Beverages

With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, it’s time to set the scene with some seriously
sumptuous cocktails that’ll get those hearts a-fluttering. Whether it’s a flirty first date,
or an intimate night with your partner, The Mixer’s mixologists have rounded up the most
sexy sips that are sure to impress. Throw in some candles and rose petals and you’ll be
winning!  -And don't forget, if your wedding is coming up next month, to put in some of these special requests with your reception bar team!

The French Rose Cocktail
The great thing about this three-ingredient cocktail is that it tastes exceptional, but takes
very little effort to make. In fact, there are only two steps to its assembly, so it’s perfect
to make when you want to spend the better part of the evening romancing your partner.

Ingredients per person:
● 1.5 Oz Bulldog gin
● 0.5 Oz Cinzano Bianco dry vermouth
● 0.5 Oz Cherry Brandy
● Ice

Method:
1. Stir all ingredients with ice.
2. Strain into a cocktail glass, and serve.

Chocolate Martini
Cocktails for Valentine’s Day don’t come any more indulgent than this. The richness of
crème de cacao, the intense flavor of chocolate liqueur and the smoothness of vodka
match perfectly in one of the most decadent dessert drinks ever invented.

Ingredients per person:
● 1 Oz Skyy vodka
● 1 Oz chocolate liqueur
● 1 Oz crème de cacao
● Cocoa for garnish

Method:
1. Rim a cocktail glass with cocoa: Wet the rim by dipping it in a small dish of the
chocolate liqueur, then dip or roll it in a dish of cocoa powder.
2. Pour the vodka, crème de cacao and chocolate liqueur into a cocktail shaker
filled with ice cubes.
3. Shake vigorously.
4. Strain into the prepared glass and serve.

Sweetheart
This colorful cocktail provides a tasty way to stave off the gloom of a cold February: the
delicious combination of ingredients are guaranteed to warm the proverbial cockles.

Ingredients per person:
● 0.5 oz SKYY vodka
● 0.5 oz Aperol
● 0.5 oz cranberry juice
● 0.25 oz limoncello
● 0.25 oz lemon juice

Method:
1. Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice.
2. Shake until cold, and strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.
3. Garnish with fresh cranberries and serve.

Pink Lady
This sweet, creamy cocktail is very aesthetically pleasing and makes a lovely addition to
any table setting.

Ingredients per person:
● 1.5 oz Bulldog Gin
● 0.5 oz apple brandy
● 0.5 oz fresh lemon juice
● 0.5 oz grenadine
● One small egg white

Method:
1. Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker without ice.
2. Shake for 30 seconds, add ice, then shake for 30 seconds more.
3. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with Maraschino or Luxardo
cherries.

Between the Sheets
Inspired by the Sidecar, this beguiling cocktail is punchy and tart. It’ll certainly add a bit
of zest to your romantic evening.

Ingredients per person:
● 1 oz cognac
● 1 oz Wray & Nephew rum
● 1 oz Grand Marnier
● 0.25 oz lemon juice

Method:
1. Add ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled.
2. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
3. Garnish with an orange twist.

Hanky Panky
This sweet gin martini is anything but discreet: the gin makes it a little naughty, while the
sweet vermouth makes it a little nice. But it’s the addition of the Italian amaro (bitters)
that gives the Hanky Panky cocktail its unique and complex flavor.

Ingredients per person:
● 1.5 Oz Bulldog Gin
● 1.5 Oz Cinzano Rosso
● A few dashes of Fernet-Branca
● Ice
● Orange peel, to garnish

Method:
1. Add ice to a mixing glass, followed by the gin, sweet vermouth, and amaro.
2. Stir until nicely chilled (around 30 seconds should do the trick).
3. Strain into a chilled martini or coupe glass.
4. Add the orange peel as garnish and enjoy.

Sex On The Beach
Naturally, we had to throw the OG naughty-but-nice drink in the Valentine’s Day mix! A
Sex on the Beach serves up all of the tropical vibes.

Ingredients per person:
● 0.75 Oz peach schnapps
● 1 Oz fresh orange juice
● 1 Oz pineapple juice
● 1.5 Oz SKYY Vodka
● 1 Oz cranberry juice
● 0.5 Oz raspberry liqueur

Method:
1. Shake the peach schnapps, fresh orange juice and pineapple juice in a cocktail
shaker with ice, and strain into a tall glass filled with fresh ice.
2. Shake the SKYY Vodka, cranberry juice and raspberry liqueur with ice and
carefully pour on top of the existing drink layer in the same glass.
3. Serve with a cocktail stirrer to the side so guests can mix the two layers before
they enjoy the drink.

______________

For more fun & delicious "DRINKSPIRATION"...  please visit: https://www.themixer.com/en-us/

Holiday (and Wedding Reception!) Cocktail Recipes from The Mixer

The holiday season marks the perfect time to spend quality moments with your loved ones, enjoying tasty food and family traditions. When you’ve gone to the trouble of cooking up a feast, you’ll want delicious drinks to match.

The best cocktails are easy to serve when hosting a crowd. The kitchen gets busy, so choose drinks that suit your time frame. Also, serve cocktails that pair well with your holiday or reception menu. Here is our ultimate pick of incredible drinks to serve this holiday season without going into a complete tailspin:  after all, you should be relaxing and enjoying time with your loved ones... not stressing over the beverages!

(And remember, these fabulous cocktail ideas can be requested of your bartender during your holiday wedding reception!)

Kir Royale

This French Champagne cocktail (aka Kir Royale) is a New York City favorite and an incredibly simple cocktail to master. You’ll wonder why you’ve waited all this time to try one!

Ingredients (per person)

• 5 Oz blackcurrant liqueur
• 6 Oz Champagne

Method

1. Pour creme de cassis in a champagne glass
2. Top with Champagne and serve!
   
   
   

Apple Butter Old Fashioned

An Apple Butter Old Fashioned cocktail is packed with the inviting flavors of warm apple pie. Made with real apple butter (just like mama used to make), this fall Old Fashioned drink is perfect as an indulgent drink with your bourbon-loving friends. For this recipe, you’ll be making your own apple butter. Don’t worry, it’s super simple to make because YOLO! And it’s downright delicious. If you have leftovers, you can add it to cheese platters, use it as a glaze for that roast beef dinner or dollop it onto pancakes. Yum!

Hot tip: “Contrary to what the name suggests, apple butter does not contain any butter. It’s basically just a fancy name for apples that have been pureed, spiced and cooked down to give them a butter-like texture. It is easy to make and store in your fridge. Use it in cocktails, to spread on toast, as a glaze on meat or add it to your morning oats.” (Helena Lombard, The Mixer)

Ingredients (per person)

• 5 Oz of Apple cider
• 5 Oz of Wild Turkey Bourbon
• 2 tablespoon of apple butter
• Dash of orange bitters
• Juice of half a lemon
• Ginger beer (to top your glass)
• Coarse cinnamon sugar and simple syrup, for rimming
• Thinly sliced apples and a cinnamon stick, to garnish

Instructions

1. Pour some simple syrup on a plate and some coarse cinnamon sugar on another
2. Dip the rim of your cocktail glass into the syrup and then into the sugar, twisting to coat, before adding ice cubes to the glass
3. Combine the apple cider, apple butter, Wild Turkey, lemon juice and bitters in a cocktail shaker and give it a dry shake (in other words, a shake without ice)
4. Shake vigorously until properly combined then strain into your prepared cocktail glass
5. Top up with ginger beer and garnish with a cinnamon stick and apple slice on the rim to serve
   
   
   

Hot Toddy

Looking for warming thanksgiving drinks that are easy to make? A Hot Toddy is an ideal drink as you can let the crockpot do all the work - another thing you can tick off the to-do list!

Ingredients (per person)

• 2 Oz Wild Turkey Bourbon Whiskey
• 25 Oz Fresh lemon juice
• 2 Teaspoons brown sugar
• 5 Cloves
• Sliced lemon
• Boiling water

Method

1. Take a slice of lemon, press the cloves into the lemon round and set aside
2. Boil water and fill a mug to the three-quarter mark
3. Pour in the whiskey and lemon juice and stir in the sugar until dissolved
4. Add the clove-studded lemon wheel and allow to infuse
5. Serve in a warmed mug
   
   
   

Mexican Coffee Cocktail

Also known as a Carajillo, this is a classic coffee cocktail that you can make with just a few ingredients. The tequila gives this coffee a decent kick, and the coffee liqueur balances out the flavor and adds sweetness. 

Ingredients (per person)

• 5 Oz Espolòn Tequila Reposado
• 1 Oz coffee liqueur
• 5 Oz freshly brewed coffee
• 2 tablespoons whipping cream (optional)
• a dusting of cocoa powder, cinnamon or cayenne pepper (optional)

Method

1. Pour the tequila and coffee liqueur into a mug
2. Top up with freshly brewed coffee
3. Garnish with whipped cream and dusting of your choice, if you want
   
   
   

Bourbon Apple Cider

This spiced cocktail is exactly what you need to warm up your guests on a cold night. This is a full-flavor cocktail, and the sourness of the lemon balances beautifully with the sweet notes of caramel, vanilla and apple.

Ingredients (per person)

• 5 Oz of Wild Turkey Bourbon Whiskey
• 5 Oz of apple cider
• 5 Oz of Cinzano Vermouth Rosso
• 5 Oz of lemon juice
• 5 Oz of orange bitters
• Apple slices to garnish
• A sprig of thyme to garnish
• Ice

Method

1. Add ice to a large mixing glass or cocktail shaker
2. Pour in the bourbon, cider, sweet vermouth, lemon juice and bitters
3. Stir until chilled (about 30 seconds)
4. Strain into any cocktail glass of your choice
5. Garnish with a few apple slices and a sprig of thyme
   
   
   

Hot Pumpkin Pie Cocktail

If you love the taste of a pumpkin spice latte, then choose this cocktail as the star of your Thanksgiving feast this year. Serve your Hot Pumpkin Pie cocktails in warmed mugs, topped with whipped cream and a sprinkling of cinnamon. As an extra treat, you can serve baked pumpkin pie crusts on the side for some decadent dipping.

Hot tip: “Make pumpkin-infused vodka by mixing together pumpkin puree and spice, with ½ cup of vodka in a large jar. Seal and keep in the fridge for three days before using, shaking it a few times a day.” (Helena Lombard, The Mixer)

Ingredients (for 6 people)

• 2 cups of Irish cream
• ½ a cup vanilla or pumpkin pie vodka
• 4 cups of milk
• 67
• 1 can of pumpkin puree
• 5 teaspoons of pumpkin spice
• Whipped cream
• Cinnamon
• Strips of baked pumpkin pie crust to garnish, optional

Method

1. Add the Irish cream, vodka, and milk to a pot 
2. Bring to the boil, then turn down the heat to a slow simmer
3. Stir through pumpkin puree and spices until mixed through
4. Ladle into warmed glass mugs
5. Dollop over some whipped cream
6. Dust with cinnamon
7. Serve with baked pumpkin pie crusts for dipping
   
   

Ready for more delectable ideas??  Visit www.themixer.com for more cocktail inspiration.