The 5th of May is almost here, which means Memorial Day is right around the corner and then, summer! Cinco de Mayo presents a great reason to enjoy tequila cocktails and tasty Mexican fare. Here are eight recipes we like for this year, and here are some drinks that incorporate spirits from Mexico. Print In the Tropics Course Drinks Keyword coconut water, lime, pandan, pineapple, tequila Ingredients 1 ½ oz. Don Julio Blanco infused with pineapple 1 ½ oz. Vita Coco coconut water ¾ oz. Lime ¾ oz. Pandan syrup Instructions Combine ingredients and shake. Served in a coconut Tiki glass ..read more

The latest release from Grey Goose Vodka is Altius. Drawing inspiration from the French Alps, this limited-edition bottling from the French brand is filtered at “sub-freezing temperatures,” the company says. This expression was distilled from French winter wheat, and, for the first time, blended with spring water originating from peaks in the French Alps. After being blended, Altius is filtered at a very low pressure of -24 degrees Celsius, the company says. The result is a palate of alpine minerality, green apple notes and an earthy undertone. “As the quintessential French vodka, it was an ob ..read more

Mexico may not yet be known for its wine, but the country’s Valle de Guadalupe is home to some of the oldest vines in the Americas, as well as the first woman-owned and operated winery in Mexico. It also boasts a new generation of young winemakers coming into their own and producing unique expressions, such as wild pet nats, blood orange aperitifs and dry-farmed esoteric wines. While Margaritas and cerveza are the common drink pairings for tacos, Mexican wines make a great match as well. The experts at Nossa Imports, sommelier husband-and-wife duo Dale and Stephen Ott, share some suggestions f ..read more

Lux Row Master Distiller/Master Blender John Rempe marks a decade of Blood Oath with the launch of Pact 10 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. As with past pacts, Blood Oath Pact 10 comes bottled at 98.6 proof (49.3% ABV). This latest release was double finished in cabernet franc and merlot casks. It’s a blend of two ryed bourbons and one finished bourbon. “We wanted to create something truly distinctive and unique to mark our 10th edition of Blood Oath and we did just that,” says Rempe. “For this offering I sourced three extraordinary bourbons that could be elevated even further through a doub ..read more

This citrusy, herbaceous gin cocktail from Giselle Miami includes a tableside presentation of violet liqueur “perfume” sprays, which bring floral notes and aromas to the cocktail.  Print Make Me Blush Course Drinks Keyword Blood orange syrup, gin, lemon, taramind, violet liqueur Ingredients 2 oz. Atian Dry Rose gin ½ oz. Blood orange syrup ½ oz. Tamarind syrup 1 oz. Lemon Top with 3 sprays of Violet liqueur Instructions Add all ingredients into a tin. Shake vigorously. Strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with flower petals. Spray the cocktail with violet liqueur ..read more

Zing Zang, known for its Bloody Mary brand, has announced the launch of Zing Zang Michelada Mix, adding to its portfolio of cocktail mixers. As Mexican beer remains as one of the fastest-growing segments in the beer category in the U.S., the popularity of the Michelada — a cocktail blending beer with lime juice, tomato juice and spices — has gained among consumers nationwide. Zing Zang Michelada Mix was made with a blend of real tomato juice, lime and lemon juices, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce and spices. “As the number-one Bloody Mary brand, Zing Zang understands the art of crafting flavor ..read more

Originally launched as a limited release in 2022, Basil Hayden Subtle Smoke has returned for a 2024 release. This whiskey was meant as a one-off when first rolled out years ago. Consumer demand led to its re-release this year, the company says. While the flavor of most smoky spirits can be attributed to smoking the grain pre-distillation, the flavor of Basil Hayden Subtle Smoke is the result of a barrel-finishing process. Featuring the Basil Hayden high rye mashbill as its base, the bourbon then ages for six weeks inside secondary toasted and lightly charred barrels that have been pumped with ..read more

Aberfeldy Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky has announced a partnership with the Argentinian Winery, Finca Ambrosia, for the most recent edition to its Wine Cask Collection: Aberfeldy 21 Year Old Malbec Cask Finish. This is the first partnership of its kind for the distillery. Located at the foothills of the Andes Mountains, the Finca Ambrosia estate uses organic practices and observes moon cycles for its harvest. Distilled on Nov. 14, 2001, and matured for more than two decades in sherry and bourbon re-fill barrels and hogsheads, the limited-edition Aberfeldy 21 Year Old finished for around ..read more

Loews Hotels & Co. on April 10 announced the debut of the Free Spirited by Loews Hotels program for guests who choose to imbibe less or not at all. The brand-wide offering of handcrafted low- and no-ABV beverage options will showcase on-site mixology talent using locally sourced ingredients and unique flavor combinations, the company says. Beverage selections will differ at each property, reflecting the availability of local suppliers, popular flavors in the region and the creativity of the mixologists. For example, guests at the Loews Coronado Bay Resort ..read more

This vodka-based sparkling cocktail boasts flavors of lemon and hibiscus. Print Pretty Little Thing Course Drinks Keyword hibiscus syrup, lemon, limoncello, sparkling wine, vodka Ingredients 1 oz. Tito’s vodka ¼ oz. Fresh lemon juice ¼ oz. House-made limoncello ¼ oz. Hibiscus syrup Top with Isaac Fernandez cava Instructions Shake vodka, lemon, limoncello and syrup together with ice. Strain and top with sparkling wine. Garnish with a nasturtium flower. Notes Miranda Densford, beverage director, Barn8 Restaurant & Bourbon Bar in Goshen, KY, created this recipe. The post ..read more