Holiday Cranberry Margaritas with Alacran Cristal Tequila

It is the holiday season, and that means one thing- holiday parties and gatherings! Do you find yourself running around from event to event this time of the year? I know I do! Whether you are hosting your own party or looking for a great cocktail to make for a gathering you are heading to, I have a great recipe to share with you.

Margaritas are always a crowd pleaser, but do they work at a holiday party? Yes! Nothing says winter and the holiday season quite like cranberry. Try serving this refreshing cranberry margarita at your next holiday party.

Cranberry Margarita
-2 cups Alacran Cristal Tequila
-1 1/3 cups cranberry juice (I recommend using 100% juice variety with no sugar added. Trader Joes makes a great one)
-3 tbsp Agave Syrup or sweetened to taste (Note: I use agave to make the drink fresher. If you are accustomed to an orange liqueur, use 1 Cup Cointreau of Grand Marnier) 
-2/3 cup freshly squeezed lime juice 


1. If you like a salted rim: place salt on small plate, wet rim, and apply salt to rims of glasses
2. Combine the tequila, cranberry juice, orange liqueur, lime juice, and ice in a large pitcher, and stir.

I like using Alacran Tequila because it is an ultra premium anejo tequila. It is packaged in a beautiful, clear glass bottle that is sleek looking. The tequila uses agaves from 7-10 years old harvested in the highlands of Jalisco. It is matured for 14 months in American Oak barrels from bourbon generating a rich, woody flavor with a hint of vanilla. As a result of their exclusive clarifying filtration process, a crystal product is produced with light gold reflections. 



*This recipe yields approximately 10 servings. 













This post was made possible by Alacran Tequila

Holiday Cocktail Ideas for any Occasion

The holiday season is a great time to try new cocktail recipes, whether you are hosting or taking to the host, below are some holiday cocktails that are good for any gathering this season. Each recipe is quite simple, and the punches are great for sharing.

I personally love the St-Germain recipe below. I mentioned St-Germain as being a great ingredient for spring cocktails, however, it is great year round. As a side note, if you do not love cocktails, try adding a splash of St-Germain to a simple glass of champagne... you will not regret it!

The Carlyle Punch is one of the acclaimed beverages served at the New York Carlyle Hotel's iconic bar,  Bemelmans Bar. The cocktail is available on location through the festive season, but enjoy the recipe for the punch below at your holiday gatherings this year.

Grab the bottles, mix up, and enjoy!

The Carlyle Punch (pictured above)
1 ounce Southern Comfort
1 1/2 ounces Raspberry Vodka
1 1/2 ounces Cranberry Juice
1 ounce Orange Juice 1 ounce ST-GERMAIN
1 ounce Simple Syrup 1 to 3 dashes of Bitters
Splash of Champagne

 Method | In a shaker, combine ice with the Southern Comfort, Stolichnaya Raspberry, St. Germain liqueur, simple syrup, orange juice, cranberry juice and fresh lime juice. Pour in a cognac glass over-ice and finish with 3 dashes of Angostura bitters and a splash of Champagne. Garnish with blueberries and raspberries.

Winter Flowers Punch
 1 cup Fresh Lemon Juice
1 cup Superfine Sugar ½ cup ST-GERMAIN
¼ cup Honey
½ cup Cognac, Tequila. Bourbon or Gin
16oz Chilled Brewed Chamomile Tea
2 bottles of MARTINI Prosecco
Orange or Lemon Slices

 Method | Combine the lemon juice, sugar, St-Germain, honey, spirit, and tea in a non-reactive bowl and stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. Add the prosecco and stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour. Pour into a decorative bowl or pitcher. Garnish with orange or lemon slices and fresh strawberries, if desired. Serve in champagne flutes, wine glasses or punch cups.

St-Germain Cocktail

2 parts MARTINI Prosecco
1 ½ parts ST-GERMAIN
2 parts Sparkling Water

Method | Fill a tall Collins glass with ice. Add MARTINI Prosecco first, then ST-GERMAIN, then sparkling water. Stir completely and garnish with a lemon twist.

Photos: St-Germain, Martini

Springtime St Germain Cocktails

One of my favorite things about the warmer weather, longer days, and spring season is enjoying refreshing cocktails on the patio in the sun or next to the fire bowl during warm evenings. St. Germain, the artisanal French liqueur, is a great way to elevate cocktails for the spring season. I love the refreshing flavor it brings to any recipe to which it is added.

One of my favorite, and easy, springtime cocktails to make is the classic "Signature St Germain." This drink is super easy and is great for serving to a crowd as it is simple enough to serve in a carafe or pitcher. Not to mention I simply love the flavor of St Germain and their slogan says it all "La Vie Parisienne en Bouteille"....who could want more?

St-Germain Cocktail

1 1⁄2 parts St-Germain
2 parts Champagne or dry white wine
2 parts club soda or sparkling water

Stir ingredients in a tall, ice-filled Collins glass, mixing completely. Garnish with a lemon twist. If necessary, substitute sparkling wine, Prosecco or Cava for Champagne. For the dry white wine, Sauvingon Blanc works best.

*I like to add my own personal touch and add a few fresh seasonal berries. This particular time, strawberries fit the bill!

Looking for  more great ways to incorporate St Germain into your springtime sips? Try these additional recipes below!

Springtime Punch
14oz Bombay Sapphire gin
7 oz St-Germain artisanal French elderflower liqueur
1 spring of sage
6 oz Fresh guava juice
6 oz Lemon juice
Black peppercorn

Sangria Flora 
3 Cups Sauvignon Blanc or Dry white wine
¾ Cups St-Germain artisanal French elderflower liqueur
5 Fresh Strawberries (halved)
5 Fresh Raspberries
5 Fresh Blackberries
10 Fresh Grapes

Stir ingredients in a carafe. Let the mixture soak for 15 minutes (or longer if desired), then pour into ice-filled glasses. *The fruits listed are merely suggestions. Many combinations of local, seasonal fruit will work nicely with St-Germain. Be creative! Serves 4-6 people.

Go-To Winter Cocktails

I am always on the hunt for new cocktail recipes to add to my already seemingly large collection. As we head in to the weekend, what better way to start than a great cocktail? The craft cocktail trend has become very popular, with craft cocktail bars popping up in major cities all around the world. While I love going out for a good drink (or a few) some times my wallet begs to differ!

I was recently exposed to Rokz, a brand that brings ingredients and recipes to your home to make the perfect craft cocktail. The brand specializes in innovative and beautifully designed products that include infusions, cocktail sugars and margarita salts for the craft cocktail. Below are two new recipes from Rokz to try and  add to your collection.

Spiced Up Cider Cocktail:
- 2 ounces rokz cinnamon spice infused whiskey
-3 ounces apple cider Infuse your favorite whiskey with rokz cinnamon spice infusion.

Fill a glass (highball glass or white wine glass) 1/4 full with ice cubes. Pour in the infused whiskey and top with apple cider. Stir gently until mixed. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.

One Incredible Mary Cocktail:

-1.5 ounces rokz fiery pepper infused vodka 

-4 ounces tomato juice 

-A squeeze of lime juice 

-1/2 tsp worcestershire Salt and pepper to taste 

-Garnish: rokz bloody mary salt rim, wedge of lime 

 Infuse your favorite vodka with rokz fiery pepper infusion. Rim a glass with rokz bloody mary salt. Combine ingredients and ice in a glass, stir and enjoy.

I don't know about you, but these concoctions definitely sound like they would warm up the body on a cold winter afternoon or evening! Rokz products are available at department stores like Nordstrom and retailers such as Whole Foods as well as online.

Images: Rokz

Classic Cocktail: The Cosmo

The old classic, the Cosmo, has become one of my go-to cocktails. With prices of drinks ranging from $12-$18 here in New York, the Cosmo is an easy way to enjoy cocktails at home with friends without a $100 bar tab. Not to mention its super easy to make. 

This is to make a traditional cosmo, with Cranberry juice. There are a lot of great variations that I have had such as white peach, orange cranberry, etc. Here, I am sticking to the classic. As with any cocktail, the amounts are open to interpretation ;)

The Cosmo:

-3 oz (2 shots) vodka

-1.5 oz triple sec

-3 squirts lime juice (to taste) I swear by the "Nellie & Joe's" brand.

-Fill remainder of shaker with 100% Cranberry Juice

Simply combine everything in a cocktail shaker with a few ice cubes, shake, and pour.

Tip: place your glasses in the freezer before so they have a nice frost on them when serving!

Enjoy!

With its red/pink hue this would also be a perfect, easy cocktail to serve for a Valentine's Day night in!