Festive Memorial Day Drinks Everyone Will Enjoy

If you're planning social distancing Memorial Day Weekend get together, you've come to the right place. Since we know there's no better way to get the party started than with creative and fruity cocktails or fan favorites, we've put together some of our favorites drinks of the season. Read through to check out some of these delicious summer cocktail recipes.

Dewar’s Lemon Wedge

• 1 ½ oz Dewar’s 12

• 3 oz Club Soda

• 2 oz Lemonade

Combine all ingredients over ice, stir.

The Dewar’s Lemon Wedge comes in the form of an at-home cocktail kit from Cocktail Courier, so save an extra trip to the grocery store and let this cocktail come to you. See HERE to purchase.

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Long Weekend

By Lynnette Marrero

•  1 oz Zacapa rum

• 1/2 oz lemon juice

• 1/2 oz blackberry/lavender honey syrup (1:1, honey:water)

  Add Zacapa rum, lemon juice and blackberry/lavender honey syrup to a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake until chilled. Strain over ice into a rocks glass. Top with Champagne and garnish with a lemon twist and blackberry.

  Lavender blackberry honey Syrup: Place 10 blackberries in a pot and muddle. To the pot add 1 cup of honey, 1 cup of water, 6 Teaspoons of dry lavender. Bring all the ingredients to over medium heat, then let simmer, stirring occasionally to dissolve sugar and until you smell the lavender. Strain and Seal in a container. Store in a cool place, it will keep for two months.

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PATRÓN Perfect Paloma

• 1.5 oz Patrón Reposado

• 3 oz Fresh grapefruit juice

• .5 oz Agave syrup (1:1)

• .5 oz Fresh-squeezed lime juice

• 1 oz Sparkling water

• + Sugar and salt for rimming

• + Grapefruit wedge for garnish

Combine all ingredients except sparkling water in a shaker tin and shake with ice to chill. Strain onto fresh ice in a sugar and salt rimmed collins glass. Top with sparkling water and garnish with a grapefruit wedge.

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Hazelnut Espresso Martini

• 0.5 parts Frangelico

• 1.5 part SKYY Vodka 

• 1.5 parts Cold Brew Concentrate or Espresso*

• 0.25 parts Simple Syrup (1:1)

Combine all ingredients in shaker tin with fresh ice, shake vigorously until chilled. Strain into chilled coupe or martini glass, & garnish with (3) whole coffee beans.

The Hazelnut Espresso Martini kit is now available for purchase on Cocktail Courier, so you can keep the party going by grabbing a kit now through June 10!

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BACARDÍ Life’s A Beach Group Serve

• 9 oz BACARDÍ Añejo Cuatro Rum

• 4 ½ oz Real® passionfruit puree-infused syrup

• 4 ½ oz lime juice

• 9 oz coconut water

Mix all ingredients together in a punch bowl and serve in highball glasses cubed over ice. Garnish with a pineapple leaf and/or pineapple wedge.

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Cape-Rinha

• 3oz Cape Mentelle Sauvignon Blanc Semillon

• 1 teaspoon raw sugar

• 2 lime wedges

• 4 green grapes

• 4 mint leaves

Combine the ingredients in a stemless wine glass. Muddle to extract juices and oils. Fill the glass with ice, top up with Cape Mentelle SBS, stir, sip & savor!

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Chandon Summer Spritz

• 4 slices English Cucumber

• 2 Strawberries

• ¾ part Honey syrup*

• ½ part lemon juice or juice ¼ of a lemon

• 4 part Chandon Brut Rose

• 1 lemon twist

  *May sub agave or another sweetener

Combine 3 of the cucumber slices and 1 of the strawberries in a cocktail shaker and muddle until they have released most of their juices. Add the honey and lemon juice. Add ice, shake, fine strain into a wine glass with ice and top with 4 parts Chandon Brut Rose, Garnish with the remaining cucumber slice, the other strawberry, and the lemon twist long cucumber tumbler.

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Smokey Devil

• 2 1/2 oz Dirty Devil Vodka

• 1 dash Mezcal

Combine in a shaker over ice. Shake as if your life depended on it (not for the faint of heart). Garnish with lemon twist

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Memorial Day Drinks You Can Make From The Comforts Of Your Own Home

If you're planning social distancing Memorial Day Weekend get together, you've come to the right place. Since we know there's no better way to get the party started than with creative and fruity cocktails or fan favorites, we've put together some of our favorites drinks of the season. Read through to check out some of these delicious summer cocktail recipes.

Smoky Mary

• 50ml Chase Oak Smoked Vodka 

  1. 20ml Lemon juice 

  2. Dash of Worcestershire sauce 

  3. Dash of Tabasco Tomato juice top

Prepare the glass by wetting the rim by running a lemon around it. Mix celery salt and cracked black pepper on a plate and dip the glass. Build all ingredients in the glass over ice and garnish with celery sticks and a lemon wedge.

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Partida Raspberry Collins

• 1 3/4 oz Partida Blanco Tequila

  1. 3/4 oz Fresh Lemon Juice

  2. 3/4 oz Agave Nectar (Cut 50/50 with water)

  3. 8 to 10 Raspberries

Method: Shake all ingredients with ice and strain over fresh ice into a highball glass. Top with sparkling water or club soda. Garnish: Lemon twist and 3 Raspberries on a pick

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Strawberry Rosé Spritzer

• 5 ounces Smoke Tree Rosé

  1. 2 ounces Chandon Rosé

  2. 2-3 lemon slices

  3. 2-3 fresh strawberries

  4. 1 mint sprig

Fill a cocktail glass with ice. Pour in Smoke Tree Rosé. Top with Chandon Rosé. Stir in chopped strawberries and lemon. Garnish with mint sprig.

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Many Waters

• 1.5 parts Tullamore D.E.W. Caribbean Rum Cask Finish

• Coconut Water

• 1 Brown Sugar Cube

• 3 dashes of Angostura Bitters

• Lime wheel

Combine all ingredients over ice in a highball glass. Lightly stir and garnish with Cucumber Spear.

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Cape-Rinha

• 3oz Cape Mentelle Sauvignon Blanc Semillon

• 1 teaspoon raw sugar

• 2 lime wedges

• 4 green grapes

• 4 mint leaves

Combine the ingredients in a stemless wine glass. Muddle to extract juices and oils. Fill the glass with ice, top up with Cape Mentelle SBS, stir, sip & savor!

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Chandon Summer Spritz

• 4 slices English Cucumber

• 2 Strawberries

• ¾ part Honey syrup*

• ½ part lemon juice or juice ¼ of a lemon

• 4 part Chandon Brut Rose

• 1 lemon twist

  *May sub agave or another sweetener

Combine 3 of the cucumber slices and 1 of the strawberries in a cocktail shaker and muddle until they have released most of their juices. Add the honey and lemon juice. Add ice, shake, fine strain into a wine glass with ice and top with 4 parts Chandon Brut Rose, Garnish with the remaining cucumber slice, the other strawberry, and the lemon twist long cucumber tumbler.

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Roma Ricky

• 2 parts Hendrick’s Midsummer Solstice

• ¾ Lime Juice

• ½ part Sugar Syrup

• ½ part Italicus

• 3 parts Sparkling Water

  Combine all ingredients over ice in a highball glass. Lightly stir and garnish with Cucumber Spear.

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East Breeze - The Surf Lodge (Montauk, NY)

• 1.5 oz Grey Goose

• 1 oz St-Germain

• 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice

• 0.5 oz fresh blackberry puree

  Shake all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and strain into a coup or martini glass. Garnish with mint sprig.

What To Drink At Cinco De Mayo When You Can't Leave Your Home

Chances are that (unfortunately) many of us will be celebrating Cinco de Mayo at home this year without visits to our favorite bars or restaurants. For those of you want to celebrate the holiday but stay in the comforts of your home below is a list of cocktails for you to make and everything you need to have celebrated the holiday without dealing with people from the outside world.

Celebración Punch Created by Milagro Tequila Ambassador, Jaime Salas

• Milagro Silver, 6 Parts

• Guava Nectar (pink), 12 Parts

• Ginger Simple Syrup, 2 Parts

• Lime Juice, 3 Parts

Combine all ingredients in a punch bowl and mix. Top with Club Soda or Prosecco. Garnish with Lime Wheels and White Edible Flowers

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Miami Cocktail Co’s Organic SPRITZ canned Margarita is crafted with 100% blue weber agave wine paired with organic lime, orange, elderflower and ginger juices, and the Paloma SPRITZ is that same agave wine lightly paired with organic grapefruit, hibiscus, and ginger juices. Organic wine and juice – that’s it! Both are only 4.2% ABV and contain 110 calories per can with no sugar added. The fun colored cans will brighten any home bar or fridge! If a spritz isn’t your thing, Miami Cocktail Co. also bottles the Small Batch Original Organic Copper Pot Margarita, made using blue agave tequila, pure organic key lime juice, and a hint of Valencia oranges. Pour over ice, salt your rim and garnish with a lime, and your Zoom party will never know you didn’t make it yourself from scratch!

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Cucumber-Coconut Margarita

• 1.5 oz PATRÓN Silver

• 2 oz Coconut water

• .5 oz Fresh lime juice

• .5 oz Simple syrup

• 7 Thin slices of cucumber, 3 for garnish 

Method: Combine all ingredients (including 4 of the cucumber slices) in a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously with ice to chill. Strain onto fresh ice in a highball glass. Garnish with remaining 3 cucumbers.

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New Amsterdam Tropical Spiced Mule

• 1.5 oz. New Amsterdam Vodka

• .5 oz. Cinnamon Whiskey

• 1 oz. Pineapple Juice

• Top w/ Ginger Beer

Pour into an ice filled steel thermos or mule mug and stir together to combine/chill

For the beer lover you can drink the Stella Artois Cidre Sangria Punch created by Omar Flores, Casa Rubio (Dallas, TX), Serves 8 people.

• 1 honey crisp apple – cored and sliced thin

• 1 cup white grapes cut in half

• 1 cup white grape juice

• 1 lemon cut into wheels

• 3 orange peels

• 1 dash vanilla extract

• 2 cinnamon sticks

• 1 cup apple sauce or non-alcoholic apple cider

• 1 tablespoons sugar

• 3 sprigs of mint

• 4 12-ounce bottles Stella Artois Cidre

Directions:
In a large punch bowl add apples, grapes, grape juice, lemons, orange peel, cinnamon, vanilla, apple cider and sugar. Mix thoroughly and allow to macerate for 30-45 minutes. To finish the punch, add cold Stella Artois Cidre, ice and mint. Serve immediately.

Avión Blood Orange Margarita

• 1.5 oz. Avión Silver

• .75 oz. fresh blood orange juice

• .5 oz. fresh squeezed lime juice

• .75 oz. agave nectar

1. In a cocktail shaker add all ingredients with ice. Shake and strain. Serve over fresh ice and garnish with an orange twist.

Serve with Late July's NEW Cantina DIPPERS

While you're enjoying these cocktails you can try and make homemade salsa created by Late July Snacks CEO & Founder, Nicole Bernard Dawes

Ingredients:
3-4 medium-large heirloom tomatoes, chopped/diced to 1/4″
½ medium onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 small bunch of cilantro, chopped
1 jalapeño, seeded and chopped
1-2 limes, juiced
Salt to taste
 
Optional ingredients: Mango, avocado, tomatillos, sweet corn, black beans

Directions:
1. Prepare the tomatoes, onion, garlic, cilantro and jalapeño. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl and stir well. Juice the limes and add salt to taste. Consider adding other optional ingredients or prepare a second version using mango as a base. Can prepare up to an hour ahead.

Where To Celebrate Cinco de May

Tacos and Tequila? It's not Tuesday but it is Cinco de Mayo this Friday and we want you to take part in the celebration by checking out these delicious food and drink options.

Photo via @SidebaNYC

Camacho's, which just opened at 118 E. 15th Street in Union Square, will serve up free shots every hour and give away free "cinco swag" like sombreros, mustaches, beads etc. to get everyone in the festive mood. 

SideBAR will host a Cinco de Mayo party complete with special jumbo margaritas, Cornita buckets and sangria. 

Cinco De Mayo Rooftop Party at Hudson Terrace

Hudson Terrace (621 W. 46th Street) will host a Cinco De Mayo Rooftop Party complete with a Mariachi Band and free drinks. Enjoy free admission all night long by mentioning "Fiesta" at the door. Free drink tickets will be given out for arrivals before 6:30pm. Drink specials include 2 for 1 Don Julio Margaritas, $5 Bud Lights & Modelo’s, $8 Mango Margaritas,$8 Tequila Shots and $10 Cocktails. Hudson Terrace will have three indoor and outdoor rooms with live music by DJ Dubbz, party favors, giveaways and more. VIP tickets are available and include a 2 hour open bar from 5pm-7pm and exclusive access to the VIP Salon & Garden Terrace Rooms. For more information or tickets please visit: https://nightout.com/events/55-vip-cinco-de-mayo-rooftop-party-3-rooms-live-dj-mariachi-band-free-drinks/tickets.

Chciken Tinga Tacos

New comer Street Taco in April and is already a major force on the NYC taqueria scene. Complete with an extensive taco and tequila selection, there is a 1000% chance this place will be lit on Cinco de Mayo.

On top of their insanely delicious tacos and margaritas, Street Taco will be offering a series of specials. Our Favorite being the Chicken Tinga Tacos for just $1 each! These delicious tacos feature stewed chicken topped with Cotija cheese, crema, onion, and cilantro.

Del Frisco's Margarita

Build Your Own Margaritas at Del Frisco’s Steak House: In partnership with Avion Tequila, Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House New York will be hosting a “Build Your Own Margarita” event from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on May 5th in celebration of Cinco de Mayo. Guests will be able to choose from a variety of flavors and ingredients such as pomegranate or peach to create a custom margarita. Del Frisco’s full bar and dinner menu will also be available to indulge in, as well as the chance to win Avion Tequila swag that will raffled off throughout the event. The cost is $20 for two hours of complimentary “Build Your Own” Margaritas and passed Mexican-inspired bites; charged as a cover upon entry.

The rooftop pool at Mr. Purple

Looking for a rooftop celebrate? Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in true Mexican style at Mr. Purple this year! Enjoy a Casamigos Hibiscus Frozen Margarita while snacking on  on their food specials: 

• Chips + Guac ($20) - Blue Corn Tortilla Chips, House Guacamole
• Veggie Tacos ($9) - Mushrooms, Spinach, Onions, Celery, Peppers + Salsa Verde 
• Fish Tacos ($11) - Red Snapper, Pico de Gallo + Spicy House Aioli 
• Steak Tacos ($14) - Hanger Steak, Pico de Gallo + Avocado Sour Cream 
• Casamigos Hibiscus Frozen Margarita ($16) - Casamigos Blanco Tequila, Cointreau, Fresh Lime Juice

For those who want to skip the food and get their drink some below are some of our favorite cocktails. Take note on these Cinco de Mayo inspired cocktails. Check our gallery below for names and locations.

Red Bell Pepper at El Vez  (259 Vesey Street) 

Cadillac Anejo Martini at The Skylark (by Mixologist Johnny Swet)

Casamigos Hibiscus Frozen Margarita at Mr. Purple