On the Rocks: Raspberry Collins.

I love a good Tom Collins, but sometimes all that sweet and sour mix can give me heartburn after *ahem* a few. Even though this raspberry collins version uses lemon juice it still doesn’t seem quite as acidic and lot more suited to warm weather. Enjoy!

Ingredients:
– 2 ounces gin
– 1 ounce lemon juice
– ½ ounce simple syrup or 1 teaspoon superfine sugar
– 3 ounces chilled club soda
– ¾ ounce crème de framboise
– 3 ounces raspberry puree
– raspberries for garnish

Pour the gin, lemon juice, crème de framboise, raspberry puree, and simple syrup into and ice-filled Collins glass. Top with club soda and stir gently. Garnish with raspberries.

:: photo and cocktail recipe via Hostess with the Mostess

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On the Rocks: Orange Mojito.

It just hit me that I suck. I forgot about my On the Rocks post yesterday. Please accept my apologies and this orange mojito as a peace offering.

Ingredients:
– 3 parts orange-flavored vodka
– 1 part light rum (recommended: Cruzan Estate Light Rum 2 Years)
– 2 parts lime juice
– 1 part orange liquor
– 1 part simple syrup
– Soda water
– Mint leaf

Fill a highball glass to the rim with crushed ice. Pour vodka, rum, lime juice, orange liqueur, and simple syrup over the ice. Top up with soda water. Garnish with a mint leaf. Depending on the quantities you use, this drink could serve 1-20 people.

:: photo and cocktail recipe via yumsugar

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On the Rocks: Cinco de Mayo Edition.

I couldn’t leave you all wondering what to drink this evening as you celebrate Cinco de Mayo! Here are a few options to help you get in the spirit.

Red Headed Mexican
Ingredients:
– 1 1/4 oz Jose Cuervo Clasico
– 4 oz Lemon lime soda
(Sprite or 7up)
– Splash of cranberry juice

Combine tequila and lemon-lime soda in a rocks glass with ice. Add splash of cranberry juice. Garnish with lemon or orange peel.

Cinco Herradura Cocktail
Ingredients:
– 1 1/2 oz Tequila Herradura silver
– 2 oz pineapple juice
– 2 oz cranberry juice
– Splash of lemon-lime soda
Garnish: fresh lime wedge, green, red and white sugar for rimming

Stir the tequila, fruit juices and soda together in a tall glass. Garnish with a fresh lime. Rim a third of a tumbler with lime and dip in green sugar. Rim the adjoining third of the glass with lime and dip in white sugar; rim the last third and drip in red sugar. Pour drink in rimmed glass and serve.

Honey Mango Margarita
Ingredients
– 1 1/2 oz reposado tequila
– 1/2 oz Cointreau
– 1 oz honey
– 1/2 cup mango, sliced
– 1 cup ice
– juice of half lime
– salt for rimming

Mix all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Strain into a margarita glass rimmed with salt (optional).

:: all photos and cocktail recipes via Cocktail Times

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On the Rocks: Lime Derby.

I’m easily sucked into tradition and all that it entails. This Saturday is the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby and you can bet I’ll be tuned in to the all-day coverage right down until the winner crosses the finishing line. For those of you equally enthralled, you’ll know that the traditional cocktail of the Derby is the mint julep. But have you ever tried one? Wow. Powerful stuff. This year I’m opting for the lighter Lime Derby which just may take a permanent place on my summer cocktail list.

Ingredients:
– 1 1/2 oz. Smirnoff Lime Flavored Vodka
– 1 oz. simple syrup
– 1/2 oz. fresh lime juice
– Cucumber
– Fresh mint

Muddle cucumber in a mixing glass, add mint and bruise. Add remaining ingredients into a mixing glass, fill glass with ice. Shake the ingredients and strain the mixture into a martini glass. Garnish with a sprig of mint and a cucumber wheel.

:: photo and cocktail via Cocktail Times

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360 Vodka.

Not as if a lot of us need a great reason to toss one back, but 360 Vodka is giving us one anyway. The eco luxury vodka is crafted from a philosophy of eco-awareness and corporate responsibility. These ideas are then brought to fruition through their greener processes and products. During just the labeling process the company saves 113 grown trees, 48,371 gallons of water and 5,409 pounds of solid waste. The bottles are even 85% recycled glass. From the looks of it all you’d never guess what sort of liquid was floating around inside!

:: via yumsugar

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On the Rocks: Ruby Red Margarita.

Ruby Red Margaritas and the ridiculous amount of vitamin C found in these citrus fruits can help us all stay healthy. So, technically, you need to drink these for your own good.

Ingredients:
– lime wedge
– Coarse salt for coating the rim of the glass
– 1 jigger (1 1/2 ounces) tequila
– 3 tablespoons fresh pink grapefruit juice (preferably ruby red)
– 1 pony (1 ounce) orange-flavored liqueur
– 1/2 teaspoon superfine sugar if desired

Garnish: 1 quarter of a slice of ruby red grapefruit

Rub the rim of a cocktail glass with the lime wedge, dip it in the salt, coating it lightly, and chill the glass.

In a blender, blend tequila, grapefruit juice, liqueur, sugar and 1 cup ice cubes for 30 seconds. Pour the drink into the glass, and garnish it with the grapefruit slice.

Yield: 1 margarita

:: photo and recipe via Our Kitchen Sink

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On the Rocks: Royal 61.

I’ve never been a big fan of gin, but this watermelon-y Royal 61 looks mighty tasty if I do say so myself.

Ingredients:
– 1 1/2 oz gin
– juice of half lime
– 1 oz creme de cassis
– 1 oz watermelon syrup*
– Champagne
– sugar for rimming (optional)

Mix all ingredients except in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into a chilled martini glass rimmed with sugar (optional). Top with Champagne.

* Watermelon Syrup
To make watermelon syrup, mix 4 cups pureed seedless watermelon and 1 cup granulated sugar in a saucepan over medium heat and stir while bringing to a simmer. Adjust the heat to maintain a simmer. Stirring occasionally, simmer until the mixture has reduced by one half in volume and becomes syrupy. Remove from heat to cool and then place in a glass bowl or jar, cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Keeps 5 days in the refrigerator. Makes 2 cups.

:: photo and cocktail via Cocktail Times

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On the Rocks: Blackberry Rum Runner.

It’s overcast and we’re expecting rain this afternoon, but I’m busy picturing myself on a tropical beach sipping on one of these Blackberry Rum Runners.

Ingredients:
– 1-1/2 oz rum
– 1/2 oz Banana Liqueur
– Splash of pineapple juice
– Splash of orange juice
– 1/2 oz Monin Blackberry Syrup
– 3 fresh blackberries
– Splash of Sprite

Pour the first five ingredients, along with two of the blackberries, into a cocktail shaker with enough ice to fill a 14-ounce beverage glass. Shake. Pour into beverage glass and top with Sprite. Garnish with the reserved blackberry and a straw.

:: cocktail and image via Cocktail Times

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