Thursday, April 30, 2015

Cheers to Mom with Mother's Day Sauza Cocktails


It’s time to raise a glass and toast to one of the most important woman in your life – your confidant, best friend, cheerleader, or as we like to call her, Mom. 

For all of the sacrifices and hugs and kisses throughout the years, Mom deserves a special day, a day that’s all about her and saying thank you. To show your appreciation, let’s mix up a cocktail, it shows your love and devotion to let her relax, lay back, and enjoy her delicious drink in hand! Cocktail recipes are provided by Sauza!

Cucumber Mamarita 
·         1 ½ parts Sauza® Blue Silver 100% Agave Tequila
·         ½ parts JDK & Sons™ O3 Premium Orange Liqueur
·         ¼ of 1 medium cucumber, peeled and sliced
·         1 ½  parts fresh lime juice
·         ½ parts simple syrup
·         Lime wedge for garnish

Preparation: In a glass, muddle together sliced cucumber and Sauza® Blue Tequila. Let sit in the refrigerator for one hour. Strain the cucumber Tequila and combine with all ingredients in a glass. Stir and serve over ice. Garnish with reserved cucumber slices and a wedge of lime.

Heart of Gold 
·         1 ½ parts Sauza® Blue Silver 100% Agave Tequila
·         1 ½  part club soda
·         Juice of 1 fresh grapefruit
·         1 ½ parts raspberry ginger ale soda
·         Orchid for garnish 

Preparation: In a shaker filled with ice combine all ingredients. Shake well and pour into glass over ice. Garnish with an orchid.

Strawberry MOMosa
·         ½ parts Sauza® Blue Silver 100% Agave Tequila
·         ¼ parts DeKuyper® Strawberry Liquor
·         2 ½  parts (chilled) Rose Champagne
·         ½ parts limeade
·         2 strawberries
·         1 pinch of sugar
·         Squeeze of lime

Preparation: Wash, stem, quarter and freeze strawberries for at least 1 hour (can be done the day ahead). Run a wedge of lime around the rim of your champagne flute and dip in a plate of sugar to coat rim. Repeat until glass is prepared. Place 2frozen strawberries in the bottom of the flute. Open champagne and pour glass approximately 2/3 of the way full. In a shaker filled with ice, combine tequila, limeade, and strawberry liquor. Shake. Add a squeeze of fresh lime if desired. Top glass with the cocktail and serve immediately.

Monday, April 27, 2015

Liven Up Your Cinco de Mayo With Sauza 901 Tequila!


What’s Cinco de Mayo without its main ingredient, tequila!? This holiday, invite your taste buds to the fiesta by celebrating with Sauza® 901® Tequila! Margaritas are not the only way to get the party started – surprise your guests by serving these unique Mexican-inspired cocktails.

Sauza 901 is a super premium tequila created by Justin Timberlake and Sauza Tequila, one of the world’s top premium tequila brands. Perfect for any occasion from a celebratory night out to a low key night with friends, Sauza 901 is a triple distilled, 100% agave tequila offering a smooth taste crafted using only the finest Blue Weber agave. 

All recipes were created by Sauza® 901® mixologist, Eddy Buckingham.

El Bombin:
·         2 parts Sauza® 901® Tequila
·         1 part fresh grapefruit juice
·         ½ part honey syrup
·         Orange wheel for garnish 

Preparation: Combine ingredients in a mixing glass with ice.  Shake well for 10 seconds.  Serve in a martini glass.  Garnish with orange wheel.

Zarza:
·         2 parts Sauza® 901® Tequila
·         1 part simple syrup
·         1 part fresh lemon juice
·         Blackberries
·         Float: Blackberry liqueur 

Preparation: Combine all ingredients, excluding blackberry liqueur.  Shake well.  Strain and serve over crushed ice in a rocks glass.  Float blackberry liqueur on top.  Garnish with fresh blackberries.

Saturday, April 25, 2015

Raise the Bar this Cinco de Mayo with Entertaining Tips & Food Pairings from Skinnygirl


“Raise the bar” at your Cinco de Mayo party with the help of Skinnygirl® Cocktails! Check out our entertaining and pairing tips below to make your fiesta a hit.

No Cinco de Mayo get-together is complete without a delicious margarita, and Skinnygirl® Cocktails has margarita offerings that will please every taste bud. Your guests can enjoy the new great taste of Skinnygirl® Margarita, which is lightly sweetened with agave nectar and tequila for a light and refreshing flavor.


For a twist on the traditional margarita, we have the new Skinnygirl® Spicy Lime Margarita, a balance of cool lime, spicy chili and tequila; Skinnygirl® Sweet ‘n Tart Grapefruit Margarita, a blend of tangy citrus with notes of lime and grapefruit; Skinnygirl® White Peach Margarita, which offers flavors of sweet and juicy peach with tropical tones and lime and Skinnygirl® Sweet’arita, featuring a hint of sweetness with flavors of sweet lime, orange and tequila.

Entertaining Tips
  • Set up a customized guacamole station. Guests can choose from a selection of mix-ins such as jalapenos, fresh herbs, and pineapple.
  • Incorporate pops of color for a sophisticated décor look. Line your porch railing or tabletop with cacti in terra cotta pots and lanterns with colored candles for an authentic Mexican feel. 
  • Surprise guests with a dance instructor for an impromptu salsa lesson.  
  • For a chic and delicious dessert, serve a display of brightly hued macaroons that match your décor. 

Food Pairings 
  • Pair Skinnygirl® Margarita with Mock-A-Mole Party Dip
    • Why it works: The light, refreshing flavors of Skinnygirl® Margarita pair nicely with the spicy and flavorful notes of the Mock-A-Mole Party Dip. 
  • Pair Skinnygirl® Spicy Lime Margarita with Zucchini Quesadilla
    • Why it works: The mild veggies in the Zucchini Quesadilla balance out the spicy undertones and subtle heat of Skinnygirl® Spicy Lime Margarita.
  • Pair Skinnygirl® Sweet’arita with Spicy Chipotle Dip
    • Why it works: The sweet notes of Skinnygirl® Sweet’arita tone down the spicy kick in the dip.

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Skinnygirl Sips for Mother's Day and the Kentucky Derby


With both the Kentucky Derby (May 2) AND Mother’s Day (May 10) coming up, you’re bound to be busy entertaining guests. 

Whether you’ll be sporting a Derby hat and cheering on the jockeys or brunching with the leading lady in your life, Skinnygirl® Cocktails has some tasty (and low-cal!) recipes, perfect for any occasion! 

Triple Crown Cooler 
·         2  parts Skinnygirl® Cucumber Vodka
·         1 tsp grated fresh ginger
·         2 parts citrus soda 
·         Lime wedge for garnish 

Preparation: Pour vodka into a glass filled with ice. Top with citrus soda. Grate ginger over the top, stir and garnish with a lime wedge.

The Mint Mare 
·         1 ½ parts Skinnygirl® Cucumber Vodka 
·         1 lime wedge 
·         2 basil leaves 
·         3 parts soda water 
·         2 mint leaves, plus more for garnish

Preparation: Squeeze lime wedge into glass. Muddle lime wedge with mint, basil, and vodka. Add ice. Top with soda water. Garnish with mint leaves. 

Galloping Gimlet 
·         1 ½  parts Skinnygirl® Bare Naked Vodka 
·         1 ½  parts fresh lime juice 

Preparation: Shake with ice, strain into a chilled martini glass. 

Momma’s Day Off  
·         1 ½ parts Skinnygirl® Tangerine Vodka
·         6 parts orange juice
·         Orange slice for garnish

Preparation: Add Skinnygirl® Tangerine Vodka over ice and top with orange juice. Garnish with an orange slice. 

She’s the Boss Bloody Mary
·         2 parts Skinnygirl® Cucumber Vodka
·         2 parts low-sodium tomato juice
·         Splash of fresh lemon juice
·         Squeeze of fresh lime juice
·         Dash of Worcestershire sauce (to taste)
·         Dash of hot sauce
·         Sprinkle of celery salt
·         Lime for garnish
·         Cucumber for garnish
·         Celery stalk for garnish

Preparation:
Mix ingredients and pour over ice. Garnish with lime and cucumber.

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Cheers to Cinco de Mayo with Sauza® Tequila




Arriba! Put up that piñata and make this Cinco de Mayo a true celebration! 

Whether you’re hosting your own fiesta or attending one, Sauza® Tequila is here to help with cocktail and guacamole pairings to make your celebration a success! 

And skip the store-bought stuff- these guac recipes from the experts at Dos Caminos are easy enough to whip up at home, even with a cocktail in hand!

Start with Chef Ivy Stark’s traditional guacamole and give it a fun twist with variations like Chipotle-Goat Cheese Guacamole or Artichoke Guacamole with Toasted Pine Nuts.

Turn up the music, gather your friends and family, and whip up these delicious pairings below - 

  • Pairing 1: The sweet and fruity flavors of the Mexican Victor-ita provide the perfect complementto the smoky heat of the Chipotle-Goat Cheese Guacamole.
  • Pairing 2: Turn your cocktail up a notch with the Spicy Señorita. With a kick of heat, it pairs wellwith the mild flavors of the Artichoke Guacamole with Toasted Pine Nuts.

Pairing 1
Mexican Victor-ita 
  • 1 ½ parts Sauza® Blue Silver 100% Agave Tequila 
  • ½ part DeKuyper® Triple Sec
  • 4 parts cranberry juice 
  • 2 parts orange juice 
  • 2 oranges 
  • ½ cup cranberries, frozen (optional)
  • 2 tbsp. sugar

Preparation: First make your garnishes. Freeze ½ cup of cranberries. Using a channel knife cut a long spiral from on orange (see if you can make it all the way in one try!) and cut into 6 inch pieces. Twist the peels around your bar spoon and reserve for garnish.

Zest the other orange with a spice grater to remove just the peel and none of the pith and combine with sugar.

Cut the zested orange into wedges. Rub a wedge of orange around half the rim of your glasses. Roll the glasses through the sugared orange zest.

In a shaker, combine the rest of the sugar and orange zest mixture with the cranberry juice, orange juice, Sauza® Blue Silver, orange liqueur, and the juice from the orange. Twist the orange peel over the drink and place on the prepared glass. Top with frozen cranberries and serve your cocktail! Salud!

Chipotle-Goat Cheese Guacamole
  • 2 tbsp. finely chopped cilantro leaves
  • 2 tsp. finely chopped white onion
  • 2 tsp. minced jalapeño or Serrano chilies (Optional: remove seeds and membranes)
  • ½ tsp. teaspoon Kosher salt
  • 2  large ripe avocados, peeled and seeded
  • 1 small plum tomato, cored, seeded, and finely chopped 
  • 2 tsp. freshly squeezed lime juice 
  • 4 oz. crumbled goat cheese
  • 2 tbsp. chopped canned chipotle chilies

Preparation: 
  1. In a medium size bowl, use the back of a spoon to mash 1 tablespoon of the cilantro, 1 teaspoon onion, 1 teaspoon of minced chile, and ½ teaspoon salt together against the bottom of the bowl.
  2. Add the avocados and gently mash them with a fork until chunky-smooth. 
  3. Add 4 oz. crumbled goat cheese and 2 tablespoons of chopped canned chipotle chilles.
  4. Fold the remaining cilantro, onion, and chile into the mixture. 
  5. Stir in tomatoes and lime juice, taste to adjust the seasonings.
  6. Serve with warm corn tortilla chips.  

**Makes 4 Servings 

Pairing 2
Spicy Señorita 
  • 1 part Sauza® Blue Silver 100% Agave Tequila
  • 2 parts beer
  • 1 part frozen limeade concentrate
  • 1 part water
  • A dash of hot sauce
  • Sugar (for garnish)
  • Salt (for garnish)
  • Red pepper (for garnish)
  • Chili pepper (for garnish) 

Preparation: In a glass, combine all ingredients. Chill and serve in glasses rimmed with sugar, salt and red pepper. Garnish with a chili. Enjoy!

Artichoke Guacamole with Toasted Pine Nuts
  • 2 tbsp. finely chopped cilantro leaves
  • 2 tsp. finely chopped white onion
  • 2 tsp. minced jalapeño or Serrano chilies (Optional: remove seeds and membranes)
  • ½ tsp. teaspoon Kosher salt
  • 2  large ripe avocados, peeled and seeded
  • 1 small plum tomato, cored, seeded, and finely chopped 
  • 2 tsp. freshly squeezed lime juice 
  • 1 cup marinated artichoke hearts, chopped
  • ¼ cup toasted pine nuts

Preparation: 
  1. In a medium size bowl, use the back of a spoon to mash 1 tablespoon of the cilantro, 1 teaspoon onion, 1 teaspoon of minced chile, and ½ teaspoon salt together against the bottom of the bowl.
  2. Add the avocados and gently mash them with a fork until chunky-smooth. 
  3. Add 1 cup of marinated artichoke hearts chopped with ¼ cup of toasted pine nuts and stir.
  4. Fold the remaining cilantro, onion, and chile into the mixture. 
  5. Stir in tomatoes and lime juice, taste to adjust the seasonings.
  6. Serve with warm corn tortilla chips.  

**Makes 4 Servings

Monday, April 20, 2015

Earth Day Cocktails from Sauza


We’re going green this Earth Day!  And not with envy, although we can’t promise that your friends won’t be jealous of these earthy cocktails.

These green cocktails are Mother Nature-approved with herb ingredients like fresh mint and sage leaves.


Go Minty Green
  • 1 part Sauza® Blue Silver 100% Agave Tequila 
·        2 ½ parts club soda 
·        1 part fresh lime juice 
·        1 bunch of fresh mint
·        1 part sugar 
·        Ice 
·        Salt to rim (optional) 
·        Extra mint leaves to garnish 

Preparation: In a glass, muddle together the mint leaves, sugar and lime juice until they start to melt together. Add tequila. Fill glass with ice and pour cocktail mixture 3/4 of the way to the top of each glass. If you want, rim your glasses with salt by rubbing the rims with a lime wedge and dipping in a plate of salt. Fill each glass with club soda and garnish with an extra sprig of mint.
Earthy Essence
  • 1 ½ parts Sauza® Blue Silver 100% Agave Tequila
  • ½ part JDK & Sons™ O3 Premium Orange Liqueur
  • 1 medium cucumber, peeled and sliced
  • 1 ½ parts fresh lime juice
  • ½ part simple syrup

Preparation: In a glass, muddle together sliced cucumber and Sauza® Blue Silver Tequila. Let sit in the refrigerator for one hour. Strain the cucumber tequila and combine with all ingredients in a glass. Stir and serve over ice. Garnish with reserved cucumber slices and a wedge of lime.

Thursday, April 9, 2015

#RHoNY Signature Cocktails from Skinnygirl


Missed Tuesday’s premiere of Real Housewives Season 7? Not to worry! Shake up your cocktail party routine and serve signature sips this weekend or next week when you’re tuning in to #RHoNY!

Whether you choose Bethenny’s Pink Lemon Drop or LuAnn’s Naked Cosmo, these cocktails will be sure to please. 
 

Looking for something simple? You can never go wrong with Bethenny’s fave: a classic martini with 3 olives! 

Pink Lemon Drop 
·         1 ½ parts Skinnygirl® Bare Naked Vodka
·         ½ part DeKuyper® Triple Sec
·         ½ part fresh lime juice
·         ½ part simple syrup
·         2-4 fresh or frozen raspberries
·         Lemon wheel, for garnish
Preparation:  Muddle the raspberries in the bottom of cocktail shaker. Add ingredients with ice and shake well. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with lemon wheel on the rim.

Naked Cosmo  
·         1 ½ parts Skinnygirl® Bare Naked Vodka
·         ½ part DeKuyper® Triple Sec
·         1 ½ part white cranberry juice
·         Juice of ½ lime
·         Lemon wheel, for garnish

Preparation: Combine vodka, triple sec, and juices in a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake well. Strain drink into glass and garnish with a lemon wheel. 

Bethenny’s Bliss
·         1 ½ parts Skinnygirl® Bare Naked Vodka
·         Splash of dry vermouth
·         Fresh olives to garnish

Preparation: Shake all ingredients with ice, pour into a martini glass and garnish with fresh olives.

Monday, April 6, 2015

Toast to Bethenny's Return to 'The Real Housewives of New York City'


Bethenny fans, rejoice! The original Skinnygirl, Bethenny Frankel, is back for the 7th season of Bravo’s The Real Housewives of New York City. 

What kind of adventures are on the horizon for the housewives? You’ll have to wait until April 7 at 9pm to find out, but we do know you’ll want to have a cocktail close by as you watch how this next chapter unfolds! 

Here are some delicious recipes to help toast to our favorite Skinnygirl’s return! 

No time to mix up a cocktail? Skinnygirl® Spicy Lime Margarita is perfect for the time-crunched fan looking for a little heat in their drink. Just pour and enjoy!

Skinnygirl® Big Apple
·         1 ½ parts Skinnygirl® Bare Naked Vodka 
·         ¾ part apple juice 
·         ¼ part agave syrup 
·         Apple slice for garnish

Preparation: Stir agave syrup with vodka in the base of a shaker until the agave syrup dissolves. Add apple juice and shake thoroughly with ice. Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with a perfectly ripe apple slice.

New York Minute
·         2 parts Skinnygirl® Cucumber Vodka
·         1 part club soda 
·         Splash cranberry juice
·         Splash ginger ale

Preparation: Pour all ingredients over ice.

Metropolitan Mixer 
·         1 ½ parts Skinnygirl® Bare Naked Vodka
·         2 parts diet cranberry juice 
·         ½ part fresh lime juice
·         ½ part DeKuyper® Triple Sec
·         Lime for garnish

Preparation: Pour all ingredients over ice in a 3 piece shaker. Shake and strain into a martini glass, garnish with a lime.