Spiced Mango Apricot Cocktail

Spiced Mango Apricot CocktailIf you are looking for an alcoholic beverage that pairs perfectly with Indian flavors, you have to try this Spiced Mango-Apricot Cocktail. It hints at the flavors of a mango lassi, but with a grown-up twist.

Be certain to make the vodka-infused apricot jam in advance, but they are so tasty you might decide to keep a jar on hand all the time. Imagine all the other uses…like on top of ice cream.

Spiced Mango Apricot Cocktail
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Aperol Spritz Cocktail

Aperol spritz cocktailThis citrusy cocktail is a perfect light summer beverage. You can find the Aperol Spritz all over Italy, and it is making a comeback this side of the Atlantic. Meeting friends for an after-work Spritz is a long-established Italian tradition and one that we could stand to replicate.

It’s tasty and refreshing, low in alcohol, and slightly bitter. And, the color is amazing!

Aperol Spritz Recipe
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Rooibos Peach Punch

Rooibos Peach PunchIf you are looking for a beverage to make a crowd happy—or to keep a pitcher in the fridge, this quick and easy Rooibos Peach Punch might be for you. It is made with South African Rooibos tea and peach juice and makes for a perfectly refreshing summer cocktail. We also love it without the vodka.

The peach juice compliments the rooibos tea really well, and the addition of fresh mint lends a bright spark. There are loads of health benefits to drinking rooibos tea, but we are not going to kid ourselves…the vodka probably cancels that all out!

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Lillet Blanc — The Vesper Cocktail

Lillet Blanc — The Vesper Cocktail

If you have not tried Lillet Blanc, a French aperitif, we strongly recommend you do. Our favorite way to enjoy it is on the rocks with a wedge of lime or lemon.

Lillet is a brand of French aperitif that was established in 1872. An aperitif is an alcoholic beverage that’s served before a meal to stimulate your appetite. But, we also enjoy it on its own as a simple cocktail.

An aperitif can be anything from a liqueur to a dry Champagne or a fortified wine. Lillet is a fortified wine—or more specifically a blend of wines that is married with orange peels, a blend of fruit liqueurs and quinine, and then aged in French oak barrels. What you end up with is a light, refreshing, fruity wine that’s served chilled.

Lillet Blanc is a medium color white wine, made from Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon grapes. The nose is of honey and orange and a hint of mint. While the nose may lead you to expect a sweet dessert wine, in fact, Lillet Blanc leads with a taste of firm bitterness, which suddenly diminishes, leaving a lingering trace of orange, honey, and herbaceousness on the palate.

If you want to get more elaborate, there are several delicious cocktail recipes that use Lillet as an ingredient, a few that include gin. One of our favorites is The Vesper.

The Vesper
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