Drinks | Spiced

Mix It Up: 7 Fun Champagne Cocktails for Valentine’s Day

February 13, 2013 by David Leave a Comment

So today is Valentine’s Day.

You’ve probably already got dinner reservations made or ingredients purchased for an at-home dinner. You’ve probably already taken care of the flowers and candy. But what about drinks? Don’t forget a nice bottle of champagne to go with dinner or dessert! Aside from New Year’s Eve, I would venture to guess that more champagne is consumed on Valentine’s Day than on any other day of the year. And why not? Champagne is delicious and pairs so well with chocolate…another Valentine’s Day favorite! As much as I love a glass of champagne, why not mix it up this year and serve a champagne cocktail or two? Take a look at some of our favorite champagne mixers below, and from all of us here at Spiced, we hope you and your loved ones have a Happy Valentine’s Day!

{1.} French 75. If you (or your loved one) is a gin lover, then this cocktail is for you! Try replacing the gin with cognac for a fun twist on this classic champagne cocktail. Source: Honest Fare

{2}. Champagne + Elderflower. If you’ve never tasted elderflower, then you are missing out. St. Germain is a delicious elderflower liquor that is great on the rocks or in champagne. Give it a shot! Source: Sugar and Charm

{3.} Lemon Myrtle. How can you go wrong when you mix champagne and limoncello together? Source: Champagne and Macarons

{4.} Kir Royale. This cocktail features creme de cassis, a wonderful berry flavored liquor. You can also substitute creme de cassis with Chambord for an intense black raspberry flavor. Source: Fabulously French

{5.} Black Velvet. Why not start getting ready for St. Patrick’s Day early? This cocktail includes equal parts champagne and Guinness Stout. Interesting! Source: BBC Good Food

{6.} Pimm’s Royale. This last champagne cocktail is similar to a Pimm’s Cup, but replaces the lemon-lime soda with champagne. Source: Style Nest

{7.} Coconut Vanilla Bellini. This unique creation includes coating the rim of your champagne flute with vanilla bean and sanding sugar. Source: How Sweet It Is

5 Fun Cocktails for your Super Bowl Party

January 27, 2013 by David 2 Comments

The Super Bowl is less than a week away–so that means it’s officially Super Bowl week! Here at Spiced, we’ll be featuring various appetizer and drink ideas all week to help you get ready for the big game. We kick-off (no pun intended) the week with 5 fun cocktails that are perfect to serve at your Super Bowl party.

Bulleit Basin Street

This year’s Super Bowl will be played in New Orleans, so it only seems fitting to celebrate with a cocktail that shares its name with a street in the famous French Quarter!

Bulleit Basin Street

Ingredients

2 oz Bulleit Bourbon
1 oz Triple Sec
1 oz Lemon Juice

Instructions

Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker and shake with ice.
Strain into cocktail glass.
Add ice and garnish with a twist of lemon or lime.

http://spicedblog.com/5-fun-cocktails-for-your-super-bowl-party.html

Â© Spiced 2012

Morgan’s Mistress

In the early 1800′s, the pirate Jean Lafitte played a key role in the history of New Orleans. This next cocktail gets its name from another famous (albeit fictional) pirate. This drink is perfect for anyone who loves fruity/citrusy drinks!

Morgan's Mistress

Ingredients

1/2 cup canned crushed pineapple
1 tbsp diced ginger
1 tbsp mint, plus more for garnish
Juice of 1 orange
Juice of 1 lemon
1 tbsp honey
1.5 ounces Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum
4 ounces grapefruit juice
1 ounce pina colada mix

Instructions

Combine ingredients in a shaker.
Add ice and shake.
Strain into a glass with ice and garnish with mint.

http://spicedblog.com/5-fun-cocktails-for-your-super-bowl-party.html

Â© Spiced 2012

Port Royal Punch

Speaking of pirates, this next drink also gets its name from a famous pirate city in the Caribbean. This recipe makes enough for a whole crew of pirates!

Port Royal Punch (serves 20-25)

Ingredients

2 46-ounce cans of pineapple juice
3 cups mango juice
1 750 mL bottle of Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum
4.5 ounces grenadine
3 oranges, sliced thinly and quartered
3 cans of Sprite

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a large punch bowl.
Serve over ice in punch glasses or cocktail glasses.

http://spicedblog.com/5-fun-cocktails-for-your-super-bowl-party.html

Â© Spiced 2012

Rue Bourbon Smash

This 4th drink is a classic cocktail with a slight name change to celebrate the host city of New Orleans. Perhaps the most famous street in America, Bourbon Street (or Rue Bourbon in French) represents the heart of the French Quarter.

Rue Bourbon Rye Smash

Ingredients

1.5 ounces Bulleit Rye Whiskey
2-3 fresh mint leaves, plus more for garnish
2 lemon wedges
1.5 tbsp simple syrup
1 ounce water

Instructions

In a shaker, muddle the mint, lemon, simple syrup and water.
Add the whiskey and fill with ice.
Shake and strain into a cocktail glass filled with fresh crushed ice.
Garnish with a sprig of mint.

http://spicedblog.com/5-fun-cocktails-for-your-super-bowl-party.html

Â© Spiced 2012

Honey Old Fashioned

While this last drink might not have any relation to the city of New Orleans, it will definitely be the perfect way to end the evening. Whether your team wins or loses the big game, raise a glass of this cocktail and say a toast to celebrate the end of another football season!

Honey Old Fashioned

Ingredients

1 tsp honey
5 dashes chocolate bitters
3 dashes orange bitters
1.5 oz George Dickel Rye Whisky
zest of a large orange

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice.
Shake and strain into a cocktail glass.
Garnish with an orange wedge

http://spicedblog.com/5-fun-cocktails-for-your-super-bowl-party.html

Â© Spiced 2012

And finally, if you are lucky enough to be traveling to New Orleans for the big game, make sure to stop by the Museum of the American Cocktail (located in the French Quarter). Cheers!

3 Festive Holiday Cocktail Recipes!

November 22, 2012 by David 4 Comments

Thanksgiving has come and gone, and if you’re anything like me…you don’t want to cook anything else this weekend! This is the time to enjoy leftovers and hanging out with family & friends. So turn on a football game, curl up in front of the fire, and make one of these delicious cocktails.

Holiday Coquito Cocktail

Serving Size: 1

Holiday Coquito Cocktail

Ingredients

1.5 ounces Cîroc Coconut
1/4 cup pineapple juice
1/2 ounce coconut cream
1 ounce milk
1 egg white
1 dash cinnamon
1 dash nutmeg
1 dash all spice

Instructions

Add all ingredients and fill with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Sprinkle with coconut shavings.

http://spicedblog.com/3-festive-holiday-cocktail-recipes.html

Â© Spiced 2012

Nothing says holidays quite like warm spiced apple cider! Garnish with a cinnamon stick and a dash of nutmeg for a quick festive drink.

Sleigh Ride Cocktail

Ingredients

5 ounces warm apple cider
1.5 ounces Ciroc
1 cinnamon stick
1 apple slice
2 teaspoons honey

Instructions

Combine apple cider, cinnamon stick, apple slice, and honey. Let sit over night.
Take cider mix, add 1.5 ounces of Ciroc and place in a crock-pot or regular pot and heat on low-medium.
Serve and enjoy!

http://spicedblog.com/3-festive-holiday-cocktail-recipes.html

Â© Spiced 2012

Normally peach cobblers are reserved for summer time fun, but this recipe lets us enjoy those summer flavors in the winter. This delicious cocktail is incredibly easy and perfect as an afternoon drink before (and after) pulling out the Thanksgiving leftovers!

Peach Cobbler Cocktail

Ingredients