Kentucky Derby

In case you didn't know, it's Derby Weekend! We couldn't be more excited at The Center and wanted to share some ideas for your Kentucky Derby party!

Appetizers - Kentucky Hot Brown Bites

 They are to die for! Find the recipe here.

Cocktails - The Mint Julep

Mint Juleps are a MUST for your Derby Party and are super easy! All you need is:

2 cups sugar

2 cups water

Sprigs of fresh mint

Crushed ice

Early Times Kentucky Whisky

Derby fashion

Derby Décor

Signature Drink Series: Themed Weddings

In honor of Wedding Inspiration week (round two), we have collected a few drink recipes that would be a perfect compliment to the themed weddings of the week.

State Fair-Inspired Wedding:

Cindy’s Caramel Apple Cocktail

 

Ingredients

3 ounces maple Crown Royal

2 ounces toasted caramel Black Velvet

1 ounce apple liqueur

3 ounces apple juice

1 lemon, juiced

3 ounces ginger ale

apple slices for garnish

caramel sauce for garnish

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Summer-Inspired Wedding

Fizzy Summer Sorbet

Ingredients

Assorted sorbets

Chilled Champagne or sparkling wine

Directions
Place 6 martini or wine glasses in freezer for 30 minutes or until very cold.
Fill chilled glasses with 5 or 6 mini-scoops of assorted sorbets, then top each with champagne.

 

Winter-Inspired Wedding 

Candy Cane Martini

 

Ingredients

1 1/4 ounces vanilla vodka

1 1/4 ounces white crème de cacao

3/4 ounce peppermint schnapps

Garnish: peppermint candy

 

Directions

Combine vanilla vodka, white creme de cacao, and peppermint schnapps in an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously, and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with peppermint candy.

 

Recipes sourced from:
http://daydreamerdesserts.com/2013/02/cindys-caramel-apple-cocktail.html/
http://www.womansday.com/recipefinder/fizzy-sorbet-cocktail-recipe-122361
http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/candy-cane-martini-50400000108884/

 

Themed Signature Drinks

In honor of Wedding Inspiration week, we have collected a few drink recipes that would be a perfect compliment to themed weddings.

 

Recipe and photo from www.liquor.com

Glamorous Wedding: Moët Golden Glamour Cocktail

According to Liquor.com, this elegant cocktail was the official cocktail of the 2010 Academy Awards. It would be perfect of an evening of glitz and glamour.

Ingredients

4 oz Moët & Chandon Imperial Champagne

.25 oz Navan Vanilla Liqueur

1.5 oz Passion fruit juice

 

Garnish: Mint sprig

Glass: Coupe

 

 
Whimsical Wedding: Elderflower Fizz Cocktail
This bubbly, floral drink is a wonderful addition to whimsical wedding cocktail hour. The bright and subtle notes play very well together.

Ingredients

1 oz Lime sour (two parts organic lime juice, one part organic agave nectar)

.5 oz Square One Organic Vodka

.5 oz St-Germain

1 tsp Organic agave nectar

Gruet Brut sparkling wine

Garnish: Organic thyme sprig

Glass: Champagne flute

 

 

Recipe and photo from www.liquor.com

 

Rustic Wedding: Back Yard Tea Cocktail
With tea and lemonade both involved, this cocktail would be the perfect signature cocktail choice for a country or rustic wedding!

 

Ingredients

 

2 oz Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum

1 oz Iced tea

2 oz Lemonade

 

Garnish: Lemon wedge

Glass: Highball

Pumpkin Pie Cocktail

Halloween's just around the corner, and with all the spooooooky jack-o-lanterns around town, we need a drink.....made from the leftover pumpkin, of course! Silliness aside, this pumpkin pie cocktail is delightfully spicy and sweet, and the perfect drink to serve to your friends while you hand out candy or host a costume party. Enjoy this treat!

Ingredients (makes one drink)

1-1/2 ounces spiced rum
1 ounce pumpkin purée
1 teaspoon (0.3 ounces) Grand Marnier
1 scant teaspoon (about 0.2 ounces) simple syrup
Splash of bitters (such as Angostura)
Dash of nutmeg
Dash of cinnamon
Dash of allspice

Directions

1. Pour all contents in a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake thoroughly.
2. Strain into a martini glass straight up.
3. Garnish with nutmeg and cinnamon.

Recipe and photograph from http://www.yumsugar.com

Spa Cooler

Ah, it's almost Friday and a weekend of gorgeous weather is waiting for you! Here's a cocktail recipe that is almost as simple and refreshing as that truth, courtesy of Liquor.com.

 

Ingredients (makes one drink)

• 2 oz VeeV Açaí Spirit
• 1 or 2 sprigs Fresh mint
• 6 thin slices Cucumber
• 1 oz Fresh lime juice
• .75 oz Simple syrup (one part sugar, one part water)

Garnish:

Cucumber and mint

Glass:

Rocks or cocktail

Directions

1. Add all the ingredients to a shaker and fill with ice. 
2. Shake, and strain into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice or double-strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
3. Garnish with a cucumber slice and a mint sprig.

Recipe courtesy of http://liquor.com, Photo courtesy of http://www.palmbeachillustrated.com

Root Beer Float Cocktail

This creamy cocktail is as easy to make as it is to drink. The Root Beer Float Cocktail takes on an old soda shop classic and brings it new life with a touch of vodka. At first glance, we thought of summer when we saw this tasty treat. But, what could be more delightful than an out-of-season surprise this weekend to remind you of warmer weather?!

Ingredients
Root Beer
1 oz Heavy Cream
1/2 oz Vanilla drink syrup (in the coffee aisle)
1 oz Vodka
Whipped Cream

Directions
Fill a glass with ice. Add heavy cream and vanilla syrup. Top with vodka and root beer.

Photo and Recipe from http://thatswhatwesaid.net/

Peach, Honey and Cardamom Wine Cordial

Ingredients

• 5 large, ripe peaches, peeled
• 1 bottle dry white wine
• 8 cardamom pods
• 1/2 cup italian honey
• 2/3 cup vodka

Directions

Place the whole peaches in a large glass jar. Add the wine and cardamom pods; the wine should cover the peaches fully. Cover the jar and let stand at room temperature overnight, then refrigerate for 4 days.

Strain the wine into a nonaluminum saucepan. Place over low heat, add the honey and stir just until the honey dissolves, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool. Stir in the vodka.

Ladle the liqueur into a clean glass bottle or jar. Cover and refrigerate until well chilled, about 2 hours. Serve chilled. The liqueur will keep for up to 1 month in the refrigerator.

Serves 6 to 8.

 

 

Recipe and photograph from http://www.williams-sonoma.com

Holiday Spiced Manhattan

With Fall now upon us, it's time to move our cocktails into to the wonderfully spicy tastes and autumnal colors of the season. Here's a tasty twist on the classic Manhattan that you can enjoy all the way through to the New Year.

Ingredients

• 2 cups sweet vermouth
• 1 tsp allspice
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 2 whole cloves
• 1 dash cayenne pepper
• 1 dash sea salt
• 2.5 oz Hennessy cognac
• 3/4 oz vermouth (infused)
• 1 dash angostura bitters
• 1 twist orange
• nutmeg (Sprinkle of fresh)      

        

Directions:

To Infuse the Vermouth: Heat vermouth to just before boiling. Add all dry ingredients. Turn off heat, cover with lid and let steep for several hours. Pour through sifter into empty container.

 

For each Manhattan Cocktail: Pour Hennessy, vermouth and bitters in shaker. Add ice and shake. Pour into martini glass. Add twist of orange and sprinkle or zest nutmeg over the top.

 

 

Recipe and photos from http://www.aspicyperspective.com/

Lavender Honey Cream Cocktail

Looking for a soothing, spirited drink for Friday afternoon on the porch with your loved one? Surprise them with this lavender & honey cocktail. This floral drink doesn't scream "club culture." Rather, it's perfect for relaxing after a long week of work. We hope you enjoy it!

 

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz Square One Botanical Spirit
• 1 oz Organic heavy cream
• 1 oz Organic egg white
• 1 oz Lavender Honey Syrup*

  *Lavender Honey Syrup: Combine .25 cup lavender honey with .25 cup boiling water. Stir gently until the honey is dissolved. Let cool and store in a squeeze bottle

Garnish: Lavender blossoms

 

Glass: Cocktail

 

Instructions:

 

Add all the ingredients to a cocktail shaker and fill with ice. Shake gently for 30 seconds. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a few lavender blossoms.

 

 

 

Recipe from H. Joseph Ehrmann at http://liquor.com/

Maker’s Mark Collins

 

Maker's Mark Collins

You've never met a Collins like this before. Swap gin for Maker's Mark bourbon and delight in a fresh new twist on a classic cocktail!

 

  

Ingredients

• 2 oz Maker’s Mark Bourbon
• 1 oz Fresh lemon juice
• 1 tsp Sugar
• Club soda

Garnish: Orange wheel and maraschino cherry

Glass: Collins

Instructions

Add the bourbon, lemon juice and sugar to a shaker and fill with ice. Shake well and strain into a Collins glass filled with fresh ice. Top with club soda and garnish with an orange wheel and a maraschino cherry.

 

Note from the blogger: "This recipe sounded particularly tasty, so I got the ingredients together and recreated it myself! (1) Collins glass and (1) ability to tell the difference between a tablespoon and a teaspoon short and this cocktail was still a big hit with the friends who volunteered to try it!

  

 

 Recipe and photo contributed by Maker's Mark at www.liquor.com



Blackberry Crush

Blackberry Crush

Source :Martha Stewart

 

 

Ingredients:

 

4 blackberries

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 tablespoon simple syrup

1 1/4 ounces vodka

Seltzer

Ice

Mint sprig

 

Directions:

 

Combine blackberries, lemon juice, and simple syrup.

Lightly crush berries to release their juice.

Add ice and vodka; top with seltzer

Stir to combine

Garnish witha  mint sprig.

 

 

 

 

 

 

BeautyFrosting’s Blackberry Patch Punch

Blogger Dawn McCoy calls this concoction the "loveliest punch for Labor Day," and we're inclined to agree! It's fresh and fruity, serves a crowd, and still fantastic without the mixers if you're having little ones at your Labor Day get-together this Monday.

 

BeautyFrosting’s Blackberry Patch Punch

64 oz. Blackberry Crush Juice
1 bottle Blackberry Pomegranate Soda
1/2 gallon Limeade
2 – 2 Liter Ginger Ale
2 tbsp. Vanilla Extract
Blackberries & Mint Sprigs to garnish
Combine all in a punch bowl/pitcher/server.
Garnish mixed punch with mint and blackberries. Set aside some to garnish glasses.
Serve each glass with mint and blackberry
And, if a cocktail is desired, add a bottle of bourbon to the mix. Or, if entertaining all ages, put the bourbon, as an add-in, on the side.

Photos and recipe from http://www.beautyfrosting.com

Blue Raspberry Spiked Lemonade

Photo and recipe from http://rock-ur-party.tablespoon.com/

With September just around the corner, schedules are filling up and the weather is changing. This Blue Raspberry Spiked Lemonade is the perfect drink for saying farewell to summer. It's incredibly simple to make at the end of a busy day and the bright colors and flavors are reminiscent of those stress-free summer evenings.

Mix fresh lemon juice, water, and sugar to your liking.
Fill a glass with ice
Pour the lemonade till the glass is 3/4 full
Add 1 ounce of vodka
Add 3/4 of an ounce of blue raspberry vodka on top
Stirring is optional
Garnish with a lemon slice and fresh mint and enjoy!

The Porch Swing

Sadly, summer is nearing its end, so we'll have to post a few final "summery" signature cocktail recipes before moving on to ciders and other fall specialties.

Porch Swing

Source: Smittenkitchen.com

 

Ingredients:

1.5 ounces of gin

1.5 ounces of Pimm's No. 1 liqueur

4 ounces of homemade lemonade (recipe below)

7-Up

10 paper-thin half moon slices of cucumber

 

Directions:

Pour gin, lemonade, and Pimm's into a tall Collins glass, then add a few ice cubes and a splash of 7-Up. Top with cucumber slices.

 

Lemonade Ingredients: 

1 part freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 part simple syrup (To make your own, simmer one part water with one part sugar until sugar has dissolved and then let it cool.)

2 parts water

 

 

Optional Final Step:

Enjoy your cocktails and these last few weeks of warm weather outside!

 

 

 

Martini - Low Calorie Cocktails

If you're taking the same approach to the summer that we are, you are torn between making healthy choices and satisfying your taste buds. (And you're probably letting those taste buds win!) Why not compromise and do a little of both? Check out this great list of low-calorie drinks from Madame Noire. These drinks include a waist-friendly twist on classic cocktails, some new concoctions, and surprising calorie facts that may set your mind at ease about your love of Guinness.

Perfect for any Bond-inspired event, this week's signature cocktail is the classic Martini! Only 100 calories, olive included.

 

Martini

Source: Madame Noire

 

 

Ingredients:

1 oz gin (or vodka)

1/2 oz dry vermouth (vermouth is optional)

1 green olive (or try a lemon instead)

 

Directions:

Pour the ingredients into a mixing glass filled with ice cubes

Stir for 30 seconds

Strain into a chilled cocktail glass

Garnish with the olive (or lemon)

 

If you're really going for the Bond theme, the drink can by "Shaken, not stirred."



Lemon Drops on the Rocks

Lemon Drops on the Rocks

Source: Martha Stewart

 

 

Ingredients:

 

3 cups vodka

2 1/4 cups fresh lemon juice (10-12 lemons)

1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons superfine sugar

Ice, for serving

Thin lemon slives, halved, for garnish

 

Directions:

 

Combine vodka, lemon juice and sugar, stirring occasionally until sugar dissolves

Transfer to an ice-filled pitcher

Add lemon slices and serve

Blue Hawaii

Blue Hawaii

 

Source: Martha Stewart

 

Ingredients

 

 3 ounces pineapple juice

3/4 ounce rum

3/4 ounce vodka

1/2 ounce lemon juice

1/2 ounce blue Curacao1/4 ounce simple syrup

Ice

Cherry and Pineapple Wedge (for serving)

 

Directions

 

In a cocktail shaker, combine pineapple juice, rum, vodka, lemon juice, blue Curacao, and simple

syrup.

Shake and strain over ice.

Serve with a cherry and a pineapple wedge.

 

Vodka Thyme Lemonade

Vodka Thyme Lemonade

Source: Martha Stewart

 

 

 

 

Ingredients:

2 cups of sugar

12 sprigs of fresh thyme

4 cups of freshly squeezed lemon juice( about 24 lemons)

2 cups of vodka

 

Directions:

Step 1. In a small saucepan, combine 2 cups of water with sugar and thyme; bring to a boil over high heat. Stir occassionally until sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and let cool in room temperature.

 

Step 2. Pour mixture through a fine sieve into a large glass measuring cup and discard thyme. You should have 2 cups of syrup. Cover with plastic and chill.

 

Step 3. In a large serving pitcher, stir together lemon juice, vodka, and chilled syrup; garnish with thyme. Divide evenly among eight tumblers filled with ice and serve immediately.

 

Pineapple and Mango Rum Cocktail

Pineapple and Mango Rum Cocktail

source: Martha Stewart

 

 

Ingredients:

 

2  small ripe mangoes, peeled and cubed (about 2 cups)

 1/2 mango cut into slices with skin, for garnish

4 ounces best quality golden rum

4 cups fresh pineapple juice (from a 4 1/2 pound pineapple)

Fresh tropical fruit, such as: dragonfruit or starfruit, for garnish

 

Directions:

 

Puree mangoes, rum, and 1/2 cup of water in blender

Pour 2 ounces of puree into each of six 12 ounce glasses

Fill glasses with ice and top off with pineapple juice

Garnish with tropical fruit

 

 

 

 

Watermelon Sangria

Watermelon Sangria

Source: Food and Wine

 

 

Ingredients:

2 pounds of seedless watermelon, peeled and cubed

1/2 pounds of watermelon cut into balls with a melon baller and skewered on picks

1 bottle dry white wine

6 ounces vodka

4 ounces Cointreau or other Triple Sec

4 ounces Citrus Syrup

Ice

 

Directions:

In a blender, puree the watermelon cubes.

Pour through a fine strainer into a pitcher.

Add the white wine, vodka, Cointreau and Citrus Syrup.

Stir and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

Stir again, then pour the sangria into ice-filled white wine glasses.

Garnish with the skewered watermelon balls.