'Tis the Season for Cocktail Mixing!

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

With the holidays coming up quickly, with it comes many holiday parties, entertaining and...stress! Relax this holiday season with a tasty cocktail or get some great cocktail ideas below to impress your guests this holiday season! 

Check out below some of my favorite cocktails and liqueurs, cocktail recipes and gift ideas for the adults on your list!

Crown Royal Vanilla Flavored Whisky

Crown Royal Vanilla Flavored Whisky is a blend of hand-selected Crown Royal whiskies infused with the rich flavor of Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla. The result is a unique whisky bursting with vanilla flavor and Crown Royal’s superior smoothness.

A versatile drink for the holidays, Crown Royal Vanilla tastes great when mixed with sodas (for a Vanilla take on hard sodas), used to create a Vanilla twist on classic cocktails (like a Vanilla Old Fashioned and Vanilla Hot Toddy) or simply sipped on the rocks.

Vanilla Hot Toddy

· 1.25 oz. Crown Royal Vanilla
· 1 tsp Fine Grain Sugar
· 2 Small Cloves
· 1.5 oz. Boiling Water

Add Crown Royal Vanilla, fine grain sugar and cloves in a mug. Add boiling water. Stir and enjoy.

Rebel Yell Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Rebel Yell Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is a premium bourbon perfect for smooth sipping or as the base in your favorite cocktail. Rebel Yell dates back to 1849 and is known for its softer taste of a wheated bourbon with a warm finish.

Rebel Yell Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is handcrafted according to the original, time-honored Rebel Yell recipe developed in 1849. As a result, the whiskey has a bold aroma of honey, butter and raisins, which leads to similar flavors on the palate, along with notes of ripe plums. The finish is semi-sweet, with a slight spiciness and hint of candy corn.

Rebel Yell Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey earned a Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition!

Ezra Brooks Bourbon Cream

Ezra Brooks Bourbon Cream features cinnamon, nutmeg, and caramel, with undertones of vanilla and sweet pecan.

The buttery caramel taste is followed by rich, sweet toffee, rounded off with a smooth, creamy, warm finish.

Still bottled and aged the old fashioned way, the new Ezra Brooks Bourbon Cream is available this holiday season for bourbon connoisseurs everywhere. 

Alize

There’s no need to worry during the most wonderful time of the year because Alizé Passion makes the most delicious holiday themed cocktails for your guests to enjoy!

Holidays are about celebration with family and friends and what better way to celebrate than with a bottle, or two, of this premium French vodka with passion fruit nectar and all-natural flavors found in the world’s most exotic regions. Whether you’re buying for one or for a party, you always want to drink top quality products that are ripe, smooth, flavorable, full-bodied and will make your spirits brighter.

From Red to Gold these cocktails will impress your guests and have them wanting more.

Peppermint Kiss

• 1oz Alizé Red Passion
• 1oz Apple Juice
• 1/3oz Lemon Juice
• 1/3oz Sugar Syrup
• 2/3oz Vodka

Method: Shake and strain into your preferred glass.

Taste: Light and zesty, refreshingly crisp apple with underlying notes of peach, passion fruit and cranberries.

Naughty or Spice

• 1oz Alizé Gold Passion
• 1 Small Slice Fresh Ginger
• 1/2oz Lemon Juice
• 1oz Pineapple Juice
• 1/4oz Sugar Syrup

Method: In the base of a cocktail glass muddle ginger, add all remaining ingredients. Shake and strain into your preferred glass.

Taste: Fresh and zesty passion fruit with a spicy lick of ginger wrapped in a soft sweet shell of creamy pineapple juice.

Enjoy these delicious cocktails - Cheers to the holidays!!

* Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Celebrate the End of Winter with a Tasty Cocktail!

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

Celebrating the end of winter and the upcoming warmer weather and the arrive of spring? 

Or maybe you are looking to celebrate a promotion, friendship, love or just want to relax with a good drink at the end of a long day?

Then let me suggest three great liqueurs that are now favorites in our house that are perfect for celebrating ANY occasion!

Amarula is a South African cream liqueur, made from the fruit of the marula tree, also known as the 'marriage tree.' The fruit is juiced, fermented, double distilled and aged for two years in French oak barrels and combined with fresh dairy cream to produce a light brown, creamy liqueur with hints of citrus. Amarula Cream can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks or in a simple cocktail!

This is one of our favorite cream liqueurs in our house! My husband loves to relax at the end of the day with a glass of Amarula on the rocks - it is a special treat for him and I love that it is made from the "marriage tree". :)

Give the gift of luxurious French Calvados. Calvados is a spirit indigenous to the French region of lower Normandy, and is crafted from delicious fermented cider apples. Calvados Boulard makes for a unique gift alongside a fine cigar and addition to the home bar.

Calvados Boulard VSOP is a Calvados from Pays d’Auge, it is issued from ciders which are produced in the geographical area of Pays d’Auge, which is included in the Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée Calvados zone. Calvados Boulard VSOP is issued of blendings of different Calvados Pays d’Auge of minimum 4 years old. They will stay in the casks for the necessary time to obtain a perfect dissolve.

Usquaebach Whisky Reserve Premium Blend is a rare blend of whiskies aged 16, 17 and 18 years combined with younger malts for a complex and rich Scotch whisky of uncompromising quality. The blended whisky offers a smooth palate with round toffee and mellow spice notes. As the whisky envelops the tongue, hits of honeyed sherry and light citrus remain.

The nose features honeyed sherry, smooth vanilla, baked apples and quince, while sweet spices and an endearing zest linger on the palate. The Usquaebach Reserve finishes long and smooth, with a detailed edge and a crisp mouth-feel – ideal as an aperitif or with a rich meal.

* Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Celebrate Valentine's Day with Zodiac Vodka Cocktails

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

Zodiac Vodka’s Black Cherry 75 will set the mood this Valentine's day and it is great for gluten intolerant lovers. Make sure to scroll down to try the tasty Black Cherry 75 cocktail featured below!

Zodiac Vodka is an all-natural, true craft spirit. It employs a Single Source Distillation® method, as the potatoes are regionally sourced and the entire distillation and bottling process occurs at the company’s Rigby, Idaho-based distillery. The water for Zodiac is drawn from the Snake River Aquifer which runs beneath the distillery. The product is produced using 4-column fractional distillation and is filtered using hand-cut Canadian Birch Charcoal. Zodiac is distilled once - by design, allowing the vodka to retain a naturally sweet, distinctive taste. Zodiac is produced from non-GMO ingredients and as a 100% potato vodka, is gluten-free.

And if you like a flavored vodka, try out the Black Cherry from Zodiac. It is handcrafted potato vodka blended with bold natural cherry flavors using 100% locally sourced ingredients. Zodiac Black Cherry is gluten-free and American-made from farm to bottle.

Black Cherry 75

• 1.5 oz. Zodiac Black Cherry Vodka
• 1 oz. DeKuyper Raspberry Liqueur
• .5 oz. Simple Syrup
• 1 each. Orange Wedge Half-Squeeze & Discard

---Shake and strain into Tulip glass

4 oz. Top with Prosecco

Garnish with a Lemon Twist

Buy It:

You can purchase Zodiac Vodka at a local spirits retailer near you.

*Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Valentine's Day Cocktail Recipes from CIROC

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

Want to toast to love this Valentine's Day with a tasty cocktail? Then let me recommend the fun Valentine's day cocktail recipes below using CÎROC® Ultra-Premium Vodka!

Unlike most other vodkas, which are made from grain, CÎROC® Ultra-Premium Vodka is gluten-free and crafted from fine French grapes, distilled a fifth time at the Distillerie de Chevanceaux in Southern France. These specially selected grapes create the distinctly fresh and smooth taste of CÎROC Vodka.

They have also recently introduce their newest flavor, CÎROC Apple, which is infused with a vivid apple and other natural flavors, with a touch of ripeness and a subtly smooth, tart finish. It is perfect in a cocktail or mixed drink!

Become the best bartender this Valentine's Day and impress your loved one with these tasty cocktails:

CIROC Valentine’s Day Cocktail Recipes :

CIROC Raspberry-Tini 

• 1.5 oz. CIROC Vodka
• 5 Fresh Raspberries
• 0.5 oz Raspberry Liqueur
• Ice

Muddle raspberries 

Add Liqueur, CIROC and ice into shaker

Strain into marine glass

Garnish with a raspberry 

CIROC Champagne Cosmo

• 1 oz. CIROC Vodka
• 1 dash Grand Marnier
• 1.5 oz. Cranberry Juice
• 0.5 oz. Fresh Lime Juice
• 1 oz. Champagne 
• 1 Orange Twist for garnish 

Shake CIROC, Grand Marnier, cranberry juice, and lime over ice 

Strain into a chilled champagne flute

Top with champagne

Garnish with orange twist

The Chrysanthemum

• 1 oz. CIROC Red Berry
• .5 oz Benedectine
• 3 dashes Absinthe
• Garnish: Orange Twist
• Glass: Coupe

* Thank you to Ciroc for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Sweeten Up Your Summer with A Sparkling Strawberry Cocktail‏

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

The summer is coming to an end, but there’s still time to enjoy these last few hot days with a cool, refreshing summer cocktail.

Cupcake Vineyards is happy to help you kick back and relax as the end of summer arrives. The names alone of their wine like Red Velvet and Angel Food make my mouth water!

Check out some of my favorites: 

2014 Cupcake Vineyards Moscato d'Asti

Any occasion can be worthy of a toast with our Moscato D’Asti. Vibrant and expressive with dominant floral notes and hints of bright fruit flavors including peach, tropical fruits and lychee.

2012 Cupcake Vineyards Red Velvet

A deliciously rich blend of Zinfandel, Merlot, and Petite Sirah, our Red Velvet blend delivers over-the-top aromas of chocolate, deep dark blackberries and luscious red fruits that follow through to the palate, finishing with a hint of coconut and creamy mocha.

Cupcake Prosecco

Raise a glass of this refreshing Prosecco that sparkles with fine effervescence. Aromas of white peach, grapefruit and honeydew melon lead to flavors of creamy ripe lemon, refined citrus and a toasted brioche finish. They craft this wine using only the best Glera grapes – the official grape of Prosecco – from their vineyards in Italy. Their process centers on the charmat method, in which the wine undergoes a secondary fermentation in stainless steel tanks to produce its characteristic clean finish.

Try this Sparkling Summer Strawberry Cocktail made with Cupcake Prosecco, strawberries and orange juice, to toast away those last summer nights.

For this recipe, you’ll need:

· 1 bottle of Cupcake Prosecco

· 2 cups of strawberries, hulled

· 2 tbsp. water

· ¼ cup of orange juice

· Mint sprigs for garnish (optional)

It’s simple: Puree strawberries and water in blender until smooth. In a pitcher, combine the strawberry puree with orange juice and Cupcake Prosecco. Garnish with orange slices and mint. Finally, sit back, relax and enjoy the last days of summer!

Buy It:

You can purchase Cupcake Wines from The Wine Group website.

* Thank you to Cupcake Winery for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Cheers to Cinco de Mayo with Sandra Lee Cocktail Time Margaritas!

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

Are you celebrating with a nice, cold margarita on this Cinco de Mayo?? 

Maybe you don't have the time to make one from scratch. That is definitely the case for me.

But you won't have to miss out this Cinco de Mayo because just in time for Cinco de Mayo, Emmy-winning host Sandra Lee is making it even easier to drink a Margarita today with her NEW ready-to-serve margaritas that are not only delicious, but gluten-free and fewer than 150 calories per 4 oz. serving!

Now on store shelves, Sandra Lee’s Cocktail Time™ Margaritas in Key Lime and Strawberry are infused with REAL key limes and strawberries, pure cane sugar, premium blue agave silver tequila, triple sec liqueur and other natural flavors.

Sandra Lee Cocktail Time™ Margaritas may be served straight from the bottle or used as the alcohol base in a variety of America's other favorite cocktails—from Cosmos and Coladas to Martinis and Mojitos.

What gets even better is that Cocktail Time™ can be used as the alcohol base for many other fun cocktail recipes! Check out these simple drink recipes:

Strawberry Pineapple Colada

• 4 oz. Sandra Lee Cocktail TimeTM Strawberry Margarita
• 2 Strawberries
• 2 Pieces pineapple

Blend with ice and garnish with a strawberry

Grapefruit Martini

• 4 oz. Sandra Lee Cocktail TimeTM Key Lime Margarita
• 2 oz. Pink grapefruit soda

Garnish with a grapefruit slice

With the simplicity and delicious flavor of Cocktail Time™, there is no better reason to wrangle your friends together to enjoy America’s favorite cocktail, the Margarita, this Cinco de Mayo!

Buy It: 

You can purchase Sandra Lee Cocktail Time™ Margaritas nationally for consumers of legal drinking age with a suggested retail price of $15.99 for a 750 ml bottle. One bottle of Sandra Lee Cocktail Time™ Margaritas serves six responsibly.

* Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Cocktail Recipes for Spring

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

With the Spring officially here, everyone is getting thirsty for a refreshing drink at the end of the day, hosting cookouts, and looking to serve fun and refreshing drinks to kick back and relax.

Below you will find a variety of cocktails made with Crown Royal Regal Apple and the new Captain Morgan Grapefruit Rum. If some of you or your guests aren’t spirits drinkers, there is also a wine spritzer recipe with the recently launched Chateau La Paws Chardonnay, an offering for wine lovers that gives back to rescue dogs.

Each cocktail is perfect for favorite spring activities, watching a baseball game with friends or enjoying patio drinks.

Golden Delicious

• 1.5 oz. Crown Royal Regal Apple
• 1 oz. Pineapple Juice
• 1 Dash angostura bitters

Add ingredients to high ball. Top with ginger ale and lemon garnish.

Palomaloha

• 1.5 oz. Captain Morgan Grapefruit Rum
• Juice of ½ lime
• Grapefruit soda to top

Fill tall glass with ice. Pour in Captain Morgan® Grapefruit Rum, lime juice and grapefruit soda. Garnish with grapefruit wedge.

Spritz Tzu

• 3 oz. Chateau La Paws Chardonnay
• 1 oz. Elderflower Liqueur
• 2 oz. Club Soda
• Lemon Twist

Fill rocks glass with ice. Pour in Chateau La Paws Chardonnay, elderflower liqueur and club soda. Garnish with lemon twist.

*Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Gifts for the Foodie and Entertainer

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

Whether you have a person who loves to entertain at their home with or without alcohol or loves unique, natural and healthy foods and drinks, then check out these two great gift ideas below:

For the Entertainer 

Mocktails Brand

Mocktails Brand’s first line of non-alcoholic cocktails were created to provide a premium beverage on par with bar selections. 

Made with the health conscious consumer in mind, they don’t contain high fructose corn syrup or preservatives and are allergen-free, gluten-free, and BPA-free. There are also no artificial flavors or colors and they come in re-usable shaker bottles! 

The idea is simple: Delicious party drinks made easy anytime.

Add alcohol or not without sacrificing taste, style, or the experience of a having wonderful drink in your hand. Because they are ready to serve straight from our unique shaker bottle, personally customize each one by the glass.

That’s not all, Mocktails Brand is made with the health-conscious consumer in mind so you can be proud to serve them to anyone anytime!

Pair them with your favorite food and savor every sip. Upscale any occasion, no matter how big or small.

Mocktails Brand: With or without alcohol, fun for all!

Buy It:  You can purchase Mocktails at your local store or online. 

For the Foodie 

Nature Nate’s

Nature Nate’s pure, raw unfiltered honey is as nature intended. A natural sweetener, it’s treated with very low heat, keeping all important enzymes intact. It’s also unfiltered, which means it still contains pollen and retains the best flavor, aroma and nutrition naturally. 

Most honey in your supermarket is pasteurized – “cooked” to over 180 degrees and filtered under high pressure - to give it a clear and golden appearance. While it may look pretty on the shelf, the extreme heat – along with the addition of diatomaceous earth then high-pressure filtering - actually destroy much of the good nutrients found naturally in honey. Many folks also say it also takes away from honey’s characteristically rich flavor and aroma. Nature Nate's honey is uniquely different: collected from local beekeepers, then gently warmed to 125 degrees, and strained before being bottled and boxed. It's a delicious, sweetener you can feel good about.

Lastly, Nature Nate’s is made from 100% American bees, helping to eliminate pesticides, and ensuring a high-quality product. Nature Nate’s also makes a great honey syrup. 

Their honey is delicious and nutritious! Nature Nate’s 100% Pure, Raw and Unfiltered Honey is proud to ship to your doorstep. You’ll discover an uncommonly rich flavor and aroma, not to mention a host of health benefits, in all shapes and sizes.

Their Honey Syrup is also really good on pancakes, waffles and so much more!

Nature Nate's Honey Syrup is all natural, gluten free, and contains no additives such as high fructose corn syrup.

Whether you are creating a delicious marinade, dressing a salad or topping a cheesecake, Nature Nate’s Honey Syrups is the perfect complement. The possibilities are truly endless…top, drizzle, baste, infuse, glaze and enjoy.

Buy It: You can purchase Nature Nate's products from Nature Nate's online store. 

*Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*