Warm Up & Welcome the New Year

This time of year as temperatures dip well below zero, you have to do everything you can to chase the chill away. This means, of course, taking advantage of the very thing you've come to dread by now, the weather!

How better to warm up and ring in the New Year than with a few nips of the perfect Après-Ski (or shovel or commute) Cocktail?

We've rounded up our Top 10 favorite winter refreshments for your enjoyment!

1. The Après Ski itself: Vodka, Licorice Liqueur, Green Creme de Menthe, and Lemonade, mixed and served in a julep cup with a sprig of fresh mint.
2. Crème Brulee Martini: Vanilla Vodka, Frangelico, and Cointreau, shaken and served in a chilled cocktail glass with a Crushed Graham Cracker rim.
3. Absinthe Suissesse: Absinthe with Crème de Menthe, Orgeat, Orange Flower Water, Egg White, and Half and Half, shaken and strained into a chilled cocktail glass.
4. Brandy Avondale: Baileys, Tuaca, Godiva Chocolate Liqueur and Cream are added to Brandy, shaken, strained into a snifter, and then topped with warm spices.
5. The Hot Toddy: Combines Brandy, Whiskey, or Rum with hot tea. Garnish with any tea accoutrements of your choice, and voila! A gorgeous winter warmer.
6. Pumpkin Pie Martini: Vanilla Vodka, Milk, Heavy Whipping Cream, Simple Syrup, and Hazelnut Liqueur are shaken with Pumpkin Pie Spice and poured into chilled martini glasses with Crushed  Vanilla Wafer rims. Sprinkled with a dash of Cinnamon. 
7. Vin Chaud: Wine, Citrus Fruit, and Spices boiled with Sugar and served Hot. A definite favorite! 
8. Wassail: Along the same lines as Vin Chaud, Wassail is made with Bourbon or Rye Whiskey, Ale, and Cider. Boiled with Berries, Ginger Root, Cinnamon, and Brown Sugar, it is a tasty complement to any winter activity. 
9. Snowball: Advocaat is combined with Lemonade and Lime Juice for the perfectly refreshing post-slopes treat. 
10. Cafè Amore: Hot Black Coffee is much improved with the addition of Cognac, Amaretto, and plenty of Whipped Cream. 

There you have it! Your very own Top 10 delicious Après-Ski cocktails. Now, when you hit the slopes or simply welcome 2014 this weekend, you have even more to look forward to.

À votre santé et bonne année! 

French Cocktail Favorites

As the weather finally heats up and your thoughts turn to summer entertaining, we decided to kick off your seasonal celebrations with some of our favorite French cocktails. With main ingredients ranging from wine to cognac, these cocktails ensure that there's something for every taste and preference.

FRENCH 75

The French 75, a gin-based drink, was created in Paris prior to World War II and has been a favorite of French soldiers for decades. With the "power of a 75mm field gun", the drink combines 1 oz. Gin, 1 oz. Cointreau, a dash of fresh lime juice and a sugar cube, all topped with Champagne.

KIR ROYALE/IMPERIAL

Commonly enjoyed as an apertif, the Kir is a very popular French cocktail that consists of 9 parts dry White Wine or Champagne to one part Crème de Cassis.

THE ROSE

Make these for your next Great Gatsby celebration, as The Rose cocktail has been a Parisian favorite since the 1920's. Simply shake 2 oz. French Vermouth with 1 oz. Kirshwasser (cherry brandy) and 1 teaspoon Raspberry Syrup. 

SIDECAR

This French favorite is so fabulous, numerous Paris bars claim to be to the original concoctor. No matter its true origins, stick to the basics by combining 3/4 oz. Cognac with 3/4 oz. Couintreau and a dash of Lemon Juice. Served in a sugar-rimmed glass, this tasty treat is sheer perfection. 

Try your hand at some mixology this weekend, raise your glass to the French with the toast of, "À votre santé," and enjoy! 

Top Ten Après-Ski Cocktails

This time of year when spring is just around the corner, you have to do everything you can to keep the cabin fever at bay. This means, of course, taking advantage of the very thing you've come to dread by now, the weather!

Whether you ski, cross-country or regular downhill, snowboard, snowshoe, skate, ice fish, snowmobile, or just hang out in the chalet, we've got a few great winter warmers on the blog today. That's right, how better to warm up and recharge than with a few nips of the perfect Après-Ski (or snowboard or snowshoe or...) Cocktail?

We've rounded up our Top 10 favorite Après-Ski refreshments for your enjoyment!

1. The Après Ski itself: Vodka, Licorice Liqueur, Green Creme de Menthe, and Lemonade, mixed and served in a julep cup with a sprig of fresh mint.
2. Crème Brulee Martini: Vanilla Vodka, Frangelico, and Cointreau, shaken and served in a chilled cocktail glass with a Crushed Graham Cracker rim.
3. Absinthe Suissesse: Absinthe with Crème de Menthe, Orgeat, Orange Flower Water, Egg White, and Half and Half, shaken and strained into a chilled cocktail glass.
4. Brandy Avondale: Baileys, Tuaca, Godiva Chocolate Liqueur and Cream are added to Brandy, shaken, strained into a snifter, and then topped with warm spices.
5. The Hot Toddy: Combines Brandy, Whiskey, or Rum with hot tea. Garnish with any tea accoutrements of your choice, and voila! A gorgeous winter warmer.
6. Pumpkin Pie Martini: Vanilla Vodka, Milk, Heavy Whipping Cream, Simple Syrup, and Hazelnut Liqueur are shaken with Pumpkin Pie Spice and poured into chilled martini glasses with Crushed  Vanilla Wafer rims. Sprinkled with a dash of Cinnamon. 
7. Vin Chaud: Wine, Citrus Fruit, and Spices boiled with Sugar and served Hot. A definite favorite! 
8. Wassail: Along the same lines as Vin Chaud, Wassail is made with Bourbon or Rye Whiskey, Ale, and Cider. Boiled with Berries, Ginger Root, Cinnamon, and Brown Sugar, it is a tasty complement to any winter activity. 
9. Snowball: Advocaat is combined with Lemonade and Lime Juice for the perfectly refreshing post-slopes treat. 
10. Cafè Amore: Hot Black Coffee is much improved with the addition of Cognac, Amaretto, and plenty of Whipped Cream. 

There you have it! Your very own Top 10 delicious Après-Ski cocktails. Now, when you hit the slopes this weekend, you have even more to look forward to!

À votre santé!