Its Finally Sangria Season
Cheers friends! Im on vacation! Just kidding. Im technically not on vacation, but Im writing this on a planeby myselfon the way to a conference to nerd out about food and recipes and blogging things. ::insert record scratch:: WHY DONT I HAVE A COCKTAIL IN MY HAND?
Oh right, it was 7am when it was appropriate to order beverage service. Since I cant sip on a cocktail, I can at least tell you about this cocktail because it sure is a winner. Like sipping on that first really great, bright, Spring day. The kind of day that makes you want to go buy flowers and herbs to plant in your garden and put down fresh mulch. This drink, it tastes like that feeling
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Best Syrup: W& p Craft Moscow Mule Syrup
Courtesy of Amazon
The Moscow Mule is a classic cocktail made with vodka, ginger beer, and lime. W& P makes this already simple drink even easier with this cocktail syrup, and the fact that its a concentrated syrup means you get more bang for your buck.
Made using fresh ginger, lime juice, and cane sugar, only a half-ounce is needed per drink. An 8-ounce bottle makes 16 drinks. You’ll just need some soda to round out this spicy party!
Tomato Juice Or Bloody Mary Mix
Yes, youll need a few more flavoring agents to really make it a truly tasty beverage, but at its base, a Bloody Mary is essentially just tomato juice and vodka. This savory delight works best when youre hungover or when you are out at a bottomless brunch. If you want to make one at home with full flavor, we suggest having plenty of one of these Bloody Mary mixes on hand.
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If You Like This Drink
Before we get to the recipe: there are a few other drinks you should check out.
If you like this drink, you should also check out the Desert Shield, which blends vodka and cranberry with cranberry liqueur. If you want pure cranberry flavor, thats the drink for you.
Theres also the Crystal Cranberry, which features amaretto, Crown Royal, gin, cranberry juice and more. It does make a change from this drink, but the taste of it is wonderful.
Theres also the C& T Cocktail, which blends cranberry and gin with Absolut Mandarin and more. That one is so good.
And you may also want to try the Long Beach Iced Tea, which is very strong and very tasty. It features cranberry juice, triple sec and lots of white liquors.
How To Make A Lemon Drop Martini
Making a martini can sometimes be a little intimidating. You watch bartenders or mixoloists carefully put together complex cocktails that taste amazing and thing I could never do that. Though mixology is an art and I love discovering new cocktails when Im out, its very easy to make tasty drinks at home.
To make this lemon drop martini, all you need are three ingredients:
We decided we wanted this lemon drop martini to be naturally sweetened and perfectly tart. We used our homemade honey simple syrup as our sweetener and squeezed fresh lemon zest for the zing.
After you have measured out all of the ingredients, we suggest that you serve these lemon drops cold. If you have a cocktail shaker, place 5-6 ice cubes, and ingredients into the shaker. If you dont have a shaker, a mason jar with a top works just fine!
Shake your lemond drops for about 30 seconds to chill and mix all of the ingredients. Before pouring the lemon drop into the glass, wet the rim of the drink glass you plan to use and dip in in sugar.
Pour the lemon drop into the glass and enjoy!
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Of The Best Vodka Mixers
Fed up of vodka and tonic? No, nor are we. Theres every good reason for this drinks huge popularity on a summer evening when youre out socialising with friends and you want something bright and drinkable. Vodkadoesnt have a lot of taste when you drink it neat, which means that getting creative with your additions is going to make all the difference.
Where shall we start? Well, if you havent tried it as a mixer, that’s hard for us to believe, but feel free to start your list with tonic, as one of 7 of the best vodka mixers. That feels like it goes without saying. What follows is a collection of 6 alternatives.
What Is A Good Mixer With Vodka
- Vodka Orange Juice The basic message is to keep it simple.
- Pineapple Juice.
- Lemonade/Soda.
- Ginger Beer.
Furthermore, Does vodka go with everything? A wise man once said vodka goes with just about anything. Its true statement, but some things work way better than others. A working horse spirit, vodka offers the perfect backbone for any number of drinks. Better still, you dont need a PhD in mixology to enjoy its versatility.
Secondly, What is the best way to drink vodka?
Amazing Ways To Drink Vodka
What are good mixers for alcohol?
How to Pair Mixers with Alcohol
- Tonic gives a hint of bitterness to either gin or vodka.
- Seltzer water adds sparkle to a heavy drink and body to flavored vodkas for a light, low-key sipper.
- Cola is a classic, and goes equally well with whiskey as it does with rum.
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Why Is It Called A Greyhound Drink
The greyhound formula dates back to 1930. It appeared as a variation of the grapefruit cocktail in Harry Craddocks The Savoy Cocktail Book. While the recipe he refers to used grapefruit jelly, his simplified version pairs gin with fresh grapefruit juice, sugar to taste, and plenty of ice. Vodka came into play in the 1940s, thanks to its growing popularity among American drinkers, as did the greyhound name. In 1945, the vodka drink appeared in Harpers Magazine, and by the 50s, it was a popular libation at the Post House restaurants found at Greyhound bus terminals. With word from the traveling public, the drinks popularity soared.
When To Serve Sangria
Literally, whenever you want right? By all means, mix yourself up a glass when youre in the mood for a wine cocktail but when it comes to party planning sangria is my favorite to serve. If you like sangria, you should give frosé a try in the summer. This Grapefruit and Rose Sangria is perfect for both spring and summer seasons and also if you cant keep something frozen but chilled.
Here are some ideas for how to get your sangria making party on:
- BBQs
- Lets hang out in the yard and chill
- Sunday afternoons
- Date night in
Really, any occasion is a good occasion to sip on a cheerful glass of fruity, boozy wine.
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Best For Dirty Martini: Dirty Sue Premium Olive Juice
Courtesy of Total Wine
While The Chart Room isnt what youd typically consider a Martini bar, the regulars who come in know exactly what they want and expect the best version of whatever their drink of choice is, says Lisa Zumpe of New Orleans’ The Chart Room.
I can think of one guy who comes in every Wednesday at 8 p.m.you can set your watch by itdrinks exactly two dirty Martinis, and goes home. I wouldnt even think of sticking my fingers in the garnish tray to add juice to his drink or pouring brine out of a jar of olives. Hed never speak to me again! Dirty Sue makes my customers happy, so it makes me happy.
Simple Syrup And Lime Juice
When searching for some of the most popular cocktails in the world mojitos, , sours, mai tais, and juleps youll find simple syrup in all of them. Simply measure one part sugar and one part water and mix them up into a syrup. You can buy a bottled version of it or whip it up at home.
Popular Brands:Stirrings Simple Syrup, Nellie & Joes Key West Lime Juice
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Six Of The Best Vodka Mixers According To Us
Vodka is supposed to be flavorless, says the TTB, the government bureau that regulates alcohol. Some bottles may have grassy undertones and others a sharp bite , but, ultimately, understatement is the name of the game.
And so mixers matter when youre making vodka cocktails. To determine the best juices, sodas, and other dance partners for vodka, we turned to an utterly subjective source: ourselves. We gathered VinePair staff and extended family for a taste test.
Our criteria? All mixers had to be widely available, disqualifying that tasty Concord grape syrup a friend from Maine sometimes brings to Thanksgiving. We prioritized simple, two- or three-ingredient drinks and, for sake of consistency, made every cocktail with one of our preferred affordable vodkas, Prairie Organic.
drop!
Here are six of our favorite vodka mixers, ranked.
Vodka not your favorite spirit? See our mixer picks for gin, rum, tequila, and whiskey.
Its Finally Time For Summer Bevvies
Now that the warm weather has begun to arrive, Im starting to enjoy getting outside, tending to my garden, and firing up the grill. The sunshine also calls for yummy cocktails! I noticed a bottle of Heritage Ruby Red Grapefruit Vodka on my bar cart recently, and the idea for Grapefruit Vodka Tonics clicked in my mind.
It didnt take long to perfect this recipe. All you need are three ingredients and some sunshine to enjoy these light and tasty cocktails. The bubbles from the tonic water make them feel like a healthy, adult soda.
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What The Vodka Cranberry Drink Tastes Like
The Vodka Cranberry is sometimes thought of as a beginners drink because its not very strong and you dont really taste the alcohol. But its a delicious drink for anyone.
The great thing about this drink is how refreshing it is without being strong. The lime and cranberry are both tart, which really wakes up your taste buds.
But you also get some sweetness from the dash of orange juice, and that makes it delicious.
Note that some bartenders do make this drink much stronger. The classic recipe only calls for an ounce of vodka, but some put in a good bit more.
When its mixed according to this recipe, the only reason youll know the vodka is in there is that slight burn you feel as it goes down. And it is really slight.
If you want a regular strength drink, you certainly can bump the vodka up to the standard 1 1/2 ounces without changing the flavor noticeably.
If you want your drink on the strong side, bump it up to two ounces of vodka and just reduce the cranberry juice accordingly.
How To Make Grapefruit Vodka Cocktail
I love this grapefruit cocktail recipe because its easy to make and not hard to remember! Combine three simple ingredients in three equal parts. The ingredients include:
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What Should You Not Mix With Vodka
You should not mix opioid painkillers, energy drinks, antibiotics, or cough medicine with vodka. These drugs can cause severe side effects when combined with alcohol. Besides, some of them stop you from effectively controlling your body and reflexes.
Generally, taking medications and alcohol can increase the severity of side effects like stomach upset, dizziness, and drowsiness.
Heres a 1-minute video that explains what happens when you mix alcoholic drinks with antibiotics:
The water in vodka can also cause an increase in the adverse effects on your liver and make any other drugs react much stronger to your system. To be safe, its better to avoid mixing them altogether.
Lets Make Festive Cocktails
We were looking for another festive holiday cocktail to add to our arsenal this year as were approaching #alltheholidayparties, so we tapped our resident expert: my brother, David, who is a bartender by trade. We asked him what types of drinks have been popular this holiday season, and ROSEMARY kept coming up.
And because weve already got a few warm and toasty holiday cocktails , we knew we wanted something refreshing. So, ta-da! Introducing our new fave holiday cocktail: the rosemary vodka collins. We think it will quickly become one of your faves as well
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Best For Vodka & Tonic: Boylan Tonic Water
Courtesy of Amazon
Sure, the Gin & Tonic gets all the hype, but a Vodka Tonic can be just as tasty. Obviously, the tonic water you choose is going to have a big effect on your drink, so its important to pick a good one.
Boylan Bottling uses a blend of citrus to balance the bitterness from the quinine, bringing a crisp hint of sour to the mixer and making this tonic water stand out from the rest.
Best Club Soda: Fever Tree Club Soda
Courtesy of Amazon
This one was a difficult one for me, but if I had to choose I would go with Fever-Tree, says Gill. They have so many great options for mixers that have great flavors, from different types of tonics to club sodas. Cant go wrong with them.
The club soda is simple and refreshing, made using spring water and bicarbonate of soda that yields a satisfyingly bubbly experience. Add some vodka to this and a slice of lime for a simple, refreshing drink.
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More Cocktails From Fine Dining Lovers
Why be satisfied with just vodka when you can mix up a drink with gin and vodka. You might want to say your evening prayers before tossing back one of the vesper, in which the two spirits mentioned above are shaken vigorously with lillet blanc and garnished with candied lemon zest.
Then there are cocktails where the base is a wild card. Enter the gimlet, an explosion of lime that can be mixed with vodka, gin, or even mezcal, tequilas smoke-shrouded cousin. This simple drink with a strong literary pedigree can be embellished with different herbs like rosemary, basil, or mint.
Speaking of mint, to conjure up swirls of Southern nostalgia and the rowdy revelries of the Kentucky Derby, slurp a mint julep. The elements: bourbon whiskey, sugar, crushed ice, and, of course, mint.
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What Is The Absolute Best Thing To Mix With Vodka
The absolute best thing to mix with vodka is tomato juice. It has a rich, savory flavor, is low in sugar and carbs, and has no caffeine. Its a safe, yet tasty, mixer for vodka and wont add too many extra calories to your drink.
Regardless of which mixer you choose, a good rule of thumb is always to mix alcohol with a non-alcoholic beverage. This helps dilute the alcohol content of your drink and is an effective way to avoid overindulging, which comes with negative consequences like lack of self-control, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Oxidation damages cells and causes aging in the human body.
Non-alcoholic drinks typically served in clubs like soda water are diluted and have a pH lower than that of vodka.
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The Real Drink Recipe
A proper Vodka Cranberry also uses a touch of Roses sweetened lime and some orange juice to bring out the best of the cranberry flavor.
Because vodka doesnt really change the flavor of the cranberry juice, this cocktail would just taste like straight cranberry juice without some help. The orange and lime add hints of something sharp and bright.
This cocktail recipe is pretty light on the alcohol, so feel free to vary it according to your taste and tolerance. The only alcohol in this drink is vodka, so you can add a little more if you prefer.
You can also leave it out completely when you want a mocktail. That makes it great for parties where some guests might not be drinking.
If youre making it as a virgin cocktail, you might want to add a little more of the orange and lime to make it extra special. It doesnt take much just a few dashes, or maybe half an ounce.
Best Flavored: Hangar 1 Buddha’s Hand Citron Vodka
Region: California | ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: Citrus, jasmine, apricot
Hangar 1 is the brainchild of St. George Spirits Lance Winters, who set out to create the first-ever flavored vodka line. He ended up making Hangar 1, a brand now known for its unusually flavored vodkas . Now a Proximo Spirits brand, each batch is made with a combination of pot-distilled Viognier grapes and column-distilled wheat in a repurposed aircraft hangar in San Francisco.
One of the best flavors of the bunch is Buddhas Hand, a quirky cousin of the lemon. While many flavored vodkas on the market are packed with sugary flavors, the purified lemon extracts from the fragrant citron combined with jasmine, basil, and apricots that will make you rethink flavored vodkas forever.
An amazingly simple vodka infusion would be to cut up some pineapple and let it soak for a few days. It will impart a very nice fruit tone that can be enjoyed neat, or mixed into a fun cocktail, recommends Dylan Alpaugh, general manager of Sophia’s Lounge.
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