Celebrate in style this season with some of these tasty, yet lesser known liqueurs.

Whether you are looking to expand your own fancy liquor palette or are looking for some liqueurs to gift this holiday season, we have got you covered. 

5 Delicious Liqueurs 

1. Suze

Suze is a French aperitif that you never knew you needed but now won’t want to live without it. Suze has an appealingly subtle citrus, yet slightly bitter and earthy taste. It’s made from the root of the gentian plant, which is an herb that grows in the Alps. It can be enjoyed straight as an after-dinner aperitif or used in cocktails. Mix it with soda and orange rind for a super simple and refreshing drink.

2. Luxardo Maraschino Cherry Liqueur

Maraschino cherry liqueur is another unknown powerhouse for the home bar. While you may think it’s made with those dyed red maraschino cherries, it is actually made from sour Marasca cherries. The taste is a mix between sweet and sour and is not necessarily ideal to drink on its own. Instead, this liqueur is the perfect addition to cocktails like the Manhattan. It can also be used to make homemade maraschino cherries with fresh cherries if you have any of this liqueur by the time summer comes around.

3. St. Germaine

St. Germaine is a liqueur made from elderberry flowers. It has a delicate floral taste that is lovely on its own or an ingredient in cocktails. Its delicate taste mixes well with Champagne and other sparkling wines. The showy bottle makes for a super impressive gift and the gentle floral taste is a decadent addition to any home bar that can make one feel the warmth of summer even in the cold of winter.

4.Licor 43

Licor 43 is a Spanish liqueur featuring a complicated flavor profile that includes layers of citrus, vanilla, and spice. This warm and sweet liqueur is a versatile addition to any liqueur collection. One of our favorite cocktails using Licor 43 is the Ginger 43 which is made with ginger ale, Licor 43, and lime. Licor 43 also makes a great addition to red or white wine sangria.

5.Green Chartreuse

There are two different types of Chartreuse–Green and Yellow. Distilled using over 130 herbs, Green Chartreuse is the only liqueur in the world with a completely natural green color. Traditionally enjoyed as an after-dinner drink, Chartreuse makes for a delicious addition to cocktails. One popular way to enjoy Chartreuse is as a substitute for gin in a gin and tonic. The complex herbal flavors of Chartreuse rival those of the most herbaceous gin.

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Fresh grapefruit and ginger are smart additions to your immunity-boosting winter diet. Paired together in a ginger and grapefruit cocktail recipe, these plant-based powerhouses help protect you from winter bugs and also keep you intoxicatingly refreshed.

Grapefruit is a low-sugar citrus fruit that provides a bounty of health benefits. In one cup of grapefruit juice there are 96 calories, 400 milligrams of potassium, 156 percent of the RDA of vitamin C, and 21 percent of the RDA of vitamin A. Its vitamin C content makes it effective at preventing the common cold, which is especially relevant during the winter. Grapefruit juice also lowers blood pressure, aids in weight loss, promotes a healthy heart, prevents cancer, improves digestion, hydrates the body, clears the skin, and prevents asthma.

Meanwhile, ginger brings a welcome buzz to the back of the throat and a boost in your overall health. The root decreases the risk of obesity and heart disease, improves digestion, suppresses nausea, reduces pain, and fights inflammation. It is a natural detoxifying agent, so is an excellent tool in keeping your liver robust and functioning at its finest. Ginger is also commonly used and praised for its positive effects on the immune system, helping to combat all sorts of diseases and illnesses that may creep up during the winter season.

The following ginger and grapefruit cocktail recipe brings together all of these incredible health benefits in one delicious and invigorating drink. Spiked with gin, the drink also fuels the soul with a crave-worthy buzz.

The recipe calls for basil leaves, but you can use fresh mint or any other fresh herb you have on hand. Enjoy!

Grapefruit Ginger Cocktail

Serves 1

Ingredients

• 2 thin slices of fresh ginger
• 6 basil leaves
• 2 ounces gin
• 8 ounces freshly-squeezed grapefruit juice
• 2-3 basil leaves for garnish
• 1-2 slices fresh ginger for garnish

Directions

Muddle the ginger and basil in a cocktail mixer. Add in the gin. Shake thoroughly. Strain the gin to remove the ginger pieces and basil leaves and then pour the gin into a tall glass filled with ice. Pour in the grapefruit juice. Serve with fresh basil leaves and a slice of fresh ginger.

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Grapefruit Cocktail Image from Shutterstock

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What are the necessary components of a well-stocked home bar?

I blame cheap beer commercials, wine coolers, and “Sex in the City.” Somewhere along the way, Americans got away from the home bar and mixing complex and grown-up cocktails and started drinking fruity, watered-down, syrupy sweet concoctions and light beer. I believe it was a slow process that began with the rise of “lite” beer, the invention and propagation of wine coolers, and the Cosmo swilling that took place on “Sex and the City.”

Whatever the cause of the downfall of classic cocktail making, that’s all in the past. There is a new era of mixology and craft cocktails afoot as more people are eschewing the ubiquitous Cosmos, Margaritas, and anything made with Red Bull.

While you could go out to any number of trendy mixology-minded bars and spend upwards of $15 for a carefully crafted cocktail, you can also learn to make them at home.  The key is to pick a few basic cocktails and keep the ingredients needed for those on hand. Don’t feel like you need to have components for every possible cocktail. Instead, you can add liquors and mixers as you want to try something new. You can work your way up to a well-stocked home bar.

The Mixologist’s Home Bar Mixer Must Haves

1. Vermouth – Sweet and Dry

Vermouth is a fortified wine, but not one that you would want to drink alone. It works as a partner with other flavors. Dry vermouth is essential in a gin martini, and sweet vermouth is used in a Manhattan.

2. Cointreau

Cointreau is an orange liqueur. There are other types of orange liqueurs, but Cointreau is the best if you are serious about crafted cocktails. It’s used in a plethora of cocktails, but some of the classics include the Sidecar, Singapore Sling, and the Kamikaze. It’s also the key ingredient in Cosmo and Margaritas.

3. Maraschino Liqueur

Luxardo’s Maraschino Cherry Liqueur is a delightful mixer. One ingenious use for Luxardo is to make homemade drunken Maraschino cherries using fresh cherries. That’s a real crowd-pleaser, let me tell you. It can also be to concoct the Hemingway Daiquiri and the Aviation cocktail.

4. Bitters

Bitters are not used to make cocktails bitter but are a way to impart a lot of flavor in a little punch. There are many kinds of bitters out there, but there are two must-haves for your home bar. The first is Angostura Bitters, which are necessary for making the Manhattan, Old-Fashioned, Rob Roy, and the Pisco Sour. The second is Peychaud’s Bitters, which is a key component to the Sazerac and the Mint Julep. You will find Angostura bitters to be more herbaceous in flavor while Peychaud’s bitters are more floral.

5. Campari

Campari is an apéritif, a liqueur served before a meal, which also serves as a cocktail mixer. Made from fruits and herbs infused in alcohol, it imparts a sweet, spicy and somewhat bitter flavor. It is an essential ingredient in the Negroni and the Americano cocktails.

6. St. Germain

St Germain is a French liqueur that takes its flavor from elderflowers. While relatively new on the scene, it is a wonderful specialty liqueur. It has a delicate flavor that lends itself to lighter cocktails. Mix it with Champagne (or other sparkling wine) for a lovely bubbly cocktail.

7. Galliano

Galliano has flavors of anise, vanilla, juniper, citrus, and herbs. It has a complicated flavor profile, and that makes it the perfect mixer. It is a necessary ingredient in the Harvey Wallbanger and can even be served as a digestif, or a liqueur that is served after a meal.

What are your favorite home bar ingredients?

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Image: Old Fashioned Cocktail via Shutterstock

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Why not make sure you have an herb garden that gives you the best cocktails possible?

While a well-mixed cocktail is a good thing, a well-mixed cocktail with homegrown garnish is even better. Which is where your herb garden comes in.

The beauty of cocktail garnishes is that you don’t need a lot of herbs, which means that a mixed drink herb garden can be as simple as a few pots in your kitchen window. Beyond garnishes, you can use your herbs as cocktail ingredients, either muddling them or making easy simple syrups.

Here are five herbs to make sure you have on hand and a few ideas for drinks to use them in.

1. Mint

Mint is probably the most classic of cocktail herbs, and since it’s easy to grow, it’s a must for your herb garden. Mojitos and mint juleps are of course the go-to mint drinks, but there’s much more that this herb can be used for. Muddle with blackberries and raspberries and top off with Cointreau for a seasonal drink or mix with lime and rum for an easy Mint Daiquiri.

2. Basil

An herb garden isn’t an herb garden without basil, and while the savory herb is most commonly associated with pesto and caprese salads, its strong flavor is a great pairing for mixed drinks. Basil works great as a simple syrup, or simply shaken like in this Lillet-Basil Cocktail.

3. Lemon Verbena

I bought a small lemon verbena plant earlier this spring to keep in my kitchen window, and it has since exploded. I love the bright citrus flavor that it adds to food and drink, it’s a great option for cocktails. You can muddle it into drinks, dry the leaves and make a lemon verbena sugar to be mixed with bourbon, or whip it into a simple syrup that can be used for things like a Lemon Verbena Gimlet.

4. Rosemary

An easy way to use rosemary is to crush it with vodka and let it sit and steep for awhile, like in this recipe for a Rosemary Ginger Cocktail from the Drunken Botanist. With a little grapefruit juice you can make a Rosemary Ruby Cocktail.

5. Lavender

If you are growing lavender, then you can easily make a lavender simple syrup, which can be used in a variety of drinks, like this Lavender Collins. With its floral taste, lavender pairs well with blackberries, blueberries and cherries; all good for a seasonal (and maybe even foraged) cocktail. Blueberry Lavender Vodka Spritzer or a glass of Lavender Champagne perhaps?

This is just the beginning; there are many more herbs out there. What herbs do you like in your cocktails? Share with us in the comments below!

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Image: Didriks

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Cocktail culture has a way of going in and out of style–just like with fashion. While bell-bottoms came back in style, and are again out of fashion (and really should stay there), the notion of retro or vintage cocktail recipes seems to be sticking around.

Movies and TV are one way that vintage cocktails come back into fashion. James Bond gave us the martini, which is based on a concoction from the late 1800s; “Sex in the City” gave us the Cosmopolitan, a drink that actually dates back to the 1930s; “The Big Lebowski” gave us the White Russian, which can be traced back to the 1960s; and most recently “Mad Men” has re-popularized the Manhattan, which history has it as being invented at the Manhattan Club in the 1800s.

It appears that with mixology, as with fashion, everything is derivative.

So, what are some vintage cocktails worthy of ordering up or serving at your New Year’s Eve party? Here are 4 retro cocktail recipes that have made a comeback for good reason–they are tasty!

The Manhattan

A traditional Manhattan is made with Rye (Canadian Whiskey, like Crown Royal), sweet vermouth, bitters and is often served with a maraschino cherry. For those who don’t know, sweet vermouth is nothing like the vermouth found in the martini and bitters is actually an alcohol flavored concoction made with herbs–think of it like vanilla extract for booze. It is served in a martini glass and bourbon and Tennessee whiskey can be substituted for the rye as well. One should experiment with the Manhattan to find the preferred preparation. For example, I prefer mine made with rye and extra bitters.

Old-Fashioned

The Old-Fashioned dates back to the 1800s and it is considered one of the classic cocktails. It is served in an low glass called an Old-fashioned glass, which was pretty much named for the drink. The Old-fashioned is made with whiskey or brandy which is added to muddled sugar (or simple syrup), bitters and served with a twist of citrus rind or a maraschino cherry. It is the drink of choice for Don Draper, and again, is one that should be experimented with to find the right combination of elements.

French 75

The French 75 is a Champagne cocktail and it is probably most remembered from the 1930s movie “Casablanca.” It is made with gin, lemon juice, simple syrup and Brut Champagne and is serve in either a Collins glass or a Champagne flute. It has a bite and might make a welcome addition to your next brunch instead of the more traditional Bellini or Mimosa.

Moscow Mule

The Moscow Mule is a tasty cocktail made from ginger beer (the more bitter, the better), vodka and lemon. It was first invented in the 1940s and became popular in the 1950s at the height of the Cold War. It is served “on the rocks”, or over ice, in a copper mug that keeps the drink ice cold. It is a refreshing and delightful variation on the Buck or Mule cocktails, which are all made by adding various liquors and citrus to ginger beer.

See the International Bartenders Association for official recipes and more retro cocktail ideas.

Top Image: Edsel L

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Celebratory sparkling drinks that aren’t champagne. Toast!

I live by the policy that everything is better with bubbles, be it champagne, prosecco or muddled blackberries and sparkling water. There’s something about a fizzy drink that’s festive. But you don’t have to have a standard bottle of bubbly on hand to celebrate. Here are 15 sparkling drinks that are champagne alternatives for celebratory drinks, putting a spin on the classic flute. Some are healthy, some are non-alcoholic, some are a bit more upscale, all are delicious.

1. Crémant

To be labeled Champagne, the grapes have to come from the Champagne region in France, but here’s the thing: there are plenty of sparkling wines that are equally, if not more tastier. Crémants are a wonderful alternative, and come from classic French wine regions like Alsace, Loire, Burgundy and Bordeaux.

2. Homemade ginger ale

Sounds more complicated than it is; all you need to do to make ginger ale is brew up a ginger simple syrup, add some fizzy water and you have a glorious sparkling drink. Easy. And if you’re feeling like you want more of a cocktail, add a little bourbon.

3. Cava

The Spanish sparkly is a perfect addition to a good round of tapas. You can also mix it with pomegranate for a great cocktail.

4. Gueuze 

Want the champagne of the beer world? Track down a Belgian style gueuze, a tart and naturally effervescent drink that’s part of the lambic family. Also referred to as a sour beer, the taste isn’t for everyone, but if you’re in the mood for a bubbly Belgian brew, you can also go for one of the sweeter, fruitier lambics like framboise.

5. Prosecco

The Italian bubbly is another classic sparkling drink that’s a perfect champagne alternative, produced in the hills of Treviso. It’s the main ingredient of the classic Bellini, and if you’re looking to go full on European with your drink, use to to make an Aperol Spritz.

6. Lemonade

All you have to do to lemonade to step it up a notch is add some sparkling water. Instant party hit, with or without alcohol added. Try this Honey, Ginger Sparkling Lemonade recipe.

7. Cider

Hard cider hasn’t always had its roll in American drinking culture as it has in places like England, but a good, chilled cider is perfect for celebrating and can often be found in non-alcoholic varieties. The other benefit? It’s gluten free.

8. Kombucha

It might sound a little on the health freak side, but a cocktail made with kombucha is not only bubbly, but also delicious. Brew your own batch and then mix away; you can make everything from a Kombucha Cosmopolitan to The Petticoat, made with St. Germain, the French elderflower liqueur.

9. Fizzy Blood Orange Drinks 

The juice of a blood orange has just the extra bit of zest to it that makes it a cocktail favorite, and it loves being served with a carbonated component. Try it with vodka and rosemary for a Bloody Rose, the more sophisticated older sister to Mary.

10. Grapefruit Mojito

This recipe for a grapefruit mojito is a non-alcholic take on the classic cocktail. Need a little bubble? Just add sparkling water.

11. Sparkling Fruit Cordials

Making your own fruit cordials is as simple as boiling water, fruit and sugar together; it’s an excellent way to put an overabundance of summer fruit picking to good use. Raspberry, blackcurrant, blueberry, cherry, elderflower – the options are endless. The concentrated liquid is then diluted with water, or sparkling water if you’re going for a bubbly drink. Concoct a batch of cordial, pour a little into a glass, top off with sparkling water and a few ice cubes, add a twist of lemon and you’re finished.

12. Sparkling Tea

Sparkling tea (iced, not hot) is easy to make yourself and allows you to significantly cut down on the sugar in a more standard sweet drink. Try a Sparkling Tea Lemonade with green or a fruit black tea or make one with lemon, cucumber and mint.

13. Mead

Made from honey, mead is most often associated with the Vikings, has been around since before beer and wine, and nowadays is popular with the homebrewing crowd. It can be flavored with various fruits and spices which allows you to get creative with taste combinations. All you need are a few supplies like a gallon glass jar and yeast and you are off and running. Want the full rundown? Check out this step-by-step mead guide.

14. Homemade Wine

Don’t let the people at the vineyards have all the fun; if you have fruit then you can make your own wine, and is there any better champagne alternative than a drink you made yourself? Not only good for drinking, you can also add them to sauces, vinaigrettes and beyond. They take awhile to make, and it won’t be a top notch Burgundy, but at least it will be homemade and slightly exotic when you serve it.

15. Fermented Fruit Juices

Instead of just adding sparkling water to juices, ferment them to create natural bubbles. Let watermelon sit with yeast overnight and you can make a delightful Watermelon-Mint Soda or try your hand at a different version of the Russian beverage kvass, made with your pick of organic fruits and berries.

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Image: Susanna Fernandez, Roberto Cacho Toca, Madzik

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