The crockpot is a staple appliance in most American kitchens, but did you know you can use yours to make much more than slow-cooked meals? Your crockpot can help you make some of the most unique and delicious hot cocktails. Check out the following recipes and visit Payless Liquors to purchase all the ingredients you’ll need to enjoy them in your own kitchen.
Temple Toddy
This unique spin on the classic Hot Toddy is sure to please, especially if you’re suffering from a cold or sore throat. Peel and chop one lemon, one mango, one Granny Smith apple, and a two-inch piece of ginger and add everything to your crockpot with 32 ounces of water. Cook for one hour and then muddle all of the solids. Strain the mixture with a fine strainer for about six ounces of your Temple Toddy mixer. Combine two ounces of Jameson Irish Whiskey with a half ounce of honey in a hot toddy mug and then fill it up with your strained fruit mixture. Garnish with a lemon wheel and a cinnamon stick.
Spiked Crockpot Apple Cider
Hot cider is a classic winter drink, and you can make an adult version easily in your crockpot with a few additions. Start with six to eight cups of your favorite apple cider, half a cup of caramel ice cream topping, and two cinnamon sticks combined in your crockpot. Heat on high for at least two hours. At this point, you can serve as-is or add your favorite vodka, bourbon, or whiskey for a spiked cocktail. Pour one ounce of your liquor of choice into a mug, then top with the spiced cider. Whipped cream, caramel sauce, and miniature shortbread cookie make for a delightful topping.
Cranberry-Orange Mulled Wine
Mulled wine is a winter favorite all over the world. You’ll need one 750ml bottle of your favorite Cabernet Sauvignon or red Zinfandel, two cups of orange juice, one third of a cup of sugar, and one cup of fresh or frozen cranberries poured into your slow cooker. Wash a whole orange thoroughly and then use fresh whole cloves to stud the surface of the orange; just use the prickly end of each clove to poke directly into the peel. Add the orange to the slow cooker and warm the mixture on low for two to three hours, or until the cranberries are tender, just make sure not to let the mixture boil.
Fish out the orange and cinnamon sticks and then very carefully strain the wine through a heatproof fine-mesh sieve into a heatproof bowl. Next, use a wooden spoon to carefully press the cranberry juices through the sieve into the bowl. Once you’ve drained all the juice out of the cranberries, return the wine mixture to your slow cooker and add half a cup of brandy and more sugar to taste. Set the slow cooker to the warming setting and then serve by ladling into mugs and garnishing with cinnamon sticks and orange slices. You can also skewer some cranberries on cocktail sticks for extra flair.
The possibilities are endless with a good slow cooker when it comes to warmed cocktails. Try a few other recipes for yourself and get creative. Remember that you can come to Payless Liquors for all of the ingredients you need for perfect warmed cocktails.
January might be the coldest month of the year in most of the country, but it’s a great time to try some fantastic wintry cocktails that can warm the spirit and liven your January gatherings. Payless Liquors offers a fantastic selection of spirits, mixers, and bar equipment that you can use to make the following must-try January cocktails.
The mojito is often considered a summer drink, with a crisp and refreshing bite that’s perfect for beating the heat. However, the winter mojito can provide the same kind of perk-up during the winter weather with a few modifications. Two ounces of house-spiced rum, three-quarters of an ounce of lime juice, and a half ounce of Demerara syrup form the base of this multilayered drink in a shaker cup with ice. After blending, strain the drink into a glass with a mint sprig and ice.
To add your own house-spiced rum, simply add one whole cinnamon stick, 5 ground cloves, and one star anise pod to a bottle of your favorite spiced rum and allow it to steep for at least 12 hours before straining out the solids.
If you’re in the mood for a drink with warmth and complexity, this is it. The Fennel Countdown is one and a quarter ounces of The Real McCoy 12-year-old rum, one ounce of Père-Magloire V.S.O.P. calvados, three-quarters of an ounce of 291 Distillery The DECC citrus clove liqueur, a half ounce of homemade fennel syrup, three-quarters of an ounce of apricot puree, one fifth of an ounce of fresh lemon juice, and two dashes of Strongwater Wildfire bitters. Blend everything in a shaker cup with ice and then strain over a glass with ice. Garnish with a clove-studded lemon square.
To make your own fennel syrup at home, toast about four ounces of fennel seeds and then add them to a pot with eight ounces of sugar and eight ounces water, bring the mixture to a boil before simmering 15 minutes and then straining.
Have you made a New Year’s Resolution to live healthier in 2020? You’ll be happy to learn the Lazy Sunday cocktail has a bit of a health bonus with the inclusion of turmeric, a natural anti-inflammatory. Mix yourself a Lazy Sunday by combining one and a half ounces of your favorite tequila with an equal measure of fresh grapefruit juice, one ounce of cinnamon syrup, and a quarter ounce of turmeric tea in a shaker cup with ice. Strain the mixture into a highball glass with ice, top with soda water, and garnish with a slice of grapefruit peel.
You can make turmeric tea easily at home by combining one teaspoon of ground turmeric powder and two cups of water, bringing the mixture to a boil, and then simmer for ten minutes. Once done simmering, strain the mixture and use it for your Lazy Sunday cocktail!
These are just a few of the fantastic winter cocktails you can try this January. No matter what your plans for the New Year might be, Payless Liquors has all the essentials to make them more memorable. Visit us online to check out our selection and arrange a pickup of your must-have cocktail ingredients.
The beginning of a new year often inspires people to begin making healthy dietary changes – from better snacks to better cocktails. Now that the decadent food and drink of the holiday season is behind us, January is the perfect time to commit to a healthier you, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up the drinks you love.
New Year, New Cocktails
If you enjoy imbibing with friends and family, you’ll be happy to know you can still indulge in the occasional drink while remaining faithful to your new healthy eating regime. However, in many circles, “healthy drinks” translates to little more than liquor with a splash of seltzer. Fortunately, the following cocktails are low-calorie, refreshing, and tasty enough to keep you coming back for more. Check out our top five here:
Skinny Spicy Tequila Cocktail. This tart, sweet, and spicy cocktail is a play on a spicy margarita – only without the loads of calories brought to the table by sweet and sour mix. Instead, the Skinny Spicy Tequila uses fresh-squeezed orange and lime juice and just a hint of pineapple juice to provide the citrusy kick, then a hint of pineapple juice for the signature sweetness. Add a jigger of jalapeno tequila, and you have a skinny cocktail that will only cost you about 150 calories.
Rosemary Grapefruit Vodka Spritzer. The winter season is the perfect time for this cocktail, featuring fresh herbs and the plump seasonal grapefruits you’ll find in local grocers. Equal parts savory and zesty, this drink is best started by muddling rosemary, grapefruit or grapefruit juice, vodka, and lime juice in a shaker. Strain into a cocktail glass, top it off with grapefruit sparkling water, and you have a classy 150 calorie cocktail at the ready.
Keto-Friendly Moscow Mule. The Moscow Mule is an excellent cocktail for any time of year – it’s refreshing enough for summer, but the herbaceous ginger kick tastes like fall and winter to many others. Whether you’ve recently started Keto or are simply looking for a full-flavored substitute, this recipe has you covered at just 110 calories. Start with a chilled copper mug, then add vodka and fresh lime juice; the secret ingredient is diet ginger beer, which has all the taste of the original without sacrificing the signature flavor of ginger beer for the much less spicy ginger ale.
Skinny Strawberry Mojito. If you’re accustomed to mojitos, you know the reason it’s on most dieters no-lists – simple syrup and full-sugar soda ramp up the calorie counts in the minty, tasty original. This Skinny Strawberry version of the classic forgoes both in favor of Stevia, flavored soda water and strawberries for sweetness. As always, be sure to muddle the mint, Stevia, strawberries, lime and rum in your glass to release the mint flavor, Then, add soda water and stir for a 112-calorie refreshing cocktail.
Pomegranate Champagne Spritzer. What would a low-cal cocktail list be without champagne? A frequent recommendation of dietitians everywhere, champagne is a diet-friendly drink on its own. However, consider spicing it up with some lemon and fun pomegranate ice cubes for a sweet-tart surprise. Or, add your own preferred fresh-squeezed juice for a burst of flavor with minimal added sugar.
These are just a few of the best healthy cocktail recipes out there. However, many popular cocktails can be altered to cut calories without sacrificing taste. Ask our friendly staff for more information about skinny versions of some of the most popular spirits and cocktail mixes on the market.
Have you ever wanted to order a martini with the confidence of James Bond? It might be difficult if you don’t have a grasp of basic terminology. The ways in which you can customize a martini are virtually endless. However, knowing the foundation of a good martini – and the most common ways that people enjoy them – can make you a better host at your next get together. Here is what you need to know about mixing the perfect martini.
Start With the Base
There are two main types of martinis – vodka and gin. Historically, the original martini was created from gin and named a Martinez. During the San Francisco gold rush, a miner came into a bar and asked for a cocktail in exchange for a gold nugget. An enterprising bartender mixed a combination of dry gin, a dash of bitters, maraschino (cherry liquor), and sweet vermouth. He named it for the city in which the miners found gold, and a cocktail was born.
The idea of a vodka martini would not come around until an author named Ian Fleming would have a certain British special agent order one – half gin, half vodka, and Lillete – inspired by his love interest, Vesper. Today, this concoction is still called a Vesper Martini.
Shaken Versus Stirred
Shaken or stirred – is there a difference? A true bartender might tell you that stirring is the only way to have a true martini. Shaking the martini will make the vermouth less oily, and ice fragments in the glass will naturally dilute the drink. In other words, James Bond was asking for a weaker martini.
Wet Versus Dry
Whether a martini is “wet” or “dry” depends on the amount of vermouth you use. The more vermouth in the recipe, the “wetter” the cocktail will be. A dry martini, by contrast, has little vermouth and more vodka or gin.
Straight Up or On The Rocks
This one is pretty simple: when a drink is “on the rocks,” it’s served in a glass with ice. When it’s straight up, it is shaken or stirred with ice to bring it to temperature, then poured in a glass, leaving the ice behind.
Common Martini Variations
Today, the customization options for martinis are seemingly endless. Try one of these variations to impress your guests:
A naked martini. In this variation, there is no vermouth or dilution with ice. It is simply a thoroughly chilled, high quality gin or vodka, garnished with a twist (generally of lemon peel).
A Gibson martin. This dry martini calls for a garnish of pickled or pearl onion.
A dirty martini. You make a martini “dirty” when you add a splash of olive juice to the mix, complete with an olive garnish. To really wow you guests, consider offering olives stuffed with garlic or cheese.
Though martinis are historically made with gin and sweet vermouth, today there are several different ways to make them. No matter how you choose to mix, make sure you chill the glass and the liquor thoroughly before serving. Stop by Payless Liquors to find your perfect martini combination today!
Eggnog is one of the most treasured holiday beverages and a staple of countless holiday parties across the country. While a traditional eggnog recipe is easy to come by, you can kick things up a notch this holiday season by trying a few unique eggnog-inspired recipes for a new spin on a holiday classic.
Traditional eggnog has a bit of a kick thanks to the brandy or bourbon used to make it. If you want to really amp up the booziness of this holiday treat, then try this recipe for the Best Boozy Eggnog. It has far more alcohol than most traditional eggnog recipes. Experiment with some of your favorite liquor brands to make the best eggnog with the biggest kick you’ve ever tried.
Gingerbread is a hallmark of the holiday season, so why not infuse your eggnog with the timeless flavor of eggnog using this Gingerbread Eggnog recipe? Eggnog typically has a blend of winter spices, and the addition of ginger, cloves, molasses, and allspice offer the sweetness and aroma of gingerbread with the creamy taste of eggnog we all know and love during the holidays.
Let’s face it: eggnog isn’t for everyone, but this recipe offers the creamy taste of eggnog without the level of “eggyness” that turns some people off from traditional eggnog. Blend eggnog with Southern Comfort and white chocolate liqueur to create this creamy cocktail. Garnish with edible gold or chocolate flakes for a delightful presentation.
Believe it or not, it’s possible to enjoy eggnog without adding eggs at all! If you have friends or family who cannot or do not consume eggs, this Vegan Eggnog recipe is the perfect alternative. Silken tofu and soymilk replace the eggs, but this drink has the creaminess and spicy aroma you would expect from a cup of traditional eggnog.
This Mexican holiday cocktail originates from Mexican egg punch, or ponche de huevo. The drink includes eggs and peeled and blanched almonds. Rompope is cooked over a stove and then cooled completely before adding rum to serve.
This cocktail is almost a dessert. Originating from the Jewish communities of Poland, it is a base of pasteurized egg yolks and honey. Chilled and served in drinking glasses or ramekins, it can be eaten with or without alcohol. Feel free to add extras like marshmallows, nuts, raisins, cocoa powder, vodka, and rum and spike it to taste.
Winter is the perfect time to enjoy a warm, comforting drink, and you can serve eggnog warm as a Tom and Jerry. This is a somewhat complex recipe that requires making the base batter ahead of time. When you’re ready to serve the drink, you’ll need prewarmed mugs with a scoop of batter in each. Then add your rums and top with hot milk and stir until creamy.
These are just a few examples of the wonderful eggnog variations you could try this holiday season. Eggnog is a bit of an acquired taste for some, so experiment with these recipes and find one that’s a hit with your holiday crowd.
Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine is one of the oldest and most treasured liquors to come out of the Smoky Mountains. Today, Ole Smoky offers a wide range of expertly crafted moonshines, each blended using traditional brewing techniques to create a range of signature flavors. Our tastes generally change with the seasons. While the summer months call for light, crisp, and refreshing beverages, the wintertime is the perfect time to enjoy heartier, creamier, and more filling beverages that warm body and soul.
Since Tennessee state law changed to allow spirit distillation, the brewers at Ole Smoky took advantage of this to provide moonshine lovers with an unparalleled selection of the finest moonshines, becoming the first federally licensed distillery in East Tennessee. Today, Ole Smoky offers a fantastic selection of moonshine recipes you can’t find anywhere else.
Moonshine for the Cold Weather
No spirit can keep you warm like real whiskey. Tennessee moonshine from Ole Smoky is the perfect example of moonshine done right. If you’re looking for seasonal cocktail recipes to stay warm this winter, Ole Smoky is the ideal addition to your liquor cabinet. The Ole Smoky line includes various blends that mix beautifully with your favorite winter flavors.
Hot Java
Looking for a pleasurable pick-me-up to keep warm and alert this winter? Hot Java made with Ole Smoky Mountain Java moonshine is the perfect choice. Combine two ounces of Ole Smoky Mountain Java with six ounces of your favorite hot coffee in a mug. Then top it with whipped cream and an Ole Smoky Moonshine Cherry for a delightful twist on your typical cup of coffee. Coffee-flavored Ole Smoky Mountain Java offers a unique coffee flavor with notes of vanilla, and Hot Java is a great way to unwind without falling asleep!
Butter Pecan Cream Hot Chocolate
If you’re interested in a rich and creamy new way to enjoy hot chocolate, Butter Pecan Cream Hot Chocolate is sure to please. Ole Smoky Butter Pecan moonshine includes notes of toasted pecans, caramel, cream, and butter. Add two ounces of Ole Smoky Butter Pecan moonshine to six ounces of your favorite hot chocolate to add a delightful buzz to one of everyone’s favorite holiday beverages. Top it with whipped cream and an Ole Smoky Moonshine Cherry for the perfect winter warm-up beverage.
Why Ole Smoky Moonshine Cherries Are a Must-Have for the Winter
Ole Smoky put a new spin on maraschino cherries by soaking plump pitted cherries in 100-proof original Ole Smoky moonshine. These cherries make delicious toppers for your favorite winter cocktails. Once they’re gone, the remaining moonshine that has absorbed so much cherry goodness makes a delightful addition to cola, ginger ale, or tonic water for delightful blended cocktails.
If you plan on trying Hot Java or Butter Pecan Cream Hot Chocolate this winter, Ole Smoky Moonshine Cherries are the perfect toppers. Ole Smoky also offers a wide range of fantastic Tennessee moonshine blends perfect for capturing the spirit of the season, such as their award-winning Apple Pie Moonshine, Tennessee Mud, and Salty Caramel.
It is a great time to curl up in front of the fire and with delicious fall cocktails. Whether you’re looking for a libation for a celebration or simply gathering over a board game with close friends, these autumnal recipes are sure to impress. Gather, mix, shake, stir, and enjoy! If you’re looking for something new to celebrate the season, try one of these recipes.
The Old Fashioned is one of America’s oldest cocktails, and this fall themed spin is sure to give it an impressive twist while retaining its old-world charm and character. Baked apple syrup, made from fresh apples baked with brown sugar, replaces the simple syrup in this recipe for a warm, caramelly hint of sweetness. Be sure to use a good rye whisky such as Bulleit to create a flavor profile that is spicy, dry, and perfectly balanced. Sip with a large ice cube and garnish with apple slices or a cinnamon stick if desired.
If you’re looking for a crowd pleaser to bring to the next tailgate, this one is your ticket. Orange juice takes a back seat to homemade pumpkin spice juice in this autumnal cocktail. Simply mix pumpkin puree with water, pumpkin spice, and sugar to create the homemade base for this cocktail (be sure to strain well – we recommend a cheesecloth). Add juice to a glass of dry champagne, and don’t forget the rimming sugar! It also pairs well with Thanksgiving leftovers and Cyber Monday shopping.
The holiday season is nearly upon us, and this seasonal spin on a summer favorite will put you on everyone’s nice list. A base of silver tequila, perfect for mixing, mixes with tart cranberry juice, sweet orange juice, and orange liqueur to create a cocktail that is zesty and fresh without becoming overbearing. Rosemary sprigs for garnish give it a seasonal touch. When choosing cranberry juice, opt for a fresh version, rather than a shelf stable option from concentrate whenever possible. This will naturally impart a more tart flavor.
You would be hard pressed to find a seasonal flavor pairing more satisfying than ginger and pear. The natural spicy, citrusy flavor profile of the ginger pairs perfectly with the sweetness of seasonal pears. Homemade ginger honey simple syrup combines with pear nectar, ginger ale, and bourbon to create this cocktail that will soon be in your fall classics collection. We recommend a sweet American classic like Jim Beam and an extra spicy ginger ale like Verner’s for this recipe.
The next time you’re at the grocery store, keep an eye out for medium-sized oranges with pinkish-red spots in its flesh. These are blood oranges, and they make a perfectly sweet base for a champagne cocktail. Combined with dry brut champagne, white wine, cinnamon, and star anise, this cocktail is perfectly suited for Turkey prep and holiday season cocktail hours. If you cannot find blood oranges, Cara Cara oranges will work equally well.
Looking for a new cocktail to delight your taste buds? Look no further than Blue Marble Cocktails! These award-winning cocktails are ready to show you why they are the best!
What are Blue Marble Cocktails?
Blue Marble Cocktails is the latest in pre-mixed cocktails and produces ultra-premium, all-natural, ready-to-drink, premixed cocktails in 9 flavors. Blue Marble is a family business with family values supporting global awareness, conservation and environmental initiatives through its “keep the blue marble blue” program and uses recyclable cans and SFI certified packaging. Every cocktail is made in house through Blue Marble’s state-of-the-art production facility located in Indianapolis, Ind. Blue Marble Cocktails has been awarded by WSWA the Double Gold medal, as well as Best of Show Pre-Mixed Cocktails, and just won World’s Best PreMixed Cocktail from the World PreMix Awards. Payless Liquors carries all nine Blue Marble Cocktails flavors:
Cosmo
Greyhound
Marble-Rita
Bloody Mary
Coconut Island
Screwdriver
Vodka Soda
Mojito
Moscow Mule
The best ingredients make the best cocktails
Why do Blue Marble Cocktails taste so good? It’s simple. They use real ingredients only found in nature. Each of Blue Marble’s delicious cocktails include the best fruits, vegetables, and ultra-premium distilled spirits. You have a choice about the type of products you consume and what they are made from. Blue Marble Cocktails is committed to providing a canned cocktail free of artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, and dyes.
Blue Marble’s commitment to the environment
Take a sip of Blue Marble’s ultra-premium cocktails and feel good knowing they are committed to global conservation and environmental initiatives that will help keep the blue marble blue. Their goal is to also inspire other like-minded ambassadors of the world to get involved in local Earth focused organizations. Blue Marble cares as much about our packaging as the contents inside. Through recycling, their cans make it back to the shelf in as little as 60 days. It doesn’t stop there! Blue Marble’s packaging is SFI certified and contains 100% recycled paper, and within months of discarding one of their trays it is back in circulation as a new recycled item. Blue Marble’s 4 pack can toppers use HDPE post-consumer recycled plastic that is 100% recyclable. Blue Marble Cocktails is a company that is dedicated to reaching our sustainability goals.
Give it a try! These cocktails provide that refreshing taste of a true cocktail without the hassle of going to a bar and are convenient for so many activities and adventures wherever you go on our Blue Marble!
Keep in mind a few key facts: these drinks do contain alcohol. It is important that you drink responsibly and ensure you are in a safe environment. Do not drink and drive. Do not consume alcohol if you are underage.
Tequila is a staple for warm-weather cocktails, but that doesn’t mean you need to put this spirit away just because the weather is starting to cool down. Patrón is a very versatile liquor that is made from the finest 100% Weber Blue Agave and is distilled in small batches at Hacienda Patrón distillery in Jalisco, Mexico. Tequila isn’t just for shots; it can be mixed into classics like Mojitos, Old Fashioneds, Manhattans, and Mules.
The Origin of Patrón
John Paul DeJoria and Martin Crowley founded Patrón in 1989. They started the production in Jalisco, Mexico, and later moved into a different distillery in 2002. The name, Patrón, means a charitable or financially supporting person, but the meaning John and Martin preferred for their brand name was “big boss”. The bee symbol on the bottles represents the strong attraction bees have to the blue agave plant.
How is it made?
By law, tequila must be made from Blue Weber agave in the Mexican states of Jalisco, Nayarit, Tamaulipas, Michoacan, and Guanajuato. Since the production process is strictly regulated, tequila can only be labeled and sold by that name if blue agave constitutes over half of the fermented sugars in the drink.
When the agave has ripened they are hand-chopped and the piña, the heart of the plant, is baked in brick ovens. This cooking process softens the piña, making the process of sugar extraction easier. The piñas are then transported to the milling area where they are crushed by a volcanic stone Tahona wheel and a roller mill. This mixture is then fermented for three days, distilled and sometimes aged in handmade barrels. The longer the tequila ages, the more color, and tannins the final product will have.
What are the different types?
There are different classes of tequila but there are only two varieties: 100 percent agave and mixto. Mixto is roughly 51 percent agave, and the rest is made up of water and different sugars during distillation. The general five classes of tequila are Blanco (slightly aged silver or white tequila), Oro (aged for a few months in oak barrels and is gold in color), Reposado (aged at least two months, but no more than a year in white oak barrels), Añejo (aged for a year, but no more than three) and Extra Añejo (aged for three years).
Patrón is great on its own, but with such a wide variety it’s the perfect tequila for almost any mixed cocktail. These flavorful drinks are guaranteed to expand your agave horizons.
Vampiros Cocktail
1 ½ oz. Patrón Reposado
3 oz. Sangrita
1 ½ oz. Citrus-flavored soda
½ Lime, juiced
1 pinch Mexican-style chili powder with lime (such as Tajin fruit seasoning)
Fill a highball glass with ice; pour tequila, sangrita, citrus soda, lime juice, and chili powder. Stir to mix well.
Blackberry Sage Paloma
2 oz. Patrón Silver
grapefruit juice
4 blackberries
6 sage leaves
2 cane sugar cubes
In a large cocktail shaker, muddle blackberries, sage and sugar cubes. Add tequila, grapefruit juice, and crushed ice. Shake well pour into a cocktail glass garnish with sage.
Smoky Harvest Margarita
1 ½ – 2 oz. Patrón Añejo
4 oz. Apple cider
1 oz. Lime juice
1-2 tsp. Agave nectar
Cinnamon powder, Sugar, and Kosher salt for the rim
Cinnamon sticks and Apple slices for garnish
In a bowl mix equal parts cinnamon, sugar, and salt. Run a lime wedge around the rim of your glass and coat in the sugar mix. Combine tequila, apple cider, lime juice and agave in a cocktail shaker and fill with ice. Shake until combined and strain into glass. Garnish with apple slices and cinnamon sticks.
Reposado Old Fashioned
3 oz. Patrón Reposado
1 tsp. Agave nectar
2 slices Blood orange
1-2 dashes Angostura bitters
Muddle agave and orange slices in a cocktail shaker then add tequila and ice. Stir and strain into an old-fashioned glass filled with ice. Add bitters and garnish with orange peel
Añejo Manhattan
2 oz. Patrón Añejo
1 oz. Carpano Antica Formula sweet vermouth
2 dashes Mole bitters
Combine everything in a mixing glass with ice and stir. Strain into an old-fashioned glass over a large whiskey cube. Garnish with an orange twist.
One of the most recognized drinks in the stable of cocktails, the Old Fashioned is as iconic as it is delicious. This deceptively simple cocktail is made up of three ingredients – a ton of whiskey, sugar, and bitters. This drink is about as basic as it gets but can be made wrong if the maker doesn’t understand the purpose of each ingredient and how they mesh together.
Whiskey
Most Old Fashions, if made correctly, are about 80 percent whiskey. You can’t skimp on this either. It’s literally the foundation of the drink. There’s much debate when it comes to the correct whiskey and the real answer is…the one you like best. Taste is subjective. Go with what you enjoy most.
Simple Syrup
Tradition would say to use a sugar cube but we ain’t go time for that! Plus, sugar cubes are a pain to find and they don’t dissolve all the way, so you end up having grains of sugar floating in your drink which looks awful. Skip that crap and go with a rich simple syrup. It’s easy to make and it can last forever. Combine 2 parts sugar and 1-part water in a pan. Set the heat to low and stir the mixture until the sugar is dissolved, don’t let the syrup boil though.
Bitters
Bitters are made by concentrating the flavors of spices and tree bark in alcohol. So, remember, when you pick up your classic bottle of Angostura, a little goes a long way. Two to three drops are all you need. Any more and you’ll begin to overpower and cover up all but the most aggressive flavors in the whiskey you choose which will make for a terrible-tasting drink.
Orange Peel
Don’t forget your orange peel. This simple addition to your Old Fashioned makes a world of difference. With a vegetable peeler, peel a two-inch slice of orange skin over your drink so the oils that fly off from the peel fall into your drink.
Welcome to the world of Old Fashions.
Elements of an Old Fashioned
Whiskey: Both rye and bourbon offer different flavor profiles. Bourbon is slightly sweeter and rounder, whereas rye introduces a peppery bite. Either way, you’ll want something high in proof (over 100) as this extra alcohol will stand up to the dilution from melting ice. Try Knob Creek, W.L. Weller Antique, Booker’s, Old Grand-Dad, Baker’s, Wild Turkey 101, Wild Turkey Rare Breed or Rittenhouse.
Glass: The Old Fashioned is one of the few drinks in existence that has a glass named in its honor. The ideal glass should be between eight to 10 ounces, with a thick heavy bottom.
Ice: This is a sipping cocktail, but you don’t want that expensive booze turning into a watery mess. Avoid small cubes and pick up rubber molds or invest in an ice sphere.
Sweetener: While simple syrup works well, other options are to sub in honey, maple syrup or agave nectar. But, make sure to dilute these with equal parts water.
Bitters: There are dozens of new bitters on the market. The best, however, is still the most common: Angostura. Two healthy dashes will do the trick. Chocolate or walnut bitters work well in this drink if you can find them. I also like Dale DeGroff’s pimento bitters.
Technique: The most balanced Old Fashioned is made by stirring the drink with ice for about 20 to 30 seconds and then straining that mix over fresh ice.
With the month of August in full swing, it’s time to take a step back, regroup and conquer the final dog days of summer. For those who don’t know the meaning of the dog days of summer and just think it’s a Florence and the Machine song, the dog days of summer are considered the hottest part of the summer season – basically when the heat comes on full steam and you can’t go outside for more than a minute without breaking a sweat.
So, there’s only one thing left to do. Make rum drinks and pretend you’re on an island with a cool breeze. Now, rum has been steeped in romanticism thanks, in part, to its association with pirates in the Caribbean (Not Pirates of the Caribbean though Captain Jack Sparrow questioning where’s the rum has helped too).
History of Rum
For the time being, no one is currently sure when rum was invented. Scholars believe that it was more than likely created by the Malay people thousands of years ago as an early drink called brum. The first known distillation of rum took place during the 17th century on various sugarcane plantations located in the Caribbean. According to many oral traditions of the Caribbean, it is stated that the first rums were created in Barbados – though new evidence has emerged that suggests Brazil and Sweden both had their own versions of rum.
Popular Drinks
Enough of the history lesson. Let’s get to some drinks that you can make with rum.
Mai Tai
Perhaps one of the more known of the Tiki cocktails, the Mai Tai was created as a way to showcase the flavors of a good-quality rum. Your creation shouldn’t be neon-colored or overly sweet. If made properly, it should have a deep amber hue and allow for the rum to shine through the complimenting ingredients.
To make this drink, you need to add the ingredients below to a shaker filled with crushed ice. Shake vigorously until the shaker is well-chilled and frosty on the outside. Pour (unstrained) into a double Old-Fashioned glass.
Ingredients
¾ oz. Fresh Lime Juice
¼ oz. Rock Candy Syrup (2-parts sugar, 1-part water)
¼ oz. Orgeat Almond Syrup
½ oz. Orange Curacao
2 oz. Premium Aged Rum
Garnish – 1 lime rind and a fresh mint sprig
Pina Colada
This sweet cocktail made with rum, coconut cream or milk, and pineapple juice, is usually served either blended or shaken with ice. Two bartenders from Puerto Rico lay claims to creating the drink but either way, Puerto Rico’s national drink tastes wonderful.
To make this drink, Pour coconut cream, pineapple juice, and white rum into a blender or shaker with crushed ice, and blend or shake very well until smooth. Pour into chilled glass, garnish with pineapple wedge and/or a maraschino cherry.
Ingredients
4 oz. spiced rum
4 oz. coconut milk
1/3 cup fresh pineapple chunks
splash of pineapple juice (at your discretion)
1 cup of ice
2 maraschino cherries
Garnish – Maraschino cherries and a slice of pineapple
Daiquiri
The granddaddy of all rum drinks, the Daiquiri has gone from the pride of Havana to an unloved extra on the back of some Senor Frog’s table menu. The reason being – people associate it with adult slushies, spring breakers, and god-awful hangovers. Which is a shame, because a daiquiri is a simple, delicate blend of rum’s sweetness with a raw taste of sugar and lime juice. It’s a balancing act of flavors that most get wrong – queue the adult slushy.
To make this perfectly, add all the ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake until well chilled. Strain into a coupe and garnish with a lime twist.
Ingredients
2 oz. light rum
¾ oz. fresh lime juice
¾ oz. demerara sugar syrup
Garnish – Lime twist
Come on in
Be sure to stop by any of our locations to stock up on your favorite rums. Remember, drink responsibly. Always have a driver available if you’re going anywhere, and be safe.
America’s birthday is just around the corner and though 2018 decided to land it mid-week, that shouldn’t stop you from celebrating in the name of freedom. Even though most prefer their silver bullets or other canned-variety alcoholic beverages, the five cocktails below can introduce a truly memorable variety to your freedom-filled get together.
Cherry Bomb Mimosa
This drink is meant to get your day started. Couple this with a hearty breakfast or brunch if that’s your style.
Ingredients
1 c. pineapple juice
1/4 c. maraschino cherry juice (from the jar of cherries)
1 bottle champagne
Orange slices, for garnish
Directions
In champagne flutes, combine pineapple juice and maraschino cherry juice. Top off with champagne and garnish with an orange slice.
Blue Crush Margaritas
Margaritas are a staple celebratory drink. Make a few of these and get all fired up on freedom (aka, tequila).
Ingredients
2 limes sliced into wedges
Coarse salt, for rimming glasses
1/4 c. Blue Curacao
3 oz. tequila
3 oz. triple sec
1/3 c. lime juice
1 can seltzer
2 c. ice
Directions
Rim two tall glasses with lime and salt.
Combine Curacao, tequila, triple sec and lime juice into the glasses and stir to combine.
Top with a splash of seltzer and as much ice as desired. Garnish with a lime wedge and serve.
Red, White & Boozy Shakes
Ingredients
6 scoops vanilla ice cream
6 tbsp. Milk, Divided
1 oz. Curaçao
1 oz. vodka
3 scoops raspberry sorbet
1 oz. raspberry vodka
Red, white and blue sprinkles, for garnish
Directions
In a blender, combine 3 scoops vanilla ice cream, 2 tablespoons milk, and 1-ounce Curaçao. Blend until creamy and pour into two glasses. Freeze 15 to 20 minutes.
Rinse blender and add 3 scoops vanilla ice cream, 2 tablespoons milk, and 1-ounce vodka. Blend until combined, then pour into glasses on top of blue layer and freeze 15 to 20 minutes.
Rinse blender and add 3 scoops raspberry sorbet, 2 tablespoons milk, and 1-ounce raspberry vodka. Blend until combined, then pour onto white layer.
Top each shake with whipped cream and garnish with sprinkles.
Blueberry Lemonade Sangria
Ingredients
1 750-ml bottle dry white wine
1 c. Simply Lemonade with Blueberry
1/4 c. tequila
1 c. fresh or frozen blueberries
1 lemon, thinly sliced
1 c. cold seltzer
Directions
In a pitcher, combine wine, lemonade, and tequila and stir until combined.
Add fruit and top off with seltzer and serve.
Spiked Sweets Jell-O Shots
Finally, Jell-O shots. No booze-filled get together would be complete without one person whipping out a Jell-O shot here or there. Fill yours full of freedom with this festive recipe.
Ingredients
1 c. water
1 pkg. of red Jell-O
1 pkg. of blue Jell-O
1 pkg. of unflavored gelatin
14 oz. can of condensed milk
vodka
Directions
Boil 1 c. water and dissolve 1 package of red Jell-O completely. Add 1 c. vodka. Fill up shot glasses a third of the way with the red mixture. Let set 1 to 2 hours in refrigerator.
Boil 1 c. water and dissolve 1 package of unflavored gelatin completely. Add a 14-oz. can of condensed milk and stir, mixing well. Let cool a few minutes. Fill up shot glasses another third of the way on top of the red mixture. Let set 1 to 2 hours in refrigerator.
Boil 1 c. water and dissolve 1 package of blue Jell-O completely. Add 1 c. vodka. Fill up shot glasses a third of the way with the red mixture. Let set 1 to 2 hours in refrigerator.
Makes 20 to 30 shots depending on the size of your shot glasses.
Be sure to stop in to one of our many locations to stock up on supplies to keep the celebration going well into the weekend, because freedom.
Let your New Year’s Eve be full of laughter and champagne, as it should be! Champagne, Bubbly, Sparkling Wine, whatever you want to call it has been the drink of celebration dating back to the 16th century! Champagne visually and symbolically represents the overflow of abundance and joy.
So, is New Year’s even a thing if you aren’t drinking a glass of bubbly?? Payless Liquors says no. Whether you’re spending the whole night out at the bars, having a house party, or a quiet night with a couple people, champagne cocktails are the ideal way to ring in a new year.
Here are two quick and easy champagne cocktail recipes that will entrance all your co-partiers.
Classic Champagne Cocktail:
The classic champagne cocktail has been raved about. It’s a solid choice if you’re worried about making something that everyone likes.
Place ¾ teaspoon sugar into the bottom of a champagne flute
Top with about 8 shakes of Angostura bitters.
Add Champagne until full
garnish with a lemon peel
Unicorn Mimosa
The Unicorn Mimosa is the route you want to go if you’re looking for something more fun. This cocktail radiates New Years with its Sparkling Rim.
Dip Champagne flute into water
Rim glass with edible glitter.
Add three scoops sherbet
Add 1 ½ ounces vodka
1 ½ ounces champagne
garnish with rock candy
If you don’t know what champagne you want to use in your Bubbly New Year’s Cocktail, here’s a quick guide on how to pick out the best bubbly.
Perhaps one of the more known of the Tiki cocktails, the Mai Tai was created as a way to showcase the flavors of a good-quality rum. Your creation shouldn’t be neon-colored or overly sweet. If made properly, it should have a deep amber hue and allow for the rum to shine through the complimenting ingredients.
The granddaddy of all rum drinks, the Daiquiri has gone from the pride of Havana to an unloved extra on the back of some Senor Frog’s table menu. The reason being – people associate it with adult slushies, spring breakers, and god-awful hangovers. Which is a shame, because a daiquiri is a simple, delicate blend of rum’s sweetness with a raw taste of sugar and lime juice. It’s a balancing act of flavors that most get wrong – queue the adult slushy.
