Saturday Spirits: Summer Cocktails

September 3, 2016 1 Comment A Well Crafted Pantry

Labor Day is the unofficial last day of Summer in our house. Portland’s weather has already given us a small taste of Fall (which was glorious) but, we are going to hang on to the last bit of Summer as long as we can with a fun BBQ with friends, some hikes, and (for me) working on my computer outside. To celebrate this weekend, I’ll be making up a big batch of one of my favorite summer cocktails!

Cocktails that can be made in bulk are one of my favorites for parties so that I don’t spend the entire night playing bartender. Below are some of my favorite summer cocktails that can be made by the pitcher!

Favorite Summer Cocktails

Summer cocktails for me typically are a mix of sweet and sour flavors. They often have a selection of herbs or fruit muddled in. Nearly all of my favorite summer cocktails can be made in batches and served to a crowd.

Vodka Slushies

These are SO tasty and easy to make. Just increase all of the ingredients to make a pitcher worth of slushies. Hand them out quick though… they will melt!

Gin Mint Lemonade

A mint simple syrup brings this lemonade based cocktail over the top flavor wise.

Peach Bourbon Iced Tea

This one is PERFECT for a batch cocktail. Simply multiply all ingredients by 8 and put in a pitcher. Pour over ice, stir and enjoy!

Herbal Gin and Tonic

Gin is absolutely my liquor of choice over the summer months. This cocktail is so easy to customize as well!

A personal favorite @jennibost I do mine with basil and a thai chilli. Saturday Spirits: Herbal Gin and Tonic https://t.co/fdQ0zNj3Tr

— Katie Dillman (@katie_goodlinks) August 15, 2016

Jalapeno Margarita

Spicy margaritas, well… spicy cocktails in general, are my favorites. I love the little bit of a kick that pairs so well with the sweet and sour of a this margarita.

Beergarita

Margaritas are just so good for batch cocktails. They are easy to put together and don’t need a bunch of shaking or added elements to be ready to go. This beergarita gives a little carbonation to the traditional margarita.

Spiked Arnold Palmer

This is absolutely one of my favorite camping cocktails. Lemonade, tea, and bourbon make for a lovely combination.

Spiked Ice Cream

One of my favorite summer party treats involves mixing ice cream (or sorbet) with my favorite liquors. This sweet treat is easy to make and only needs a few hours in the freezer to firm up!

What is your favorite summer cocktail to serve to a crowd?

A Well Crafted Pantry

Saturday Spirits: Bourbon Peach Tea Cocktail

July 16, 2016 No Comments A Well Crafted Pantry

Summer just calls for a nice iced cocktail. While I typically go for bourbon straight or in cocktails fit for Fall, I was excited to try creating a tasty Summer recipe of Bourbon Peach Tea featuring Makers 46 Bourbon. I was sent a bottle of Makers 46 for purposes of creating a recipe to share with readers. All opinions are my own. For more information about my sponsored content please visit my policies page.

Over the Fourth of July weekend we hosted our annual low country crab boil. The Southern speciality just called for a sweet tea beverage to be served alongside it. Peach Tea is my favorite sweet tee, the vanilla and spice notes of Makers 46 just makes it even better.

Perfect Summer Cocktail – Bourbon Peach Tea

First off, yes, you can just add bourbon to your favorite peach tea. However, the below concoction is a little bit more concentrated and would be good over ice or as a cocktail straight up.

Ingredients:

1 3/4 oz Maker’s 46 Bourbon
1 3/4 oz Peach Syrup (see recipe below)
2 oz concentrated black tea (see recipe below)
1 collins glass filled with ice (or shaker with ice and a martini glass for those who wish to enjoy this beverage straight up)
1 spoon
mint and peach for garnish
optional – raw sugar to rim glass

Directions:

Optional: Rim your glass in raw sugar. I chose not to do this because it was sweet enough for me, but it would be tasty and beautiful touch whether served over ice or straight up!

In Collins Glass:

Pour the Maker’s 46 Bourbon, Peach Syrup and Concentrated Black Tea over ice.
Stir.
Garnish with mint leaf and peach slice.
Enjoy!

Straight Up:

Pour the Maker’s 46 Bourbon, Peach Syrup, and 1 3/4 oz (not two ounces as in the collins glass) Concentrated Black Tea over ice in a shaker.
Shake well.
Strain into a chilled martini glass.
Garnish with mint leaf and peach slice.
Enjoy!

How to make concentrated black tea:

I used the Lipton Iced Tea bags that are family size, though you could use any black tea bags that you like. I did 5 tea bags for 32 oz of boiling water to make my concentrated tea. Once the bags steeped for 8 minutes I pulled them out and let the tea cool before using in my cocktail.

How to make peach syrup:

Combine 1 16 oz bag of frozen peaches, 2 cups water, and 2 cups sugar in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until all the sugar has dissolved and the peaches begin to break up. Smash peaches into the mixture. Strain mixture using a fine mesh colander over a pourable container. Store the peach syrup in a sealed container in the fridge for up to two weeks.

What is your favorite Summer cocktail?

A Well Crafted Pantry

Easy Dinner Side: Classic Wedge Salad

August 6, 2015 2 Comments A Well Crafted Pantry

These days you rarely see me in the kitchen anymore. My husband has been taking up most of the kitchen duties due to the combination of a killer work commute and the pregnancy. The few days a week that I decide to venture in to make something I either way over do it and create a 9 course meal based on pregnancy cravings, or I choose to go with super quick and simple dinners that I can throw together in less than half an hour. This recipe is the second of the two. I paired this super quick and easy classic wedge salad with a simple (and delicious) stuffed ravioli dish. However, the wedge salad can be a meal in its own right if you are just wanting to put together a delicious and quick Summer meal.

[amd-yrecipe-recipe:6]

Fun variations on a wedge salad:

— Change out the bacon for some lovely crisp chorizo for a flavorful variation on the classic. Try using a smoked bacon or cured Italian meat for another twist.
— Add a little Worcestershire sauce to your blue cheese dressing.
— Substitute butter milk for the milk and leave out the white vinegar for a tangier dressing.
— Change out the lettuce for a more nutritious variation… though, I am a traditionalist when it comes to the lettuce for a wedge salad. I rarely ever eat iceberg lettuce, but when I do it is usually covered in blue cheese and bacon!
— Serve miniature versions of this as a side at a party or perhaps a build your own wedge salad bar with a variety of fun toppings.

You can also use a store bought blue cheese dressing for this recipe to make it even simpler. I just happen to like the flavor a freshly made blue cheese dressing!

This post was created in collaboration with Grocery Outlet. All opinions are my own. Thank you for reading and sharing posts that are created in partnership with brands that help support this blog.Grocery Outlet operates 210+ stores in California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington.Visit the Grocery Outlet website to find a store near you and sign up for notifications when their new ad comes out!