Cocktails of the Week: NUVO Sparkling Liqueur and Lemon Sorbet

By Christabelle…@CBellesCloset

To welcome the summer months, here are two mouth-watering recipes to glam up your Memorial Day weekend extravaganza. Make your summer kick-off bash a chic affair with The Highball, made with NUVO Lemon Sorbet and the Sparkling Sunset, made with NUVO Sparkling Liqueur and pineapple juice. Enjoy and have one for me (I am still sadly CARB FREE…boooooo!):

 

Nuvo Classic Sparkling Liquer

The Highball

4 oz. NUVO Lemon Sorbet

1 ½ oz. pomegranate juice

1 ½ oz. gin

Serve over ice in a tall glass and garnish with fresh fruit

Sparkling Sunset

3 oz. NUVO Sparkling Liqueur

3 oz. pineapple juice

Serve over ice in a tall glass and garnish with fresh fruit

(21+ – please drink responsibly)

Cocktail of the Week: Hot Peppermint Mocha Shots with Coffee-mate

By Christabelle…

I have taken my UGGS out of the closet – it is officially cold here in NYC. To welcome the cooler weather, I have opted to cozy up with Hot Peppermint Mocha Shots and Javatini – delightful blends of chocolate, peppermint and vanilla and caramel flavors.  Easy to shake up and even more fun to enjoy, these fall favorites are a hit with everyone – especially when it is too cold outside to hit the happy hour scene…

Hot Peppermint Mocha Shots:

1 tsp. vanilla extract

3/4 cup water

3/4 cup Coffee-mate Peppermint Mocha

3/4 bar (3 oz.) dark chocolate baking bar

2 oz. peppermint schnapps

Whipped cream

-HEAT water to boiling in small heavy-duty saucepan with vanilla extract; heat for 1 minute. Reduce heat to medium. Add Coffee-mate and chocolate; whisk until smooth, slightly thickened and hot. Add optional peppermint schnapps.

-DIVIDE mixture between 6 small coffee cups or tall shot glasses; top with dollop of whipped cream and serve.

Javatini

1/4 cup espresso

2 Tbsp. Coffee-mate White Chocolate Caramel Latte

2 oz. vodka

1 oz. coffee liqueur

Ice cubes

 

- FILL cocktail shaker halfway with ice.

-ADD espresso, Coffee-mate, vodka and liqueur; cover.

-SHAKE for 10 to 15 seconds. Strain into chilled martini glass.

(21+ – please drink responsibly)

Cocktails of the Week: Baileys Original Irish Cream, Ketel One Vodka and Moon Mountain Vodka

By Christabelle…

What better to soothe your bitter-weather-blues than a schnazzy cocktail to warm your insides?!  Get frisky with these fabulous fall cocktail recipes from Baileys Original Irish Cream, Ketel One Vodka and Moon Mountain Vodka. Perfect for after-raking leaves, pumpkin carving or apple picking… TGIF!

Autumn Appreciation
Ingredients
2 ounces Baileys Irish Cream with a hint of Caramel
1 ounce Ketel One Vodka
1 ounce Espresso
Caramel
Preparation
1.         Swirl caramel around the inside of a martini glass and put to side.
2.         Pour Baileys Irish Cream with a hint of Caramel, Ketel One, Ice and Espresso into a shaker and shake until very frothy.
3.         Strain into Caramel swirled martini glass, making sure that the foam is on top to make it look like a cappuccino. Using a spoon while pouring helps keep the foam on top.

Harvest Highball
Recipe Created for Moon Mountain Vodka by Kathy Casey Liquid Kitchen™ Ingredients
1 1/2 ounces Moon Mountain Organic Vodka
3/4 ounce Housemade Cranberry Syrup including 3- 4 of the berries (recipe follows)
3/4 ounce Fresh Lemon Juice
1 1/2 ounces Fresh Orange Juice
2 dashes Angostura Bitters
Preparation
1.         Measure the Moon Mountain Vodka, Cranberry Syrup including a few of the berries, lemon juice and orange juice into a cocktail shaker.
2.         Fill with ice and add the bitters.
3.         Shake vigorously and pour into a tall glass.
Housemade Cranberry Syrup
Makes 1 1/2 cups

Ingredients
1 cup Fresh Cranberries
1 cup Water
1 cup Sugar

Preparation
1.         Place ingredients into a small saucepan.
2.         Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat.
3.         Simmer for 1 minute then turn off heat.
4.         Let syrup infuse for one hour and then refrigerate.
(21+ – please drink responsibly)

Cocktail of the Week: Kahlúa Peppermint Mocha

By Christabelle…

This winter, warm up by the fire withKahlúa Peppermint Mocha ($17.99), a delectable mix of 100% Arabica Coffee beans, cool peppermint and decadent dark chocolate.  A holiday twist on the classic favorite, this limited edition spirit from the makers of the world’s number one selling coffee liqueur is the perfect addition to any gathering.  While unwinding after a long day on the slopes, toasting with friends at a holiday celebration, or bringing along as a seasonal gift to a holiday party, Kahlúa Peppermint Mocha is the beverage to enjoy as you savor winter’s delights.

You can enjoy Kahlúa Peppermint Mocha served neat, on the rocks, or blended beautifully into cocktails, coffee drinks, and especially hot cocoa.

Try making this cocktail at home to heat up your winter season:

Kahlúa Peppermint Mocha Hot Cocoa

2 parts Milk

1 part Drinking Chocolate

1 part Kahlúa Peppermint Mocha

Bring milk to a simmer. Whisk in drinking chocolate. Simmer for 30 seconds while stirring. Add Kahlúa Peppermint Mocha. Garnish with peppermint stick and marshmallows. 

(21+ – please drink responsibly)

Cocktail of the Week: Camus VS Elegance Season’s Delight

By Christabelle…

The leaves are starting to change…you might have just used a coat to ward off the chill…what better reason to make yourself a Season’s Delight cocktail with CAMUS VS ELEGANCE Cognac – Camus youngest Cognac, the Very Special is a blend of different eaux-de-vie of the Cognac region.

Season’s Delight

2 oz CAMUS VS ELEGANCE

1/2 oz Aperol

1/2 oz St Germain

3/4 oz Lemon

1 dash of rubarb bitters

Shake and strain into cocktail glass and garnish with a flamed orange twist.

(21+ – please drink responsibly)

Cocktail of the Week: Bohemia Frida Kahlo Beer

By Christabelle…

Ok…so it isn’t a cocktail per se, but it is a DAMN GOOD beer.

Don’t hide this beauty in the fridge…place her in an elegant ice bucket and show her off…the limited edition Bohemia Frida Kahlo Limited Edition  bottles. This is for the sophisticated, upscale beer drinker…Natty Light boozers need not apply.

Having just hit store shelves in the US, this bottle features a golden neck and cap, Frida Kahlo’s face and classic Mexican symbols, like flowers, hummingbirds and monkeys, often found in the iconic Mexican artist’s work.  Bohemia, like her bottle,  is quite a piece of craftsmanship as well, offering adults a rich, wine-like beer with subtle aromas of fruit, roasted barley that give way to a cocoa-like bitterness and sweet hints of vanilla. Yes, you can sigh out a “yum” out loud…I did.

This bottle will only be available
for purchase until November, so get yours before they are G-O-N-E, gone.
(21+ – please drink responsibly)

About Bohemia
Considered one of the finest beers in the industry since its launch at the turn of the 20th century by Cervecería Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma (CCM), Bohemia is an authentic Mexican beer made especially for connoisseurs who appreciate its distinctive and impeccable taste.

Named after the Czech region, one of the world’s most recognized brewing areas, it is a full, rich beer that is almost wine-like in its earthy complexity. The deep but subtle aromas of fruit, roasted barley and minerals give way to flavors that have almost a cocoa-like bitterness paired with sweet hints of vanilla. Its lively carbonation is perfectly balanced with its overall richness. Bohemia’s label design and golden neck and cap highlight its aspect of exclusivity and elegance.

Distributed by Heineken USA, the brand prides itself on its quality and authenticity.

Cocktail of the Week: Labor Day with AGWA

By Christabelle…

Berry Kiss

As Labor Day weekend is fast approaching, now is the time to start planning long weekend getaways, end of summer parties, and family gatherings. But before we can say hello to fall, celebrate the unofficial end to summer with a refreshing new selection of late summer cocktails by Agwa de Bolivia—the world’s first & only coca leaf liqueur.

AGWA de Bolivia presents delicious new summer into fall cocktail recipes.

Here’s a peek into how AGWA is made:  Wild Bolivian coca leaves are hand-picked at 2000 metres in the Andes and shipped under armed guard in 2000 Kilo Bales to Amsterdam to be macerated and de-cocainized. The potent high strength flavour formula is reduced to 60 proof, bottled and then shipped around the world in a more conventional format. AGWA is rapidly causing a stir in the food and beverage world.

Now…get your thirst on:

Bolivian Sangria

Ingredients

8 oz of chilled AGWA de Bolivia, 8 oz of fresh lime juice, lemon lime soda, sliced apples, lemons, and blueberries

Preparation

Fill a pitcher with the ingredients above; add lemon lime soda or Asti Spumante. Finish by adding sliced apples, lemon wheels, and blueberries.

AGWA Berry Kiss

Ingredients

1.5 oz. AGWA de Bolivia Coca Leaf Liquor / 5 oz. chilled Prosecco / fresh lime juice / fresh blackberries and raspberries

Preparation

Combine AGWA, lime juice and chilled Prosecco and shake, garnish with fresh Blackberries and Raspberries

Bolivian Mojito

Ingredients

1.5 oz. AGWA, 12 Spearmint leaves, 1/2 lime, 7 oz. Club soda, 2 tsp. Sugar

Preparation

In a large glass, gently crush mint leaves. Then, squeeze lime juice over crushed leaves. Add sugar and ice. Afterwards, add AGWA and club soda. Stir drink well. Garnish with a lime wedge and tiny pieces of mint leaves.

AGWA Fresca

Ingredients

AGWA, lime, soda water

Preparation

AGWA topped with soda water and crushed lime, on the rocks

(21+ – please drink responsibly)

Cocktail of the Week: Van Gogh Vodka

By Christabelle…

A lover of the arts…there is nothing finer than admiring artwork with a refreshing cocktail in hand.  Super premium Van Gogh Vodka, Van Gogh’s flavored vodkas and Van Gogh Gin are distilled and bottled by the Royal Dirkzwager Distilleries in Schiedam, Holland. The city is famous since the 16th century not only because of the excellent water quality but also for innovation in distillation sciences. Who knew?  Now shake me up…WELL.

Van Gogh Lemontini

1-1/2 oz of Van Gogh Citroen Vodka

1 oz of water

1 Tbsp Sugar

1/2 Lemon

Squeeze half a lemon into a mixing glass and then place the lemon in the glass.  Add sugar and muddle. Add the rest of the ingredients, fill with ice and shake well.  Strain into a sugar-rimmed martini glass, garnish with a lemon twist and enjoy.

Van Gogh Oranje Sunset

1-1/2 oz of Van Gogh Oranje Vodka

1 oz of Cointreau

1 oz of pom juice

1 dash of lime juice

Combine all ingredients into a mixing glass and shake well, then pour into a rocks glass, garnish with a lime wedge and enjoy.

(21+ – please drink responsibly)