Cocktails

While I have a deep appreciation for the classics, I’m always on the hunt for something fresh and exciting. Take the Figa cocktail, for example. Food & Wine magazine noted that it claimed the top spot on the menu at the iconic Clyde Common restaurant in Portland’s retro Ace Hotel. Holding such a prime position […]

Papaya rum punch is a vibrant, tropical cocktail that captures the essence of an island getaway in every sip. Combining the luscious sweetness of ripe papaya with the bold kick of rum, this drink is both refreshing and indulgent. Perfect for a summer gathering or a relaxing evening on the back patio, this fruity rum […]

I can’t lie, I LOVE piña coladas, especially when I’m parked on a tropical beach somewhere totally amazing. But if I’m not lounging oceanside, I happen to have a great, guilt-free alternative I like to whip up now and again, and truthfully, it’s just as refreshing. Let’s call it like it is, calorie-wise, a traditional […]

Elevate your cocktail experience with the exquisite saketini, a harmonious blend of Japanese tradition and modern mixology. This cocktail features sake as its star and is a unique twist on the classic martini. I fell in love with the vast variety of sakes when traveling in Japan last summer. The best advice I got from […]

As the days grow shorter and the air turns brisk, there’s nothing quite like a bourbon maple smash to warm the soul. This delightful cocktail marries the rich, caramel notes of bourbon with the velvety sweetness of pure maple syrup, creating a symphony of flavors that dance on the palate. What is a Smash? Smashes […]

Have you heard of mezcal?  Mezcal was predicted to be one of the biggest food trends of 2018, yet despite its popularity, many still have not tried it.  Mezcal, which means “oven-cooked agave“, is known for its distinct smoky flavor, which is unlike any other spirit, but mezcal is much more than just that.  Often […]

This beauty is a rosé wine slushy, a social media darling known more playfully as a “Frosé“. This fun, prep-ahead wine cocktail is made by blending and freezing fresh fruit, rosé wine, and sweetener and is an absolute winner. These refreshing grown-up slushies come together in minutes and are perfect for warm summer days. There […]

It’s believed that the Blue Lagoon cocktail was created by Andy MacElhone, the son of famed bartender Harry MacElhone, at Harry’s New York Bar in Paris in the 1960s or early 1970s. So, despite what most think, the drink predates the 1980 coming-of-age film, starring Brook Shields, of the same name. Retro cocktails, as they’re […]

Is called a Tommy Gun cocktail. This recipe is a slightly adapted version of San Francisco Mixologist Jacques Bezuindenhout’s brilliant signature creation which I’ve long admired. In my version, this sour, which references the iconic firearm wielded by Prohibition-era gangsters, gets its zing from a little ginger liquor, and a punch from a generous pour of […]

This Ruby cocktail is a drink made with many things I adore. I am also rather intrigued by it. While learning about it, I found several foods and drink websites that claim this “fruit-centric drink”, which is at times referred to simply as a “Ruby”, is made with vodka, Aperol, Saint Germain liqueur, ruby grapefruit, […]

This simple drink oozes elegance. There is no fancy name, no long story behind it, and no unusual ingredients, but this pear-thyme Prosecco cocktail is a tasty one and a fun seasonal cocktail for the cooler months. I have always been a fan of bubbles.  The trend of serving sparkling wines and campaigns with any […]

Hello fall! There are many things I love about the fall season, the warm days with cool nights, the crisp air, sweaters of any kind, fall vegetables, Thanksgiving, my birthday, and almost anything involving apples. I also adore sangria. So that is how we got to this new fall favorite of mine, hard cider sangria. […]

The margarita is undoubtedly the most popular tequila cocktail the world over, followed by the Paloma. The Toromha cocktail is a close cousin of the margarita and is believed to have been invented by the Tequila Tezon company. The “Toronha” name comes from “toronja” (the Spanish word for grapefruit) and takes the extra ‘h’ from the […]

Meet my new favorite summer drink, a Saint Germain cocktail. A blend of St. Germain, (pronounced san-jer-man), white wine, and club soda, think wine spritzer, but better. Light, effervescent, and refreshing, this is a cocktail I have been sipping on all summer long. And the best part about this time of year, you can bend the rules […]

This beauty is called a Paper Plain. Chances are, you’ve never heard of this cocktail before. This is a pandemic favorite of my husband. And It is not lost on me that this drink has “plane” in the title, something we haven’t been able to step foot on in some time. Life can be ironic […]