There is just something about unwinding with a refreshing cocktail in the hot summer months. Whether you are soaking up the sun while enjoying a good book or making a splash in the pool, the best way to cool off is with sangria. Sangria is a light and refreshing cocktail that typically includes a wine base, fresh fruit, and a mix of juices to create a drink so tasty you’ll forget it has alcohol. Sangria can be made with red or white wine. This creative cocktail is great for those who don’t consider themselves wine drinkers. When you’re looking for your next favorite summer cocktail, consider the classic yet versatile sangria.

Sangria History

It is believed that the concept of sangria originated more than 2,000 years ago when the Romans were expanding their reach and planting vineyards along the way. Water wasn’t safe to drink at the time, so it was often fortified with wine, spices, and herbs. The earliest version we are most familiar with was made in England and France in the 1800s. In the United States, sangria was popularized after its formal arrival at the 1965 World’s Fair in New York. Sangria is often associated with Spain but tends to be a more popular drink for tourists than natives.

Selecting Your Wine

The best part about making sangria is that the possibilities are truly endless. You’ll want to start by selecting your wine. A bold, fruity, dry wine is ideal, as is a crisp white wine. Since you can add numerous ingredients to a sangria, you can choose any affordable bottle of wine. Your wine selection should make up the bulk of your sangria.

Add Liquor

Many sangria recipes call for adding a bit of liquor to enhance the flavor. If you are working with red wine, brandy or rum will pair well with the flavor profiles of the wine. If you are working with white wine, a silver rum can work well, as can vodka. You should have one-part liquor to 2-3 parts of wine, depending on how strong you want your sangria to be.

Sweetener

Sangria cocktails tend to be on the sweeter side. This is achieved through the addition of fruit, as well as a sweetener. This could be brown sugar, cane sugar, or simple syrup. All you need to make simple syrup is equal parts sugar and hot water. This simple solution is a great additive to sangria, mojitos, and flavored margaritas. If you want to keep the sugar amount low, you can substitute agave nectar. You can also add citrus soda and other mixers to balance out the liquor and wine.

Fruit

You can’t go wrong when it comes to your fruit selection. Berries such as blackberries, strawberries, and blueberries make a perfect addition to a red wine sangria. Citrus fruit such as oranges and limes, as well as peaches, and grapes work well with white wine. You can even add mint when you want to add another layer of refreshment.

Experiment and Enjoy

There is no wrong way to create a sangria. If you add too much of one ingredient, you can compensate with another. Payless Liquor is a one-stop shop for all your ingredient needs. We can help you create the perfect sangria for your tastes. Stop into our store or use our convenient pickup-order form and we’ll have all you need ready to go.

Margaritas are a great summer drink that is approachable to all kinds of drinkers. Margaritas are one of the most commonly ordered summer beverages. They are light, refreshing, and never go out of style. Whether you are looking for the perfect cocktail to serve at your next get-together, or you want to treat yourself after a long day working in the backyard, a margarita is always a great answer. Whether you want to keep it classic or experiment with something new, a margarita is always the perfect option for the long days of summer.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Making a margarita is quite simple. Margaritas are so famous that it is common to find premixed options at your local liquor store. These are great options for quick, on-the-go cocktails, but you have little control over the measurements of alcohol to mixer. If you want to make your own margaritas, ingredients you’ll typically require include:

• Tequila
• Triple Sec
• Limes
• Margarita salt
• Ice
• Margarita mix or your favorite type of sour
• Optional: fruit purees, jalapenos, flavored salts, and a blender

Classic Margarita

There is nothing wrong with sticking to a great classic. If you want to make your classic margarita at home, follow these few simple steps:

• First rim your glass with a thin layer of lime juice. Turn your glass upside down and delicately tip in your salt until you get the desired coating. There must be no other water or moisture in the glass. This can ruin your salt, or make it difficult for the salt to stick.
• Fill with ice
• Add 1.5 ounces of tequila
• Add ¾ ounces of triple sec
• Top with margarita mix
• You can use a shaker to mix well or build the cocktail in a different glass than the one you have salted.
• Squeeze in lime and enjoy!

If you prefer your margarita blended instead of on the rocks, you’ll want to top it off with more ice after adding your ingredients before putting it into the mixer. Mix until it blends smoothly. Be sure to remove any limes before blending.

Experiment With Flavor

Flavored margaritas allow for endless possibilities when it comes to new ways to enjoy a classic margarita. Some of the best flavors to try include:

• Mango
• Passion fruit
• Blueberry
• Watermelon
• Strawberry

There are a variety of different purees available on the market, including all-natural or artificial. All you need to do is follow the classic margarita recipe but add in your puree. How much you add is entirely up to you. It is suggested to start at a ½ ounce and build from there. Just remember to give it a good shake before enjoying it!

Experiment With Heat

Nothing beats a spicy margarita. It creates a next-level cocktail that is sure to impress. You can use jalapeno, or habaneros if you want a kick. You can purchase extracts or use fresh peppers. You’ll follow the same classic recipe, adding your desired level of spice. You can even add your fruit purees as well. A mango-habanero margarita is a burst of flavor your taste buds are sure to love.

Get Your Ingredients Today!

Summer is the perfect time to sip on a margarita. It is sure to be a party favorite and makes for a nice, refreshing beverage to unwind with. Stop into Payless Liquors to pick up your supplies or use our pickup form and we’ll have your order ready for you.

Summer is the perfect time to experiment with different liquors to create the perfect drink for sipping in the hot sun. When people think of summer refreshments, cocktails made with tequila or rum tend to come to mind. This summer, however, you’ll want to add another refreshing liquor to your stock. This liquor is cachaca. Cachaca is known as the spirit of Brazil and will make a great addition to your home selection.

What Is Cachaca?

Just as tequila is unique to Mexico, cachaca can only be produced in Brazil by law. It is a spicy, sweet, and fruity clear liquor that is distilled from fermented sugarcane juice. There are over 3,000 legal distillers that produce cachaca, but it is also produced across the country by smaller, family-owned distillers. Many historians credit cachaca as Latin America’s first distilled beverage.

When cachaca first started making waves in the U.S., it was easier for marketers to sell it as a Brazilian rum. This ultimately ended up creating more confusion because cachaca’s flavor profile and distilling process are significantly different. It wasn’t until 2013 that the Brazilian and U.S. governments agreed that cachaca would be clearly labeled for what it is, dropping the word rum.

Cachaca vs. Rum

Rum is typically created using sugar by-products such as molasses. Rum is also aged in sherry or bourbon barrels. Rum is known to have a sweeter taste on the tongue, which is why it makes for a great summer cocktail base. Cachaca, on the other hand, is made with freshly-pressed sugar cane juice. Cachaca is either rested in a steel vat and bottled immediately or stored in barrels made with wood native to Brazil such as Brazil nut, zebrawood, Brazilian amburana, balsam, teak, and more. Flavor can vary, depending on the distilling process and if the cachaca was stored in wooden barrels.

Types of Cachaca

Cachaca is classified by color. There are two main types of classification:

• Also referred to as white, silver, classic, or traditional, this type of cachaca is unaged and rested in a steel vat before bottling. If it is stored in a wooden barrel, the storing process doesn’t affect the color, and it doesn’t exceed one year.
• This cachaca is yellow in appearance due to the aging process. To fall under this category, the cachaca has to be aged for at least one year.

How to Enjoy Cachaca

There are several different ways to enjoy cachaca. If you are purchasing a top-shelf option, these are best enjoyed neat or on the rocks. It also makes for an excellent shot when you want something simple that can go down smooth. You can also try the caipirinha, which is the country’s national drink. All you need is cachaca, lime, and sugar. If the flavor is too intense, you can add a light layer of soda water or sprite.

Give It a Try

Cachaca is a refreshing, unique liquor that is sure to impress. At Payless Liquors, we are proud to carry this brand. Ask for it by name next time you stop in or use our convenient pickup form.

As the temperatures begin to rise, it is about time to hit the store for new floaties, pool snacks – and yes, cocktail ingredients. There are so many different cocktail recipes to try that it can be a bit overwhelming, but in order to have the most relaxing summer possible, skip the hassle and stick with easy-to-make, few ingredient cocktail recipes that will get you spending your summer how you deserve. Check out these fun and easy recipes!

1. Blender-less Frozen Margarita

There is nothing better than sipping your favorite cocktail with your feet dangling in the water, but it is not always easy to keep your drink cold once you are relaxing in the summer rays. This is why some pre-drink prepping can be your best friend on extra sweaty days. If you are looking to enjoy an icy cold drink without the hassle of making a mess in your kitchen and dirtying up a bunch of dishware, try a blender-less frozen margarita.

Ingredients: In order to make this cocktail a reality, all you will need is 2 oz of your favorite tequila, 2 oz of a juice of your juice (strawberry and mango juice work nicely), 1oz lime juice, 1 oz agave syrup, .5 oz of water, and salt.

Recipe:

• Step One: Use a glass to combine all of the ingredients except the salt. Stir thoroughly.
• Step Two: Pour the drink into a sealable freezer bag, and ensure that as much air is out of the bag as possible.
• Step Three: Place the bag in the freezer. Try to make it as flat as possible.
• Step Four: Leave in the freezer for about 2-3 hours or until slushie. Be careful that the ingredients do not fully freeze otherwise you will not be able to pour the drink out.
• Step Five: Rim a glass with salt and pour in the ingredients to enjoy a nice slushie beverage.

2. Vodka Spritzer

Not everyone is a fan of wine, but just because wine isn’t your go-to doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a delicious beverage with all the perks of sparkling sangria. A vodka spritzer is an easy and delicious drink perfect for the poolside.

Ingredients: All you will need is your favorite vodka, soda water, cranberry juice, simple syrup, fresh strawberries, and fresh lemons. Try experimenting with different ingredient combinations in order to find the perfect ratio for you. This also allows you to decide how much fun you would like to have.

Recipe:

• Step One: Pre-wash and chop your strawberries and lemons. You can use however many you desire.
• Step Two: Pour your fruit into a pitcher.
• Step Three: Add the vodka, cranberry juice, and simple syrup into the pitcher, and let marinate with the fruit for at least 30 seconds. Don’t let marinate for longer than four hours.
• Step Four: Add ice to a glass and pour in the mixture. Top with soda water and enjoy.

Pick Up Your Liquor Today

At Payless Liquors, we have a wide variety of liquor to satisfy all of your cocktail fancies. To get your perfect pool day started, use our online order form, or visit our store today.