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To celebrate National Drink Wine Day this year, we thought we’d share some of our favorite wines. Grab one of these bottles and celebrate on February 18. 

Faust Cabernet 

Faust Cabernet is a favorite around here. It has an intense yet fresh taste with juicy blue and black notes. Picture dark chocolate mixed with dried herbs on the palate, followed by silky tannins and lifting acidity. 

And if you won’t take our word for it, you should know it has 94 points from James Suckling, so you know it’s good. 

From Faust:

“The defining characteristics of Faust come from the backbone of fruit sourced from our own Coombsville Estate, complemented by grapes from hillside and cooler regions of the Napa Valley. This combination of fruit sourcing delivers the unmistakable richness and fruit intensity of our Cabernet Sauvignon. Through relentless exploration, our winemakers are always in pursuit of the undeniable quality and unique style, fitting of a modern Napa Valley classic.”

Flowers Pinot Noir

Flowers Pinot Noir is another favorite around here, especially for a Thanksgiving feast (but who says National Drink Wine Day feasts can’t be a thing?!). Imagine bright red cherry and raspberry, combined with hints of ground clove and graham cracker. It has impeccable dimension, bright acidity, and a lively finish. 

Plus, it also has a James Suckling wine score of 94 points. 

From Flowers:

“With mild temperatures leading to a long growing season and a surprise-free harvest, the 2018 vintage can only be described as idyllic. Alternating spells of cool and warm weather during bloom led to varying berry sizes, perfect for developing complexity in Pinot Noir & Chardonnay. Morning fog, afternoon sunshine and a lack of heat spikes throughout the summer allowed for a long ripening period that developed fruit with excellent natural acidity and beautiful flavors.”

Raise a glass this National Drink Wine Day. Which will you choose? Let us know on Facebook or Instagram.

Cheers! It’s time to talk Valentine’s Day cocktail recipes. Check them out and let us know which ones you choose! 

The Rose

Ingredients:

3 oz gin

1 oz lime juice

1 oz elderflower liquor

6 oz rosé champagne

Instructions:

• Combine gin, elderflower liquor, lime juice, and ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake for 10 seconds
• Add ice cubes to an empty cocktail glass. Strain mixture ontop
• Top with rosé champagne

 

La Vie en Rose

Ingredients:

1.5 oz Vodka

.5 oz simple syrup

.5 oz lemon juice

.5 oz St. Germaine

2 oz ginger beer

Lemon and mint for garnish

Instructions:

• Combine all ingredients except ginger beer in a shaker with ice
• Shake and strain over ice
• Top with ginger beer
• Garnish with lemon and mint

 

Raspberry Beret

Ingredients:

1 oz vodka

1 oz black raspberry liqueur 

1 oz Irish Cream

Splash of grenadine

Whipped cream

Instructions:

• Blend everything together with ice
• Rim a martini glass with sugar (make it extra festive by adding red food coloring)
• Pour everything into a glass
• Top with whipped cream and more red sugar

 

English Rose

Ingredients:

3/4 ounce apricot brandy

1 1/2 ounces gin

3/4 ounce dry vermouth

1 teaspoon grenadine

1/4 teaspoons lemon juice

Instructions:

• Rim a cocktail glass with sugar
• Add all ingredients along with ice to a cocktail shaker
• Shake well and strain into your glass
• Garnish with a cherry

 

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Martini

Ingredients:

2 tbsp. chocolate syrup, plus more for drizzling

4 oz. Irish cream

4 oz. chocolate liqueur  

4 oz. vodka

Ice 

shaved chocolate (optional)

Strawberry

Instructions: 

• Pour chocolate syrup onto a shallow plate
• Dip the rims of your martini glasses into the chocolate and coat well
• Drizzle the inside of each glass with chocolate syrup as well
• Combine Irish cream, chocolate liqueur, and vodka in a cocktail shaker with ice
• Shake until chilled
• Pour into glasses
• Top with shaved chocolate

 

Lovers’ Mimosas

Ingredients:

1 bottle Champagne, chilled

grenadine

Strawberries, cut into hearts

Instructions: 

• Cut your strawberries into heart shapes (this can be done by cutting triangles out of the tops)
• Place 2-3 strawberry hearts onto skewers
• Fill champagne flutes about ⅔ of the way up with champagne
• Add about a tablespoon of grenadine
• Garnish with strawberry hearts

 

Champagnaritas

Ingredients:

1/2 c. fresh lime juice

1 c. silver tequila

1/2 c. orange liqueur

1 bottle champagne (about 3 cups)

Lime wedges for garnish

Salt for rim, to taste

Instructions: 

• Run lime wedges around the rims of champagne flutes and dip in salt
• Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher
• Stir
• Pour into flutes
• Garnish with lime wedges

 

Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Jell-O Shots

Ingredients:

3 (16-oz.) containers large strawberries

2 c. chocolate chips

2 tsp. coconut oil

1 (3-oz.) box strawberry Jell-O

1 c. boiling water

1 c. vodka

Instructions:

• Cut the tops and bottom tips off of strawberries. Make sure they can stand up on a flat surface on their own
• Scoop out the inside of your strawberries using a small spoon, knife, or melon baller
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper
• Combine chocolate chips and coconut oil in a large bowl
• Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring each time, until completely melted
• Dip your strawberry “shot glasses” in chocolate and place cup-side-up on baking sheet
• Refrigerate to harden, about 10 minutes
• In a large bowl, whisk together Jell-O and boiling water until completely dissolved
• Add vodka and whisk to combine
• Pour your vodka Jell-O mixture into your strawberry shot glasses
• Refrigerate until firm, at least 3 hours

It’s been a strange football season full of delayed games, sick players, and viewing parties from home - but that doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate the Big Game the right way! Whether you’re having a virtual watch party, a small party, or a party by yourself, you need these Game Day cocktail recipes. 

Bloody Mary Bar (with all the tailgating fixings)

Ingredients:

Celery salt

Lemon

Lime

2 oz Ruskova vodka

4 oz tomato juice

2 tsp horseradish

2 dashes hot sauce

2 dashes Worcestershire sauce

Ground black pepper

Smoked paprika

Topping options:

This is your chance to go big or go home!

Green olives

Celery stalk

Mini grilled cheese

Pickle

Chicken wing

Bacon

Instructions:

Pur celery salt onto a small plate.

Rub a lemon or lime wedge along the lip of a pint glass or martini glass.

Roll the outer edge of the glass in celery salt until fully coated. Set aside.

Squeeze lemon and lime wedges into shaker and drop them in.

Add the rest of the ingredients and shake gently. 

Strain into your glass over ice.

Garnish with all the toppings! 

Beermosa

Ingredients:

4 bottles of light beer

1 c orange juice

Orange slices

Instructions:

Fill a pint glass ¼ with orange juice. 

Top off with beer.

Garnish with orange slices. 

Sports Drinkarita

Ingredients:

½ c blue sanding sugar

¼ c kosher salt

20-oz bottle of blue sports drink, chilled

1 c thawed frozen limeade concentrate

1 c Olmeca Altos Silver Tequila

⅓ c blue curacao

Orange slices

Instructions:

Mix sugar and salt in a shallow dish.

Wet rims of rocks glasses with water, lemon, or lime, and dip edges into sugar and salt mixture until well coated.

Combine sports drink, limeade, tequila, and blue curacao in large pitcher and stir.

Pour over ice.

Garnish with orange slice.

Team color Jell-O Shots

Ingredients:

3 oz box Jell-O that matches your team’s color(s) (use clear Jell-O powder and food coloring if you cannot match your team’s color(s)).

1 ½ c water 

½ c Ruskova vodka

Instructions:

Heat 1 cup of water until boiling. 

Pour boiling water into a bowl with Jell-O powder.

Whisk until powder is completely dissolved.

Pour in ½ c cold water and whisk until combined.

Pour in vodka and whisk until blended.

Pour Jell-O mixture into plastic shot glasses.

Refrigerate until firm, about 1 ½ - 2 ½ hours.

Beer Sangria

Ingredients:

1 ½ c white grape juice

1 c Ruskova vodka

1 c seedless grapes, halved

1 red apple, sliced

1 orange, sliced

5 12-oz bottles of Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier, chilled

Instructions:

Combine all ingredients except beer in a pitcher.

Refrigerate for 1-8 hours.

Fill wine glasses halfway with grape juice mixture and fruit. 

Fill the rest of the glasses with beer.

Warm up and wind down with these fun winter cocktail recipes!

Mulled wine

Ingredients:

1 bottle Robert Hall cabernet 

1 orange, sliced

8 cloves

2 cinnamon sticks

2 star anise

Sugar, honey, or maple syrup to taste

¼ cup brandy

Instructions:

Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan. 

Cook on medium-high until it reaches a simmer. Do not allow to boil.

Reduce heat to low and let simmer for 15 minutes.

Strain if desired.

Serve in a mug, using any leftover cloves, cinnamon sticks, anise, or oranges for garnish.

Brandy Alexander

Ingredients:

1 1/2 ounces cognac

1 ounce dark crème de cacao

1 ounce cream

Grated nutmeg

Instructions:

Add ingredients to shaker with ice. Shake until chilled.

Strain into a chilled cocktail glass or coupe.

Garnish with grated nutmeg. 

Winter Manhattan

Ingredients:

2 ounces bourbon or rye

1 ounce sweet vermouth

2 dashes chocolate bitters

1 dash orange bitters

Brandied cherry or maraschino cherry for garnish

Instructions: 

Stir bourbon/rye, vermouth, and bitters in a mixing glass with ice until chilled.

Strain into a chilled cocktail glass or coupe.

Garnish with cherry. 

Rosemary Gin Fizz

Ingredients: 

2 oz 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

Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan.

Bring to a boil.

Stir and cook until sugar dissolves.

Remove pan from heat and add rosemary.

Let steep for 1 hour.

Instructions:

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

Strain into a glass over ice.

Add club soda.

Garnish with lemon and rosemary.

Espresso Nog Martini

Ingredients:

1 cinnamon stick

1 egg

⅓ c cream

⅓ c milk

¼ c espresso

¼ c Patron XO Cafe 

¼ c brandy

Grated nutmeg

Ingredients:

Combine all ingredients besides nutmeg in a blender.

Blend until smooth.

Transfer to a shaker with ice. Shake until combined.

Strain into a cocktail glass.

Garnish with nutmeg and cinnamon stick.

Bourbon Hot Chocolate 

Ingredients:

2 oz semisweet chocolate chips or melting chocolate wafers

6 oz milk

1 ½ oz Bulleit bourbon

Mini marshmallows

Whipped cream

Instructions:

Heat milk on a stove top until warm. Do not allow to boil.

Place chocolate in a coffee mug. 

Pour hot milk into mug and let stand until chocolate melts, about 2 minutes.

Stir until smooth.

Pour in bourbon and stir to combine.

Garnish with mini marshmallows and whipped cream.

Which one will you make?! Be sure to share your finished products on Facebook or Instagram and tag us.