The Perfect Pumpkin Cocktail for National Pumpkin Day

With National Pumpkin Day coming up on October 26th, Pinnacle Vodka has a great pumpkin cocktail, which they made in partnership with lifestyle influencer Courtney Whitmore.

Pumpkin White Russian

• 2 parts Pinnacle^® Original Vodka
• 1 part coffee liqueur 
• 1 part heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon canned pumpkin puree
• 2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

Preparation: Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake and strain over ice. Garnish with pumpkin pie spice. Tip: If you want a traditional white Russian look to your cocktail, you can pour the heavy cream on at the end.

Chilling Cocktails for your Halloween Festivities

Time to eat, drink and be scary! Whether you’re preparing for a haunted Halloween party or staying in and watching scary movies, these chilling cocktail recipes from Hornitos Tequila and Pinnacle Vodka are certain to raise spirits during your Halloween festivities.  

Purple Haze Martini 

• 2 parts Pinnacle® Original Vodka
• 2 parts DeKuyper® Pucker® Grape Schnapps
• Splash Sour Mix
• Splash Lemon-Lime Soda

Preparation: Add ingredients to an ice-filled shaker. Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass.

Potion de Muerto

• 2 parts Hornitos® Black Barrel® Tequila
• ¾ part fresh orange juice
• ¾ part fresh lemon juice
• ¾ part agave
• 2 dashes orange bitters
• ½ part beet juice

Preparation: Serve in a tall glass over crushed ice with a beet juice float – the beet juice will slowly float down the glass through the crushed ice, making it look like blood dropping down. Garnish with an orange slice.

Apple Barrel

• 2 parts Hornitos® Black Barrel® Tequila
• 1 part apple cider
• ¾ part fresh lime juice
• ½ part maple syrup
• 3 dashes Angostura® bitters
• Apple slice

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

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Syrups Made Simple by Pinnacle Vodka

Simple syrup is an essential ingredient in crafting everyday cocktails, but it’s often an ingredient that is overlooked as something that can easily be crafted at home.

Beyond traditional simple syrup, the world of homemade syrup includes fruit, herb, spiced syrups and more. To help readers navigate how to create their own sweet combinations, Pinnacle® Vodka joined forces with Spike TV’s Bar Rescue Mixology Expert, Mia Mastroianni to offer a few tips and tricks to create flavored simple syrups with ingredients already found in the kitchen.

1. Choose your Sweetener – Different sugars will yield different syrups, so it’s important to take that into consideration. The most commonly used sugars behind the bar are white sugar, brown sugar, agave nectar and maple syrup. These sugars can be made into simple syrups following the basic simple syrup recipe of a one-to-one ratio of sugar and water, stirred gently over heat

2. Fresh Picked Herbs – Making herbed simple syrup is an easy way to add a fresh, aromatic layer to cocktails using just three ingredients– water, sugar and fresh herbs.. Start with a basic simple syrup recipe and add your herb of choice. Herbs such as mint, rosemary, basil, fennel, lemongrass, sage, tarragon, thyme, or lavender are perfect for simple syrups. Simmer for about a minute then remove from heat and let the herbs steep for about 30 minutes as the syrup cools. Once cooled, strain through a mesh strainer into a glass bottle or jar. Refrigerate up to a month

3. Jazz up Syrups with Fresh Fruits – Using fresh fruit is another way to enhance simple syrups. The best fruits for simple syrups are blueberries, blackberries, cherries, lemons, limes, peaches and raspberries. Start with the basic simple syrup recipe and then add about one and a half cups of preferred fruit. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer for about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and strain through a fine mesh strainer. Allow to cool fully and then store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks

4. Get Creative with Morning Cups of Tea – When making tea in the morning; consider going a step further and also creating tea-infused simple syrup. Infusing syrup with tea is a great way to add a level of sophistication to any cocktail. Earl grey, English breakfast, chamomile, chai, rooibos and matcha all work perfectly for infusions. Again, use the basic simple syrup recipe, but add four teabags or four tablespoons of loose leaf tea. Remove from heat and allow to steep for at least 10 minutes. Strain and let the concoction cool fully and refrigerate

5. Spice things up! – Syrups infused with spices can add another layer of depth to cocktails. Simply simmer preferred spices, such as cardamom, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, star anise, or peppercorns, along with the basic simple syrup recipe. Remove from heat and allow steeping for about 20 minutes. Strain, cool and store in a clean glass jar in the refrigerator

Keep these tips in mind when crafting your own special simple syrup to use with Mia’s homemade cocktail of choice, the Pinnacle® Vodka Collins.

Pinnacle^® Vodka Collins

• 2 parts Pinnacle^® Original Vodka
• ¾ parts fresh lemon juice
• ¾ parts simple syrup
• Soda Water
• Lemon wedge for garnish

Preparation: Add all ingredients except soda water to a mixing glass. Shake and strain into a Collins Glass over fresh ice. Top with soda water and garnish with a lemon wedge. 

Pinnacle Vodka offers tips on homemade vodka infusions

The sunshine season is in full swing and there’s nothing better than seasonal fruits, fresh vegetables and delicious herbs to create homemade cocktail infusions sure to impress and delight friends. 

Pinnacle® Vodka partnered with Spike TV’s Bar Rescue Mixology Expert, Mia Mastroianni, to arm at-home bartenders with a few tips and tricks to crafting homemade, custom infusions. 

1. Choose an Infusion – For the best infusions, start with a clean base such as award-winning Pinnacle® Original Vodka. From there, decide how you want the cocktail to taste. Ingredients such as fresh fruits and berries are a good idea for a sweet base. Peppers, herbs or spices are the perfect spicy and savory infusions 

2. Preparation is Key – Before beginning the infusion process, be sure to wash all fresh ingredients thoroughly. Remove any pits, seeds, or stems and cut any fruit into large chunks. Berries can be halved, and any herbs should be gently crushed, as it will help to release the flavor

3. Understand Proper Infusion – Mason jars work perfectly for infusions as they provide a clean, airtight container. A good rule of thumb for infusion proportions: two parts fruit or vegetable to one part spirit. Timing isn’t specific; infusions can take anywhere from three days for some small batches to three weeks for larger batches, so be sure to taste as you go

4. Ready to Serve – Once the vodka has reached a desired flavor, strain the contents through a mesh strainer and gently press on any fruit. To clarify the liquid, strain the remaining liquid a second time through the mesh strainer lined with a coffee filter

Keep these tips in mind when making your own infusion, or create Mia’s homemade infused cocktail of choice, the Cinnamon Grapefruit Gimlet.

Cinnamon Grapefruit-Infused Pinnacle® Original Vodka

·         24 parts Pinnacle^® Original Vodka

·         2 large pink grapefruits

·         2-3 cinnamon sticks

Infusion Preparation: Using a vegetable peeler, peel the outer zest off the grapefruits. Do not get any of the white pith on your peels that will add bitterness. Load a mason jar with the grapefruit zest and the cinnamon sticks and cover with vodka. Store in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight, for three days, shaking daily. Begin to taste. Once it reaches desired flavor, strain through a mesh strainer. Strain a second time through a coffee filter. Bottle and store your infusion in a cool, dark place

Cinnamon Grapefruit Gimlet

·         2 parts Cinnamon/Grapefruit Infused Pinnacle^® Original Vodka

·         1 part Fresh Pink Grapefruit Juice 

·         ½ part Simple Syrup

Preparation: In a mixing glass combine all ingredients and top with ice. Shake and strain into a martini glass or coupe. Garnish with a grapefruit wedge. 

Mix Up Your At-Home Martini Routine

If your knowledge of martinis begins and ends with “shaken not stirred,” Pinnacle® Vodka is here to help refine your cocktail-making skills so you can mix up some great-tasting martinis to share with the crew. 

With the assistance of Bobby Gleason, Beam Suntory Master Mixologist, you can spice up your martini game! His tips include everything from knowing the difference between shaken or stirred, picking vermouth, and suggested martini flavors and garnishes.

High Roller 

• 1 part Pinnacle® Original Vodka
• 1 splash Olive Juice
• 1 spritz Vermouth, Sweet
• Olives

Preparation: Shake and serve in a martini glass. Garnish with olives. 

Classic Lemon Drop Martini 

·         1 ½  parts DeKuyper® Triple Sec Liqueur

·         ½  part Pinnacle® Original Vodka

·         ½  part Lemon Juice

·         1 sugar cube

·         1 lemon

Preparation: Combine ingredients into an ice-filled shaker. Shake until sugar is dissolved, then strain into a martini glass. Garnish with lemon twists.

TIPS FROM BOBBY GLEASON 

·         Shaken or Stirred – Despite what Hollywood may say, deciding when to shake or stir comes down to ingredients. When preparing a martini that contains ingredients such as citrus or egg whites, shaking is a must. This introduces bubbles and the end result is a delicious, frothy concoction. For spirit-forward martinis, stirring is essential as it ensures the drink isn’t too watered down. However, whether shaking or stirring a ‘tini, the most important ingredient is a clean, well-made spirit as the base, such as award-winning Pinnacle® Original Vodka. Produced from wheat, Pinnacle® Original Vodka provides a soft, clean and crisp taste to any martini

·         Vary your vermouth – According to Bobby Gleason, vermouth is a must in a proper martini but you should follow these rules to create the perfect balance; ratio is key. Depending on glass size, pour 3 to 4 parts vodka to 1 part vermouth.  Dry vermouth adds a bitter element to a martini while sweet vermouth adds a hint of fragrance and sugar. It’s important to keep in mind that since vermouth is a wine-based spirit, once the bottle is opened it will go bad with time and is best kept in the fridge. However, keep in mind you may want to buy smaller bottles, as vodka is the key player in a proper martini

·         Find your favorite flavor – After starting with a great base like award-winning Pinnacle® Original Vodka, it’s time for flavor! If you’d like to replicate some of the first martini recipes created, add bitters to complement Pinnacle’s smooth taste. Citrus-based bitters are a safe bet, while floral or spiced varieties can add unexpected characteristics to your cocktail. Less is more when it comes to a martini; only use one or two dashes unless you need a real kick. Smoky notes can be added to a martini by “smoking” the cocktail, glass or the ice. Another technique to achieve this flavor is to “rinse” the glass with a splash of spirits, such as a peaty Scotch or smoky Mescal. Herbal liqueurs, such as Absinthe or bitter Amaro, can add distinct flavors to a martini 

·         Twists on trimmings – Try olives stuffed with cheese, peppers, charcuterie or seafood for a change. Over olives?  Make “The Gibson,” a martini with an onion garnish that should be kept in its brine for a different taste. To go outside the box, consider a citrus peel twist that’s flamed or zested

Celebrate Big Oscar Wins with Sauza Tequila!

The Oscars are this Sunday, and to celebrate all the big winners, here are some great recipes from Sauza!

Tequila or High Water

·         1 part Sauza® Signature Blue Silver Tequila

·         ½ part lime juice

·         ½ part simple syrup

·         4 parts champagne (chilled)

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

Margaritas by the Sea (Serves 8)

·         1 ½ cups Sauza® Signature Blue Silver 100% Agave Tequila

·         ½ cup DeKuyper® Triple Sec Liqueur

·         1 cup lime juice

·         ½ cup simple syrup

·         8 lime wheels

Preparation: Mix all ingredients in an ice-filled pitcher. Serve in salt-rimmed margarita glasses garnished with lime wheels.

Tequila Moonlight

·         1 part Sauza® Gold Tequila

·         ½ parts DeKuyper® Triple Sec Liqueur

·         2 parts orange juice

·         2 parts lime juice

·         2 parts agave nectar

·         Orange wheel 

Preparation: Add all ingredients to an ice-filled shaker. Shake and strain over ice into a salt-rimmed glass. Garnish with an orange wheel.

Step Up Your Garnish Game for a Bloody Mary Brunch

With a new year comes a new opportunity to elevate your cocktail-making skills. Need some help on how to do that? Pinnacle® Original Vodka has a clean, fresh taste perfect for enhancing any Bloody Mary. For additional ways to pump up your cocktail, Pinnacle has enlisted Beam Suntory Master Mixologist Bobby Gleason to provide tips on how to become “the” bartender of your social circle.

Try out Bobby’s simple tricks that will allow your friends to enjoy a Bloody Mary of their choice: 

·         Step up the garnish game – These days it’s go big or go home when it comes to garnishes. Guarantee your guests a good time by providing a variety of tasteful additions to customize their Bloody Mary. 

o   Forget about the stir stick and take a note from history where a celery stick was first used to mix in the 1950s. No need to stop with celery, feel free to use a carrot stick or cheese stick to stir before sipping.  

o   Want to take it to the next level? Add mini pancakes for a brunchy Bloody Mary.

o   Love the lunch part of brunch more? A mini grilled cheese or slider on a skewer is the best bet to enhance your Bloody Mary with a snack.  

·         Add a splash of something new – Switch up your cocktail with Bobby’s homemade Bloody Mary mix (recipe below).  Making your own adds a fresh element to your drink and gives you the power to make it how you want. A true trick to a refreshing libation is adding any combo of herbs like basil, cilantro, chives or sage. When it comes to the sauce Worchester is king! 

·         Kick it up –Turn up the heat, throw in some hot sauce or wasabi along with a delicious rimmer. Whether it’s chili pepper spice with shredded parmesan cheese or a tajin rim, you’ll add a punch of flavor. Use that lemon wedge for more than just garnish and rub it along the rim before rolling your glass in your spice of choice for a real kick.

Sunday Funday Bloody Mary 

• 1 part Pinnacle® Original Vodka
• 2 parts tomato juice
• 1 dash hot sauce
• 1 dash horseradish
• 1 dash Worcestershire sauce
• Celery

Preparation: Shake all ingredients, then add celery and other toppings. 

Bobby G’s Bloody Mary Mix * 

·         32 parts tomato juice 

·         ¼  part kosher salt

·         ¼  part fresh course ground pepper

·         1 ½  parts Worcestershire Sauce

·         ¼  part hot sauce

·         Adjust after to taste

Preparation: Combine all ingredients and adjust after taste to enjoy. 

*Mix recipe serves 14 

Bobby G’s Bloody Mary 

·         1 ½ parts Pinnacle®  Original Vodka 

·         3 parts Bobby G’s Bloody Mary Mix 

·         Garnishes of your choice 

Preparation: Fill a glass with ice and add ingredients in order. Garnish with toppings of your choice.

A Full Roster of Margaritas for National Margarita Day!

On February 22, there’s finally a reason to celebrate during the work week – it’s National Margarita Day!

Whether hosting a happy hour with colleagues or celebrating with friends at brunch, Sauza Tequila is honoring the holiday with a full menu of pitcher-style margaritas, so no matter what time of day you choose to toast with a margarita, Sauza has the perfect suggestions! 

·         Meeting up with friends for brunch? Sauza’s Tequila Sunrise margarita is made with fresh orange juice, cranberry juice and lime juice – just the right amount of flavor to zest up your day

·         Celebrating during lunch? Sauza’s Perfect Pear margarita is made with lime, lemon, fresh pear and topped with rosemary – a fruity drink to complement an afternoon bite

·         Meeting up with colleagues for happy hour? Sauza’s Classic Margarita is an easy-to-make recipe made with lime juice, simple syrup and triple sec – best served pitcher-style with a side of lime wedges for larger groups

·         Mixing up cocktails in the evening with your S.O? Sauza’s Late Night Lychee is made with lychee syrup, fresh lime juice, and jalapeño slices – a perfect way to spice up the night  

Sauza® Tequila Sunrise (Serves 8)

·         2 cups Sauza® Signature Blue Silver

·         1 cup lime juice

·         1 cup orange juice

·         3 cups cranberry juice

·         8 orange wedges

Preparation: Add ingredients to a pitcher and stir. Pour over ice into glasses. Garnish each with an orange wedge.

Perfect Pear (Serves 8)

·         2 cups Sauza® Signature Blue Silver

·         1 cup simple syrup

·         1/2 cup lime

·         1/2 cup lemon

·         4  peeled pears

·         8 rosemary sprigs

Preparation: Add ingredients to an ice-filled pitcher and stir. Pour into margarita glasses and garnish each with a pear slice and rosemary sprig.

Sauza® Classic Margarita (Serves 8)

·         1 ½ cups Sauza® Signature Blue Silver 100% Agave Tequila

·         1 cup lime juice

·         ½ cup DeKuyper® Triple Sec Liqueur

·         ½ cup simple syrup

·         Salt for rimming

·         Lime wheels 

Preparation: Add ingredients to pitcher and stir. Pour over ice into salt-rimmed margarita glasses. Garnish each with a lime wheel on the rim and serve. 

The Late Night Lychee (Serves 8)

·         1 1/2 cups Sauza® Signature Blue Silver

·         1/2 cup lychee-infused simple syrup

·         1/2 cup fresh lime juice

·         15-20 sprigs of cilantro

·         8  jalapeño slices

·         Lychee garnish

Preparation: Add ingredients to an ice-filled pitcher and stir. Pour over ice into salt-rimmed margarita glasses. Garnish with lychee and cilantro.

The 20 Most Essential Hours of 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' to Celebrate 20 Years Of Slaying

With the twentieth anniversary of the premiere of Buffy the Vampire Slayer approaching next month, I felt compelled to compile a list of the most essential tales of the Slayer. I first wanted to choose the 20 best episodes, but I couldn't narrow down all seven seasons into just those few, so I expanded my list to 20 hours, which equated to 27 episodes. 

BtVS has meant so much to me, so it is with much joy and excitement that I reflect back on my favorite episodes. 
Did yours make the list? Think I hit all the essentials? Let me know in the comments!

• Welcome To The Hellmouth
• The Harvest
• Prophecy Girl

• Innocence
• Passion
• Becoming, Part 1
• Becoming, Part 2

• Helpless
• Bad Girls
• Choices
• Graduation Day, Part 1
• Graduation Day, Part 2

• The Freshman
• Hush
• Primeval

• Buffy vs Dracula
• Checkpoint
• Intervention
• The Gift

• Bargaining, Part 1
• Bargaining, Part 2
• Once More, With Feeling

• Lessons
• Showtime
• Get It Done
• End Of Days
• Chosen

Happy 20 years of slaying!