The Green Bee is a variation of a Bee’s Knees cocktail but with the extra addition of rosemary. If you love gin, honey, and herbal tones, you’ll love this riff.
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy a product via my affiliate link, I will receive a commission. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I actually like!
I love a classic Bee’s Knees. It’s so easy to make (just 3 ingredients!) and really gives the gin a chance to shine. This fall, I’ve been on a big herbal kick. I’ve made my rosemary sage simple syrup three times now and have been using it in just about every cocktail recipe I think it could work in. There’s something so warming about use rich savory herbs like rosemary and sage in cocktails.
I knew that honey and rosemary worked together, so I made a honey rosemary simple syrup. And what better way to use a honey syrup than in a Bee’s Knees?
To make the honey rosemary syrup, add 1/4 cup of honey, 1/4 cup of water, and 2 sprigs of rosemary to a small saucepan. Heat until the honey is dissolved and turn off the heat. Allow the rosemary to steep in the syrup until it cools. Remove the rosemary and pour into a small lidded container. Store in the fridge.
As I mentioned earlier, simple classic cocktails like the Bee’s Knees give gins a real chance to shine. The limited ingredients won’t overshadow the unique taste of whatever gin you’re using. Choosing a more herbal gin in The Green Bee is a great call because of the addition of the rosemary. But pick what you like. I actually used a botanical rum in place of gin in the drink shown in these pictures.
If you’re a fan of simple, straightforward, and herbal cocktails, this Green Bee recipe is for you.
Ingredients for a Green Bee
2 oz gin
3/4 oz rosemary honey syrup*
3/4 oz lemon juice, freshly squeezed
How to Make a Green Bee
Add gin, rosemary honey syrup*, and lemon juice to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well. Strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with an additional rosemary sprig.
*To make the honey rosemary syrup, add 1/4 cup of honey, 1/4 cup of water, and 2 sprigs of rosemary to a small saucepan. Heat until the honey is dissolved and turn off the heat. Allow the rosemary to steep in the syrup until it cools. Remove the rosemary and pour into a small lidded container. Store in the fridge.
Add gin, rosemary honey syrup*, and lemon juice to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
Shake well, about 20 seconds.
Strain into a coupe glass.
Garnish with an additional rosemary sprig.
Notes
*To make the honey rosemary syrup, add 1/4 cup of honey, 1/4 cup of water, and 2 sprigs of rosemary to a small saucepan. Heat until the honey is dissolved and turn off the heat. Allow the rosemary to steep in the syrup until it cools. Remove the rosemary and pour into a small lidded container. Store in the fridge.
This is the ultimate gift guide for home mixologists, people who love to drink, people who are starting to get into home mixology, and for those people in your life who are just plain hard to shop for. These 16 gift ideas will help you cover the bases for all the people on your Christmas list year.
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy a product via my affiliate link, I will receive a commission. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I actually like!
I don’t know about you but come Christmas time, I’m always at a loss as to what I should buy for people. Some individuals are particularly gifted (pun intended) in this area. If that’s you, then you’re probably looking at gift ideas for yourself. No shame in that! I’m grateful to be a part of two families that not only ask me what I actually want for Christmas but request exact links, too. If you’re not so lucky as to have family members like that, perhaps you can *casually* drop the link to this post in their email. I got your back.
With the huge rise in #happyhourathome thanks to COVID, these 16 gift ideas for home bartenders might just help you check everyone off your Christmas list. Even your super particular uncle.
The obvious option is to buy them more alcohol. That’s always welcome. But here are some other gift ideas for people who love to drink.
Gift Ideas for Beginner and Intermediate Home Mixologists
Everyone should own a cocktail shaker. This particular one comes with a jigger and a bar spoon. So it’s not only beautiful, it’s a great value, too. It’s perfect for someone who is just starting their home bartending journey or for the person you think might enjoy making their own libations at home. It also comes in rose gold. (Make sure you buy the ‘large’ option.)
This cocktail shaker set comes with several more useful tools. It has 3 types of strainers (essential for drinks that require double straining), a muddler, ice tongs, and pourers to pop into your most-used liquor bottles. It’s got a stylish bamboo holder, too. Perfect for displaying on a bar cart. If copper’s not their thing, this set comes in silver, too.
Know for a fact that the person you’re buying for already has a cocktail shaker? Consider getting them a cocktail mixing glass. These are great for making large batches of cocktails that are meant to be stirred, not shaken. I like this set because it comes with a strainer, bar spoon, and a jigger. No home bartender ever complained about having spare jiggers. Trust me.
This ice mold set comes with trays to make both extra large square cubes and spherical ice cubes. Ice can make a big difference in a cocktail, believe it or not. Large ice keeps drinks colder & melts slower so this simple gift will definitely up someone’s cocktail game. I like this particular one because they have lids to keep the freezer smells out of the ice. The second option is a bit more pricey but makes clear ice cubes which are all the rage this year. Seriously.
Cocktail picks are a great way to up your garnish game. Not a necessity, but definitely a fun touch. Plus these are only $9 so they make the perfect stocking stuffer or extra throw-in gift.
Storing your favorite and most-used alcohol in pretty glass decanters will really up your bar cart game. There are several different styles and shapes. They can be purchased new online or you can look for some vintage ones at your local antique mall or thrift store.
A nice cutting board would make a great gift for a home mixologist. Not only is a cutting board necessary for cutting citrus and creating garnishes, but a pretty one like this can also serve as a prop for Instagram photos. I mean, if you don’t take a photo of your craft cocktail, did you really even make one??
There are seriously sooo many amazing glasses on Amazon and all over the internet. But my favorite place to find glassware is at the thrift store. In fact, the majority of my glassware collection is from second-hand stores. Can’t beat unique vintage glassware at killer prices!
Personalized copper mugs are one of the best great gift ideas in my opinion. You can put an anniversary date, a meaningful quote, a nickname… truly anything. This site has a lot of different copper mug options to choose from.
SimplyGala is by far my favorite syrup company because they don’t use any artificial ingredients. They have two different tiki syrup gift sets (tiki cocktails are a thing right now) and a coffee syrup set that can be used in cocktails as well. SG also makes several other individual syrups that you could group together yourself. I personally love their hibiscus syrup and their passionfruit syrup. Both are very versatile despite being so unique! Check out my Hibiscus Negroni recipe and my Isla del Sol recipe for some inspiration.
*This post is not sponsored, btw. Just truly love their products!*
Often referred to as “seasoning for cocktails”, bitters are an easy way to customize any drink. There are classic bitters flavors like aromatic bitters and orange bitters that used in many classic and modern drinks. But don’t stop there. The more unique the bitters flavor sounds, the less likely it is that your booze-loving friend or family member already has it. I mean, do you think they have Sassafras & Sorghum bitters already? Highly unlikely.
These mixers are anything but run of the mill. Give your home bartender the opportunity to play and experiment by gifting them with products they probably can’t find at their local grocery store. Brighter is my favorite these days and it’s super healthy, too.
Luxardo Cherries are famous in the cocktail world and there is no true substitute for them. That’s why they’re expensive. It may seem like a lot of money for some tiny pieces of fruit but you’ll become your loved one’s instant favorite when you give them a jar of these bougie babies.
You can really up your loved one’s mixed drinks game by getting them an ice maker. Then they’ll always have high-quality ice on hand. I don’t have a countertop ice maker but my friend has this exact one and says it’s great. I also like that it comes in a few different color options. Just make sure they have room for one first before you buy one.
Smoked cocktails are really in right now. Smoked Old Fashioneds. Smoked Negronis. Smoked literally anything you can think of. I’ve never used this brand (or any smoker for that matter) but my friend has it and can attest to it’s quality. This would be a GREAT gift for anyone who loves to cook, too. Don’t forget to buy extra wood chips– this multi-pack has apple, cherry, pear, and pecan wood.
The famous smoke-filled bubble maker is called the Flavour Blaster. It’s extremely popular in the cocktail community. But it’s a bit pricey. Here’s a much cheaper option. If you’ve never seen one of these before, check out the videos on the links or browse the #flavourblaster hashtag on Instagram. I’ve never tried a cocktail with a flavorful smoke bubble but I WANT to. Badly.
If your loved one loves to photograph their cocktail creations, get them props to make their pictures really pop. Look for cool table runners, textured napkins, and pretty coasters. You can even get them a gorgeous backdrop.
There you have it. 16+ gift ideas for home mixologists and all the people who like to drink. If you have more gift ideas, be sure to leave them in a comment below for everyone else to see!
The Bride Wore Red cocktail is an amazing whiskey and wine drink made with a cranberry red wine reduction syrup. It’s spicy and sweet with amazing complexity and warmth. It’s quite possibly thebest cocktail for the colder months ahead.
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy a product via my affiliate link, I will receive a commission. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I actually like!
One of the best things about colder weather is the rich meals and drinks. The recipe for The Bride Wore Red feels like a combination of both. Warm, spicy rye whiskey + rich red wine + tart cranberry sauce + warm spices… is your mouth watering yet? This drink does require a little more effort, especially in comparison to the rest of my super easy beginner-level cocktails, but it is well worth the extra work. Plus you’ll be able to use up that cranberry sauce that always seems to linger longer than the rest of the Thanksgiving and Christmas leftovers.
To learn how to make the cranberry red wine reduction syrup (the star of this cocktail recipe IMO), you can check out the recipe post here. The great thing about it is that you change up the spices, too. Love the taste of star anise? Add some. Hate cardamom? Leave it out.
My inspiration for The Bride Wore Red cocktail was a bit of a journey. The first recipe that came to mind when I got a new bottle (actually, my first-ever bottle) of rye was to make the New York Sour again. The last time I made it, I used corn whiskey and I didn’t like it. I figured I should give that classic cocktail a fair shot.
Speaking of adjusting the recipe, you can use your favorite whiskey instead of rye if you want. I do think the spiciness of the rye balances out the sweetness of the cranberry red wine reduction syrup. But I think it will work well with bourbon or Irish whiskey, too.
The rye that I used is called the Dorothy Arzner Straight Rye Whiskey. Dorothy Arzner was the first woman to direct a sound film and she was also the first woman to join the Directors Guild of America. She directed many famous films such as The Bride Wore Red, Merrily We Go to Hell, Christopher Strong, and Dance, Girl Dance. It seemed only fitting to name this cocktail after one of her movies.
Do you have any other favorite cold-weather cocktails? Let me know in a comment– I’m always down for trying out new cocktail recipes. And if you make The Bride Wore Red, please please please tag me on Instagram!
Ingredients for The Bride Wore Red – A Whiskey and Wine Cocktail
1 1/2 oz rye whiskey
3/4 oz brandy
1/3 oz cranberry red wine reduction syrup (find the recipe here)
Add all ingredients, except for the orange slice, to a cocktail glass with a large ice cube. Stir using a bar spoon. Place a fresh large ice cube into a lowball glass. Strain the cocktail into the glass. Garnish with a dehydrated orange slice.
The Bride Wore Red
The Bride Wore Red cocktail is an amazing whiskey and wine cocktail made with a cranberry red wine reduction syrup. It's spicy and sweet with amazing complexity and warmth. It's quite possibly the best cocktail for the colder months ahead.
If you have leftover cranberry sauce from Thanksgiving, this cranberry red wine reduction for cocktails is the perfect use for it. It’s an easy syrup recipe made with red wine, cranberry sauce, turbinado sugar, cloves, and cinnamon.
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy a product via my affiliate link, I will receive a commission. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I actually like!
One of the best parts about Thanksgiving are the leftovers. But all the other leftovers run out long before the cranberry sauce does. Instead of tossing out that tart and sweet goodness, try using it in your cocktails.
You can definitely use it as is in a drink. Just sub it in for jam in a Jam Cocktail. Or take it up a notch and make this decadent cranberry red wine reduction. It’s sweet– very sweet– with amazing complexity and warmth to it. It tastes phenomenal with whiskey cocktails and also with gin. You could even use it in place of red wine in a New York Sour for added sweetness.
Ingredients for a Cranberry Red Wine Reduction for Cocktails
How to Make a Cranberry Red Wine Reduction for Cocktails
Add all ingredients to a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes until the syrup has reduced. Pour into a small lidded container, using a strainer to strain out the spices and any cranberry pieces. You’ll need to press on the cranberries with the back of a spoon to really squeeze every drop of the reduction out. Let the syrup cool before storing in the fridge. The syrup should keep for about 2 weeks in the fridge.
Cranberry Red Wine Reduction for Cocktails
This cranberry red wine reduction syrup is perfect for using up that leftover cranberry sauce. It's delicious in whiskey cocktails, gin cocktails, and anything else you want to add depth and complexity to.
Add all ingredients to a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes until the syrup has reduced.
Pour into a small lidded container, using a strainer to strain out the spices and any cranberry pieces. You'll need to press on the cranberries with the back of a spoon to really squeeze every drop of the reduction out.
Let the syrup cool before storing in the fridge. The syrup should keep for about 2 weeks in the fridge.
Keyword cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, cranberry, cranberry red wine reduction for cocktails, cranberry sauce, red wine, red wine reduction, turbinado
If you’re hosting (or attending!) a small holiday get-together this year, a DIY cocktail bar is the answer to your holiday hosting problems. Don’t want to be stuck making drinks the whole time? DIY cocktail bar. Never made a mixed drink in your life but want to serve some to your guests? DIY cocktail bar. Want to prevent your guests from pestering you about when the food’s gonna be ready? DIY cocktail bar.
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy a product via my affiliate link, I will receive a commission. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I actually like!
I hear you. You’re hosting a small (or large, if you’re reading this beyond 2020) holiday gathering. You want to be the hostess with the mostest. You want to serve cool cocktails to your crew…. but you’re already wondering how to juggle prepping, cooking, and serving the food dishes. Take the easy route by setting up a Make-It-Yourself drink bar. It’ll take only a few minutes (maybe 10) of prep work and then you can step back and let your guests have fun playing bartender. Then, instead of having to play bartender the whole evening, you’ll be able to drink and toast with the rest of them.
How to Set Up a DIY Cocktail Bar
1. Select a few different flavors of Italian sodas.
Italian sodas are the perfect mixer to use for easy cocktails. They have both the fruity element and the sweet element. Using an Italian soda instead of, say, sparkling water, will mean you don’t have to worry about setting out simple syrups. Plus they’re bubbly. Who does like some effervescence in their life?
My local Texas grocery store (hi H-E-B, I love you!) has an amazing line of Italian sodas with seasonal flavors like cranberry yuzu and blackcurrant ginger. Classic Italian soda flavors like lemon and blood orange make for fantastic cocktails, too. You can also look for sparkling juices. A variety pack of the Izze Sparkling Juice would make setting up a make-it-yourself drink bar all too easy.
2. Set out a spirit or three.
When thinking about what liquor to serve at your DIY cocktail bar, vodka is always a great option because its clean taste will go with any flavor of Italian soda. Providing a few different liquor options for your guests would be ideal though. Choose spirits that mesh well with crisp fruit flavors. Gin, tequila, and vodka work best in my opinion. Plus someone is sure to like at least one spirit from that lineup. You can always set out a whiskey or white rum but they may not blend as smoothly with the Italian sodas as the others.
3. Leave out a jigger for measuring the spirits.
Someone’s sure to “eyeball it” but providing a jigger for measuring out the spirits will help your guests feel more comfortable about making their own drink. They won’t have to worry about making a weak drink or getting totally sloshed from just one cocktail. Traditionally, cocktails have about 1.5-2 oz of liquor in them which is perfect because most jiggers have a side that measures either 1 oz or 2 oz.
4. Prepare a few garnishing options.
Garnishes make cocktails more fun. It’s science. Set out fresh herbs like thyme, mint, and basil. Put some cherries or fresh berries on cocktail picks. Slice some citrus wheels or opt for dried ones. Giving your guests the opportunity to customize their cocktail with garnishes is what makes a DIY cocktail bar so fun.
5. Provide ice and glasses.
Setting out an ice bucket and multiple glasses means people won’t have to go back and forth to the kitchen. They’ll have everything they need right at their fingertips. But speaking of fingertips, set out some ice tongs, too, ’cause #germs.
You can even use ice in different shapes like giant cubes or ice spheres if you want to be real fancy.
And if you don’t want people using your collection of vintage glassware don’t want to handwash your collection of vintage glassware, plastic washable cocktail glasses are a great solution. Or go the disposable yet still stylish route with these pretty cups. Then people can write their names on them, too.
Now, if you want to go the not-so-easy route, feel free to have some containers of fresh lemon or lime juice or handcrafted simple syrups for guests to add to their drink. Those options will certainly up the flavor and customization factors. But a liquor + an Italian soda + fresh garnish will make for a great cocktail. Promise.
So, if you want to spend less time shaking up drinks and more time joining in the revelry, you now know how to set up a DIY cocktail bar. Cheers to making memories with your guests!
