Sippin' Sunday- Watermelon Mint Margarita

Today's edition of Sippin' Sunday is another refreshing concoction to enjoy on these dog days of summer.  If you follow us on Instagram you may have seen it posted earlier this week on National Watermelon Day.  It's a pretty simple recipe that we think you'll love.

Watermelon Mint Margarita

• 1 1/2 oz reposado tequila
• 1/2 oz fresh squeezed lime juice
• 3 big chunks of fresh watermelon
• 3-4 mint leaves
• 1/2 oz simple syrup

Directions

Muddle watermelon and mint, add remaining ingredients.  Shake and fine strain over ice into cocktail glass.  

Cheers!  Get crafty!

Sippin' Sunday

It's hot outside, folks. That kind of weather calls for a drink that is refreshing. Something light, but not weak.  Classy, yet a little rough around the edges.  We present to you,  THE MOSCOW MULE.

The mule has been around since the 1940's and lately it seems as though the cocktails that your grandparents enjoyed are making a comeback.  In a BIG way.  Most every bar and restuarant has a version on their menu nowadays.  The recipe is simple, with ingredients that you probably already have on hand.  The only issue we've run into is finding ginger beer.  We've used ginger ale in a pinch, but definitely recommend the beer variety instead.


The Moscow Mule

• 1/2 ounces of lime juice
• 2 ounces of vodka
• 4-6 ounces of ginger beer
• mint leaf (optional)
• copper Moscow Mule mug (optional)

Directions

Squeeze lime juice into a Moscow Mule mug (or a collins glass) and drop in the spent shell. Add 2 or 3 ice cubes, then pour in the vodka and fill with cold ginger beer.  Garnish with mint leaf.

Summer in mug.  BTW- check back with us every Sunday for our "Sippin' Sunday" series.  We'll feature a cocktail recipe for your enjoyment.  Cheers!

The Mystery of the Belle Of Lincoln Bottle

There was a time when I (G) thought that Jack Daniels Tennessee Whiskey was the end all of spirits.  I had visited the distillery 5 times and could have been one of the tour guides by the last visit.  So when my father said he had a Jack Daniels bottle up in his liquor cabinet, I assumed it was just your run of the mill bottle o' Jack.  To my surprise, he had in his possession, a commemorative bottle.  The Belle of Lincoln  Bottle.

It was empty (insert sad face here) but was still immensely cool.  It had belonged to my grandfather who got it from one of his very best friends.  The engraved name plate with it's registration number and a little booklet with some information regarding the bottle were still attached.  I loved it from the moment I laid eyes on it.  And with that, my dad said "It's yours."

It sat in my china cabinet for years.  Proudly displayed with other barware and memorabilia. But when I started to write this blog, I thought of the story that must accompany it.  I'd seen other commemorative bottles at the distillery before and kind of wish that I'd known about the Belle of Lincoln earlier so I could have seen it with all it's gold hued goodness inside.  So I did some digging and this is what I found.

"The Belle of Lincoln was originally the name given to a new brand of whiskey made by the Jack Daniel Distillery in the 1890’s, but would also become the name of a commemorative bottle. Known as the Belle Bottle, this commemorative bottle was personally created by Jack Daniel himself and was unlike any before it. It was never mass produced and the few bottles made were given away by Jack as gifts…

The Distillery released this commemorative Belle of Lincoln decanter in 1979 filled with 90 proof whiskey, basing its design on sketches and descriptions of how the original bottle most likely appeared."- Jackdanielsbottles.com

It turns out that I have pretty neat little bottle sitting in my collection of spirits.  It still sits proudly in the china cabinet where it's been for years.  Soon I hope to head back to the distillery and get picture with a full bottle.

Cheers!