Curated by Editor-in-Chief, Natasha Swords
Summer has finally set in around the country, and Drink Me has had to curate, dig deep and be brutal in sifting out just 5 of Best Products of Summer 2019. We looked for a small group of items that could get you through summer while elevating your bar, expanding your tastes and ensuring you are the perfect mixologist host for visiting friends. Impress the hell out of your guests with these five gems that will turn your domestic cocktail into a professional mixologist creation.
Twang: Turning Regular Consumers Into Rock Star Mixologists
Twang’s drink product lines include Beer Salt and Twang-A-Rita cocktail rimming blends. These salts and seasonings are designed to easily add flavor and spice to at-home alcoholic and elevate simple beverages to cocktail bar status. Twang-A-Rita Sunrise Spice and Michelada Especial Beer Salt are two products specifically designed to pair with the michelada, the spicy, tomato-lime mix introduced to us by Mexico, which has since become a staple throughout South Texas where the family behind Twang is based. While the Michelada originated in Mexico, its fun, zesty style has become a huge hit across America.
Learn how to make your own from home with Twang’s products, which are available throughout the country in 46 states, in grocery stores like HEB and Walmart, convenience stores and online as well as Amazon.
Twang Classic Michelada with Twang Michelada Especial Beer Salt or Twang Clamato Chili Lime Salt
Michelada Especial Beer Salt or Twang Clamato Chili Lime Salt
- 1 Lime
- 4 oz Clamato Mix
- 1 Dash Worcestershire
- 2 Dashes Tabasco
- 1 12oz Beer
- Ice (as needed)
- 1 Lime Wedge Garnish
Rim a glass with Michelada Beer Salt. In a shaker with ice combine, lime juice, clamato, worcestershire sauce and hot sauce; shake well to chill. Pour in class with ice; fill with beer. Add lime wedge for garnish.
Twang Classic Michelada with Twang-A-Rita Sunrise Spice
- 1 Lime
- 4 oz Clamato Mix
- 1 Dash Worcestershire
- 2 Dashes Tabasco
- 1 12oz Beer
- Ice (as needed)
- 1 Lime Wedge Garnish
Rim a glass with Twang-A-Rita Sunrise Spice. In a shaker with ice combine, lime juice, clamato, worcestershire sauce and hot sauce; shake well to chill. Pour in class with ice; fill with beer. Add lime wedge for garnish.
Mutiny In The Mixology Space?
Mutiny Island Vodka, the world’s first and only vodka distilled from breadfruit and the brainchild of award-winning Chef Todd Manley, is the perfect staple to begin most cocktails. Make this a must-have this summer and put it in your bar.
Manley, originally from Virginia where he was chef/owner of multiple restaurants, owns four popular restaurants on St. Croix, the vodka’s origin. He has called the Virgin Islands home since 2010. Manley’s passion for his adopted home and his commitment to the finest, most authentic ingredients drove his vision for MUTINY Island Vodka, created in collaboration with gold-medal-winning distiller Chris Richeson. “St. Croix is a magical place where history, culture and incredible people come together to create a rich experience,” said Manley. “Mutiny Island Vodka started as a way for us to give back to this amazing island and its people.”
Breadfruit, touted by many as an untapped superfood, is a versatile tropical fruit known and loved throughout the Caribbean and Pacific islands. “Breadfruit, with its rich history and legacy, provided us with a type of vodka we knew would be true to the island,” said Manley. “Hand-crafted Mutiny Island Vodka retains the character of the island breadfruit from which it is distilled.”
Manley continued, “With the creation of Mutiny Island Vodka and the opening of Sion Farm Distillery, we are committed to supporting the growth of St. Croix, and all of the USVI, by way of employment, agriculture, environmental initiatives and the vibrant tourist trade of the islands.”
Sam Choy, celebrity chef, restaurateur and television personality was raised with breadfruit as a staple ingredient in many Hawaiian dishes. He is a strong supporter of MUTINY Island Vodka. “Chef Todd and his team have taken the breadfruit that I grew up with to another level, while transforming the very nature of vodka,” said Choy. “Mutiny Island Vodka is not only new, but it’s awesome! When you taste it for the first time, you taste the history of the islands.”
Bloomers Frosé Elevates The Ordinary Cocktail
Bloomers Frosé is the first-ever retail mixer for both wine and spirits. This original ready-to-use, non-alcoholic mixer enables mixologists to whip up an icy-smooth version of a favorite cocktail or mocktail in minutes. Easy and crowd-pleasing, Bloomers Frosé takes your Rosé, Prosecco, Sparkling Wine, Sauvignon Blanc or spirits to the next level with frozen concoctions that are sure to please. Bloomers Frosé is Vegan, Kosher, non-GMO and Gluten-Free, and comes in Original or a Low-Cal/Low-Carb blend. Sold online at: https://bloomersfrose.com and Amazon Prime for $14.99 – $29.99. Also available at liquor stores and served at your favorite venues throughout the country.
Mules Frosé
- 2 oz Bloomers Frosé Mix
- 2 oz vodka flavor of choice
- 2 oz ginger beer
- .5 oz lime juice
- 1.5 cups of ice
Blend thoroughly
Frosé
- 2 oz Bloomers Frosé Mix
- 6 oz rosé wine
- 1 cup of ice
- Blend thoroughly
Crater Lake Reserve Marks New Wave In Gin
Every home-bar has an outstanding gin. This is yours. Since helping launch the craft spirits revolution in 1996 Crater Lake Spirits has continually redefined the category with innovative and thoroughly American distilled spirits. Crater Lake Reserve Gin is newest entry by the Bend, Oregon – based distillery in their Reserve Spirits line and continues this tradition.
Weaving together natural grapefruit, orange peel and coriander with wild juniper from the Oregon high desert and a 50 times filtered spirit distilled from corn, the Reserve Gin is made in the traditional London dry style but is bolder and more balanced than its English cousins. Each of the botanicals is given equal focus resulting in a bright, refreshing style dry gin that is flavorful but avoids the heavily perfumed nose that can define so many highly botanical gins.
Best described as a New Wave American gin the Reserve is a modern counterpoint to the distillery’s flagship Crater Lake Gin, which is a pre-Prohibition gin reminiscent of those once common in the American frontier west.
“…a highly mixable gin with a creamy, soft mouth feel and flavors that pop on the palate.”
The result is a highly mixable gin with a creamy, soft mouth feel and flavors that pop on the palate. Bottled at 90 proof Crater Lake Reserve Gin is also kosher and gluten free.
Purchase link: www.hitimewine.net
Aberfeldy 12-Year The Classic Must-Have For Every Home Bar
Aberfeldy 12 Year Old ($44.99) is a classic, fruity single malt scotch whisky with a honeyed richness and smooth accessible taste. The liquid is matured in a combination of first fill sherry, first fill bourbon, refill and rechar casks.
It’s scented with spices and honeyed plump fruits, and tastes of syrup, hoarding hints of pineapple with lots of vanilla and fudge, with just a whisper of smoke on the finish. Aberfeldy is a delicious sipper and the ideal malt for those beginning their journey into the single malts category.
“…just add your favorite honey along with soda or chilled chamomile tea, and you’ve got yourself a classic Aberfeldy Honey Highball.”
The liquid’s sweet honeyed notes also make Aberfeldy the perfect scotch to mix into a refreshing Highball cocktail this summer – just add your favorite honey along with soda or chilled chamomile tea, and you’ve got yourself a classic Aberfeldy Honey Highball.
You can purchase a bottle of Aberfeldy 12 on ReserveBar here.
