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. 

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!

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.

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.

4th of July - The Skinnygirl and Sauza way!

Sauza® Tequila

Sauza® Watermelon Margarita (serves 8)

·         1 cup Sauza® Tequila

·         ½ cup Lime juice

·         ½ cup Triple sec

·         1 cup Watermelon juice

·         Drop of Honey

Preparation: Add ingredients to an ice-filled pitcher and stir. Pour into salt or sugar-rimmed glasses and garnish with a watermelon wedge. 

Skinnygirl®

Berry Patriotic

·         1 part Skinnygirl® Bare Naked Vodka

·         1 part DeKuyper® Blueberry Schnapps

·         Splash of club Soda

·         5 muddled strawberries

·         20 blueberries

Preparation: Add muddled strawberries to a glass and top with ice. Shake Skinnygirl® Bare Naked Vodka and DeKuyper® Blueberry Schnapps in a shaker with ice. Strain into the glass and top with club soda and blueberries.

Celebrate the 4th of July with Pinnacle Vodka!

With Independence Day right around the corner, it’s time to say thanks to our nation (and happy birthday to me!) with a toast of red, white and blue!

Citrus-Spangled Spritzer

·         1 part Pinnacle® Citrus Vodka

·         1 part DeKuyper® Blue Curacao Liqueur

·         2 parts Lemon Soda

·         1 part Grenadine

·         Lemon for garnish

·         Blueberries for garnish

·         Mint Sprig for garnish 

Preparation: Lightly mix the vodka and lemon soda in a cocktail shaker with ice and set aside. In a tall glass, add the grenadine slowly to the bottom. Fill the glass with crushed ice. Strain the vodka soda mixture over the back of a bar spoon, followed by the blue curacao. Garnish with fresh mint, lemon rind star and berries (optional).

Raspberry Sparkler 

·         1 part Pinnacle® Raspberry Vodka 

·         2 parts Club Soda   

·         Raspberries for garnish

·         Lemon wheel for garnish

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

Make a Splash with NEW Skinnygirl Watermelon Lime Margarita

Just in time for summer, new Skinnygirl Watermelon Lime Margarita is a refreshing mix of light watermelon and cool lime. Whether you are looking for a warm weather staple or a delicious margarita without the guilt, there’s something to offer everyone! And, it’s so simple to serve – just pour over ice in a margarita glass and garnish with a watermelon and lime wedge. 

“Watermelon is one of my favorite flavors,” said Bethenny Frankel, founder of Skinnygirl Cocktails, natural foods chef, Real Housewives star and expert hostess. “The new Skinnygirl Watermelon Lime Margarita is BEYOND! I’m obsessed and will be enjoying it all season long while entertaining by the pool and relaxing at the beach.”

Here are the details on Skinnygirl Watermelon Lime Margarita -

·         The perfect balance of cool lime and refreshing watermelon

·         Available in June, the ready-to-serve cocktail contains a bright, fruity aroma with light tequila and citrus notes

·         Finishes with a sweet and tart melon flavor 

·         Under 100 calories per serving and 19.9 proof

·         Offered in a 750 mL bottle for $12.99

Perk Alert: New Watermelon Lime Margarita is perfect for summer entertaining. Here are a few suggestions on how to incorporate it into your warm weather soiree below: 

·         Pair new Watermelon Lime Margarita with Balsamic Caprese Skewers (recipe below) as an afternoon snack while entertaining guests. Three skewers are less than 60 calories while our ready to serve marg is less than 100! It’s the perfect combo for a hot summer day.

·         Bring your cocktail to the next level by creating a Sassy Slush! Pour Watermelon Lime Margarita over shaved ice and garnish with a watermelon wedge. 

·         Bring the heat and spice up your cocktail with a chili rim – just mix chili powder and coarse salt – or garnish with jalapeno slices. 

Balsamic Caprese Skewers  

·         Cherry tomatoes

·         Mozzarella balls, patted dry with a paper towel

·         Basil leaves

·         Pepper

·         Balsamic vinegar

Preparation: Using 6-inch bamboo skewers, first place a cherry tomato, then a large basil leaf followed by a mozzarella ball.  Continue these steps until you have the amount of skewers you desire. Arrange them on a platter and sprinkle with a bit of pepper.  Serve with balsamic vinegar or drizzle over top, just remember to drizzle right before serving so that your basil leaves don't wilt.

Take a Vacation with 901!

Can’t manage to go on vacation this summer? Don’t fret! 901® Tequila cocktails will transport you to popular vacation spots and fulfill your desire to travel. 

901® Tequila’s alluring cocktails are great souvenirs for your friends and family at your next summer gathering. The Mexican Vacation’s agave flavor brings you to Puerto Vallarta, a scenic beach town in Mexico, while the Just in Thyme will help you escape to the Mediterranean where Thyme is a native herb. 

Mexican Vacation

·         2 parts 901® Tequila

·         1 part triple sec

·         1 part lemon juice

·         Splash agave syrup

·         Mexican pilsner

Preparation: Combine all ingredients excluding Mexican pilsner in mixing glass over ice. Shake vigorously. Strain into chilled tall glass. Top with Mexican pilsner beer.

Just in Thyme

·         2 parts 901® Tequila

·         2 parts lemonade

·         1 lemon, cut into wedges

·         Thyme sprig for garnish

Preparation: Muddle lemon wedges and simple syrup in mixing glass. Add 901® Tequila and lemonade and stir. Pour over ice in a rocks glass. Garnish with thyme sprig.

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 percent agave tequila offering a smooth taste crafted using only the finest Blue Weber agave.

All recipes were created by Justin Timberlake’s personal 901® mixologist, Eddy Buckingham.

Welcome Summer with Sauza Cocktails!

Summer officially kicks off TODAY, and it’s time to make sure you’re ready for all your cocktail occasions! 

From a grapefruit soda cocktail, to a clementine crush cocktail and even a grilled pineapple cocktail, the below recipes demonstrate how to win summer and throw the best backyard BBQ ever. Sauza’s refreshing summertime cocktails include the ultimate summer flavors of citrus, sweetness and even caramelization from the grill! 

Sauza® Paloma

·         1 part Sauza® Signature Blue Silver Tequila

·         3 parts grapefruit soda

·         ½ parts lime juice

·         1 grapefruit wedge 

Preparation: Add tequila into tall glass with ice. Fill remainder of the glass with grapefruit soda. Squeeze juice of lime and garnish with a grapefruit wedge.

Clementine Crush 

·         1 part Sauza® Signature Blue Silver Tequila

·         1 part clementine juice

·         1⁄2 part lime juice

·         1⁄2 part agave nectar

·         1 orange wheel 

Preparation: Add ingredients to an ice­filled shaker. Shake and strain over ice into glass and serve. Garnish with an orange wheel. Sugar­coated rim is optional.

Sauza® Scorched Wahini 

·         2 parts Sauza® Signature Blue Silver Tequila

·         1 part simple syrup

·         2 parts pineapple juice

·         1 grilled pineapple wedge

·         1 pineapple leaf  

Preparation: Reserve pineapple wedges and add remaining ingredients to an ice filled shaker. Shake and strain over ice into a mason jar or margarita glass. Garnish with a grilled pineapple wedge and leaf.