Author: Freelance Melt

National Beer Day is right around the corner on Thursday, April 7th. And you know what they say - beer showers bring May flowers! Here are 5 beers to try for National Beer Day: 

1. Sycamore Mountain Candy IPA

Hoppy Spring! This Sycamore Mountain Candy IPA has the perfect kick of citrusy flavors to bring in the warm weather. 

2. Back Forty Naked Pig

Looking for a crisp, hand-crafted ale? The Back Forty Naked Pig has your name all over it!

3. Wild Heaven Euro Pilsner

The Wild Heaven Euro Pilsner is a classic lager brewed with pilsner malt that has a bitter finish but still leaves you wanting more. 

4. Wiseacre Tiny Bomb Pilsner

Pow! The Wiseacre Tiny Bomb is made with German pilsner malt with a hint of local wildflower honey. Talk about the perfect spring beer! 

5. Goat Island Blood Orange

The Goat Island Blood Orange is a refreshing orange-to-pink beer that is both drinkable and tasty. The sweet orange aroma alone will make you not want to put the drink down!

The weather is warming up and that means it is time for spring sips! Here are 3 of the best spring wines to try:

Famille Vincent Bourgogne Blanc JJ

The Bourgogne Blanc JJ is a clean, brilliant chardonnay with notes of fresh fruit. On the palate, it has a dense, rich, and refreshing finish, perfect for a spring afternoon picnic. 

Ferrari Carano Pinot Grigio

The Ferrari Carano Pinot Grigio is a crisp, refreshing, clean white wine from the regions of Sonoma County perfect for spring sipping. This wine is the exact definition of what a delicious Pinot Grigio should taste like with notes of honeysuckle, lychee, and lemon-lime. A couple of food pairings to consider serving this delicious white wine with are seafood salad or oysters.  

Flowers Chardonnay 

The Flowers Chardonnay is a perfect white wine for spring sipping with bright citrus notes, white flowers, and nuances of dried apricot. It is a beautiful medium-bodied wine that is light and crisp on the palate.

No matter where you are celebrating St. Patrick’s Day this year, you can celebrate it in style with these Jameson cocktails. 

Jameson Irish Coffee 

Start your St. Patrick’s Day off on the right foot with a Jameson Irish Coffee. 

Ingredients: 

• 1.5 oz Jameson Whiskey 
• 1 oz heavy cream
• 4 oz medium roasted espresso 
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar 

Instructions:

• Brew 4 oz of your favorite medium roasted espresso
• Lightly whisk the heavy cream in a separate bowl 
• Pour coffee into a mug, add brown sugar and Jameson, and mix until the brown sugar has dissolved 
• Pour the heavy whipping cream over the Irish Coffee and enjoy!

Jameson Irish Mule 

Put a twist on the traditional Moscow Mule with a Jameson Irish Mule this St. Patrick’s Day! 

Ingredients: 

• 2 oz Jameson Whiskey 
• 1.5 tsp oz fresh-squeezed lime juice
• 1.5 tsp ginger syrup 
• 5 oz ginger beer 

Instructions: 

• Add ice to a shaker with Jameson Whiskey, lime juice, and ginger syrup
• Shake and strain into a copper mug or a cocktail glass 
• Add ice and fill up the remainder of the glass with ginger beer 
• Garnish with a wedge of lime if desired, and enjoy!

Jameson Orange Lemonade 

Enjoy the new Jameson Orange flavored whiskey with a splash of lemonade this St. Paddy’s Day for a refreshing beverage! 

Ingredients: 

• 1.5 oz Jameson Orange Whiskey 
• 3 oz lemonade 
• Orange slice for garnish 

Instructions: 

• Fill a whiskey glass with ice and pour in Jameson Orange and lemonade 
• Stir the mixture in the glass 
• Garnish with an orange slice 

Spring is upon us! That means it’s time for refreshing, crisp gin cocktails. Check out our favorite gin cocktail recipes to start welcoming the warmer weather. 

Cucumber Gin Cooler 

Ingredients:

1 ½ oz  - Gray Whale Gin

5 cucumber slices 

½ a lime for juice 

1 San Pellegrino sparkling water 

Handful of mint leaves 

Instructions: 

Add gin, lime juice, and mint to a shaker and muddle. 

Add cucumbers to the shaker and shake (leave one cucumber slice out for garnish). 

Pour in a glass over ice, top with sparkling water and garnish with cucumber slices. 

French 75

Ingredients:

1 oz Gray Whale gin

½ oz lemon juice, freshly squeezed

½ oz simple syrup

3 oz champagne

Lemon twist for garnish 

Instructions: 

Combine gin, lemon juice and simple syrup in a shaker. Strain into a champagne flute, top with champagne and garnish with a lemon twist. 

Rosemary Gin Fizz

Ingredients: 

2 oz Gray Whale Gin

½ oz lemon juice

½ oz rosemary simple syrup (see below)

3 oz plain San Pellegrino 

1 lemon slice

1 rosemary sprig

Rosemary simple syrup

½ c sugar

½ c water

1 rosemary sprig

To make rosemary simple syrup:

Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan.

Bring to a boil.

Stir and cook until sugar dissolves.

Remove the pan from heat and add rosemary.

Let steep for 1 hour.

Instructions:

Shake gin, lemon juice, and rosemary simple syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice. 

Strain into a glass over ice.

Add club soda.

Garnish with lemon and rosemary.

For more cocktail recipes, click here.