Bottom Shelf Cocktail recipes for your inner Broke and Bougie
Blood Orange Sangria
For this specialty sangria recipe, the key to an authentic Spaniard approved staple is Campo Viejo's Garnacha Red Wine. The wine's fruity, spicy flavor, all for $11, is the perfect ingredient for this refreshingly sweet cocktail.
Recipe:
2 bottles of Garnacha Red Wine
3 cups Blackberries
6 Blood Oranges, wedged
1 Apple, chopped
2 cups Strawberries, sliced
2 Cinnamon Sticks
1 cup Sugar
1 cup club soda
1 cup Smirnoff Vodka
Ice
Directions:
1. Zest one of the blood oranges and combine with 1/2 cup of sugar in a small bowl
2. Juice 3 of the oranges, chop remaining 3 into pieces
3. In large pitcher, place all of the sliced fruits in the pitcher, muddle
4. Pour remaining sugar over the muddled fruits- add wine, vodka, club soda over fruits
5. Dunk each glass in "orange-zest" sugar, pour sangria over ice, serve
*For even more flavor, refrigerate for at least two hours before serving*
[via Howsweeteats.com]
Strawberry Whiskey Sour
Generally a cocktail choice reserved for middle-aged men, the fun twist on the traditional whiskey-sour has given us more of a reason to see what all of the hype is really about. The $19 Rittenhouse Rye's bold flavor coupled with a lighter fruit recipe helps bring down the intensity of this classic cocktail perfect for you palate... and wallet.
Recipe:
1 oz Simple Syrup
1 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
3 Fresh Strawberries, diced
1/2 cups Rittenhouse Rye
1/2 cup Club Soda
Ice
Directions:
1. Boil water and granulated sugar until sugar dissolves to create the simple syrup, let cool
2. In shaker, muddle strawberries with syrup and lemon juice until strawberries create own juice
3. Pour in whiskey and shake
4. Pour mixture into a Collins glass filled with ice and top off with club soda, garnish with strawberry
[via Girlinthekitchen.com]
Watermelon Gin Punch
This specialty gin punch is mixologist approved and perfect for any day party that you're already planning to forget. The strong concoction includes 2 hearty cups of Gordon's Gin ($12) with a few light garnishes of fruit and mint.
Recipe:
1/2 Watermelon, cut into chunks
4 cups fresh watermelon juice
12 springs fresh mint
1 cup Lemon Juice
1 cup Simple Syrup
2 cups Gordons Gin
Directions:
1. Boil sugar and water until sugar dissolves, let cool
2. Add mint to a tall pitcher, muddle
3. Pour in watermelon juice, simple syrup, lemon juice, gin; stir to mix
4. Pour over Ice and serve
[via Garnishwithlemon.com]
Shaken Lemonade
The easiest drink to make yet the hardest to finish, the Shaken lemonade is essential for a last minute picnic or get together that is in desperate need for a lively new cocktail. Once every high school girl's worst enemy, this recipe will teach you how to properly appreciate a good $13 Smirnoff infused cocktail.
Recipe:
2 Rosemary Sprigs
1 Lemon wheel
1 cup Smirnoff Vodka
1/4 cup Lemon Juice
1/4 cup Club Soda
Directions:
1. Place rosemary springs and lemon wheel in mason jar, add ice
2. Add Smirnoff and lemon juice; shake
3. Remove lid and top off with club soda
4. Serve over ice
[via M street Kitchen, Santa Monica]
Blackberry Margarita
There's not much one can say when trying to convince his/her friends to indulge in some tequila-- unless it involves a fresh margarita. The ability of more than a dozen blackberries and a little sugar helps to almost completely alleviate the remnants of any Jose Cuervo ($14) trying to make his way onto your tastebuds; cocktails always turn out to be more fun when you can't taste the alcohol.
Recipe:
1 1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
1 Lime
1 cup Water
1/2 cup Sugar
1 cup Jose Cuervo
2/3 cup Lime Juice
1 1/2 cup Fresh Blackberries
Directions:
1. Combine 1 1/2 tablespoons of granulated sugar and kosher salt in dish
2. Cut lime into 9 wedges; rub rims of glasses with 1 lime wedge- dip rims in salt mixture
3. Combine water and sugar in measuring cup, microwave on high for 2 minutes until sugar dissolves to create simple syrup
4. Combines simple syrup, tequila, lime juice, blackberries in blender until smooth
5. Strain mixture over pitcher
6. Serve over ice, garnish with lime
[via Myrecipes.com]