Tag Archives: cocktails

8 Easy Summer Cocktails – Plus, How to Pre-Batch Cocktails

How to Pre Batch Easy Summer Cocktails

When it’s summery and gorgeous outside, and you’re having a party or attending one, the last thing you want to be doing is spending hours making the drinks. You also don’t want to be making cocktails for everyone all night long if you’re hosting.

What’s the solution?

Pre-make and bottle your cocktails in big batches, or choose simple recipes that take two seconds to make. Keep scrolling to get inspired by our favorite, easy and summery cocktail recipes. Plus, look for our in-store display of all the ingredients you’ll need!

HOW TO PRE-BATCH COCKTAILS

SUPPLIES – swing-top glass bottles, funnel, measuring cup

TIMING – Make the batched cocktail 3-4 days in advance and refrigerate. If you’re using fruit juices, make it the day of—they’re perishable and best the day they’re squeezed.

ADDING WATER IN ADVANCE – When you shake a cocktail with ice, the ice actually melts and dilutes the drink. So, when you pre-make a cocktail that usually needs to be shaken, add some water—about 1/5 the volume. This ensures that each drink will taste balanced.

MATH – Our recipes here are in parts, so that you can make as much or as little as you need. One drink or serving usually has around 2 oz. of the base spirit.

SERVING – Serve each cocktail according the recipe directions. Some are over ice, others are poured into a chilled glass, and others are blended with crushed ice.

Download & Print Cocktail Recipes (2 pages) >

PISCO SOUR

Pisco is a type brandy (it’s distilled from the juice of grapes), usually made in Peru or Chile (where the Pisco Sour is the national drink). Icy, frothy, sweet and tart, this drink is super refreshing and great for summer.

Ingredients
– 2 parts Pisco (Try Ocucaje Pisco)
– 1 part Simple Syrup (Try Stirrings Simple Syrup)
– 1 part egg whites
– 1 part fresh lime juice

Garnish: Dash of Bitters (Try Fee Brothers Old Fashioned Bitters)

Directions: Combine and blend all ingredients. When ready to serve, add crushed ice in a blender or shaker. Blend on high for 15 seconds, or shake for 1 minute, then serve. Garnish with 3 dashes of bitters.

*A bottle of Ocucaje Pisco makes around 12 drinks, with 2 oz of Pisco per serving.

Canale Torino Cocktail Recipe

CANALE TORINO

If you like Aperol or Campari, you’ll like this recipe which uses Cappelletti Aperitivo, a red, tasty, wine-based bitter aperitif made in Italy. This Canale Torino recipe is based on one by chef Jimmy Bradley at The Harrison, NYC.

Ingredients
– 2 parts Cappelletti Aperitivo
– 2 parts Dry Vermouth (Try Noilly Prat Extra Dry Vermouth)
-1 part Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao

Garnish: Orange Peel Twist

Directions: Combine all ingredients and ⅕ volume with water if pre-batching. When ready to serve, pour into a glass of ice & garnish. If making individually, add ingredients with 2 cups of ice into a shaker. Shake, then strain into a glass. Garnish with orange peel twist.

*A bottle of Cappelletti Aperitivo makes around 12 drinks, with 2 oz of Cappelletti per serving.

Negroni Cocktail Recipe with Melletti 1870

NEGRONI

A Negroni has just three parts: gin, Campari, & sweet vermouth. You can customize it by swapping out the ingredients, and we love Meletti 1870. A sweet/bitter orange Italian aperitivo, Meletti 1870 is a new, deliciously complex recipe from the Meletti distillery.

Ingredients
– 1 part Gin (try Ford’s Gin)
– 1 part Meletti 1870
– 1 part Dolin Rouge Vermouth

Garnish: Orange Wedge

Directions: Combine all ingredients. To serve, pour over a glass full of ice, and stir well. Garnish with orange wedge.

*One bottle of Meletti 1870 will make around 16 servings, with 1.5 oz per drink. You’ll have leftover gin!

Maine Cooler - Royal Rose Lavender Lemon Syrup

MAINE COOLER

Just like a Tom Collins with vodka, plus yummy lavender-lemon syrup by Royal Rose. Refreshing, sweet, sour, and with a touch of lavender! Try Aylesbury Duck Vodka, which is clean, grainy, spicy and plays well in mixed drinks. (Based on the creation by Andrew Volk of the Portland Hunt & Alpine Club.)

Ingredients
– 2 parts Vodka (Try Aylesbury Duck Vodka)
– 1 part Royal Rose Lavender Lemon Syrup
– 1 part Lemon Juice
– Top off club soda

Garnish: Lemon Twist

Directions: Combine vodka, syrup, & lemon juice. Serve over ice and with lemon wedge. If making individually, shake ingredients with ice and strain into ice-filled glass and top with soda.

*One bottle of Aylesbury Duck Vodka makes around 16 servings, with about 2 oz. of vodka per drink.

Paloma Drink Recipe - Tequila Cabeza

PALOMA

Ahh, the Paloma. Popular in Mexico, it’s a winning mix of tequila, grapefruit soda, and fresh lime juice. Try it with Tequila Cabeza, which is made from 100% agave, grown in the Los Altos region by the Vivanco family for five generations.

Ingredients
– 2 parts Tequila (Try Tequila Cabeza)
– 1 part Lime Juice
– Top with Pellegrino Pompelmo (grapefruit soda)

Garnish: Lime Wedge & Salt Rim

Directions: Combine tequila and lime juice. When ready to serve, fill a glass with ice, add mixture, pinch of coarse salt, and top with grapefruit soda. Stir.

* One bottle of Tequila Cabeza will make you around 16 servings, with about 2 oz. of tequila per drink.

Grumpy Cup Drink Recipe - Pimm's

GRUMPY CUP

Our own recipe! A Grumpy Cup is just like a Pimm’s Cup, but with Crabbie’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer. Proceed with caution.

Ingredients
– 2 oz Pimm’s
– ½ btl. Crabbie’s Ginger Beer
– Lemon Juice

Garnish: Lemon Wedge

Directions: Fill a glass with ice, pour over with Pimm’s, and top off with Crabbie’s. Stir. Squeeze lemon wedge.

*A bottle of Pimm’s makes about 15 Grumpy Cup servings.

Kalimotxo - Red Wine and Coca-Cola - Drink Recipe

KALIMOTXO

Red wine and Coca-cola?! Don’t knock it till you try it. Popular in Basque-country, it tastes kind of like a sangria, minus the namby-pamby chopping of fruit. Especially refreshing with a squeeze of lemon, say hello to your new summer favorite!

Ingredients
– 1 part Red Wine (try Taron Rioja)
– 1 part Coca-Cola de Mexico

Garnish: Lemon Wedge

Directions: Fill a glass with ice, and combine equal parts red wine and cola. Garnish with lemon wedge.

*A bottle of Taron Rioja makes around 8-10 Kalimotxo’s, with 3-4oz of red wine per serving.

Bittermilk Charred Grapefruit Tonic - Drink Recipe

CHARRED GRAPEFRUIT TONIC

A cool twist on a classic tonic, and easy to make! Bittermilk Charred Grapefruit is the perfect combination of citrus juices, organic cane sugar, cinchona bark, and fresh charred grapefruit peel.

Ingredients
– 1 part Rum (Try Caña Brava Rum)
– 1 part Bittermilk No. 5 Charred Grapefruit Tonic
– 1 part Club Soda

Garnish: Lime Wedge

Directions: Combine all ingredients, serve in a glass over ice. Garnish with lime wedge.

*One bottle of Caña Brava Rum and Bittermilk No. 5 Charred Grapefruit Tonic will make around 12 servings, with about 1.5oz of each ingredient per serving. You’ll have plenty of leftover rum!

Cheers!

Aviation Cocktail Recipe with DIY Violet Syrup (Guest Post by Parcel Apothecary)

Spring flowers are blooming and that can only mean one thing: it’s officially gin season.

Roses are wafting their allure to the city, the violets are carpeting the tree’s roots with purple smiles, and the dandelions are finding their way to the cracks in the sidewalk, slowly taking back the streets. Now is the time to utilize the short window of delicious spring flowers for a classic gin cocktail, The Aviation.

The Aviation is aptly named for its purplish blue hue, which is derived from the lovely violet flower—a true spring ephemeral. In 1930, the Creme de Violette was dropped from the original recipe published 2 decades prior, and did not see a proper resurgence until 2007 when the liqueur was brought back to the US Market.

Creme Yvette was a popular replacement ingredient in the cocktail, which, in addition to violet flowers, includes berries. Today on the farm we made a violet syrup that can be used in place of Creme de Violette in your Aviation cocktail.

My recipe here includes Viola tricolor, a species of violet that blooms longer than the more traditional Viola odorata, and brings a deeper color to the syrup. I prefer to follow the traditional “folk method” when making elixirs: an unmeasured, intuitive method, that is guided by taste and creativity. Just like how your Grandmother does it. Take the recipe below as a guideline, and experiment with variations to suit your sipping style.

How to Make Violet Syrup

INGREDIENTS
– 1 cup tepid water
– 1/2 cup raw honey
– A handful of viola tricolor flowers (50-100 flowers)

DIRECTIONS
Combine water and honey together and add viola tricolor flowers. Mix with a spoon until honey is dissolved and let steep for 1 hour.

Berries Option: For this syrup, we gathered a handful of ripe strawberries and muddled them in to the syrup as well, then poured the syrup through a fine mesh strainer to take out the residual fruit flesh. You could also send the fruit through a juicer, and then add to the syrup.

Voila! Viola!

Aviation Variation
with DIY Violet Syrup

INGREDIENTS
– 2 parts Gin (we recommend Barr Hill Gin)
– 1 part lemon juice
– ¼ part Violet Syrup
– ¼ part Maraschino Liqueur

DIRECTIONS
Shake all ingredients & serve up with a Viola flower garnish.

If you don’t have Viola tricolor growing in your backyard, you can purchase from the Parcel Cocktail Farm located at 219 Pearl Street on the South Side of Providence on Sundays from 1-5pm (excluding holidays). www.ParcelApothecary.com

Cordially,
Jessyloo Rodrigues (Herbaloo)

The Ultimate Drink List for Your Super Bowl Party!

Looking for fun drink ideas for your Super Bowl party? Something that excites beyond the standard cheap beer? The pros at Bottles have created a game-day-ready drink menu that includes Washington state wines, New England craft beers, and crowd-sized cocktail recipes featuring craft spirits by New England distillers. We’ve even created a handy printable list for these items. Download, print it out, and stop by Bottles for everything you’ll need.

——> Download & Print the Drink List <——-

New England Cocktails Looking for Super Bowl cocktail recipes? Here’s our list featuring local New England spirits that can be made the morning of game day. Large-batch cocktails allow your guests to focus on what really matters — football, with no empty drink glasses! Nervous about ratios? We’ve done the math for you. You’ll need a large pitcher, punch bowl or swing top bottle to display your mixology handiwork, and don’t forget the ice. Give the bottle a quick shake as you serve these spirited Yankee cocktails over ice. Stop by Bottles for these stellar local spirits, grab your favorite pitcher and get pouring!

Rhody Russian:

Ingredients 1 bottle Loyal 9 Vodka 1/2 bottle of Dave’s Coffee Syrup 15 Dashes of Angostura Bitters 2 Liters Club Soda

Directions: Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher or punch bowl. If making this ahead of time, add the club soda just before serving. Serve in glasses full of ice. Makes 15 cocktails Sons of Liberty Spirits Company is located not too far from Providence in South Kingstown, Rhode Island. They handcraft delicious, American Single Malt Whiskies and a line of premium craft vodkas. Drink local! Dave’s Coffee Syrup is also handcrafted in Rhode Island — coffee beans are hand-roasted in small batches, cold-brewed and simmered with natural cane sugar. An awesome addition to cocktails!

Issac’s Punch:

Ingredients (makes 15 cocktails) 3/4 Bottle of Bully Boy White Rum 1/2 Gallon of Apple Cider 7 1/2 oz Simple Syrup 7 1/2 oz Fresh Lime Juice

Directions: Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher or punch bowl and serve in a glass over ice. Bully Boy is a Boston distillery that makes hand-produced, small batch spirits with loads of New England character. Learn more about Bully Boy Distillers >

Boston Cocktail:

Ingredients 3/4 a bottle of Greylock Gin by Berkshire Mountain Distillers 3/4 a bottle of Apricot Brandy 7 1/2 oz fresh lime juice 12 Dashes of grenadine

Directions: Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher or punch bowl and serve in a glass over ice. Makes 15 cocktails. Berkshire Mountain Distillers (BMD) are the creators of Greylock Gin, which is the star of this cocktail recipe. Established in 2007, all BMD spirits are handcrafted in small batches in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.

Washington Wines For those Seahawks fans lurking in New England, we had to choose some wines for Washington. Here’s a selection of our yummiest Washington state wines in the shop!

Kung Fu Girl Riesling – Insanely refreshing and yummy! Not your momma’s too-sweet Riesling — this one’s bone dry! Drink by itself or with something spicy like Buffalo Chicken Wings.

Vino Pinot Grigio – Wanna know a secret? This wine is better than your Super Bowl guests deserve. While they’re watching Katy Perry during halftime, sneak a glass in the kitchen.

Eve Chardonnay – A lighter style Chardonnay — polished with pretty pear, apple and cream flavors. Great with 7 layer dip!

Velvet Devil Merlot – Wickedly rich and smooth — perfect with your ribs or sausages.

Columbia Crest H3 Cabernet Sauvignon – Dark and spicy with plum, currant and chocolate flavors. Scored 92 points from Wine Spectator! It may be the best thing from Washington (including the Seahawks).

Milbrandt Cabernet Sauvignon – Dark, velvety and complex with layers of dark fruit and dried savory herbs. A staff favorite! Pair with nachos and Seahawk Chowdah.

New England Craft Beers Go Pats! Some of our favorite craft beers for Super Bowl 2015, all made in New England! We’ve chosen a range of styles to please any crowd.

Cambridge Brewing Remain in Light – Made in Boston! A light, snappy, crisp pilsner.

Cape Ann Fisherman’s Navigator – A toasty, malty, warming brew from Massachusetts! Cape Ann’s winter seasonal doppel-bock.

Otter Creek Citra Mantra – From Vermont, and a hoppy, citrusy, and super refreshing Indian Pils Lager.

Newport Storm Wham! Bam! Van Damme – Powerful! Boozy! Malty!

P.S. Not sure how much beer or wine to get? Use our party math guide!

Enjoy your parties!

Cheers!

The Bottles Team

Stocking Stuffers Under $20 at Bottles

Star Wars ice cubes? Rhode Island themed beer mugs? How about an absinthe gift set? Who says grown-ups can’t have fun gifts for Christmas! Check out this list of stocking stuffers for under $20 that will please and amuse folks that enjoy wine, beer, and cocktails.

Vodka: A Global History by Patricia Herlihy – Learn about the history of vodka in this book with Patricia Herlihy, a Brown University professor and our favorite vodka expert around town!

Star Wars Silicone Ice Trays – Choose from a Death Star, Boba Fett, or Han Solo in Carbonite.

Lucahdor Bottle Openers – A mini wrestler applying a famous lock hold on your beer bottle!

Absinthe spoons, glass, and sugar cubes – All the accessories you’ll need to enjoy Absinthe the traditional way.

Wine Monkey – Heading to a get-together? Slip a Wine Monkey onto your bottle of Bordeaux and you’re covered.

Mystery Nips – A variety of liquor nips – it’s a surprise what’s in each box!

Wine Aerating Pour Spout – An aerating spout that draws oxygen into the wine, bringing our its full flavor.

Greeting from Rhode Island Beer Mug – A hefty beer mug etched with our very own ‘Greetings from Rhode Island’ design.

What Cheer Metal Flask – Original design by Bottles, and hand-engraved by our master engraver

Dapper ’Staches Drink Markers – Keep your party classy and your drinks distinguished. Simply apply one to your glass.

Cheers!
The Bottles Team

3 Thanksgiving Drink Menus – Free Printables!

You’re hosting Thanksgiving for the first, second or twentieth time. Your friend who makes an incredible oyster stuffing is coming for dinner and your cousin who spent two years in Italy will be there. You stare at your beers, wines, and cocktails and feel a twinge of doubt. Will your family like these? Does this pair well with turkey? What about dessert?

Here at Bottles, we have answers to all these questions – what cocktails, wines, and beers to serve that will delight your friends and family. We’ve put together 3 Thanksgiving drink menus that differ according to the size of your group: An Intimate Gathering, Mid-Sized Party, or a Large Group.

Click below to download and print the shopping list and 3 drink menus!

Download & Print the Shopping List >
Intimate Gathering Drink Menu >
Mid-Sized Party Drink Menu >
Large Group Drink Menu >

INTIMATE GATHERING (for 5-8 people)

BEER

Leipzinger Gose – A German beer brewed with salt and coriander, this sour style is incredibly refreshing and will pair beautifully with turkey. 4.8% ABV

Saison Dupont Cuvée Dry Hopping – Every year, Dupont’s Master Brewer makes a special dry-hopped version of this benchmark Belgian saison – delightful with stuffing! 6.5% ABV

St. Bernardus Tripel – Belgian yeast creates a banana and herbal flavor that makes a strong beer seemingly light. Great for the main course or even with pie! 8.0% ABV

Unibroue Maudite – Think rich, dark and malty! Maudite is a Belgian Strong Dark Ale with spice notes of cinnamon and nutmeg is heavenly with sweet potatoes. 8.0% ABV

WINE

Birichino ‘St. Georges’ Zinfandel – Planted by a bootlegger just south of Santa Cruz in the 1920s, this California Zinfandel has a lighter touch than some of its jammier California counterparts. A lovely balance of acidity and tannin.

Broc Cellars Grenache – A heavenly blend of deep plum, rich raspberry and star anise, this Grenache is a great example of fruit flavors without a syrupy sugary finish. Bright acidity creates a refreshingly smooth wine that will sing with roasted vegetables and stuffing.

Tascante ‘Buonara’ Carricante – An amazing example of tradition in winemaking and sheer gumption. The Carricante grape has grown on the slopes of active volcano Mount Etna for over a thousand years. The volcanic soil provides an unbelievable mineral structure to this white wine that is unlike any other region. Rich and complex with a slight note of salt, I can’t imagine a better white to serve with turkey.

APERITIF – Lillet Citron Cocktail – Quince & Apple’s Citrus Syrup is a wonderful balance of sweetness, acidity, and savory for a cocktail base to wonderfully complement the citrus notes in Lillet.

DINNER FEATURE – Paper Kite Cocktail – While slightly bitter, the spectacularly mellow Henry McKenna Bourbon plays off the vanilla and orange notes in the Aperol and bitters. This whiskey is not for the faint of heart with its devilish jalapeno flavors, high proof and rich finish to impress your guests.

POST FEAST – Lazzaroni Amaro – Serve neat! Amari is a thinking man’s liqueur. There are so many flavors in one bottle – gentian, rhubarb, sandalwood, cloves, dried citrus, all designed to mystify, entrance and delight your taste buds. Nothing can top the glorious sensation of an amari after a leisurely harvest feast with friends.

MID-SIZED GATHERING (for 12-15 people)

BEER

Two Roads Ol’ Factory Pils – Brewed by a nearby Connecticut brewery, Two Roads, Ol’ Factory Pils is traditional in concept with a twist – dry hops. This will pair well with the bird! 5.0% ABV

Founder’s All-Day IPA – Every holiday needs a session beer, low in proof but high in flavor that will be able to satisfy your craft beer cousins and uncles who just wants an ice cold beer. 4.7% ABV

Lagunitas Censored – ‘Censored’ is a great copper ale with a hoppy profile, molasses and maple flavors that will complement the myriad of flavors on the table. 6.75% ABV

Foolproof Raincloud Porter – Porters are great for lengthy meals and gatherings. They are lower alcohol than a stout, but still rich and flavorful. Foolproof is a local favorite amongst the Bottles staff! 6.5% ABV

WINE

L’Argentier Cinsault – A great value from the Languedoc, I adore this Cinsault for its dark cherry and raspberry flavors with just a hint of vanilla. Medium bodied with a soft finish, a hint of cardamom will complement the roasted sweet potatoes and pair well with roasted vegetables.

In Situ Pinot Noir – Chile is producing stellar Pinot Noir that is putting California to shame and In Situ is no exception. Dark, rich plum and cherry flavors are met with super soft tannins for a smooth finish.

Dr. Pauly Dry Riesling – Look no further than Mosel, Germany for a dry Riesling that mingles fruit, acidity and mineral together to create a dry and zippy wine. For Riesling skeptics, Dr. Pauly Dry Riesling even has a Dry to Sweet scale on the bottle, reassuring your guests before their first sip that they are about to experience a wine that will balance the savory meal with a refreshing acidity.

APERITIF – Pomegranate Cardamom Royale – Royal Rose’s Cardamom Clove Syrup is fall in a bottle! It’s handmade in tiny batches in Brunswick, Maine, and when mixed with pomegranate juice and topped off with Prosecco, the resulting sparkling cocktail will kindly remind your guests to save room for dessert.

DINNER FEATURE – Basque Cider & Rye Cocktail – We’ve found a cocktail that can be geared towards whiskey lovers that love a well-balanced, no frills cocktail and also please guests who like cocktails a little on the sweet side. You can also add less fresh apple cider and more tart, hard cider. On the other hand, increase the amount of fresh apple cider for a cocktail to satisfy a sweet tooth. by Jillian Guyette & Robert Luessen, abetterhappiersebastian.com

POST FEAST – Gonzales Byass ‘Nectar’ Pedro Ximenez Sherry – Sherry is a heavenly overlooked wine. Done well, it’s not only sweet, but complex with luscious flavors of caramel, dried figs and raisins. Gonzales Byass ‘Nectar’ is a great example of the dark and rich Pedro Ximenez style. Serve with pecan pie for an out of this world dessert experience.

LARGE GROUP (15+ people)

BEER

Smuttynose Variety Pack – A variety pack is a great choice when entertaining a crowd, saving you from purchasing multiple six packs. Smuttynose does a solid IPA and a nice brown ale called Old Brown Dog.

Bucket Pawtucket Pail Ale Squealer – Maximize the room in your fridge for pies with a squealer from Bucket Brewery out of Pawtucket. 32 oz of beer in one handy glass bottle, the Pawtucket Pail Ale has a rich malt profile that will pair well with turkey. 6.2% ABV

Narragansett Bohemian Pilsner – Another local favorite, ‘Gansett’s pilsner is light, malty and refreshing. A little heavier than the lager, the Bohemian Pilsner will impress your relatives that remember ‘Gansett from the first time around. 5.2% ABV

Sierra Nevada Porter – I chose this porter because of its hop friendly status. The dark malts will pair well with all the rich, harvest flavors in the stuffing and side dishes. 5.6% ABV

WINE

Taron Rioja – Spanish reds are here to stay and for that I am thankful! Taron’s take on Tempranillo is a great mixture of spice and fruit. Great with a cheese platter!

Tenuta Sant’Antonio ‘Scaia’ Corvina – Corvina is becoming a new favorite grape from Veneto, Italy. Used in the production of Valipolicella, on its own Corvina is medium-bodied with notes of dark plum and black cherry. Not as acidic as other Italian reds such as Barbera, this will go well with the turkey and hopefully become a new favorite for your family!

Maculan Pino & Toi – From Italy comes this cool blend of Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio and Toi (Friulano). Expect a dry, medium bodied and extremely refreshing white wine. Lemon and peach flavors are complemented with a bright acidity that will please guests who love Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc.

APERITIF – Ca’ Furlan Prosecco – There is no better way to welcome a guest into your home than the festive sound of sparkling wine being uncorked, signifying the beginning of a wonderful gathering. Ca’ Furlan Prosecco is light with the slightest hint of peach, tangerine and apple. Greet your guests with a glass of bubbly!

DINNER FEATURE – Rosé Cranberry Sangria Punch – A simple sangria punch can be made the evening before. On Thanksgiving day, just pour into a pitcher or carafe. Punches are great for groups, freeing you from playing bartender and providing a gathering spot for conversations to begin and linger.

POST FEAST – Sambuca – A traditional Italian after-dinner treat, this star anise based cordial dates back to ancient Rome. After feasts, guests were treated to anise cakes to settle one’s stomach after a long evening of revelry. Serve straight, in a bit of hot coffee or in a tall glass over ice for the perfect post-feast treat.

Happy Thanksgiving!
– Joanna

4 Classic Bourbon Cocktails for Fall

There’s nothing like that warm whiskey feelin’ to help adjust to cooler nights. So, to ready yourself for fall, here are a few of our favorite bourbon cocktail recipes. They’re classic, easy to make, and delicious to boot!

– The Stone Fence incorporates freshly pressed apple cider…live dangerously (like we do) and try a Tripping Hazard as well. Our own ‘special’ recipe, a Tripping Hazard uses Downeast Hard Cider instead of regular ‘ole apple cider. It’s the Dark N’ Stumbly of the fall!

– A Whiskey Fizz is good for your digestion, and gets you tipsy at the same time.

– Need that sophisticated look? Make a Manhattan — be sure to use Luxardo maraschino cherries — they’re possibly the best maraschino cherries out there.

To shop the recommended bourbons & ingredients, swing by Bottles, and look for our Bourbon Special display. And if you’d like to learn more about our featured whiskeys this fall, you can read our latest post here to learn even more.

FREE PRINTABLE RECIPE CARDS >
Perfect to lay out at your next party!

Stone Fence

INGREDIENTS
2 oz. Bourbon (Evan Williams 1783)
Bitters (Fee Brothers Whiskey Barrel-Aged Bitters)
Fresh pressed apple cider

DIRECTIONS
Get a big glass & fill with ice. Pour in 2 ounces of bourbon (Evan Williams 1783), and maybe, just maybe a dash of bitters. Fill with Freshly pressed cider from your local orchard. Drink it!

Tripping Hazard (our ‘special’ recipe)

INGREDIENTS
2 oz. Bourbon (Evan Williams 1783)
Bitters (Fee Brothers Whiskey Barrel-Aged Bitters)
Downeast Cider

DIRECTIONS
Get a big glass & fill with ice, pour in 2 ounces of Bourbon and maybe, just maybe a dash of bitters. Fill with Downeast Cider. Drank it!

Whiskey Fizz

INGREDIENTS
2 oz. bourbon (Rittenhouse Rye)
1/2 oz. simple syrup
Half a lemon
Seltzer water
Mint, lemon zest, or fruit garnish

DIRECTIONS
Get a highball or similar glass & fill with crushed ice, add 1/2 oz. simple syrup, pour in 2 oz. bourbon (Rittenhouse Rye), and squeeze in half a lemon. Stir the bejeezus out of it, top with seltzer water, and garnish with mint, lemon zest, and/or fruit.

Just make a Manhattan, Dangit

INGREDIENTS
3 oz. bourbon (Henry McKenna)
1/2 oz. vermouth (or more to taste, use Noilly Prat Vermouth)
Bitters (Fee Brothers Whiskey Barrel-Aged Bitters)
Maraschino cherry

DIRECTIONS
Get your best martini glass. In a shaker, add 3 ounces Bourbon (Henry McKenna), toss in a few dashes of bitters, and add 1/2 ounce sweet vermouth (or more, to taste). Shake the living heck out of it & strain into your cocktail glass. Drop a maraschino cherry in there and act sophisticated.

Cheers!
Bottles <3

3-Ingredient Rum Cocktails to Try This Summer

Enjoying a rum based drink is part of what makes summertime feel like summertime.

But who wants to miss out by spending too much time mixing up elaborate cocktails? Ideally, you’ll want that delicious, delicious, rum cocktail in your hand without breaking a sweat.

Here’s 4 recipes that are easy to whip up, and that you’ll find sophisticated and refreshing. Rhum Clément is featured in each of these recipes; they’re Agricole Rhums with impressive flavor profiles to elevate and add diversity to your basic Sidecar, Margarita, and Daiquiri. Read more about Agricole Rhums and Sipping Rums here.

Swing by Bottles; we’ve got the full Rhum Clément series, all the cocktail ingredients, and recipe cards (plus free swag!) lined up in our spirits section.

‘Creole Sidecar’

2 oz. Clément Select Barrel
1 oz. Clément Créole Shrubb
¾ oz. fresh lemon juice

Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass with a partially sugared rim. Garnish with a large lemon zest.

Clément Select Barrel is made by aging rum for a minimum of 3 years in toasty barrels. The result has nuanced vanilla and toast flavors, with a remarkably smooth finish.

‘Creole Reverse Margarita’

2 oz. Créole Shrubb
1 oz. premium tequila
¾ oz. fresh lime juice

Shake and strain into a cocktail glass rimmed with lime and salt (optional)

A Shrubb is a mixer, traditionally made with vinegar and spices as a cocktail flavoring. Clément’s Créole Shrubb is based on an old recipe, with a blend of rums, macerated orange peels, and spices. The result is hugely aromatic, zesty, and spicy, with a lighter body and feel than other orange liqueurs.

‘Agricole Daiquiri’

2 oz. Première Canne
¾ oz. Sirop de Canne
½ oz. fresh lime juice
¼ oz. maraschino liqueur – *okay, that’s four ingredients, but you’ll forgive us, right?

Shake with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a lime wheel.

Première Canne: Freshly pressed sugarcane juice is allow to ferment, and is then put through a single, gentle distillation to preserve the cane’s unique flavor. The result is a distinctly dry spirit with notes of cocoa beans, black tea, fresh grass, and a subtle candy sugar finish.

Like the best Vermont Maple Syrup, Clément Sirop de Canne is made by slowy reducing pure, pressed sugarcane juice with rolls of cinnamon, cloves, and vanilla beans. The result is a dry style of ‘simple syrup’ which lightly sweetens and then adds a hint of spice to your favorite cocktails.

‘Ti Punch

1 ½ oz. Clément Canne Rhum Bleue
1 bar spoon Sirop de Canne
1 lime disc (silver dollar-size twist cut off the edge of a lime to capture a little pulp and zest)

Squeeze the lime to extract as much lime oil and juice as possible. Add the Sirop de Canne and Première Canne. Add ice, or don’t add ice… as you like in tradition of our Martinique ritual. Swizzle with a bois lélé or a bar spoon.

Clément Canne Rhum Bleue is a very unique rum, made from a single variety of blue sugarcane. The result is a very bright spirit with flavors of meringue, cucumber, tingly pepper, and wet stone.

8 Spring Cocktail Ideas

Happy springtime! The cocktail experts at Bottles have concocted an enticing group of fresh, bright drinks to celebrate the arrival of spring. Find these ingredients featured in-store on our spirits display, which includes Campari, Lillet, Pimm’s, Fernet Branca, and more interesting, flavorful liqueurs. With only 2 to 3 ingredients each, these recipes are ridiculously quick to mix up for enjoying on your patio, or to share at your next party. Cheers!

Swing by the store for free recipe cards!

Find more cocktail recipes here >

Rumpus

Ingredients
1.5 oz White Rum
½ oz Aperol
Juice of ½ of a lime

Directions
Stir all ingredients over ice, garnish with lime.

One bottle of rum can make 15 Rumpus, and a bottle of Aperol can make 30! Aperol is a bright orange aperitif with a unique sweet-bitter taste, and an alcohol content of only 11 percent. Its fresh and versatile taste makes it perfect for mixing.

Hanky Panky

Ingredients
2 oz Gin (St. George Dry Rye Gin)
2 oz Lillet Rouge
1 oz Fernet Branca
Orange

Directions
Shake all ingredients over ice, strain into a Martini glass. Garnish with Orange twist. A bottle of Gin can make 13 Hanky Pankies!

A combination of Lillet Rouge, craft gin, and a splash of bitter, herbal Fernet Branca, the Hanky Panky is fresh variation on the classic Negroni cocktail.

The Perfect Guest

Ingredients
1 ½ oz Vodka (Purus Vodka)
2/3 oz Lillet Blanc
½ oz St. Germain
Optional: dash of celery bitters

Directions
Fill shaker half way with ice, pour ingredients in and stir. Strain and serve straight up in a martini glass. A bottle of Vodka, Lillet, & small bottle of St. Germain can make 15 Perfect Guests! (with extra Lillet left over). Source

Fernando (Fernet & Coke)

Directions
Mix Coca-Cola & Fernet Branca to taste in a glass with ice. Drink it!

This is the national drink of Argentina, called the “Fernando”. Fernet is a type of amaro, an Italian digestif, and is made from a combination of different herbs and spices for a licorice-type flavor. To make the Fernando, try to use sugar based Coca-Cola instead of corn syrup based Coca-Cola.

Aperol Spritz

Ingredients
Aperol
Prosecco
Perfect Cube Trays
*One bottle of Aperol and one bottle of Prosecco will make 16 Aperol Spritz.

Directions
1. Take your Perfect Cube trays. Fill your tray with Aperol, straight from the bottle! Place in your freezer for a minimum of 18 hours. Add a tiny bit of water if you need the cubes to freeze quicker.
2. Pour your guests a flute of Prosecco. Leave a little room at the top.
3. Drop an Aperol ice cube in the spritz. Enjoy!

Lillet & Orange (or Lemon!)

Directions
Garnish well-chilled Lillet with strip or 2 of lemon or orange zest. Yep, it’s that simple! The perfect springtime refreshment.

Grumpy Cup (Our own recipe!)

Ingredients
1.5 oz. Pimm’s
½ Btl of Crabbie’s Ginger Beer
Wedge of lemon

Directions
Fill a glass with ice, pour over 2 oz. Pimms, fill with Crabbies. Stir. Squeeze a lemon wedge over the top & enjoy. A bottle of Pimm’s can make 15 Grumpy Cups.

It’s just like a classic Pimm’s Cup, but with Crabbie’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer! You’ll love it.

Campari & Soda

An essential Campari cocktail! Load a glass with ice, and add Campari and soda. If you’ve never had Campari, it’s a bitter-sweet liqueur that’s super refreshing with soda water.

The Easiest Oscar Punch Recipe

Having an Oscars party? Take it up a notch with a champagne punch! There are many variations on the champagne cocktail; think of this recipe as a wild departure from a mimosa. We’ve combined Framboise Lambic, sparkling wine, and a splash of orange juice to create a brilliant, delicious punch that will take only five minutes to make.

Refreshing and fizzy, this Oscar punch gets its tart-fruit flavor and lovely red-pink color from Framboise Lambic, an ale which is flavored with raspberries instead of hops. Grandial Brut is one of our new favorite sparkling wines. A tremendous value at $9.99, this dry style Brut loves to party! Swing by Bottles for the ingredients you need!

Framboise Lambic and Sparkling Wine Cocktail

The Easiest Oscar Punch Recipe

Ingredients
1 small bottle Framboise Lambic (355mL small bottle)
1 bottle Grandial Brut sparkling wine
Splash of orange juice
Ice
Orange slices and wedges for a garnish

Directions
Combine Framboise Lambic, Grandial, and a splash of orange juice in a punch bowl or pitcher with plenty of ice. Garnish with orange slices. Serve with plenty of ice and an orange wedge. Makes about 6-8 champagne flute sized servings.

Cheers!

Visit our cocktail recipe page

for more ideas

Your Heirloom Eggnog Recipe

Christmas parties call for one classic drink: Eggnog. There are plenty of good pre-mixed eggnog options, but don’t you think there’s something special about food and drinks lovingly made from scratch? Edible Rhody Magazine has provided us with an easy but delicious homemade Eggnog recipe that will please all you guests. You’ll just need a few basic ingredients, brandy, rum, and a blender.

We recommend that you adjust this basic recipe to your taste buds. Don’t like nutmeg? Try using cinnamon, clove, allspice, or a combination of these spices. Need variety in your life, and want to explore other liquors other than brandy or dark rum? Applejack, bourbon, or madeira are interesting flavor twists. Experiment, enjoy, and create a tradition!

Your Heirloom Eggnog

by Chris Amirault, Cook & Brown Public House

INGREDIENTS
2 large, fresh farm eggs
3 ounces (by volume) white sugar
1 teaspoon grated nutmeg
3 ounces brandy
3 ounces dark rum
6 ounces whole Rhody Fresh milk
4 ounces heavy cream

DIRECTIONS
Beat eggs in blender for 1 full minute on medium. Sprinkle in sugar while blending for another minute, then add remaining ingredients while blending thoroughly. Chill completely in the refrigerator and serve with additional nutmeg grated on top. Serves 2 generously, or 4 in moderation.

VISIT

Cheers! Swing by Bottles for all your cocktail ingredients! www.bottlesfinewine.com

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LARGE GROUP (15+ people)

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Stone Fence

Tripping Hazard (our ‘special’ recipe)

Whiskey Fizz

Just make a Manhattan, Dangit

Rumpus

Hanky Panky

The Perfect Guest

Fernando (Fernet & Coke)

Aperol Spritz

Lillet & Orange (or Lemon!)

Grumpy Cup (Our own recipe!)

Campari & Soda

The Easiest Oscar Punch Recipe

Your Heirloom Eggnog

Aviation Variation
with DIY Violet Syrup