyone is sure to enjoy (and are easy to make) at your next big get-together.

SPRITZER

5 ounces white wine
2 ounces club soda
A lemon twist

Pour the wine and soda into a Collins glass almost filled with ice cubes. Stir well. Garnish with the lemon twist.

If you’re using dry white wine, you can substitute tonic water for club soda, or if you have lemonade. Let me introduce you to our next drink of the summer.

WHITE WINE COOLER

4 ounces dry white wine
2 ounces lemon-lime soda
1 lemon twist
1 orange slice.

Pour the wine and the soda into a highball glass almost filled with ice cubes. Stir well. Garnish with the lemon twist and the orange slice.
This drink is an amazing midday refresher. You’re not obligated to just a lemon-lime soda. You can switch it up with lemonade, sparkling water, or combine sparkling water with a fruit juice of your choice for that extra touch of personality.

RED WINE COOLER

4 ounces red wine
2 ounces ginger ale
2 ounces lemon-lime
1 lemon twist soda
1 orange slice

Pour the wine, lemon-lime soda, and ginger ale into a highball glass almost filled with ice cubes. Stir well. Garnish with the lemon twist and the orange slice.

Unlike the white wine cooler, this drink is more traditional in its combination of ingredients. You could try to substitute some of the mixers with ingredients we’ve already discussed, but really these combinations make for an amazing after dinner treat.

PORTUGUESE DAISY

2 ounces ruby port
1 ounce brandy
1 ounce lemon juice
½ teaspoon superfine sugar
½ teaspoon grenadine
1 lemon wedge

In a shaker half-filled with ice cubes, combine the port, brandy, lemon juice, sugar, and grenadine. Shake well. Pour into an old-fashioned glass.
Garnish with the lemon wedge.

Port wine is a well known red wine from the Douro region of northern Portugal, named for the town of Oporto where it is aged and bottled. This cocktail is a fancy way to amplify an already sweet and bold flavor in the wine, surly to turn heads at you next event.

PORT WINE SANGREE

1 teaspoon superfine sugar
½ ounce brandy
1 lemon twist
2 teaspoons water
2 ounces tawny port
Crushed ice
2½ ounces club soda
1/8 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

In a highball glass, dissolve the sugar in the water and port. Almost fill the glass with crushed ice and add the club soda. Float the brandy on top.

Garnish with the lemon twist and a dusting of nutmeg and cinnamon.
What can be said about a Sangria, a perfect blending of fruits and wine. Dessert in a wine glass. An easy cocktail to make in large amount for everyone to enjoy. That’s what we believe at SC Beverage.

Written By: Art Rubio

References

All drinks from “The Bartender’s Bible: 1001 Mixed Drinks” and “Everything You Need to Know to Set Up Your Bar” by Gary Regan. Published by HarperCollins, 2005.

As far as alcohol goes, vodka remains one of the most versatile bases for a wide range of mixed drinks. Although the vodka soda will remain a standing favorite for people looking for a light complement to their drink, the gorgeous simplicity of vodka lends itself to more flavorful and bright combinations. What are the best mixers for vodka?

Picking Your Vodka Mixers

Typically, juices are the best mixers for vodka. Fruit juices, arguably, makes for the best vodka mixers due to the wealth of flavor and the range of possibility that they bring. Almost any juice you enjoy will do, but it is important to keep in mind how much of the vodka you would still like to taste. The stronger the juice, the more dangerous the drink. To learn more about commercial-grade juice equipment, make sure to take advantage of SC Beverage’s 20 years of experience!

1. Cranberry

Cranberry juice is a no-brainer when it comes to classic vodka pairings. The juice is strong enough to mask a sub-par vodka if you’re not feeling like splurging. However, if you reduce the ratio of juice to vodka, then the cranberry becomes a delicious highlight to an excellent bottle as well.

Top Rated Vodka/Cranberry Cocktails: Cosmopolitan, Cape Codder

2. Grapefruit

Grapefruit juice can be a difficult mixer for vodka to get right due to its high acidity. However, it can create a brilliant kick when mixed correctly, especially if you’re using a second, sweeter fruit juice to balance your flavors.

Top Rated Vodka/Grapefruit Cocktails: Greyhound, Blushing Lady

3. Pineapple

Whether crushed or juiced, pineapple is sure to give your cocktail a tropical feeling right off the bat. Like vodka cocktails that use grapefruit juice, most of your pineapple-based cocktails will be trios, meaning they will use two or more fruit juices to achieve the desired flavor and consistency. If you want mixers for vodka that will give you an island vibe, pineapple is for you.

Top Rated Vodka/Pineapple Cocktails: Pearl Harbor, Bay Breeze

4. Orange

Orange juice is, without a doubt, one of the most widely used mixers for vodka cocktails. Although the screwdriver, fuzzy navel, and kamikaze have been highlighted here for their massive popularity, the list of possible cocktails is enormous. Orange juice is rather unique in its balance of sweet and sharp flavors, so it’s no wonder that it remains the juice most often associated with vodka.

Top Rated Vodka/Orange Cocktails: Screwdriver, Fuzzy Navel, Kamikaze

5. Tomato

If you aren’t a fan of savory cocktails, you may want to skip this one. Tomato juice is the key ingredient in the iconic Bloody Mary vodka cocktail and remains one of only a couple of drinks you can graciously order over breakfast or brunch. This mixer for vodka is a wonderful, vitamin-enriched way to get through an early breakfast with family even if you don’t have a sweet tooth.

Top Rated Vodka/Tomato Cocktails: Bloody Mary

6. Lemon

If you’re surprised to see lemon on this list of mixers for vodka and you’re over twenty-one, then you haven’t really lived yet. The lemon drop martini is a classic party drink that will elevate even the smallest of get-togethers. It’s essentially your chance to go full James Bond without having to drink a flavorless cocktail with an olive in it. Just enjoy the sugared rim and your new-found elegance.

Top Rated Vodka/Lemon Cocktails: Lemon Drop Martini

7. Lemonade

Most of us are familiar with the classic Arnold Palmer, a mix of lemonade and sweet ice tea. There are few things more refreshing on a summer’s day, with the possible exception of the John Daly. Named after another famous golfer, this drink spices up the traditional Arnold Palmer with a shot of vodka to make for a delicious and dangerously sneaky cocktail. If you’re looking for a simpler mix, then opt for a sweet tea flavored vodka.

Top Rated Vodka/Lemonade Cocktails: John Daly

Tag: cocktail recipes

Shaking Up the Seasons: 5 Wine-Inspired Cocktails for Spring