Simple Cocktails for a Labor(less) Day!

Summer may be winding down, but that doesn’t mean the fun has to stop! Whether you’re throwing a backyard BBQ or pool party, these simply delicious cocktails from Hornitos Tequila, Pinnacle Vodka, Sauza Tequila and Skinnygirl Cocktails will lighten your Labor Day load with some labor-less cocktails. With recipes from easy to easier to easiest, these drinks will help you give summer a proper sendoff with minimal effort and lots of fun. 

Easy 

If you’re looking for an easy recipe to serve at your end-of-summer bash, mix up this pitcher-style cocktail ahead of time so you don’t have to play bartender all night. 

Sauza® Prickly Pink Margarita (serves 8)

·         1 cup Sauza® Signature Blue Silver Tequila

·         1/2 cup DeKuyper® Triple Sec

·         1/2 cup prickly pear syrup

·         1 cup limeade

·         Pear slices

·         Lime wedges

Preparation: Combine all ingredients in a pitcher with ice and stir. Strain into salt-rimmed glasses and serve. Garnish with pear slice and lime wedge.

Easier 

Regardless of your spirit of choice, these no-fuss recipes contain just a few simple ingredients and are a breeze to whip up at your BBQ. 

Pinnacle® Citrus Splash 

·         1 part Pinnacle® Citrus Vodka

·         2 parts Lemon-Lime Soda 

·         Raspberries 

Preparation: Mix in a glass with ice and garnish with a raspberry. 

Hornitos® Spicy Verde

·         2 parts Hornitos® Reposado Tequila

·         3 parts fresh pineapple juice

·         1/2 part fresh lime juice

·         2 dashes green habanero hot sauce

Preparation: Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a highball glass over fresh ice. Garnish with a lime slice.

Easiest 

No time to think about drinks while your guests are arriving? This new ready to serve includes notes of cool lime and refreshing watermelon for the perfect summertime cocktail. 

Skinnygirl® Watermelon Lime Margarita 

·         5 parts Skinnygirl® Watermelon Lime Margarita

·         Watermelon wedge for garnish 

Preparation: Pour Skinnygirl® Watermelon Lime Margarita over ice and garnish with a watermelon wedge

Inside Bethenny's Skinnygirl Watermelon Lime Margarita Launch & RHoNY Viewing Party

Last night, Bethenny Frankel hosted a rooftop party above Rockefeller Center to celebrate the release of the new Skinnygirl Watermelon Lime Margarita and to view the penultimate episode of The Real Housewives of New York City.

The original Skinnygirl, Bethenny Frankel, introduces her new Skinnygirl Watermelon Lime Margarita to fans at the “Real Housewives of New York City” viewing party, Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016 in New York. (Diane Bondareff/Invision for Skinnygirl Cocktails/AP Images)

The setting was unbelievably spectacular, the drinks were unbelievably tasty, and the #RHoNY drama was just plain unbelievable!

If you caught last night's episode, you know how crazy the ladies of NYC got during their Miami getaway, but the Miami heat had nothing on the hot location of last night's party ("sick," we agreed with Bethenny at one point)!

Nestled between the buildings of the Manhattan skyline was a lush rooftop bar with seating areas, a pool, and TVs to screen the latest episode of the hit Bravo series. Watching the Real Housewives with some Real Housewives was such a treat, and it was so interesting to witness Bethenny's and Carole Radziwill's reactions to what was happening on the show.

Bethenny Frankel and Carole Radziwill toast to new Skinnygirl Watermelon Lime Margarita at the “Real Housewives of New York City” viewing party, Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016, in New York.  (Diane Bondareff/Invision for Skinnygirl Cocktails/AP Images)

On commercial breaks, Bethenny did a Q&A, shared some cocktail recipes, and hung with her friends.

Bethenny Frankel debuts a new look and a new offering at the launch party for her Skinnygirl Watermelon Lime Margarita with an exclusive viewing of “Real Housewives of New York City,” Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016, in New York.  (Diane Bondareff/Invision for Skinnygirl Cocktails/AP Images)

Being outside on a warm summer night in the city was such an incredible experience, and seeing Bethenny again was a massive highlight of my summer. The B is definitely back, and she KNOWS how to throw a party!

Survive the Champagne Shortage with Sparkling Cocktails from Sauza

As you may already know, there is a current shortage of champagne (!!), leaving bubbly lovers in a panic! Due to bad weather, rot, and mildew in the Champagne region of France, we are experiencing one of the lowest yielding Champagne seasons since the 1980s.

But fear not, champagne lovers! It is still possible to get a bubbly fix with Sauza® Tequila. So, while champagne may be in limited supply, you can still raise a toast and make any moment a celebration with sparkling cocktails from Sauza.

Sparkling Sunrise

·         1 part Sauza® Signature Blue Silver

·         1 part champagne

·         2 parts orange juice

·         Splash of grenadine

·         Orange wedge garnish

Preparation: Combine Sauza® Signature Blue Silver, orange juice, and grenadine in a shaker with ice. Stir, and strain into glass. Top it off with champagne and garnish with an orange wedge.

Tequila Sparkler

·         1 part Sauza® Signature Blue Silver

·         1/2 part Lime Juice

·         1/2 part Simple Syrup

·         4 parts Champagne

Preparation: Add tequila, lime juice and simple syrup to an ice-filled shaker. Shake and strain into glass. Top with Champagne.

Tequila Cocktails to Give Summer a Proper Send Off

Summer is coming to a close, which means one last get-together is in order! If you're planning a final backyard BBQ or pool party, these cocktails may be a perfect fit to help toast to the end of the season.  

·         The Sauza Piña Punch is an easy to make, pitcher-style cocktail made with fresh pineapple and lime juice – perfect summertime flavors that embrace the end of the season!

·         Late summer comes with an abundance of garden vegetables and herbs. The Verde Maria incorporates plenty of garden-grown ingredients such as cucumbers and tomatoes, so no harvest goes to waste! 

Sauza Piña Punch (Serves 8)

·         1 cup Sauza® Signature Blue Silver Tequila

·         1 cup DeKuyper® blueberry

·         1/2 cup simple syrup

·         1/2 cup lime juice

·         2 cups pineapple juice

·         Pineapple slices 

·         Lime wedges

Preparation: Combine all ingredients into a pitcher with ice and stir. Strain into glass over ice and garnish with a pineapple slice and lime wedge. 

Verde Maria

·         2 parts 901® Tequila

·         ½ part lemon juice

·         2 green tomatoes

·         Half an avocado

·         1 celery stick

·         ¼ cucumber diced

·         4 dashes of hot sauce

·         Cilantro to taste

·         Pinch of salt and pepper

·         4 Dashes Hot Sauce

Preparation: Blend green tomatoes, avocado, celery, cucumber and cilantro until smooth. Combine all ingredients over ice in tall glass and stir. Garnish with cilantro leaves.

Celebrate the Big Games This Summer with Sauza Tequila

The four year wait is finally over! During the opening ceremony TONIGHT, raise a toast to the world’s greatest competitors. This time around, let the athletes go for gold, while you strive for silver with Sauza® Signature Blue Silver Tequila. 

Sauza Tequila’s Cherry Sage Smash is an easy-to-make cocktail, made with fresh red cherries, sage and lime juice! To make sure this recipe is suitable for your “home” team – try making the Cherry Sage Smash cocktail pitcher-style. Serving pitcher-style allows the host to spend less time prepping in the kitchen and more time cheering on their favorite athletes with friends!

Cherry Sage Smash

·         1 part Sauza® Signature Blue Silver Tequila

·         1/2 part simple syrup

·         1/2 part lime juice

·         2-3 fresh pitted cherries

·         2 sprigs of sage

·         1 part soda water

Preparation: Combine all ingredients into a shaker and muddle. Add ice, shake, and strain into a salt-rimmed glass. Garnish with sage sprigs.

Zest Up Your Summer Lemonade with Pinnacle Vodka

Whether you’re hosting a summer soiree or just an impromptu backyard get-together with your friends, a simple but tasty cocktail always comes in handy. 

Pinnacle Vodka is sharing warm weather sips to enjoy and help savor the last weeks of summer. 

Raspberry Lemonade 

•             1 part Pinnacle® Raspberry Vodka

•             2 parts lemonade

•             Raspberries for garnish

•             Lemon wheel for garnish

Preparation: Mix ingredients and serve over ice. Garnish with a lemon wheel and plenty of raspberries.

Pinnacle® Citrus Sangria 

•             6 parts Pinnacle® Citrus Vodka 

•             3 parts DeKuyper® Pucker® Sour Apple Schnapps

•             3 parts fresh lemon sour

•             (1) 750ml bottle of white wine 

•             Lemon twists for garnish

•             Raspberries for garnish 

Preparation: Pour all ingredients except lemon twists and raspberries into a pitcher and chill for at least 30 minutes in refrigerator. Fill with ice, stir and add lemon twists and raspberries. To serve, pour over ice in a tall glass. 

*Serves 7

Cool Down with 901 Tequila

The hottest month of summer is here, so stay cool with some 901 Tequila! The Cool as a Cucumber cocktail is just as refreshing as it is delicious!

901® Tequila

901® Tequila is a super-premium tequila created by Justin Timberlake and Sauza® Tequila, one of the world’s top premium tequila brands. Perfect for a celebratory occasion, 901® is a triple distilled, 100% agave tequila offering a smooth taste crafted using only the finest Blue Weber agave.

Recipes

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

Cool as a Cucumber

·         2 parts 901® Tequila

·         1 part elderflower liqueur

·         ½ part lemon juice

·         ½ part agave syrup

·         Half a cucumber, diced 

·         Splash of seltzer water

Preparation: Smash cucumber and agave syrup in a mixing glass. Add 901® Tequila, elderflower liqueur and lemon juice. Shake vigorously over ice. Strain over ice into a highball glass. Top with cold seltzer water. Garnish with skewered cucumber slice.