TAKE A SIP: CRANBERRY MOSCOW MULE

I had to squeeze in one last Christmas drink before taking next week off..so naturally I chose some thing red & green...

Cranberry Moscow Mules!

What you need to make it happen:

- 2 ounces Vodka

- Gingerbeer

- Lime Slices

- Frozen Cranberries

- Cranberry Simple Syrup 

- Ice

How to make it happen:

Step 1: Fill copper mug with ice & add  2 ounces vodka, 1 teaspoon cranberry simple syrup.

Step 2: Top with ginger beer and garnish with a few lime slices & a handful of frozen cranberrries

Step 3: Enjoy!

Fruity, tart- not at all too sweet!

What drink will you be sipping on this season?

If you'd like one of these, just come on over!

xo, lp

*psssst: let's be friends on instagram, shall we? find me here           --->@lpodlich 

*also: for more drinks recipes, go HERE!   

TWIST ON THE CLASSICS: THE BASIL SALTY DOG (GIN + GRAPEFRUIT!)

Here's today's recipe, and it comes with a story...

Back in my college bartender days there was a time I was working that a middle-aged guy came in and asked for a Salty Dog.

Me, being 19 (yes, you can bartend before 21 in Wisconsin) giggled and asked what he REALLY wanted, since I thought he was joking.

He looked at me, puzzled...and repeated that he wanted a Salty Dog. My giggles quickly turned to embarrassment- and I ducked behind the cabinet to find my cheater-cocktail guide.

It was just Gin & Grapefruit juice with a salted rim. 

At the time I thought "Ew. That sounds like the WORST thing ever!" 

(Keep in mind this was my raspberry vodka & sprite phase days...yick)

So I made him the drink, and promptly went home that night to make one for myself to try it out- and it was deee-lish. Super tart, with a bite of gin and a lick of salt.

I'd completely forgotten about the refreshing drink until the other day, when I heard someone order it in a bar. I decided it was time to go home and put a little twist on this classic by adding some of the fresh basil we had growing on our balcony. Thus, I give you the Basil Salty Dog.

What you need to make it happen:

- 1.5 ounces Gin 

- Freshly squeezed grapefruit juice

- Grapefruit wedge

- salt

- 3-4 basil leaves

- grapefruit wedge & small basil leaf for garnish

- ice

How to make it happen:

Step 1: Dip the rim of a glass in grapefruit juice, and roll in salt for a salted rim.

Step 2: Muddle 1 grapefruit wedge with a splash of gin & 3-4 basil leaves. Be careful not to muddle the pith/rind of the grapefruit or you'll get extra bitterness!

Step 3: Add ice, gin, and grapefruit juice to the glass.

Step 4: give it a stir, add your garnish, and enjoy!

There you have it, friends.

I know grapefruit juice is a polarizing drink...but I mean, it's summertime. Even you naysayers might be moved to try this because it's so dang refreshing!

Raise your hand if you love a good cocktail with grapefruit!

Or if you don't- leave a comment with your favorite summer cocktail!

xo, lp

need more summer drink ideas?

try my: orange ginger mojitos, pineapple lemonade punch, or raspberry bourbon fizz

also:

YOU!

yes you!

find me on instagram here ---> @lpodlich

TAKE A SIP: (the classics) THE BRANDY OLD FASHIONED

When I think of the quintessential Wisconsin drink, I think of an Old Fashioned. Heck- we even have a restaurant on our Capitol square named after the thing!

The Classic Wisconsin version is the Brandy Old Fashioned Sweet- when I bartended I made zillions of these things for out of towners who wanted to have the traditional drink.

Now that we have people over fairly often, I love making these- and there are so many iterations of these possible, that if you aren't a brandy fan...or a sweet fan...you can tweak it to make it your own! 

What you'll need to make it happen:

- 2 orange slices (in quarters)

- 4-5 maraschino cherries

- Raw sugar cube or just granulated sugar

- 3-4 dashes of Bitters (see bottle below)

- 2 ounces Brandy

- Sprite

-Muddler

-Ice

 How to make it happen:

Step 1: Throw your 2-3 cherries, 1 orange slice quarter, sugar, and dashes of bitters into the bottom of a glass. With your muddler, mash until cherry, orange, and sugar is well mixed. Be careful not to grind the orange rind too much, or you'll get a really bitter taste!

Step 2: Add ice and brandy, and top with a few splashes of Sprite.

Step 3: Either stir or pour into another glass so drink is well mixed.

Step 4: Garnish with and orange slice & a cherry, and enjoy!

 If you don't dig brandy, sub for bourbon or whiskey!

If you don't like orange, sub for lemon!

If you don't like overly-sweet things- add in 1 Tbsp Sour mix, then finish with just a little Sprite!

If you're really feelin' fancy, buy orange or cherry bitters to enhance the fruit flavor!

(so many exclamation marks, so little time)

What drink represents where you're from?

Leave a recipe or name in the comments, I'd love to look it up!

xo, lp

for more drink recipes, go here.

for instagram fun, go here.

KIWI BERRY SANGRIA

I know what you're probably thinking: 

"Sangria is a summer drink, Laura! It's winter! Time for spiked cocoa and hot cider!"

Well, I mean...you're right... but.. that doesn't mean those are the only drinks to be had! What's more festive for Christmas than a red and green drink?

Thus, I give to you:

 What you'll need to make it happen (serves 4):

- 2.5 ounces vodka

- 1 ounce triple sec

- 2 kiwi

- 1/2 cup raspberries

- 8-10 strawberries

- 12 ounces sweet white wine (sauv blanc will work)

- 1/2 cup Sprite

How to make it happen:

Step 1: Cut up your kiwi and strawberries and add to a glass container with your vodka, triple sec, raspberries, and wine.

Step 2: Let those berries soak up that booze in the fridge for 2-3 hours before you're ready to serve.

Step 3: When you're ready to serve, pour sangria into glasses, scooping in some fruit to make it festive. 

Step 4: Top with Sprite, garnish with an extra kiwi- and enjoy!

Festive- right? 

And- if you're a hot-drink purist for the season, feel free to Pin it for a summer party- it'll still be great then too :)

What seasonal drink will you be serving this Christmas?

Feel free to share- I'm always up for new ideas!

xo, lp

TEA- LESS HOT TODDY

The other day it turned chilly and I decided it was time to make a hot toddy. 

Correction: I had a cold, and medicine wasn't making me feel better, so I decided it was time to make a hot toddy.

Rather than using the power of the ol' internet to make sure I had the recipe right, I thought I'd just wing it from my bartending days. 

Wellllll turns out my memory wasn't as awesome as I thought, because once I made it I thought it tasted delicious, but not quite right. After looking it up, I realized I missed the key ingredient - TEA!

So, thus came into play the tea-less hot toddy. It's still delicious and fully warms you, it's just not the traditional toddy!

What you'll need to make it happen:

- 2 ounces bourbon or whiskey (I choose Bulleit)

- 2 Tbsps honey

- 2 lemon wedges

- Cinnamon stick

- Hot Water

How to make it happen:

Brace yourselves, this is about to really difficult ;) 

Step 1: Throw your honey, 1/2 stick cinnamon, bourbon, and the juice of 1 lemon wedge in your glass.

Step 2: Fill with hot water, stir.

Step 3: Garnish with lemon & cinnamon and enjoy!

This drink is super simple (and tastes great without the tea!) and I'm not gonna lie, I not longer have that nagging cold, so we'll chalk this guy up to a win. For those of you looking for a classic Hot Toddy, here's a recipe to follow! 

What's your go-to winter drink?

I'm telling you, if you can't get rid of a cold, try bourbon!

xo, lp

(pssst! If you're looking for some cool glass mugs, I love these and these!)

RASPBERRY LEMONADE MARTINI

Today's drink recipe is awesomely easy, and can be served two ways- on the rocks (on ice) or straight up in a nice martini glass! Dani & I sipped on these by the pool the other night, and they were the perfect, refreshing, end of summer drinks! 

What you'll need to make them happen:

- Vodka (1.5 ounces per drink- I used Svedka)

- Fresh Raspberries

- Lemonade (I used CountryTime powdered)

- Ice & Toothpicks or skewers

How to make them happen:

Step 1: Mash a small handful of raspberries into 6 ounces of lemonade. You can use a spoon- or a blender if you're feeling REALLY ambitious. Let sit in fridge to get cold.

Step 2: Add your vodka to a shaker or glass with ice and shake like crazy until it's super cold. Pour into a martini glass, or leave in ice if you're having it on the rocks.

Step 3: Filter your raspberry lemonade mixture if you're drinking it straight up, or just pour it over ice & vodka as is. It's annoying as heck to try to drink little raspberry bits out of a martini glass- but isn't too bad with a straw :)

Step 4: Garnish with some skewered raspberries, and enjoy!

Easy, right? The lemonade keeps it just tart enough that you can drink one without feeling like you just drank a cup of sugar, but there's enough sweetness to cut the vodka.

I highly recommend this for a girl's night or a bachelorette/bridal shower!

What's your go-to, easy cocktail?

If you don't have one, feel free to steal this recipe!

xo, lp

For more drink recipes, click here!

MIXED BERRY MOJITOS

 I know I've been on a big cocktail kick on the blog lately- but it's just because it's too dang hot to make anything else! 

Today's drink is of course- in honor of the 4th! The berries not only make it delicious- but festive too!

What you'll need:

- Handful of mint leaves

- 2 teaspoons sugar

- Handful of strawberries, blueberries, raspberries

- 1.5 ounces white rum (or sub for vodka)

- Sprite

How to make it happen:

Step 1: Throw you strawberries, raspberries, mint, splash of sprite, and sugar in the bottom of your glass. Muddle until the berries are well mashed.

Step 2: Add your other berries, rum, and mix.

Step 3: Add a bunch of ice cubes (I make mine with mint frozen in) and top with sprite!

Step 4: Garnish with some frozen berries on a skewer and enjoy!

Oh and of course- the best part is eating the fruit when you're all done. Sugary, boozy, delicious fruit!

What will you be sipping on this 4th?

I'll be having one of these for sure!

xo, lp