Memorial Day Cocktails

Written By David Edessa

Memorial Weekend is filled with celebrations via picnics and barbecues. Why not celebrate with an American classic liquor….. Whiskey!!!  Here are some refreshing Memorial Day cocktails using whiskey/bourbon.

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Mint Julep Cup – 10 fl oz

Mint Julep Punch Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Water
• 2 cups Sugar
• 1 cup Peach schnapps
• 3 cups Bourbon
• ½ cup fresh mint leaves
• Mint sprigs for garnish

Instructions:

Combine water, sugar and mint in sauce pan and stir over high heat until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and allow it to return to room temperature. Strain into pitcher and chill in refrigerator. When ready to serve, add Bourbon & Peach schnapps, stir and serve over crushed ice in old fashioned glasses. Garnish with mint sprig.

French Mango Spiked Iced Tea Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 4 cups Water
• 6 Black Tea bags
• 1 cup Mango nectar
• 1 cup Fresh Orange juice
• ½ cup Fresh Lemon juice
• ½ cup Light Brown Sugar, packed
• ¾ cup Bourbon
• Grand Marnier
• Fresh orange slices
• Mint sprigs, for garnish

Instructions:

Bring two cups of water to a boil in a small saucepan; remove from the heat, add tea bags, and let steep 10 to 15 minutes. Remove tea bags and stir in brown sugar until dissolved. Transfer to a heat-proof pitcher, add two cups of cold water to bring temperature down a bit before adding the nectar & juices, and then stir to combine. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. When ready to serve, stir in the ¾ cup of whiskey. Fill tall glasses with crushed ice and then pour tea over it, leaving some room at the top for the ½ ounce of Grand Marnier floater. Garnish with a sprig of mint.

This drink is also great and refreshing without the Grand Marnier.

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Libbey Selene Punch Set

Prosecco Strawberry Lemon Sorbet Punch Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 2 quarts Meyer Lemon sorbet
• 1 (750 milliliter) bottle Prosecco
• 1 (2 liter) bottle Seagram’s Ginger Ale, chilled
• 10 oz. Pineapple juice
• 2 (10 ounce) packages frozen
• Strawberries, partially thawed
• Lemon slices

Instructions:

In a large punch bowl, combine sorbet, juice, ginger ale and strawberries. Then, mix slowly the sparkling wine to try to avoid as much foaming as possible. Decorate punch bowl with lemon slices. Gently stir and serve over crushed ice and garnish with a lemon twist.

Non-Alcoholic Strawberry Lemon Sorbet Punch Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 2 quarts Meyer Lemon sorbet
• 1 (2 liter) bottle Seagram’s Ginger Ale, chilled
• 20 oz. Pineapple juice
• 2 (10 ounce) packages frozen strawberries, partially thawed
• Lemon slices

Instructions:

In a large punch bowl, combine sorbet, juice, ginger ale and strawberries. Decorate punch bowl with lemon slices. Gently stir and serve over crushed ice. Garnish with lemon twist.

Both recipes are created to be served right away and not made a head of time.

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Even though I used Bourbon in these recipes, American Rye whiskey is a great alternative (I personally prefer).

This week I started on Spiked Gummy Bears infused with Tito’s Vodka for Memorial Day on the river. I’ll let you know next week how it turned out 🙂

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DRINK RESPONSIBLE & DRINK SMART!!! And always follow the rainbow 🙂