Cocktails

Sparkling Lillet and Grapefruit Cocktail
recipes

Embrace the Elegant Hour with a Sparkling Aperitif

Light, refreshing, and almost too easy to sip on, this sparkling Lillet aperitif is just the ticket for starting a weekend off on the right note.
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Light, refreshing, and almost too easy to sip on, this sparkling Lillet aperitif is just the ticket for starting a weekend off on the right note. Even better, it clocks in at a mere four ingredients and requires naught but a languid stir in the glass and a quick swipe of a vegetable peeler along a juicy orange for the twist garnish.

If you're not yet familiar with the concept of the "elegant hour" — essentially cocktail hour, with an emphasis on delicate aperitifs — embrace the idea by sipping this sparkling stunner slowly.

Campari and Wine Cocktail Recipe
recipes

Whet Your Appetite With This Campari and White Wine Cocktail

As the weather warms, turn to a classic Italian aperitif, the Bicyclette, as your go-to cocktail.
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As the weather warms, turn to a classic Italian aperitif, the Bicyclette, as your go-to cocktail. This orange-hued drink is both bracing and slightly bitter, which makes it perfect for whetting appetites before bar snacks or dinner. The best part? All you really need is three ingredients that you probably already have at home. Keep watching to learn how to make this picnic-perfect tipple.

Frozen Margarita Recipe
recipes

No Sugar Needed For a Flavorful Frozen Margarita

In Texas, just about every restaurant offers three different ways of serving a margarita: straight up, on the rocks, or frozen.
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In Texas, just about every restaurant offers three different ways of serving a margarita: straight up, on the rocks, or frozen. I took this for granted, as when I moved to California, I sadly discovered that most Mexican joints don't offer the slushy form (with a few exceptions — thank heavens for the frozen margarita machine at Tacolicious!). Luckily, I am the proud owner of a blender, so when I'm making Mexican food at home, you better believe I'm pairing it with a frozen margarita.

There's no sugary syrup involved in my recipe, only orange liqueur, lime juice, and blanco tequila. And if you're worried it won't be sweet enough, don't be! This is a smooth, very drinkable cocktail. This recipe will make you feel the effects fast, so even if you think it tastes "weak" after a few sips, remember: that's just because your taste buds may be a bit frozen!

Keep reading for the recipe.

Signature Wedding Cocktail Ideas
Cocktails

13 Ways to Shake Up a Standout Signature Wedding Cocktail

More and more, couples are choosing to create a signature cocktail at their wedding.
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Signature Wedding Cocktail Ideas

More and more, couples are choosing to create a signature cocktail at their wedding. When we asked you where you stood, most of you said you loved the idea! Whether you're currently on the lookout for ways to make a standout cocktail or love some wedding eye candy, here are some great cocktail ideas from real weddings.

Photo by Max Wanger via 100 Layer Cake
Gold Sugar Rim Create a Menu Colorful Daytime Cocktails Whimsical Garnishes Creative Coasters Exotic Floral Garnishes Unusual Serving Vessels
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Stiff Drink Recipes
Cocktails

Stiff Drinks to Get You Through Tax Day

If you're a procrastinator like myself, you may have put off taxes until the very last minute — in which case, your weekend's spent toiling over documents and forms.
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If you're a procrastinator like myself, you may have put off taxes until the very last minute — in which case, your weekend's spent toiling over documents and forms. Make all that paperwork just a little more enjoyable by filing it with a stiff drink in hand (not that we're endorsing drunk tax filing!). Check out a handful of the spiritous drinks we'll be nursing to ease that tax pain.


Gin and It
Death in the Afternoon
Sazerac

Means of Preservation
Black Russian
Gin Sling
Strawberry Balsamic Cocktail Video
recipes

Strawberry Balsamic Crush: A Sweet, Tart, Savory Cocktail

We think there's no better way to celebrate Spring in full swing than with a cocktail that celebrates one of the season's greatest fruits: strawberries.
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We think there's no better way to celebrate Spring in full swing than with a cocktail that celebrates one of the season's greatest fruits: strawberries. But a strawberry daiquiri this cocktail is not; this cocktail, appropriately dubbed the strawberry balsamic crush, combines sweet, tart, and savory thanks to the combination of fresh berries, aged balsamic vinegar, and freshly ground black pepper. Here, Happiest Hour hosts Matthew Rodrigues and Brandi Milloy show how the strawberry balsamic crush cocktail comes together.

Cocktail App
digital culture

Minibar: A Complete On-the-Go Guide to Cocktails

Want to learn how to craft a martini (shaken, not stirred, of course) and then some?
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Want to learn how to craft a martini (shaken, not stirred, of course) and then some? Whether or you're a master mixologist or a cocktail connoisseur-in-training, the elegant Minibar ($3) iOS app is your go-to mobile destination for delicious drinks. It's a great app to have on hand when entertaining away from your own kitchen.

Minibar is a great way to learn about mixology, too. The app is stocked with beautiful high-quality images, over 100 recipes, and guides to glassware. Bookmark your favorite cocktails or create shopping lists for the mixed drinks you want to make. Minibar will even suggest cocktails based on what is already in your pantry.

Craving more cocktail inspiration? Turn to the drink savants at POPSUGAR Food for the tastiest recipes around. Balsamic Bloody Mary? Yes, please!

Classic Mai Tai Recipe
recipes

Happy Hour: Mai Tai

Despite a brief tenure as a bartender and a fascination with cocktail culture (and consumption), I've always been a bit apprehensive when it comes to venturing into the world of tiki cocktail creation, since many of these tropical tipples owe their complex flavor to a laundry list of ingredients.
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Despite a brief tenure as a bartender and a fascination with cocktail culture (and consumption), I've always been a bit apprehensive when it comes to venturing into the world of tiki cocktail creation, since many of these tropical tipples owe their complex flavor to a laundry list of ingredients. Thankfully, the Mai Tai — a rum-forward stunner — is comparatively simple, clocking in at a mere four ingredients, and has quickly become a staple in my home bar repertoire.

Even more crucially, this classic Polynesian recipe is dangerously quaffable — watch out; it packs a real punch — perfectly suited to Spring's warmer weather, and a solid choice for toasting to Sunday's Mad Men premiere thanks to its retro styling. Get the recipe and follow suit.

Mad Men Cocktail Recipes
Cocktails

Toast Mad Men's Return With Cocktail Classics

Thank goodness Mad Men returns for its sixth season this Sunday; any longer, and I might have taken up a three-martini lunch habit.
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Thank goodness Mad Men returns for its sixth season this Sunday; any longer, and I might have taken up a three-martini lunch habit. I am giddy at the return of retro style and classic cocktails. Even as it evolves, the 1960s-set show always shines a compelling lens on American cocktail culture. Celebrate the return of this tribute to classic libations by mixing up a drink (or three) featured on the show.

Sources: AMC and Anna Monette Roberts
Martini Tom Collins Brandy Alexander Old Fashioned Campari With a Twist Gin Gimlet Mai Tai
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