This Masala Chai Mocktail is delicious for brunch, during cocktail hour, or any time you want to spice up your beverage choices. Masala refers to the spice blend, and chai means tea. (So, saying chai tea is redundant.)

Chai developed in India after the British colonialists started growing its favorite bitter beverage on the subcontinent in the mid-1800s. And this sweetened, spicy version took off like wildfire. Chai wallahs, or tea stands, are in every city in India.

The particular blend of spices used to make the masala varies regionally and from family to family. In this recipe, we call for tea bags that already include the spices. So, choose the blend that you favor.

Masala Chai Mocktail Recipe
Adapted from Bon Appétit Magazine
Yields 4 Servings Read more…

The Brandy Alexander is a delicious cocktail that finds the perfect balance between three ingredients, brandy, crème de cacao liqueur, and cream. The cocktail is designed to have a hint of chocolate, not be terribly sweet, and is nonetheless indulgent. It can stand as a dessert on its own and also be paired with sweet treats like custards and ice cream.

One of the earliest known printed recipes for the Brandy Alexander can be found in Hugo Ensslin’s 1916 book “Recipes for Mixed Drinks.” The cocktail was likely born at Hotel Rector in New York City. The bartender there, Troy Alexander, created his eponymous concoction. Folks have been appreciating this retro cocktail ever since.

Brandy Alexander Cocktail Recipe
Yields one drink Read more…

The Toblerone chocolate bar was invented in 1908 in Bern, Switzerland by young Thodore Toberlone and his cousin Emil Bauman. As for the Toblerone cocktail, a version was crafted by Simon Difford in 2003, that did not include Frangelico. Similar versions to what we have below can be found around the internet.

The Toblerone Cocktail is a decadently rich drink inspired by the famous Swiss chocolate. It is nutty, creamy, and divine. It features three liqueurs, coffee-flavored Kahlúa from Mexico, hazelnut-flavored Frangelico from Italy, and Baileys Irish cream liqueur. We add some heavy cream and honey syrup to make it smooth and sweet. Then we chocolate-coat the rim. You can garnish with Toblerone chocolate shavings to complete the recipe.

The Toblerone Cocktail Recipe
Adapted from Liquor.com
Yields 1 cocktail Read more…

The Jack Rose Cocktail takes its name from its main ingredient and its rosy color. Its ingredients are applejack (apple brandy), lemon juice, and grenadine. This classic cocktail has been popular since the 1920s. As with many classic cocktails, the Jack Rose has a balance of sweet and sour to accent the base liquor. You can adjust the amount of lemon juice and grenadine to suit your personal taste.

Applejack is similar to apple brandy with a mellower flavor. It is often made with a blend of apple brandy and neutral grain spirits. The result is a strong liquor (often bottled at 80 proof) with a rich apple flavor that’s perfect for cocktails like this.

Applejack provides a subtly fruity base to the Jack Rose that merges effortlessly with the lemon and grenadine. Good grenadine is essential when making this cocktail, as it’s the only source of sweetness to balance the flavors.

Note: You can skip the bright-red versions that are laden with artificial ingredients, and instead try making your own with pomegranate juice and sugar. It’s simple and effective.

Jack Rose Recipe
Yields one cocktail Read more…