Blood Orange Gin and Tonic

Have a few of these blood orange gin and tonics on us while there’s still blood oranges around. Gin and tonics are one of our go-to drinks and adding that seasonal-splash of blood orange juice really hits the spot. And best of all, it screams out to celebrate beautiful citrus while it lasts.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 ounces gin
• 2 ounces fresh blood orange juice
• couple dashes orange bitters
• about 4 ounces tonic water

Directions:

1. Fill a highball glass with ice. Add gin, blood orange juice, and orange bitters.
2. Top with tonic water and gently stir. Garnish with a blood orange slice and serve.

Thai Tea Recipe

The only difference in our recipe is that we’re using a little less sugar. But really, once you get the basics down on making Thai iced tea you can customize the flavors and concentration the way you like. It’s one of those recipes that is great no matter how you make it because it’s just so decadent and satisfying.

One of the key factors in making it like the restaurants is using authentic Thai tea mixes. These Thai tea mixes are normally dyed with yellow food coloring (look on the package) and that’s what gives it it’s bright orange color. Also, Thai tea has a vanilla aroma to it. So if you want to have the brilliant orange color and flavors like most of the Thai restaurants, then this is one of the brands of thai tea to buy : Panthai.

Ingredients:

Thai Tea Mix Ingredients:

• 1 cup (80g) Pantai Thai Tea Mix or 4 Black Tea bags
• 4 cups (950ml) Water
• 3/4 cup (150g) Sugar

Thai Tea Assembly:

• Pre-made Thai tea mix (see above)
• half and half (some folks also use coconut milk, whole milk, sweetened condensed milk)
• ice

Directions:

Thai Tea Mix directions

1. Bring water to boil and add the thai tea mix or the 4 black tea bags. Add sugar and gently stir to completely dissolve sugar. Gently boil tea for about 3 minutes. Remove from heat.
2. Allow tea to steep for at least 30 minutes and allow it to cool. The more concentrated the tea flavor, the better the Thai tea tastes.
3. If you are using the Thai tea mix, strain the tea leaves. Set finished Thai tea aside to cool.
4. If you are using black tea bags, remove the tea bags and set aside finished Thai tea to cool.
5. You can make this ahead of time and have the Thai tea chilling in the fridge.

Assembly directions

1. Fill glasses with ice.
2. Fill glass with about 3/4 full of the Thai tea mix. Then top off remainder of glass with half and half.
3. Stir and enjoy.

Beer's Knees Cocktail

Beer cocktails are all the rage right now, and we've found they're a great way to convince "beer only" drinkers that they might be cocktail people after all. We like this combination of Aviation gin, lemon, honey and Hefeweizen - we imagine it's floral, tart and sweet without being overwhelming. The Aviation folks say it pairs well with Buffalo chicken and football, so who are we to question that?

Ingredients:

1½ oz. Aviation American Gin
1 oz. Lemon juice
1 oz. Honey syrup*
3 oz. Widmer Hefeweizen

Directions:

In a pint glass, add spirits and mixers (through beer). Fill with ice. Shake vigorously. Strain into a collins glass filled with or without ice. Garnish with a lemon wedge.
*To make honey syrup: Combine equal portions of honey and water in a sauce pan. Bring to a boil until all the sugar has dissolved. Let cool.