Sip and Listen

Hi friends! It has certainly been a while since my last post. Between keeping up with my very hectic full time job and the wedding, I have had minimal time to get much else done. Posts might be sporadic until January 14th (holy 50 days to go), but I am going to do my best to jump in when I can.

What better way to get back into the groove, than with a Sip and Listen. My mother and I made this delicious cocktail yesterday while cooking up our Thanksgiving feast. I hate the name, Euphoria, but it tastes great!

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Ingredients:
1 oz Vodka
1 oz St. Germain
1/2 oz Simple Syrup
1/2 oz Lemon Juice
Sage Leaf, for garnish

Method:
Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake and then strain into a martini glass, or a coupe (my favorite drinkware). Garnish with a sage leaf.

Enjoy with the song below by Lana Del Rey.

Sip and Listen

Method:

First, make the rosemary simple syrup. Combine 1 cup of sugar with 1 cup of water and add two sprigs of rosemary. Bring to a boil, and take off the heat and allow it to steep for about 10 minutes. Next, juice your lemon, and add the juice as well as the syrup over the berries. With a spoon, smash a few berries. Allow it to sit for at least an hour in the fridge to macerate. Add 8 ounces of gin, 8 ounces of club soda, and a cup of ice. Taste and adjust. If you are feeling feisty, add more gin!

There is always an exciting new band discovery at ACL, and this year was no different. Thanks to my friends, the Totahs, I was introduced to The Head and the Heart. An indie band out of Seattle, their sound is a bit folky and in the perfectly coined words on Danny Totah, “americana”. The vocals alone will make you listen to the album over and over, such talent! Oh, and this video is obscenely beautiful.

Sip and Listen

How delicious does this look? I am ready to say goodbye to summer, and hello to Fall themed cocktails! A batch of these will surely put you in the mood for the cozy months ahead.

Method:

Mix pear juice and vodka in a pitcher or shaker. Split open the vanilla bean, and scrape the seeds into the juice and vodka. Add 1 cup ice, then give it a shake. Pour into martini glasses and serve with sugared rim. Serves 4.

Oh man, the song this weekend is pure greatness. I am always apprehensive when promising new artists release their sophomore albums. It will go one of two ways, the disappointing Matchbox 20 / Wallflowers path (understand, now?) or they will release an album, that much to your surprise, is even better than their first. If this single, says anything about the rest of the new Florence + the Machine album, we all have a lot to look forward to.

Sip and Listen

Oh Labor Day, you are a glorious holiday indeed. Not only do you grace me with an extra day off work, but you symbolize the beginning of Fall, football season, and better clothes. This weekend we are in Denver for a wedding, (hello 60 degree weather, I knew you were out there!) and I discovered a drink similar to the below on the hotel's cocktail menu. Anything with blackberries and lemonade is perfection in my book, and this would be a cinch to make!

This picture reminds me of my beloved Little Branch, minus one silver stir stick.

Image via Pinterest from Entre Nous.

Ingredients

• 1.5 oz Vodka
• 5 Blackberries
• 3 oz Lemonade

Method

Muddle (smash) four blackberries in the bottom of a glass. Add ice, vodka, and lemonade. Garnish with your extra blackberry. Cheers!

September also means, Austin City Limits is a mere two weeks away. The list of bands I am dying to see this year is abundant, as it's the 10th anniversary. At the top of the list, is the controversial yet always intriguing, Kanye West. Yes, I know, he is easy to hate but his music is too damn easy to love. Then when he collaborates on an album with another favorite, Jay-Z, well my head just explodes. One of my favorites from Watch the Throne, below.

Sip and Listen

I found this recipe on my new favorite blog, Be Better Blog. Seriously, it’s brills and I suggest you check it out. She wrote about a Blackberry Tom Collins, and I was sold at the first ingredient. Yummm!!

Image via Southern Living

Ingredients:

• Fresh Blackberries


• 1 tsp. Sugar


• 2 oz. Gin (I would sub Vodka)


• 3 - 5 oz. Soda Water


• Ice


• 1/2 oz. Fresh Lime Juice

Method:

Take about 3-4 blackberries, lime juice, and sugar and muddle in a glass. Add ice, then pour in your Gin and soda. Garnish with more blackberries and enjoy. Clink!

The genius that is Florence Welch, has come out with a new single. As would be expected, it’s amazing. Like really amazing and a freaking jam. The new album is coming out November 7th, CAN.NOT.WAIT!!

Sip and Listen

The dog days of summer are still upon us in Texas, so we will have to stick to refreshing cocktails for now. All I can think about is Fall, but I guess that will have to wait…

Ingredients:

• 2 Strawberries, hulled, plus 1 for garnish


• 4 lemon wedges


• 2 basil leaves, plus 1 for garnish


• 1 ounce simple syrup


• 1 1/2 ounces vodka

Method:

In a cocktail shaker, muddle 2 of the strawberries with the lemon wedges, 2 of the basil leaves, and some simple syrup. Add the vodka. Top with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice. Garnish with remaining strawberry and basil leave.

Getting a little dark with the music this week, but there really is no better kind. Enjoy and make sure you listen all the way through, it's worth it.

Sip and Listen

I have had a serious craving for a mojito this week, and I just learned a great trick on how to make them even better. One of our caterers at work used to bartend at Cuba Libre (may it rest in peace), and she said the trick is to use Mango Run in lieu of regular light rum...who knew? I plan on whipping up a pitcher this weekend and you should too!



Ingredients:

• Ice


• 1 1/2 ounces Mango Rum


• 10 fresh mint leaves


• 2 tablespoons sugar


• 1/2 cup Club Soda


• 1/2 lime, cut into 4 wedges

Method:
Place mint leaves and 1 lime wedge into a sturdy glass. Use a muddler (or any kitchen utensil with a rounded end) to crush the mint and lime (this is the key component, so be sure to do a thorough job). Add 2 more lime wedges and the sugar, and muddle again. Do not strain the mixture. Fill the glass almost to the top with ice. Pour the rum over the ice, and fill the glass with Club Soda. Stir, taste, and add more sugar if desired. Garnish with the remaining lime wedge.

Genius song this week by Matthew's favorite band, Cold War Kids. The group has been together and producing records for nearly a decade but to be honest I have only enjoyed a few songs here and there. However, their new album Mine is Yours, is brills and has completely won me over. I suggest you DL soon.

Sip and Listen

I am a bachelor this weekend, which means it should be dedicated to all things girly! In the spirit, I will be whipping up the "St-Honore 75". I spent a little time on the St. Germain website, and this simple yet sophisticated cocktail called to me. Cheers!

Image via St. Germain

Ingredients:

• 1 part St. Germain


• 1/4 part freshly squeezed lemon juice


• Top with Champagne

Method:

Pour first two ingredients into a chilled fluted glass. Top with Champagne. Garnish with lemon twist.

I freaking love Pandora, just love it. I will put on a current artist, and it will pull up gems that I haven’t listed to in years. Why I ever forgot about this song is beyond me, but if you have never heard of Athlete before I command you to run, not walk to your computer and buy an album or two of theirs. With that being said, one of my favorite love songs…

Sip and Listen

I am off to New York today!! We are taking our engagement pictures on Saturday and I am literally feeling like the luckiest girl in the world. To keep with the theme, the drink of the week is the Manhattan. Enjoy and sip slowly, this one will get ya.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz blended whiskey
  
  
• 1/2 oz sweet vermouth
  
  
• 1/2 oz dry vermouth
  
  
• 1 dash bitters

Preparation:

Swirl with ice to chill, pour into a cocktail glass, and garnish with a maraschino cherry.

Let my introduce you to my latest obsession, La Roux. Check it below.

Sip and Listen

I LOVE grapefruit juice and when I found this picture of a grapefruit margarita I knew I had to feature and make one for myself. It’s the perfect combination of sweet and salty and a great addition to your memorial day weekend. Enjoy!

Image via Pinterest from jasonandshawanda

Ingredients:

• 2 oz tequila
• 2 oz orange liqueur
• 2 oz fresh squeezed lime juice
• 6 oz fresh squeezed grapefruit juice
• Simple syrup, to taste
• Salt, for rim (optional)
• Grapefruit wedges, for serving (optional)

Preparation:

Mix tequila, orange liqueur, lime, and grapefruit juices well. If you think you need a little more sweetness, add a splash of simple syrup.

Rub one of the used lime or grapefruit rinds around the rim of two glasses and dip in salt. Fill each with ice and pour in the margarita.

I must warn, the song of the week is a bit on the eclectic side and quite long. However, upon my first listen I noticed I couldn’t stop thinking about it. It’s energized, then slow, and in a very Decemberists way tells a story. Do me a favor, and give this song a full listen. Then go and buy the new Fleet Foxes album, it’s incredible.

Sip and Listen

 

This weekend I will be doing absolutely nothing and I couldn’t be more thrilled. It’s time to catch up on back issues of Vogue and In Style and hopefully complete a little wedding planning.

I’ll be mixing up a favorite of the Lost Generation – The French 75

Source: ivillage.com via Style on Pinterest

 

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces London dry gin
• 1 teaspoon super fine sugar
• 1/2 ounce lemon juice
• 5 ounces Brut champagne

Preparation:

• Shake well with cracked ice in a chilled cocktail shaker, then strain into a Collins glass half-full of cracked ice and top off with champagne. Cheers!

 

Sip and Listen

 

LONG.WEEK. I haven’t been this ready for a weekend in a long time, thank goodness it is almost here. This is our first weekend in town in over a month and I am thrilled. If you need me, you can find me pool side drinking a summer beer.

All images via Design Sponge and mollyloot

Ingredients (makes 4 servings):

• 4 cups ice cubes
• 1 (6 ounce) can frozen lemonade concentrate
• 1 (12 ounces) can or bottle beer
• 12 ounces of vodka

Prep:

In a blender crush the ice. Pour in the lemonade concentrate, beer and vodka. Blend until smooth. Pour into frozen glasses.

The song of the week is KILLER. Randomly enough, Matt discovered Ellie Goulding on SNL. She is a 24 year old blonde bombshell from England that is taking the UK by storm. Get the album now. She also has an extraordinary cover of the Elton John classic, “Your Song”.

Sip and Listen

For some reason blogger decided to not post my original version this morning so I am now blogging to you from 40,00 feet in the air as I head West.

It is a royal weekend indeed and in honor of Prince William and his STUNNING bride Catherine, an infamous English cocktail is in order. I first learned of Pimm's Cup from my college roommate and it became a staple. I must warn, proceed with caution while enjoying. What appears to be light and refreshing can quickly take a sharp turn to drunkity drunk. But who am I to turn down a stiff cocktail?

Ingredients
- Ice Cubes
- 2 ounces Pimms Number 1 Cup
- 6 ounces Ginger Ale
- 2 ounces lemon lime soda
- Cucumber Slices

Preparation
Put ice in a highball glass or mug. Add the Pimms and then the ginger ale and soda. Stir and garnish with cucumber. Serve and Enjoy. Cheers.

This next photo just seemed fitting. PS - did anyone else think Pippa killed it today?
Images via Pinterest

There isn't a whole lot I can say about the song of the weekend other than I CAN NOT STOP LISTENING TO IT and I suggest you do the same.