A Grateful Meal

Cocktail

Limoncello Spritz: The Ultimate Summer Mood

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Move over, Aperol Spritz. There’s a new refreshing summer cocktail on the block, the Limoncello Spritz, made with bubbly prosecco, soda water, and the sweet and tart taste of limoncello. This one will be on repeat all summer long. 

Limoncello spritz with lemon, ice, and basil as garnish on a white countertop.

What is Limoncello?

Limoncello is an Italian liqueur made from soaking lemon rinds in neutral-flavored alcohol. It results in a thick, sweet, and tart liqueur that can be drunk by itself as a digestif – something to sip on after a meal to help “digest.” It really delicious on its own but also makes for a phenomenal cocktail ingredient. 

Limoncello Spritz Ingredients

You’ll need:

  • Limoncello: You can find limoncello at most liquor stores without any issue. Bigger stores like Total Wine carry several brands of limoncello. I have yet to find a limoncello that I haven’t liked.
  • Prosecco: Prosecco is an Italian sparkling wine made from the Glera grape. Most proseccos are dry, but brut or extra dry are good options to ensure the cocktail is refreshing and not too sweet.
  • Soda water: Use plain sparkling water/club soda, or you can make some sparkling water with a Soda Stream. 
  • Lemons: Sliced-up lemons are the perfect garnish and add a little extra lemon flavor to the drink. 
  • Basil: Basil is a perfect Italian ingredient for an Italian cocktail. It’s a member of the mint family, so if you don’t have any on hand, you can substitute fresh mint. 

How to Make a Spritz

There aren’t any special techniques for making a spritz, but here are few tips for making a tasty and refreshing spritz. 

  • Avoid shaking the cocktail since so much of it is bubbly – it’ll just make a mess. 
  • It might seem weird to serve a cocktail that contains wine over ice, but it works in the case of spritzes. Fill a large wine glass 2/3 of the way up with ice to make sure the cocktail is ice cold and super refreshing. Add a few wheels of lemon and the basil to the ice before pouring in the cocktail ingredients. 
  • Pour the limoncello, prosecco, and soda water, and stir lightly. Garnish with extra basil. 
Two glasses limoncello spritz with lemon, ice, and basil as garnish on a white countertop.

How to Serve a Limoncello Spritz

While limoncello is a digestif, it can be enjoyed with other parts of a meal in cocktail form. Lemon flavors help cleanse the palate (another reason why Italians love limoncello at the end of the meal), so it’s a great cocktail to serve between different parts of a meal like after appetizers or before dessert, etc. How do I enjoy my Limoncello Spritz? Preferably on an Italian vacation to the Almafi Coast, but floating in a pool comes in second, even if it means a kiddie pool (which I totally did over Memorial Day weekend!) 😉

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Limoncello Spritz

  • Author: Melissa
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 1 cocktail 1x
  • Category: Cocktail
  • Cuisine: Italian
Scale

Ingredients

  • 2 oz. limoncello
  • 3 oz. prosecco
  • 1 oz. soda water
  • Sliced lemons and basil for garnish

Instructions

  1. Fill a large wine glass 2/3 of the way up. Add a sliced lemon and basil to the ice.
  2. Pour limoncello, prosecco, and soda water. Stir gently. Garnish with more lemon and basil. 

Keywords: Limoncello, Cocktail, Summer

Bourbon Hot Toddy

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Overview of bourbon hot toddy with lemon slices and cinnamon sticks
This post contains links that pay me a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Alright, folks, we’re in it. The first day of Winter was yesterday, and there won’t be an end in sight until March unless you live in Charleston, of course, in which case, we’ll be out of it in about 6 weeks. Everyone else: don’t worry, it’s fine. Everything will be fine, so long as you cozy up with this Bourbon Hot Toddy. The tart lemon and soothing sweet honey take the bite and edge off the bourbon with a tiny kick from the cinnamon, making it the most perfect hot, spiked beverage of the season. If I do say so myself. And most importantly, it’s warm, cozy, and calming.

Close up of hot toddy with bourbon, lemon, and cinnamon sticks.

Just like everyone else’s family this time of year, our’s was struck down by the dreaded common cold a few weeks ago. This is one of my favorite go-tos to soothe my ailment. (HUGE caveat and disclaimer: Before drinking alcohol while sick and/or taking medication (especially cold/flu medications), check with your doctor or pharmacist – drinking alcohol while taking certain medications can be a BIG no-no.) I mean, you would think there would be a cure for the common cold by now, but at least hot beverages are soothing. While there’s no proof that hot drinks have clinical results on the common cold, a little warm water, lemon, honey, cinnamon, and whiskey sure do feel good. 

Holding a cup of bourbon hot toddy with lemon slices and cinnamon sticks

No matter how you’re cozying up with this Bourbon Hot Toddy, it’s sure to keep you warm and toasty this season. To keep the good times rolling, don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter.
Happy Winter, y’all.
xoxo,
Your wimpy, Southern friend, Melissa

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Bourbon Hot Toddy

Overview of bourbon hot toddy with lemon slices and cinnamon sticks
  • Author: admin
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 1 serving 1x
Scale

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Pour hot water in a mug or other heat resistant cup. Add bitters, honey, and lemon juice. Stir until honey is completely dissolved.
  2. Add bourbon, cinnamon stick, and lemon slice(s). Stir and serve immediately. 

Keywords: Bourbon Hot Toddy

Easy Cranberry Margaritas for a Crowd

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Glasses of cranberry margaritas with a large pitcher of margarita
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It’s no secret around here that I’m kind of obsessed with cranberries. Not only do I like cranberry sauce, but I also like spicy cranberry shrimp. I mean, what says “the holidays” like bright, colorful, and tart cranberries? Let me tell you that these easy cranberry margaritas sure do say it loud and proud.  

Overview of three glasses of cranberry margaritas with fresh limes, rosemary, and cranberries

One of the challenges during the holiday season is choosing what cocktails, wine, or beer are served at gatherings. Often, wine and beer are natural choices. No mixing involved, and they can be bought in bulk. Cocktails are a little more challenging since they require mixing and matching. What you really need at your holiday gatherings is an easy and festive cocktail that can be mixed in a pitcher or punch bowl to be enjoyed by the masses. These easy cranberry margaritas are just the ticket.

I made these recently at Thanksgiving to accompany the beer and wine selection. These margaritas were gone in a blink of an eye. The empty pitcher was met with disappointed comments like “aw, the margaritas are gone already?” Not to worry, they took just a few minutes to whip another batch, and all was well again in the world. If you know you’ll need a large amount, this recipe can easily be multiplied using the handy feature in the recipe card below.

Glass of cranberry margarita garnished with rosemary, lime, and fresh cranberries

These margaritas are also just so naturally pretty and festive. With the bright red cranberries and green limes, it a natural fit for a Christmas party or gathering. I like to garnish with a sprig of rosemary for fun too. Fresh cranberries naturally float in liquid, so if you freeze them in advance, you can actually use them as “ice cubes” without watering down the cocktails. I like to use a combination of ice cubes and frozen cranberries to ensure they stay nice and cold. 

I didn’t add any salt to the rims of the glasses, but you certainly could. The margaritas themselves are a little sweet and tart, but if you prefer a sweeter margarita, you could try a sugar rim to balance the tart. I got no complaints with the margaritas as is, but I am all for you doing you. 

Don’t forget, if you’re loving my recipes, sign up for my newsletter to get all the latest and greatest! 

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Cranberry Margarita

Glass of cranberry margarita garnished with rosemary, lime, and fresh cranberries
  • Author: admin
  • Prep Time: 5
  • Total Time: 5
  • Yield: 6 cocktails 1x
Scale

Ingredients

  • 4 cups cranberry juice
  • 1 1/2 cups tequila blanco
  • 1/2 cup lime juice (or the juice of about 3 medium-large limes)
  • 1/2 cup fresh cranberries, for garnish 
  • Additional lime wedges and rosemary sprigs for garnish

Instructions

  1. Stir cranberry juice, tequila, and lime juice in a pitcher with ice. Add cranberries and a few lime wedges, which will float for garnish. 
  2. Serve cocktails with a sprig of rosemary and additional lime wedges. 

Notes

Tip: freeze cranberries in advance and use as “ice cubes” to keep drinks cold

Bourbon Mule

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Overview of bourbon mule in copper mugs with apple slices and cinnamon sticks.
This post contains links that pay me a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Cheers to the weekend, friends! We did it, we made it! Now let’s go celebrate with this Bourbon Mule. A bourbon mule is a Moscow mule’s American cousin. He’s got a deeper flavor, but still bright and spicy thanks to apple cider and ginger beer. And it still looks fabulous in those pretty copper mugs.

I mentioned in my last newsletter that I can always count on my brother to bring some bourbon for Thanksgiving. Over the years, he’s made some pretty awesome cocktails, and this a variation of one of his creations that he made for us. 

Of course, the key to any great cocktail is starting with some good quality liquor. Bourbon is definitely one that you don’t want skimp on for sure. Sometimes you can get away with some milder spirits on the cheaper end, but you will never be able to pull it off with something as complex as bourbon. Two of my favorite bourbons are made locally in Charleston. This is not an ad for either, but I really enjoy Cannon Distillery and High Wire’s bourbon. In this bourbon mule, I used Cannon Distillery’s Double Barrel Bourbon. 

Overview of bourbon mule in copper mugs with apple slices and cinnamon sticks.

I definitely think that this will be a part of our holiday celebrations this year. The husband has already been asking for more, and I have a feeling we’ll be making this again real soon. Cheers!

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Bourbon Mule

Close up of bourbon mule in copper mugs with apple slices and cinnamon sticks.
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 1 1x
Scale

Ingredients

  • 1 oz. bourbon
  • 4 oz. apple cider
  • ginger beer, to taste
  • apple slice and cinnamon stick for garnish

Instructions

  1. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, shake bourbon and apple cider together. Strain into a copper mug or glass filled with ice. Top off with ginger beer and garnish with apple slice and cinnamon stick.

El Diablo Cocktail

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El diablo cocktail with tequila, creme de cassis, and lime
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The El Diablo cocktail is exactly what you need for Halloween. It’s simple and the perfect drink to for any fall gathering or to sip on on the porch while you’re handing out candy, which may or may not be my plan this Halloween. (Don’t worry, while the candy will be enjoyed by adults and kids alike, the cocktails will be adult only!) I mean how can you not have a cocktail named “el diablo” on Halloween. Tell me, I’m listening.

El diablo cocktail with tequila, creme de cassis, and lime

This classic cocktail is just slightly sweet and a little spicy thanks to the addition of ginger beer and creme de cassis. To give the drink an extra tang, make sure that you use a good quality ginger beer that will give you the spice required for this drink. I recommend Fever Tree or Barritt’s ginger beer – I have used both with great results in the past. The creme de cassis adds a deep earthy sweetness as it is a liquor made from black currant berries. It adds a nice deep reddish/purple hue that just screams Halloween. Lime juice gives the drink acidity and tartness to balance the spice and sweetness from the ginger beer and creme de cassis. The drink hits all the key flavor points of a quality cocktail (at least in my book): slightly sweet, a tad spicy, and a good bit tart.

El diablo cocktail with tequila, creme de cassis, and lime

You can serve the drink on the rocks or neat in a champagne coupe like I did for a little extra drama. Top it with an extra squeeze of lime and a lime wedge, and you’re golden.

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El Diablo Cocktail

El diablo cocktail with tequila, creme de cassis, and lime
  • Yield: 1 1x
Scale

Ingredients

  • 3 tbsp. (or 1.5 oz) tequila blanco
  • 1 tbsp. (or 1/2 oz.) creme de cassis
  • 1 tbsp. (or 1/2 oz.) lime juice
  • 6 tbsp. (or 3 oz.) quality ginger beer (such as Fever Tree or Barritt’s)

Instructions

  1. Pour tequila, creme de cassis, and lime juice into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake, then strain into a glass neat or one filled with ice for on the rocks. Top with ginger beer.

Shop the recipe:

Cocktail shaker

Champagne coupe

Fever Tree or Barritt’s Ginger Beer

Flower Power Spritzer

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DISCLOSURE: THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINK(S), WHICH EARNS ME A SMALL COMMISSION AT NO COST TO YOU.

Oh yes way, Rosé!

I’ve got my first ever cocktail for you! I am in love with this rosĂ© with this one for three reasons:

1) It’s EASY

2) It’s freaking DELICIOUS

3) It’s PRETTY

Put all three of these together and it’s the holy grail of food and drink. In all seriousness, it’s a really balanced drink that is super refreshing. I recommend getting a brut sparkling rosĂ©. Brut is a fancy French word that means “raw, crude,” and in terms of sparkling wine or champagne degree of sweetness it’s means “dry.” It kind of makes your mouth pucker, but in a refreshing way like lemonade. Combine this with a flowery, syrupy elderflower liqueur like St-Germain, which sweetens up the drink a bit. I garnished up the drink with some edible rose petals (only $1.99 from World Market!!) With all the botanical flowers going on and the bubbles from the sparkling wine, I’m calling this drink my “Flower Power Spritzer.”

It’s a perfect Spring/Summer drink, and would make a great substitute for mimosas at Sunday brunch or Mother’s Day.

Now what are you waiting for? Let the good times roll.

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Flower Power Spritzer

  • Category: Cocktail
Scale

Ingredients

  • 4 oz. sparkling rosĂ© (recommend brut)
  • 0.5–1 oz. elderflower liqueur (recommend St-Germain)
  • Edible rose petals for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Pour rosé in a cocktail or wine glass, top with elderflower liqueur, and rose petals (if using). Serve immediately.