Spring is here and floral syrups are a wonderful way to elevate your cocktails, mocktails, lemonades and iced teas. This rose simple syrup is an easy recipe with just three ingredients. And whether you prefer to make your syrup with dried rose petals or rosewater, I’ve got you covered with instructions for both! Roses are flowering shrubs or vines belonging to the genus Rosa in the family Rosaceae. They’re best known for their beauty, fragrance, and thorny stems. Roses have been cultivated by humans for thousands of years for their aesthetic appeal, symbolic significance, and use in perfumery ..read more

The Margarita is one of the most popular cocktails ordered at bars and restaurants around the world. And with just three ingredients, it’s also an easy drink to make and enjoy at home. But once you’ve measured, shaken, and poured, how should this classic be garnished? A classic Margarita garnish is the lime wedge, although it is also often garnished with a lime wheel. What’s the difference and why choose one over the other? The lime wedge Lime wedges are the perfect garnish for a cocktail that benefits from the bright aroma of fresh citrus. The peel of the fruit adds a lot of fragrance, enhan ..read more

Ginger is a key ingredient in many modern and classic cocktails, with its uniquely refreshing yet spicy flavor. Ginger simple syrup concentrates that vibrant zesty flavor into an easy-to-use ingredient for cocktails, mocktails, and drinks of all kinds. Whether you’re making a classic cocktail, experimenting with your own recipes, or you just want to make simple ginger limeade or iced tea – this ginger-infused simple syrup is the only recipe you’ll ever need. One syrup with many uses This syrup has become a staple in my home bar simply because it’s easy to make and very economical. I don’t alw ..read more

How much is a bottle of vodka? What brands are more or less expensive? How much should I spend on a bottle for mixing cocktails? If you’ve ever found yourself asking these questions, you’re in the right place. Whether you’re wondering which brand of vodka to try, planning and budgeting a party, or just curious what it might cost to stock a home bar, this guide will help you! Here I’ll give average costs per brand and also help you pick reasonably priced, quality brands for when you’re just getting started. We’ll also answer one of the most asked booze questions with regard to specific brands ..read more

If you’re a fan of Espresso martinis or coffee-based cocktails, you’re going to love this super simple Brown Sugar Espresso Martini. This riff on the modern classic uses just three ingredients, but adds so much rich, deep flavor. Who invented the Espressotini? The Espresso Martini is a cocktail that is believed to have been created in the late 1980s by a London-based bartender named Dick Bradsell. According to legend, a famous model walked into the Soho Brasserie where Bradsell was working and asked him to create a drink that would “wake me up, and then f*** me up.” Bradsell combined freshly ..read more

Elderberry syrup is best known as a home remedy for immune support, but it’s also a delicious ingredient to use in winter cocktails, mocktails and other drinks. This easy to make syrup has a deep berry flavor and can be made with or without honey. Elderberry syrup is often used as a natural remedy for colds and flu, as elderberries are believed to have immune-boosting properties. Elderberry syrup can be taken by the spoonful or added to drinks like tea, juice, sparkling water, or even a whiskey sour. What are elderberries? Elderberries are the fruit of the elder tree, which is native to Europ ..read more

The Brazilian Buck is an easy-drinking, three ingredient cocktail that’s almost as refreshing as the classic cachaça cocktail – the Caipirinha. If you’re new to Brazil’s national spirit, or just looking for a new way to enjoy it (that doesn’t require any fancy ingredients), you’re in the right place! What is a Buck cocktail? Buck cocktails are a family of drinks that includes the Moscow Mule, the Gin Buck, and the Whiskey Buck, also sometimes called the Montana Mule or even just Jim & Ginger. Also included in this category would be the Rum Buck (Dark ‘n Stormy). While the exact origin of t ..read more

The Aperol Sour is a wonderful cocktail for spring and summer, with plenty of fresh citrus, botanical notes, and an eye-catching cloud of fluffy foam on top. Reminiscent of the Amaretto Sour, the Aperol Sour takes a sweet liqueur and makes it the focal point of the drink (rather than a spirit like whiskey or gin). The key with a sour-style cocktail that makes a liqueur the main event is to be sure to balance all that sweetness with plenty of fresh citrus. It also benefits tremendously from adding an ounce or so of complementary spirit to the mix. In this case, it’s most often paired with gin ..read more

Summer is nearly here and that means fresh, abundant berries! Berry simple syrups are some of the easiest to make and the most versatile to use, making them well worth the small effort to make them. Did you know that you don’t even have to cook blackberry simple syrup? If you prefer the taste of fresh berries rather than the deeper, jammy flavor you get when they’re heated, you can follow the second set of instructions down below. Also try my fun and super quick Fresh Raspberry Simple Syrup Recipe! I make blackberry simple syrup A LOT, so this post has a ton of info and ideas for how to get t ..read more

Ready for the easiest and best-tasting coconut simple syrup recipe ever? This quick syrup will have you mixing all kinds of yummy tropical drinks in no time – everything from elegant Coconut Daiquiris to family-friendly Coconut Lemonade! I love making different syrups to add unique and interesting flavors to my cocktails, mocktails, and punches. Making syrups at home doesn’t have to take a lot of time or effort! It’s fun and easy, and a no-cook recipe like this is even kid-friendly. My five year old is more interested in my work than ever, and making syrups is a great way to involve her in th ..read more