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Tropicana Caipirinha

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…..Memorial day is just around the corner. Planning on going to the beach? BBQ? Hanging out with friends? Either way, we’ve got the perfect cocktail to help you celebrate and cool off at the same time. Caipirinhas are the national drink of Brazil and one of my personal favorite summer drinks. Here is a tropical adaptation that is sure to be a hit with your friends. Cheers.

Tropic Cana Caipirinha

  • 2 oz Leblon Cachaça
  • 1/2 oz. Amaretto
  • 2 oz. pineapple juice
  • 2 oz. guava nectar
  • 1/2 oz. fresh lime juice
  • Pinch of ground cinnamon
    Shake the ingredients hard and strain over ice into a highball glass. Garnish with a pineapple spear.

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Recipes

Earth Day Cocktails and Spirits

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…..The first Earth day was celebrated in 1970, and now in 2012 what was once a small movement has become a way of life. Sunday, April 22nd is Earth Day and if you’re sitting on the couch wondering what can you do to celebrate, we’ll tell you: Have a drink ! That’s right, even while enjoying a drink or two ( or three) you can show your support for the event that is growing bigger each year. Join in with over 1 billion individuals and 192 countries in celebrating the saving of our planet. Going green and becoming eco-friendly is the norm now especially with every day products you buy in the grocery store, but not to be left out, alcohol companies have joined in on the fun. Below we’ll highlight a few Spirits that are green/eco-friendly as well as a few cocktails to try.

Square One Vodka($28-$35/750ML):

Square One Organic Vodka is the first rye vodka produced in the United States that has a certified organic growing and fermentation process as the backbone of the spirit. This Kosher spirit is distilled in small batches and donates a percentage of its annual profits to environmental causes. Flavors include Basil, Botanical, and Cucumber in addition to their base Vodka.

360 Vodka ($16-18/750 ML):
360 Vodka offers every day, super-premium vodka that appeals to your taste buds and your conscience. Their bottle ‘s are made of 85% recycled glass, their unique cork top is 100% recyclable, and they are distilled through Earth Friendly Distilling Company. They offer flavored vodkas as well including: Cherry, Lemon, Peach, Vanilla, Orange, Grape, Cola, and Chocolate.
VeeV Acai Liqueur  ($32-36 / 750 ML):
Besides being one of the tastiest liqueurs on the planet, it’s also one of the most eco-friendly. VeeV is the world first acai spirit, and features an envorinmentally safe production process that includes being carbon neutral. In addition they strive to raise awareness, resources, and support for the Brazilian rain forest. $1 from every bottle sold is donated to the Sustainable Acai project which directly benefits the farming community.
Makers Mark Bourbon ($18-25 / 750 ML)
That’s no typo. If you didn’t know Makers Mark was in on the “green” game consider yourself officially educated. We all know Makers Mark is one of the best tasting, and commercially accepted bourbons on the market. But what many don’t know is back in 2009 they implemented a new system which recycles 95% of their wastes, and uses some to create renewable energy. Though shipping and packaging are not yet “green”, they are working on it.
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Veev Spa Cooler
  • 2 ounces VeeV Açaí Spirit
  • 1-2 sprigs of mint
  • 6 cucumber slices (thin)
  • 1 ounce fresh lime juice
  • ¾ ounce simple syrup
Shake all ingredients well with ice and strain into an ice-filled rocks glass. Garnish with a cucumber slice served double strained in a chilled cocktail glass. 

360 California Girl

  • 2 oz 360 Mandarin Orange
  • 2 Strawberries muddled
  • 2 Basil leaves muddled
  • Lemon-lime soda for topper
Add all ingredients to a rocks glass and top with lemon lime soda. 

Square One Fresh Cut Cocktail

  • 1.5 oz. Square One Cucumber
  • 3/4 oz. Cointreau
  • 1 oz. fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 oz. agave nectar or simple syrup
  • 6 – 10 Mint leaves
 Tear the mint leaves in half and place in mixing cup with lemon juice and sweetener.  Muddle mint well, then add Square One Cucumber and Cointreau with ice. Shake and double strain into a chilled martini glass. Cocktail should appear crystal green.  Garnish with long lime shavings from your zester, which will look like fresh cut grass in the drink.

Makers Mark Summer Breeze

  • 1-1/4 parts Maker’s Mark® Bourbon
  • Orange liqueur
  • Ginger ale
  • Orange wedge

Fill rocks glass with ice. Add Maker’s Mark,® a splash of orange liqueur and a squeeze of fresh orange. Top off with ginger ale. Garnish with an orange wedge.

While this is only a small list (and some of our favorites), their are PLENTY, of organic, eco-friendly, and green Spirits on the market looking to join your liquor cabinet. Be sure to check some of them out and see what you like. Recipes were courtesy of Makers Mark, Square One, 360 Vodka, and VeeV. For more spirit suggestions, cocktail recipes, and new be sure to Like Us On FaceBook OR follow us on Twitter. Cheers.

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Review: Voli Raspberry Cocoa Fusion Vodka

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…..With the start of every New Year, comes the desire to create New Years resolutions. January is coming to a close so by now you’re either in full swing of your resolutions or have completely given up. No one resolution is more popular than the plan to shed a few pounds. Everyone sees this as an opportunity for a fresh start so they jump on the bandwagon after having consumed every cake, pie, cookie, and drink over the Holidays. Because of this companies are noticing the trend and hoping to ride its waves. Voli Light Vodka is one such company. They’ve created a line of low calorie vodkas in hopes that those of us choosing to live a healthier lifestyle can still go out and enjoy a few drinks without worries of what it will do to their stomach in the morning. How healthy is it, well Voli Vodkas are on average between 25% and 40% lower in calories than some of your favorite brands. They use all natural ingredients, and offer a distillation process featuring french wheat and pure spring water. They offer a standard vodka as well as several infused flavors so we decided to give Raspberry Cocoa a try.

 

First Impression: Voli comes to you in the standard tall and slender 750ml bottle (they have smaller sizes as well), and features a frosted glass appearance. Graphics are nothing special, with 3 impressions of their logo on the front. However what IS a breath of fresh air is on the back they actually do list the calories, carbs, protein, and fat per 1.5 oz serving size. Not only do they advertise being a healthy alternative but they back it up by stating the facts on the bottle, impressive. In the case of this Raspberry Cocoa, it contains 73 calories, 2grams of carbs, and no protein or fat per 1.5 oz. Upon unscrewing the top, you immediately get an intense aroma of raspberry. I tried to get a sense of the cocoa but couldn’t find it. Hopefully it comes through in the flavor.

The Taste:  If I said I chose the raspberry cocoa flavor randomly It would be a lie. Besides being one of my favorite flavor combinations, It’s been touted as one of the best fusions they make. So how is it? Let me just say that this is probably one of the most sippable flavored vodkas I’ve had in A WHILE. One of my biggest pet peeves is that often flavored vodkas put so much into creating that authentic aroma for whatever flavor it intends to be, but then once you taste it the flavor is lost in the strength of the spirit. While the cocoa aroma is non existent (at least to us), the flavor combined the two perfectly. You could easily pour this over ice and call it a night. If your going to mix it (you know you will !), you’ll want to stick to complimentary flavors. Cranberry, raspberry liqueurs, rum/irish creams, and definitely sparkling wines work amazing with this.  Of course with every good comes a little bit of bad. Unfortunately the only “bad” we could really find with this one was that it comes at only 60 proof which depending on what type of drinker you are could be viewed as either good or bad. Likewise the lower proof is most likely a big reason it is easier to drink and is able to let the flavors shine through.

Grade: A-

Price: 19.99

Overall: Not much to dislike about this one. My guess is this is going to catch on like crazy this Spring and Summer and with a current ad campaign featuring the Prince of Miam: Pitbull, it’s only a matter of time before you see this one taking over South Beach. Below you can find a few recipes to try.

Raspberry Cocoa Kiss 
1 1/2oz Voli Raspberry Cocoa
1 oz Baileys
1/2 oz Chambord

Shake and strain all ingredients into a chilled martini glass rimmed with chocolate flakes.

Blushing Berry

2 oz Voli Raspberry Cocoa
1/2 oz raspberry liqueur
Regular or diet cranberry juice

Build ingredients over ice and stir in a rocks glass. Garnish with a lime twist and fresh raspberry.

The Flirt

2 oz Voli Raspberry Cocoa
5 fresh raspberries
1 lemon wedge
1 lime wedge
1/2 oz simple syrup or 1/2 packet of sweetener
Prosecco

Muddle fresh raspberries, lemon, lime
and simple syrup. Add other ingredients and ice.
Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass.. Top with Prosecco.Garnish with raspberries skewered on a toothpick.

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Fall Cocktail: Adult Pumpkin Pie Milkshake

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…..Fall is officially here, and I have to admit, I’m one of the biggest advocates for seasonal drinking. In the Summer’s I’m all about flavored rums, frozen cocktails, and tiki drinks, but when the Autumn and Winter turn up, it’s all fall flavors you’ll find inspiring my drinks. Whether it’s warm bourbon and scotch filled drinks, or dessert cocktails made with your Kahluas, Irish creams, and candy-like liqueurs, there is sure to be some good smells resonating from behind my bar. Much like myself, my better half and contributor to 101, Lorianne, also tends to trend towards the seasons when tending to her first love: baking. In fact, while browsing one of her favorite baking websites she came across a recipe that caught her eye and said it needed to be shared on 101. I thought to myself, Pumpkin? Milkshake? Bourbon?… Yes Please. This one calls for a few more ingredients then you may be use to carrying so make a trip to the store if you need to, give this one a try and see if you want to share it at your next get together (Thanksgiving? Halloween?), or keep it to yourself (We wouldn’t blame you).

 

Bourbon Pumpkin Pie Milkshake( Makes 2 Milkshakes)

  • 2 Cups vanilla ice cream
  • 1/2 Cup milk
  • 1/4 Half and half
  • 1 Tbs vanilla extract
  • 2/3 Cup pureed pumpkin
  • 1/2 Tbs pumpkin pie spice
  • 1/3 Cup graham cracker crumbs
  • 2-3 oz of bourbon (We Used Makers Mark)
  • Frosting/Sprinkles for Rimming of the glasses
  • A Dash of Cinnamon
  • Whipped Cream (Optional)

Add all your ingredients to a blender and mix until combined. Rim glasses with a light coating of frosting then dip in sprinkles. Pour in shake and sprinkle cinnamon on top. Top with whipped cream (optional). If you’re like me, that 2-3 ounces of bourbon make turn into 3-6 easily. Also, Makers Mark is my preferred bourbon for dessert drinks calling for bourbon (Like Egg Nog), due to it’s sweet taste in comparison to other bourbons. Don’t forget to “Like” us on Facebook! Hope you enjoy, class dismissed.

(Photos and Recipe coourtesy of HowSweetItIs.)

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