World Whisky Day

Tomorrow is World Whisk(e)y day! Whether you prefer Scotch or Irish, below are some great recipes you can celebrate with:

Apple Crumble Martini

• 1.5 parts Jameson Irish Whiskey
• .75 part Hiram Walker Butterscotch Liqueur
• 1.5 parts Pressed Apple Juice
• .5 part Lime Juice
• 1 part Sugar Syrup

Shake and strain.

Mama said WHAT?

• 2 parts MW Maple Bacon
• 1 part Jameson

Shake all ingredients in shaker with ice, strain into chilled shot glass and serve

The Guy in the Kilt

• 2 parts MW Maple Bacon
• 1 part Chivas

Shake all ingredients in shaker with ice, strain into chilled shot glass and serve

 

Black Bear-y Twisted

Today we had an unexpected guest stop by the office. Being in an office surrounded by some wooded areas we often have visits from turkeys and deer, but today we spotted a new friend, Mr. Black Bear! This black bear looked very cute (from the safety of my office window) and inspired me to make some Blackberry Brandy cocktails (hence the terrible pun title of this post).

Photo courtesy of Ms. Kiersten of NOVA Marketing!

“Black Bear-y Twisted”

• 2 parts Hiram Walker® Blackberry Brandy
• 1 part Cranberry Juice
• ½ part Lime Juice
• Splash Cola

Pour brandy and juices into ice filled glass. Stir and add splash of cola. Garnish & serve.

Enjoy!

-KJ

Mother’s Day Cocktail Guide

Mother’s Day is a time to make mom feel special. Whether it’s breakfast in bed, a picnic lunch or a nice dinner at her favorite restaurant, a tasty cocktail is sure to make your Mother’s Day even more perfect.

If you’re serving breakfast in bed, why not serve it up with a breakfast cocktail? Whether it’s a Maple Bacon Bloody Mary, a cup of coffee spiked with Mama Walker’s Glazed Donut Liqueur or lemonade mixed with the flavors of Mama Walker’s Blueberry Pancake, nothing says “I love you, mom” like a cocktail… right? (For more breakfast themed, boozy drinks check out my recent post on Brunch Cocktails HERE)

A nice, fruity sangria is also a perfect choice for mother’s day (based on my own mother’s preferences here), and on special occasions bubbly beverages always seem appropriate so I suggest making a sparkling sangria:

• 4 parts Jacob’s Creek Sparkling Moscato Rosé
• 1 part Hiram Walker Triple Sec
• .75 part Fresh Lemon juice
• .5 part Pineapple juice
• 5 Cinnamon sticks
• 3 Strawberries, halved
• 1 whole green apple and 1 whole lime, sliced
Build in a pitcher or punch bowl, and stir. Float slices of apple and lime.

Enjoy and Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there!

-KJ

Mint Juleps & Margaritas

This weekend is full of exciting holidays(Derby Day and Cinco de Mayo) and that means lots of delicious cocktails to help celebrate these exciting holidays! Luckily this year these holidays don’t fall on the same day so there is no need to choose between beverages, instead each cocktail can have its own day to shine: Mint Juleps Saturday & Margaritas Sunday!

For Saturday, I already know I will enjoy a classic Mint Julep. However, Sunday leaves many decisions to be made as there are many variations and flavors of Margaritas to choose from. Below are a couple recipes I will be deciding from for this year’s Cinco de Mayo celebrations:

MangoRita

• 1½ parts Avion Tequila
• 1 part Hiram Walker® Mango Schnapps
• ¼ part Hiram Walker® Triple Sec
• ½ part Lime Juice

Shake or blend with ice into salt-rimmed margarita glass

Mini Margaritas

• 1 part Malibu Red
• ½ Part Hiram Walker Triple Sec
• ½ Part Fresh Lime

Shake and strain into a shot glass

Classic Margarita

• 1 part Hiram Walker® Triple Sec
• 2 parts Avion Tequila
• 1 part Fresh Lime Juice

Shake & strain into a salt-rimmed rocks glass.

Get creative with your drinks and have a safe and happy Kentucky Derby & Cinco de Mayo weekend!

-KJ

Anyone for brunch?

Brunch is an activity that can be (and should be) enjoyed all year long, but there is something about the springtime that has me longing for a nice Saturday brunch in the outside seating area of a restaurant or out on my back deck with some friends. Mimosas and Bloody Marys go hand in hand with brunch (if you’re of legal drinking age of course) and below are some fun ways to put a new spin on the classic cocktails.

Mix up the classic Mimosa by serving a Screwdriver Mimosa with ABSOLUT TUNE instead of Champagne:

Screwdriver Mimosa

• 4 Parts Chilled ABSOLUT TUNE™
• 1 Part Chilled Orange Juice
• Splash of Hiram Walker Triple Sec (optional)
• Garnish with an Orange Twist

You can also add a splash of bacon to your Mimosa with Mama Walker’s Maple Bacon Liqueur:

Sunday Funday

• 1 part Mama Walker’s Maple Bacon
• 1 part fresh orange juice
• 2 parts Prosecco

Add MW Maple Bacon and orange juice in shaker with ice, shake. Strain into champagne flute and top with prosecco

When it comes to Bloody Marys there are many variations on garnishes and how much of each spice should be used, but you can really shake things up by making bacon bloodies using bacon flavored liqueur and a bacon garnish.

Mama’s Ruby Shoes

• 2 parts MW Maple Bacon
• 4 parts Tomato Juice
• 2 dashes Worcestershire Sauce
• 4 dashes Hot Sauce
• juice of 1/2 of lemon
• pinch of salt
• pinch of pepper
• 1 tsp horseradish

Combine all ingredients in shaker with ice. Roll back and forth. Pour into a highball glass. Garnish with a slice of bacon.  

Enjoy and happy brunching

-KJ

National Pretzel Day!

Today is National Pretzel Day my friends! Pretzels are a snacker’s best friend and I, personally, love all forms of the pretzel: pretzel rods, classic twists, jumbo soft pretzels, the list goes on! So with all of the pretzel deliciousness out there, why not try out a donut pretzel?

Mama’s Glazed Pretzel

• 1 part Mama Walker’s Glazed Donut
• 1 part Hiram Walker Hazelnut Liqueur

Add Mama Walker’s and Hiram Walker to shaker with ice, and strain into chilled shot glass. Lick salt off hand after taking shot.

This fun recipe is a great way to celebrate National Pretzel Day and I hope all you pretzel lovers out there give this salty sweet shot a try!

Enjoy

-KJ

Friday Feature Cocktail: The Chicago Cocktail

I’m heading off to the Windy City tonight to spend the weekend with some friends. Since this will be my first time visiting Chicago, I plan to be an extreme tourist: Navy Pier, the Sears Tower (now known as the Willis Tower?) the Bean, you name it I plan on seeing it!

Okay, so in reality I only have one day for sightseeing so I may not get to everything, but I am very excited to explore a new city. This excitement about my trip has inspired me to make this week’s featured cocktail the Chicago Cocktail. Recipes for the Chicago Cocktail can vary, but below is one variation:

Chicago Cocktail

• 2 parts Brandy
• ¼ part Hiram Walker Triple Sec
• Dash of bitters

Stir with ice and strain into a rocks glass.

Enjoy!

-KJ

Friday Feature Cocktail: The Sidecar

It’s a dreary Friday here at the office and I need a drink to brighten my mood. Unsure what I was in the mood for today, I asked my coworker what she would drink on a day like today and since I was pleased with her suggestion I am borrowing her idea for today’s featured cocktail- a classic sidecar.

Since it is once again chilly outside, the cognac will help to warm me up, and the citrus flavors from the Triple Sec and lemon juice, along with a nice sugar rim, will add some sweetness to the drab day.

Sidecar

• 1 part Hiram Walker Triple Sec
• 1 part Martell Cognac
• 1 part fresh lemon juice

Shake over ice and serve in a chilled cocktail glass with a sugar rim.

Enjoy and happy weekend!

-KJ

Root Beer Cocktails!

As I was sitting outside yesterday eating lunch and enjoying the beautiful weather, I found myself craving a carbonated beverage. While I am primarily a water drinker (when it comes to non-alcoholic drinks, of course) something about the warm sun made my mouth water for a nice soda. Since then I have been craving a bubbly (and sugary) glass of root beer, which inspired me to dig up some great root beer cocktails!

The first is a Root Beer Fling: While technically this cocktail does not include actual root beer, this carbonated cocktail still hits the spot if you’re craving that distinct root beer flavor!

• 1 part Hiram Walker® Root Beer Schnapps
• 1 part Kahlua® Coffee Liqueur
• ½ part ABSOLUT® Vodka
• 5 parts Cola

Serve in a tall glass filled with ice.

Next we have Mama’s Old Time Pop: This cocktail may seem like a simple spiked root beer, but with the delicious flavor of Mama Walker’s new Glazed Donut liqueur, this cocktail is sure to be like no root beer you’ve tried before!

• 1 parts Mama Walker’s Glazed Donut
• 4 parts Root Beer

Build in a glass over ice

What kind of a person would I be if I highlighted root beer drinks and didn’t include a root beer float? (Don’t answer that) So here you go, your root beer float:

• 1 part Hiram Walker® Root Beer Schnapps
• 2 parts Milk or Cream
• 4 parts Lemon-lime Soda

Combine ingredients in a blender with ice. Blend until smooth.

Enjoy and happy soda sipping

-KJ

Friday Feature Cocktail: White Peach Blossom

Well guys, I don’t want to jinx things, but I think we may have finally found spring up in the Northeast! With the sun shining outside of my office window, and the snow mounds in the parking lot (almost) completely melted, I’m ready to toast to the weekend with a light and sweet spring cocktail.

Perfect for spring White Peach Blossom Martini

White Peach Blossom

• 1 part ABSOLUT Mandrin Vodka
• 1 part Hiram Walker White Peach Schnapps
• ½ part Pineapple Juice

Put all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a martini glass.

The White Peach Blossom contains the sweet and fruity flavors associated with warmer weather, and I for one welcome this season with open arms.

Enjoy and have a wonderful (and warm) weekend everyone!

-KJ