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Cocktails

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As a blogger in the food, entertaining, and lifestyle category I subscribe to a variety of emails and google alerts that may help spark a post now and again. I tend to not have too much trouble coming up with ideas… as a matter of fact the 25 drafts I have currently SCREAM the opposite. However, sometime an alert pops in that intrigues me. The recent notification that made me actually open my email for once (currently have 500 unread. yuk.) was that National Margarita Day is February 22nd! It intrigued me because margaritas are inherently summer drinks for this gal— an excuse to make one in February…. yes, please!

I received complimentary Tres Agaves Tequila and Margarita Mix as a compliment to my Margarita Day posts. For information on my policies for sponsored posts please read my policies page. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Tres Agaves for sponsoring this post! This post is intended for readers of legal drinking age. As always, drink responsibly. 

Perfect Margarita - A Well Crafted Party

What is your favorite type of Margarita?

A margarita in its simplest form is simply a combination of tequila, triple sec, and lime or lemon juice. Over time the margarita recipe has been altered and changed to represent several drinks with a common thread of tequila and citrus juice.

When ordering a margarita I typically go one of two directions.  I order a top-shelf margarita on the rock or a perfect margarita–both with salt. When making at home I’ll occasionally pull out the blender for a nice frosty, blended margarita or decide to get fancy with it and make an Italian-version that features a hefty shot of Amaretto. I love Amaretto. There are so many ways to make a margarita… fruit flavored, herb garnished, blended, spicy, on the rocks, with beer, with sugar, or simple and classic…the list goes on and on. What is your favorite type of margarita?

 

Perfect Margarita - A Well Crafted Party

What is a Perfect Margarita?

I’m not talking about what makes a really good or ideal margarita (although, if you ask me, it is all about the proportions of the ingredients) I’m talking… when you see the term “Perfect Margarita” on a menu at a restaurant, what in the world does that mean? In most cases, a Perfect Margarita is a margarita served “up” in a cocktail glass. This margarita may also be considered a Shaken Margarita. I really tend to like my margaritas on the rocks most of the time, but occasionally I want something a tad different. When drinking a perfect margarita you’ll want to have a tequila that you really enjoy the taste of as it will not be as masked or diluted as in a blended or on the rocks margarita.

 

Perfect Margarita - A Well Crafted Party

How to Make a Perfect Margarita:

You can make your favorite margarita recipe into a perfect margarita by pouring the ingredients over ice in a strainer, shaking until chilled, and straining into a salt-rimmed and chilled martini glass. Garnish with a slice of lime!

Make a Tres Agaves Perfect Margarita:

Ingredients/Supplies:

  • 1 cocktail shaker filled with ice
  • 1 salt-rimmed and chilled cocktail glass
  • Lime slices
  • 2 oz Tres Agaves Tequila
  • 3/4 oz Triple Sec or Cointreau
  • 1 oz Tres Agaves Margarita Mix

In most of my cocktail making I tend make my own syrups or juice mixes. However, if it is really good and already ready to go for me, I am not above using a pre-made item. The key is taste! I thought the Tres Agaves Margarita Mix was a tasty blend of citrus to sweetness for margaritas. If you do not have the Margarita Mix you can substitute that with a combination of  1/2 oz simple syrup, 1/4 oz lemon juice, and 1/4 oz lime juice.

 

Perfect Margarita - A Well Crafted Party

 

Have a very happy Margarita Day today — and, really, every day!

The Sidecar is one of my favorite classic cocktails due to its flexibility to take on a range of flavors by just changing the main liquor used in the drink. This Cognac Sidecar is both sweet and complex when created with the Bache-Gabrielsen American Oak Cognac. Thank you to Bache-Gabrielsen for sharing a bottle of the American Oak Cognac for development of this recipe. All opinions are my own. Please see my policies regarding sponsored content. This post is intended for audiences of legal drinking age. 

Cognac Sidecar - Sponsored - A Well Crafted Party

A classic sidecar is typically made with lemon juice, orange liquor, and either cognac or brandy. It is deliciously sweet and sour. Variations can be made by substituting the cognac or brandy with another liquor such as Tuaca. YUM. This side car is a fairly classic recipe with just one or two small twists including using a cognac that has been aged in American Oak which gives it a subtly complex flavor.

Ingredients:

  •  3/4 oz Orange Liquor (Cointreau or Triple Sec work here)
  • 3/4 oz mix of freshly squeezed orange and lemon juice
  • 1 3/4 oz Bach-Gabrielsen American Oak Cognac

Directions:

Prep by putting a cocktail glass in the freezer to get chilled, filling a shaker with ice, and squeezing and straining the juice of a lemon and orange.

  1. Pour the juice mixture, orange liquor, and cognac over the ice in the shaker.
  2. Shake well to chill.
  3. Strain into a chilled martini glass.
  4. Garnish with a bit of lemon peel or a cherry.

 

Cognac Sidecar - Sponsored - A Well Crafted Party

 

About Bach-Gabrielsen American Oak Cognac: The VERY first cognac to be aged in (drum roll….) AMERICAN Oak barrels, the innovative Bache-Gabrielsen family has exclusively released their American Oak Cognac to the good ol’ U-S-of-A. Aged for a minimum of 6 months in brand new Tennessee oak, why not cheers to America with something new, yet old, and of course, with a little French savoir-faire.

 

 

 

I had the pleasure of participating in a pre-Thanksgiving potluck of sorts and share tips for the Ultimate Oregon Thanksgiving on The Simple Kitchen with Missy Maki this past weekend. Check out the two hour show for tips and LOTS of laughs. (I’m sharing tips in hour 1!) It would be a fun listen while you’re prepping your bird this Thanksgiving.

Ultimate Thanksgiving with Missy Maki The Simple Kitchen

We had a star line up for the Ultimate Oregon Thanksgiving show including Ryan from Aria Gin, Bee from The Spicy Bee, Marlynn from Urban Bliss Life, Melissa from MelissaKaylene.com, Lindsay from Rosemarried, myself, and Missy Maki from The Simple Kitchen and Missy Maki Cooks. We all brought in foods and beverages to sample while speaking about Thanksgiving for two hours! A wonderful time was had by all.

The whole show was full of fantastic tips and really interesting double entendres! We discovered that you really can’t speak about the Thanksgiving meal without some funny double meanings.

 

Ultimate Thanksgiving with Missy Maki The Simple Kitchen

Ultimate Thanksgiving with Missy Maki The Simple Kitchen

Thanksgiving Tips from our Simple Kitchen Show:

There are a TON of tips on the Thanksgiving show, but the ones below are some of my favorite for having a stress-free potluck Thanksgiving:

Organization

Erin from BakeryBingo and Meredith from Martha Chartreuse called in and shared their party planning tips for hosting a holiday Friendsgiving brunch. One of the tips that really hit home was the tip to stay organized with all who are participating online through Google Docs. I also love the many different online potluck planning sites (like Perfect Potluck) for organizing your holiday meal.

Ultimate Thanksgiving with Missy Maki The Simple Kitchen

Appetizers & Drinks

When people arrive and you are in the kitchen trying to get everything done and on the table hot you will want to have something to occupy your guests time. Absolutely put them to help if you have something to do, but more often or not you just need people out of the way! A batch cocktail and delicious appetizer will help keep guests busy.

Appetizer ideas:

  • – Lindsey shared details on her Brussels Sprouts and Shallot Dip that sounds (and looks) out of this world delish
  • – A beautiful charcuterie plate will WOW a crowed and keep everyone coming back for more. The above platter was created by the lovely Melissa of MelissaKaylene.com and it was a show stopper to say the least. Check out her tips on creating your own charcuterie platter.

Drink ideas: 

Main Meal:

  • – Flip your turkey. You don’t want to let the turkey breast get dry!
  • – MASH your potatoes with a potato masher so that there are still some yummy chunks in there.
  • – DO NOT stuff your bird with your stuffing. Make the stuffing a delicious side. (This Sourdough Stuffing with Andouille from The Spicy Bee would fit nicely at your Thanksgiving table!)

Desserts:

  • – Keep it simple with a yummy holiday bark. It is easy to eat and isn’t too filling.
  • – Go ahead and buy that store made pie crust to save time. It’ll be okay. (Though, if you really want to make your own here are my tips on making the perfect pie crust!)

 

Thanksgiving Potluck Tips

Free Printable Thanksgiving Potluck Cards

While I am a fan of all food, I am also a fan of hosting a dinner party where everyone can feel comfortable eating and enjoying themselves within their own dietary restrictions. In a potluck situation it can be difficult to know what is in each dish. I don’t know about you, but I do NOT want to pull out an epi pen during Thanksgiving! These free printable Thanksgiving Potluck cards are an easy way for guests to know exactly what they are eating without having to find out and question each person who brought in a dish. Simply had each person a card and pen when they arrive and ask that they label their wonderful contribution for the safety and enjoyment of all attendees!

Free Printable Thanksgiving Potluck Cards

Listen to the recording of The Simple Kitchen’s Ultimate Oregon Thanksgiving show for more tips on hosting Thanksgiving!

 

Have a happy, happy Thanksgiving!