Happy Hour: Watermelon Fizz

Mix up your morning mimosas with this summer fresh cocktail!

Watermelon Fizz

Photo Courtesy of Diane, A Broad

This simple recipe follows: 

1 small watermelon 

 2 limes

1 bottle of champagne 

Peel and cube the the watermelon; puree in a blender or food processor. Strain the watermelon through a fine mesh strainer.  Squeeze the lime into the strained watermelon juice and top with champagne. Give the cocktail a big stir and serve in your favorite glasses! 

As always, enjoy responsibly! 

Xo, AE

AE Happy Hour: The Sparkler

Red, White, and Blue! 

With team USA on a successful road in the World Cup and the Fourth of July right around the corner...

celebrate with a beverage that will surely put you in the American Spirit!

The Sparkler 

Photo Courtesy of Yum Sugar

Recipe as follows:

1 1/2 oz campagne

3/4 oz raspberry liqueur 

1/2 oz vodka 

1 oz pomegranate juice

Shake all ingredients but the champagne with ice and strain into your favorite glassware. 

Top with champagne and add a garnish to complete.

AE tip: for that extra touch of spirit, add an American flag stir stick to each drink or drop in a few blueberries to bring in the blue!

As always, enjoy responsibly! 

Xo, AE

AE Happy Hour: Champagne A-Z

Behind every celebration is a little champagne fizz, but what do you really know about that bottle you're popping open?

The term Champagne refers to only the sparkling wine made in Champagne France. All other bubblies are labeled sparkling wine or noted as being produced by the méthod champenoise. 

Photo Courtesy of Beautiful Life and Style

Let's simplify the label...

Brut: Dry

Extra Dry: Sweet

Blanc de Blancs: Made completely from Chardonnay grapes

Blanc de Noirs: Made from only Pinot Noir or Pinot Meunier

Vintage: The bottle is made up of at least 85% of the grapes from the year it was harvested. These bottles are only made during great harvest years which makes them a bit pricier. 

Hosts can count on six flutes per 750 ml bottle. 

AE suggests adding bubbles to any occasion, turning any ordinary day into a celebration! 

Want to keep the fizz but lose the buzz? AE suggests swapping in flavored sparkling water.  We are loving the new flavors by Lacroix.  Coconut?  Yes, please!

So pop those bottles, it's Friday!! 

As always, enjoy responsibly! Xo, AE 

Happy Hour with AE: Spiked Cranberry Apple Cider

Surprise guests this Fall with a new twist on an old classic by adding cranberry juice to your hot apple cider.   The blend of apple and cranberry is sweet and tart and the addition of cranberry turns the cider a beautiful red color, making this a perfect beverage to carry through the fall and right into your holidays! 

Photo Courtesy of Betty Crocker

Serves 24

Ingredients:

1/3 cup brown sugar

2 tsp whole Allspice

4 sticks cinnamon 

1 bottle (48oz) apple cider (6 cups)

1 bottle (48oz) cranberry juice cocktail (6 cups)
4 sliced navel oranges
1 orange cut for garnish 

1 bottle Clear Creek Apple Brandy
(spiced rum or whiskey can be substituted) 

Directions:

Mix all ingredients, expect the Apple Brandy, in your medium-large slow cooker.  Heat on low 4-6 hours.  With a slotted spoon, remove allspice, cinnamon and orange rinds before serving.  Add a shot of Apple Brandy to individual mugs, throw in an orange garnish, and fill with cider.  Voila!  

AE Tip:  This recipe freezes beautifully.  Double or Triple this recipe and make a nice big batch this fall.   Freeze in smaller individual containers and serve all throughout the season!  Note - any cider that has brandy already added, will not freeze well, so save the liquor for serving time!  

ENJOY!

Happy Hour with AE: HOT TODDY!

Baby, It’s Cold Outside!

January 11 was National Hot Toddy Day, and what better way to celebrate than to feature the Hot Toddy in our Happy Hour this week?!  A hot toddy is a mixed drink, most often featuring whisky that is served (go figure!) HOT.  Toddy's are traditionally enjoyed in wet or cold weather, AND, once upon a time, were believed to cure the cold and flu (try it! we bet it works!).

Whether you’re just looking to take the chill off, or entertaining guests who have a scratchy throat or runny nose, this is just what the doctor ordered. 

Cheers!

Photo Credit: blog.raileurope.com 

Ingredients 

1 1/2 oz bourbon whiskey*
1/4 oz lemon juice
3/4 oz sugar syrup
1 slice lemon
1 clove
4 oz hot water

Directions 

Mix whiskey, lemon juice, simple syrup and heat either on the stove or in the microwave. 

Spear the lemon slice with the clove and float in the toddy, and of course serve HOT!  

Cinnamon sticks make a cute addition to the presentation.  

*Bourbon whisky can also be substituted with scotch or brandy