Lemon, egg white, and club soda create a fun non-alcoholic spin-off of a gin fizz in this toned-down version of the classic cocktail. Egg white shaken with lemon juice creates a foamy texture and tall head. This refreshing lemon-forward mocktail has zesty hints of fresh grated ginger. A creamy addition of heavy cream balances against the acidic lemon and spicy ginger, and you can adjust to your preferred sweetness by adding more or less simple syrup. You won’t miss any gin here!   Ingredients: ¼ oz. Grated Ginger 1.5 oz. Lemon Juice ½ oz. Simple Syrup (or more depending on preferre ..read more

Nothing beats a classic punch bowl when at a holiday party! This punch bowl requires minimal ingredients, is easy to put together, and is sure to be a crowd pleaser. The flavor combination of rich, tart pomegranate, lemonade, and ginger beer creates the perfect vessel for your favorite rum! This recipe can be made as a mocktail without the rum for an alcohol-free punch!   Ingredients: 2.5 cups of 100% pomegranate juice 2 cups lemonade 1.5 cups rum 3 cups ginger beer Apple matchsticks and lemon slices to garnish Tools You’ll Need: Mixing Glass Barspoon Jigger Pre ..read more

The Dirty Martini has long been popular for good reason. The cocktail is easy to make and always refreshing, even with the briny flavor of the olive juice. A modest list of ingredients leaves room for the gin or vodka to take center stage, that’s why we recommend selecting high quality spirits for this savory Classic Dirty Martini.   Ingredients: 2 oz Gin or Vodka 1 oz Dry Vermouth ½ oz Green Olive Juice or Brine Olives (to garnish) Tools You’ll Need: Mixing Glass Barspoon Jigger Julep Strainer Preparation Steps: Prepare a chilled Martini Glass or Coupe ..read more

Rum punch is a classic cocktail we all know and love, so why not create a warm winter punch that is quintessential for the colder seasons. This warm rum punch embodies the best of winter’s favorite flavors: apple cider, cinnamon, orange, cranberry, and spices. It’s quick and easy to make if you have the house to yourself and want to curl up on the couch but the recipe can easily be adjusted to make as a batch for a small group.    Ingredients: 2 oz. Spiced Rum 2 oz. Cranberry Juice 2 oz. Apple Cider 1 oz. Orange Juice 1 Cinnamon Stick Cinnamon Stick, Apple Slice, and Cranberri ..read more

Meet Zach and find out how his first Manhattan inspired him to make more cocktails. Name:Zachary Taylor Location:Los Angeles, CA Go-To Cocktail:Dry gin martini with a lemon twist Instagram:@cocktailhomecraft Website:cocktailhomecraft.com Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you first get into mixology? Who/what/where taught you what you know? A little after I had turned 21, my family took me out to have my first drink. I had no idea what anything would taste like. One of them said “get a Manhattan, it’s got whiskey”. So I did. I was brought a stemmed glass with a cherry in it ..read more

While mixology can be a labor of love, summertime drinks shouldn’t add any work to lazy (or busy!) summer days. We picked some of our favorites that can be mixed without breaking a sweat. With summer in full swing, there’s no better time to sit back in the shade and watch your herb garden grow with one of these delightful mixtures.   View this post on Instagram A post shared by Casual Mixologist (@casualmixologist) 1. Aperol Spritz We would be amiss to not lead off with the Aperol Spritz. This spritz is a refreshing combination of the lightly bitter Aperol paired with the best o ..read more

The Gimlet was originally used to help sailors of the British Royal Navy on the sea battle scurvy due to their diets lacking vitamin C by tricking the sailors into consuming lime juice. The Gimlet has a very sharp citrusy flavor that lends the drink its unique personality. Since then, the gimlet has become a classic enjoyed by all – a simple and refreshing mixture that is quick to prepare. You can also substitute the lime juice and simple syrup with an equivalent amount of lime cordial. Ingredients: 2.5 oz. London Dry Gin ½ oz. Lime Juice ½ oz. Simple Syrup Lime Wheel (to garnish) To ..read more

As with all parts of life, everything’s better with bubbles, and nothing quite hits the spot like the sharp, bittersweet flavor of tonic water to help balance even the strongest of spirits. A key part of any mixologist’s inventory, tonic water plays a powerful supporting role in many of our favorite cocktails. This sparkling elixir is full of surprises–it even glows under a black light– and its recipe is friendly enough for casual mixologists to make at home. History of Tonic Water Like many of today’s mixology essentials, the origins of tonic water are medicinal. These particular bubble ..read more

A freshly made blueberry compote brings sweetness and berry flavor to the classic half lemonade, half iced tea refreshment. It’s a notch below super spicy thanks to sliced jalapeno and extra tart from the addition of lemon juice along lemonade and black tea. All together, it’s quite the complementary blend of spicy, sour, and sweet. This one’s not far off from a hole-in-one!   Ingredients: Blueberry Compote Ingredients 1 cup blueberries ⅓ cup sugar ⅓ cup water Mocktail Ingredients 3 Jalapeno Slices 1.5 oz. Blueberry Compote 1 oz. Lemon Juice 4 oz. Unsweetened Black Tea 3 oz. Lemo ..read more

With Father’s Day right around the corner, now is the time to perfect your Old Fashioned skill set to impress family and friends. Always a reliable, well-rounded cocktail, the Old Fashioned has withstood the test of time- quick to build or craft a few at once for a crowd, it’s an easy sip on Sunday afternoon with the family. ​   View this post on Instagram A post shared by Casual Mixologist (@casualmixologist) 1. Classic Old Fashioned If you’re new to the world of bourbon or rye, the classic Old Fashioned is the best place to start. A cousin to the Manhattan, it’s a great c ..read more