Weddings have been seeing a growing trend lately, a much bigger focus on the alcohol that is being served. Every couple wants to have a stellar signature cocktail for their big day that all of their guests will love. Most try to pick a drink that will go along with they theme of their wedding or that has some special meaning to them. The best way that I have found to do it is seasonally. No one wants to be drinking wintery cocktails during the summer and having something cozy during the warmer months puts an added touch on the wedding day. Here are some of our favorite seasonal signature cocktails!
Winter: To start off your night, the best beverage would be cherry thyme champagne. This take on a class celebratory drink is easy to make and wonderfully delicious! All you need is your favorite champagne, a can of bing cherries, a spring of thyme and a lemon. Drain the cherry juice into a saucepan. Put the cherries in a jar for later. Simmer the juice and thyme over low heat for about 5 minutes. Take off the heat and let cool. Simmer the juice and thyme over low heat for about 5 minutes. Take off the heat and let cool. Put about 1 to 2 tablespoons of the cherry juice in the bottom of a champagne glass. Add one cherry to the glass then fill with champagne. Garnish with a small sprig of thyme and squeeze a bit of lemon juice in each glass and you're finished! Another personal favorite would be simply mixing hot chocolate and peppermint shnaps for dessert, a winter favorite!
Spring: This season is notorious for being full of flowers and bright pastel tones. My favorite choice for a sing would be a Sherry Blossom. This simple beverage is a simply mix of 1.5 oz. Patron Silver Tequila, 1 oz. Patron Citronage Orange liqueur, 1 oz fresh limes juice, 1/4 oz. Marachino juice all garnished with a rose petal. The light pink color is stunning and the rose makes it undoubtable springy. Another favorite: Something Blue. This drink is simply 3/4 oz Skyy Vodka, 3 oz. Blue Curacao, and 3/4 oz. MIXT sweet and sour mix. Feel free to garnish will a complimentary flower!
Summer: This is the season perfect for all the fruity cocktails you can imagine! Start the wedding off with Champagne Punch. This beverage involves 3 tablespoons grenadine, 3 tablespoons Cointreau, 2 tablespoons brandy, 1 3/4 cups champagne, and Raspberries, apples, or other seasonal fruit. All you need to do is fill a small ice bucket halfway with ice. Pour grenadine, Cointreau, brandy, and champagne over ice. Stir gently, and ladle punch into 2 wide-mouthed stemmed glasses. Garnish punch with raspberries, apples, or any other fruit in season! Another option: strawberry coolers. In a tall glass, add vodka, dry vermouth, lemon juice, simple syrup, seltzer water and pureed strawberries. Mix it all together and make sure you give it all a good shake before you add the seltzer, then strain the chilled drink over ice, adding a fresh-sliced strawberry to the rim for a colorful and tasty garnish!
Fall: Ah our current and most favorite season! This season is the time for apples and pumpkins galore! The first drink to try is the Spiced Caramel Apple. All you need is 2 oz Domaine de Canton ginger liqueur,1 oz Van Gogh Dutch Caramel Vodka, 2½ oz Apple cider, and a dash of lemon juice. SImply Rim martini glass with agave syrup and crumbled gingersnap cookies at set aside. Add liquid ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well then strain into martini glass! Another classic is a simple pumpkin martini! You'll need 1/2 oz Sylk Cream Liqueur, 2 oz vanilla vodka 1/2 oz pumpkin liqueur or pumpkin spice syrup, 1 tsp whipped cream and a Cinnamon stick for garnish. Pour the Sylk liquor and vodka into an ice filled shaker. Shake well then add the pumpkin liquor or syrup. Shake again and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Top with a teaspoon of whipped cream and garnish with a cinnamon stick! Lastly, end the night with a Hot Apple Pie Cocktail. This requires 1 oz. Tuaca (an orange-vanilla flavored liqueur), 5-6 oz. warm apple cider, whipped cream, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cinnamon sticks. Heat the apple cider. Pour into a coffee mug, adding Tuaca. Garnish with whipped cream, and sprinkle on cinnamon and nutmeg. Add a stick of cinnamon and you are finished!
