2020 has been… well, 2020. We are excited to celebrate the beginning of a new year this week and are here to share a handful of our favorite cocktails we make from some of our favorite chefs, bartenders, friends, etc!
We listed out how to make some of these mocktails as well for all of my other gal pals that are pregnant or not into alcoholic drinks! Cheers!
1.) Half Baked Harvest – Blood orange champagne mule
Ingredients needed:
- juice of 1/2 a medium blood orange
- juice of 1/2 a lime
- 1 ounce vodka
- 8 leaves mint
- 2 ounces chilled ginger beer
- chilled champagne for topping
In a glass, combine the orange juice, lime juice, and vodka. Add the ginger beer and top with champagne. Garnish with an orange wedge and fresh mint.
Non alcoholic version: Skip the vodka and champagne, use non alcoholic ginger beer. Add la croix or flavored sparkling water (or ginger ale) in place of the champagne.
Super simple, pretty, and fun!
picture via Half Baked Harvest
2.) Espresso Martini – tons of variations, but the link will go liquor.com who keeps it pretty simple, but delicious.
Ingredients needed:
- 2 ounces vodka
- 1/2 ounce coffee liqueur (usually Kahlúa)
- 1 ounce espresso, freshly brewed (or cold brew concentrate)
- 1/2 ounce simple syrup
- Garnish: coffee beans
Add vodka, coffee liqueur, espresso, and simple syrup into a shaker filled with ice and shake until well chilled (15-20 seconds). Strain into cocktail glass and garnish with 3 coffee beans.
Non Alcoholic: Skip the vodka and Kahlua. For a fun ‘twist’ replace it with your milk of choice. Will make a very creamy drink, but so good! If you don’t want a caffeinated drink, either use decaf coffee or hot chocolate.
Also very easy, tastes amazing, and the espresso will help make sure you make it until midnight!
picture from liquor.com
3.) Quarantine Manhattan – Giada de Laurentiis
Ingredients needed:
- 2 ounces rye whiskey
- 1/2 ounce amaro liquor such as St. Agrestis but whatever you have will do
- 1/2 ounce sweet vermouth such as Campano Antica, but any sweet vermouth works
- 1 strip of orange zest
To a cocktail glass filled with ice add the rye, amaro liquor and sweet vermouth. Stir for 30 seconds to chill. Strain into a rocks glass with one large cube of ice (regular ice cubes will work as well) and garnish with the orange zest.
A drink over ice that will surely warm you up! Easy to make and so delicious!
picture via Giada’s site
4.) Gin & Tonic
Ingredients needed:
- 2 ounces of Gin, 3 ounces of tonic water, juniper berries, lime.
To a glass of ice, just add ingredients and stir!
No link needed. Just a super simple and delicious cocktail. We had a gin & tonic in London that had juniper berries in it last year and have loved the combo ever since! Find a gin that you really love (Bryan is a big fan of Aviation) and don’t buy the cheapest tonic water (we use Q Mixers).
picture from liquor.com
5.) Raspberry Mimosa
Ingredients needed:
- 1 lemon wedge
- 1/4 c. granulated sugar, for rim
- 1/4 c. raspberry sorbet
- 4 oz. Chambord
- 1 bottle sparkling wine (could be prosecco, champagne, moscato, etc)
- Raspberries, for garnish
Rim 4 glasses with a lemon wedge, then dip in sugar. Place a small scoop of sorbet in each glass, then top with Chambord, sparkling wine , and a few fresh raspberries.
Non alcoholic version: Skip the champagne, use non alcoholic ginger beer or add some la croix or flavored sparkling water (or ginger ale) in place of the champagne.
Looking for a fun ‘upgrade’ on a classic mimosa? This is a great alternative and is SO good! It also looks great on a dinner table or as a compliment to a cheese plate.
picture via delish.com
