This past Thursday, the NFL returned with the first game of the season where the Denver Broncos sliced and diced the Baltimore Ravens. This weekend though, is the official kickoff to the season with the first NFL Sunday of the year. Are you planning a tailgate? Do you have the menu planned? How about the drinks? Well, we wanted to share a few of our favorite kickoff cocktails to sip while watching your favorite team this weekend. None of these are too difficult, because lets face it, who wants to deal with 10 different ingredients and have to clean up that mess? In between snaps, you need quick and easy access to some good eats and strong drinks, so here’s some simple cocktails we suggest for game day.
Irish Coffee: If you’re an early starter on Sundays like me, you’ll want a little pick me up while firing up that grill and getting the party started. An Irish coffee kills two birds with one stone.
- 1 cup freshly brewed hot coffee
- 1 Tbsp brown sugar
- 1 1/2 oz Irish Whiskey
- Heavy cream, slightly whipped
Pour your coffee into a warmed glass about 3/4th’s of the way full. Add in your brown sugar and stir until it dissolves. Next pour in the whiskey and finally top off with your heavy cream by layering it over the top using the back of a spoon. Stir to your liking and serve.
Apple Pie Punch: I know, I said simple drinks, and then you read Apple Pie and think there’s probably like 50 things going into this. This one isn’t quick, but it is easy. It’s meant to be made in bulk and made a few hours before (or overnight). Try this one, you wont regret it.
Single Serve
- 1/2 cup of Apple juice
- 1/2 cup of Apple cider
- 2 tbsp of sugar
- 1/4 cinnamon stick
- 1 shot of Everclear (Or substitute grain alcohol).
Party Serving
- 1 gal of apple juice
- 1 gal of apple cider
- 4 cups of sugar
- 7 cinnamon sticks
- 1 qt everclear
Add the apple juice,cider,cinnamon sticks, and sugar in a pot, then boil until the sticks open all te way up. Let it cool and then add in your Everclear. Chill, possibly overnight, and enjoy.
John Daly: This one’s pretty standard these days at Tailgates in the South, especially with the Sweet Tea Vodka boom from a few years ago. Three simple ingredients, two if you use sweet tea flavored vodka instead.
- 1 1/2 oz. Vodka
- 1 oz Iced Tea
- 1 oz Lemonade
- 1 wedge Lemon
Pour your ingredients in a tall glass filled with ice, then stir. Alternatively you can make this drink by mixing equal parts sweet tea flavored vodka, and lemonade.
Black & Tan: We’re not big beer fans, but most of our friends are. So while it’s easy to just buy a 12 pack and call it a day, we like to take it a step further. Two good beers, poured together, and making one awesome beer cocktail.
- 8 oz Guinness Stout beer
- 8 oz Bass (or your favorite pale ale)
Pour your pale ale into a pint glass. Float the Guinness on top to fill the glass, by pouring it over a bar spoon, to sit on top of the pale ale.
Washington Apple: What would a tailgate be without a shooter? This one’s one of Lori’s favorites, and one of my most popular shots served. Its simple with only 3 ingredients, and its dangerously good. It’s got enough alcohol in it to sneak up on you, but all you’ll notice is the sweet taste of apple.
Pour all ingredients into a shaker filled with ice.. Shake and strain into chilled shot glasses and serve.
\So what’s your favorite tailgating drink? We’re working on our list of Top 10 Tailgating drinks for next week, and we would love your input. That’s all for now.
Cheers!
