I realize as far as recipes go, suggesting one needs one for lemonade is questionable. What’s next, a set of detailed instructions for salted water, simple syrup, or buttered noodles? (Whoops!) But it turns out I have opinions on everything and there’s no time like the nth heat wave of the summer to share what I consider the correct, best formula for lemonade and it is — who could have ever seen this coming? — mine.

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If there’s anything that’s been consistent about this site in its near-20 years of beaming (babbling?) hypertext to servers and back to you, it’s that I’m very bossy when I get into something new, especially cocktails. When I fell in love with Porch Swings, I wanted you to as well. Ditto for Blood Orange Margaritas (but only when in season), a Perfect Manhattan era that spanned over a decade, Boulevardier that has been woven into almost every year since, and a Slushy Paper Plane phase last year. This past winter and spring still, it’s been Sidecars, 1920s-era cocktails with about as many conflicting stories as my kids regale us with when they didn’t do their homework.

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I’m sure you’ve tried almond milk, but have you tasted pistachio milk?! It’s cold, smooth, creamy and tastes like pistachios. It’s dreamy and delicious, as well as dairy-free and nutritious.

I first encountered pistachio milk in the alternative milk section at Whole Foods, offered by a brand called Three Trees. As a pistachio lover, I had to try it immediately. I loved it, naturally, so I had to try making it myself.

I’m happy to share that pistachio milk is as easy to make as cashew milk and pecan milk, and it’s equally creamy. Unlike almond milk, it produces very little waste, so you won’t feel guilty about wasting any of those precious green nuts.

Continue to the recipe...

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We’ve all been there: sitting on the floor at your gate, clutching a sad airport meal, wondering how your relaxing vacation turned into a stress spiral. With fewer air traffic controllers and a jam-packed summer travel season, canceled and delayed flights are basically a guarantee. I’m curious if you’ve noticed similar stuff and how you’re beating the travel woes—let me know.

But one brand wants to turn that chaos into happy hour. For two days only—July 17 and 18—Cayman Jack (yes, the margarita in a bottle brand) is opening The Cayman Club: A Missed Flight Lounge at JFK’s TWA Hotel. And the only way to get in? Show proof of a delayed, canceled, or missed flight.

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If you’ve felt like smoothies have gotten suspiciously expensive, you’re not wrong. We now live in a world where $17 blends with spirulina and collagen are a bit too normal—especially if you’re shopping somewhere like Erewhon. These LA luxury grocery stores aren’t just health havens; they’ve become known for their celebrity-backed smoothies, like Hailey Bieber’s now-famous Strawberry Glaze Skin Smoothie loaded with sea moss, peptides, and hyaluronic acid. I’ve even heard of hotels licensing the rights to serve these viral drinks in their lounges. This is not your average fruit smoothie.

While I don’t splurge often, I’ve definitely noticed the growing hype. Back in college, there was always a long line at the açai bowl truck that parked near the far quad (sometimes rivaling the line when Raising Cane’s opened). I never totally got the appeal or the price, but it was clearly a thing. And this wasn’t even in LA or New York—it was in east central Illinois, where smoothie prices still capped around $12 back then.

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No matter how you’re spending your Fourth of July—whether it’s a backyard BBQ, beach day, or an all-day picnic—there are a few essentials you’ll want close at hand: sunscreen (because sun safety is non-negotiable), plenty of delicious snacks, and most importantly, refreshing drinks. Staying hydrated is key, but why settle for plain water when you can elevate your summer sipping game?

We’ve curated 28 of the best recipes for refreshing Fourth of July drinks. From bright, citrusy mocktails perfect for the whole family to spirited cocktails that bring the party vibes, these recipes are designed to be easy, delicious, and ideal for sipping over ice as the day heats up—and into the evening fireworks.

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Summer inevitably brings around the best cocktail moments—there’s fresh fruit, cold prosecco, and honestly, a little more freedom to play. Don’t get me wrong, I love a cozy fall or winter drink (and I’ll definitely make the case for them come September), but in the warmer months, it’s time to swap the apple, ginger, and whiskey for strawberry, rose, and Aperol.

If you’ve read my previous deep dives into flips or tea-infused syrups, you already know I love writing (and thinking) about cocktails. I’m always on the lookout for ways to zhuzh up the classics—whether it’s a spritz or a gin and tonic. Is it in the syrup? The liqueur? A splash of something floral or fizzy? Yes to all of the above.

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A few years ago, Alex and I started batching cocktails and keeping them in the freezer. Batching may sound fancy and professional but at most we were participating in rudimentary math (“one ounce? nah, one cup!”) and advanced laziness (ahem, preparedness). Having cocktails ready to go and super, super cold so that they won’t immediately water themselves down by melting ice was a win. And, as the habit has continued, it’s always fun when a friend stops by and you remember you already have perfect manhattans ready to go, as if you were trying to medal in the impromptu hosting olympics.

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The gimlet is a classic cocktail that deserves more attention! Made with gin, lime juice and sweetened with simple syrup, it comes from the sour family of cocktails (my specialty). Save the elaborate cocktails with unrecognizable ingredients for ordering at fancy bars—a simple, citrusy, not-too-sweet cocktail at home is one of life’s simple pleasures.

The gimlet is light and bright, like a more casual version of a martini that you can sip slowly on a porch. I love a gimlet in the spring or summer—they’re fresh and just right. If you enjoy ordering a good gin cocktail or a margarita made with real lime juice, you will love a homemade gimlet.

Continue to the recipe...

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Looking for Cinco de Mayo cocktails that aren’t just your standard margarita? You’re in the right place. Whether you’re a die-hard tequila fan or just want to shake up something fun for your party, these tequila cocktail recipes are guaranteed to impress. They’re festive, bold, and anything but basic.

We’re talking jalapeño-infused margaritas, guava and black salt creations, and one cocktail that calls for firewater bitters — a spicy secret weapon my dad swears by (and shows off at every party like it’s a magic trick).

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Who doesn’t love a special little beverage? As spring has slowly gotten warmer I’ve seen more and more people posting themselves making at-home iced tea concoctions, fruity syrups for seltzers, and even ‘loaded’ flavored waters. What has stood out to me from the bunch is a “homemade Gatorade” recipe by the creator @healthylittlepeach, which has gotten millions of views and tons of recreation videos. The allure lies in its “electrolytes” and health benefits. It looked deceivingly simple, and I was curious to see if it actually tasted good or refreshing.

Here’s how I made my own homemade “Gatorade:”

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Welcome to the weekly guide on where to drink in Paris! Every Wednesday, I spotlight three bars including an old favorite worth revisiting, something new (bars, menus, etc.) and something […]

The post Where to Drink in Paris this Week: 28 October 2024 appeared first on Paris • Cocktails • Bars.

Recently I started reaching for my bottle of Vermouth Blanc more and more. I had opened it to make an El Presidente cocktail, but during an interview on my IG Live channel with Pierre-Olivier Rousseaux, owner of Dolin distillery in France, he remarked that their Chambéryzette apéritif, made in the French alps, could be made at home, anywhere, with fresh strawberries and white vermouth. So I took the plunge and made a batch myself.

It’s very easy to make. Just slice or quarter a few fresh strawberries and within 24 hours, you can be enjoying your very own batch of strawberry apéritif!

White vermouth (vermouth blanc) is different than dry vermouth. For one thing, the botanicals used are different. Dry vermouth leans into its bitterness with wormwood, quinine, or other flavorings that keep it decidedly dry. White vermouth celebrates its sparkling-clear color with floral aromas, which can include elderflowers and citrus. While you could make this with dry vermouth, I do prefer it with the white vermouth, which in Italy is referred to as vermouth bianco.

When I took a sip of the strawberry-infused vermouth the next day, it seemed like it’d be a perfect candidate for a summery Spritz. So I mixed it with a splash of tonic water, and found it was just perfect as-is, with a handful of ice and some berries and maybe a slice of citrus in it. If you want to go full-on summer, you could replace the citrus with a slice of peach or nectarine, or maybe a few other types of berries.

Tonic water has become more of a topic of conversation lately. Brands like Schweppes are popular and readily available (and you can make your own tonic water, too), but some like to fine-tune their cocktails and apéritifs with a premium brand of tonic water. Fever-Tree, Q, and Fentimen’s are popular, but I kept mine French using Archibald, which uses gentian in place of quinine, to keep it resolutely Made in France. (Quinine doesn’t grow in France, but gentian does.) As far as I know, it’s not available outside of the country but feel free to find your own favorite where you live, and use that.

In the heart of the Saint Germain neighborhood in Paris, is the new outpost of Cravan, which tows the brand’s party line of well-executed cocktails served in an historical setting. […]

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The other day I was thinking of cocktails that were fall and winter-friendly. Calvados (apple brandy) of course is always in season, but I also had a bottle of spiced pear liqueur from St. George Spirits in California on hand that has a lovely pear flavor mingled with a bouquet of spices, that I’ve been meaning to incorporate into a cocktail.

I had a hunch that it would be well-paired with French apple brandy, and that hunch proved correct in this Far From the Tree cocktail, a nod to the expression that “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” as the apple brandy – and the sparkling apple cider – fell into my kitchen, which are quite far from any trees. But happily, they all made it into my glass.

(And I’m hoping that all made sense. I’ve been trying to translate some American expressions for my French partner, especially “They drank the Kool-Aid,” which I’ve decided just isn’t translatable.)

The Spiced Pear Liqueur is made by St. George spirits, a distiller in my old stomping grounds of Alameda, California. I knew the founder, Jörg Rupf,  who started distilling European-style spirits in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1982. At the time, few knew what eau-de vie was.

Jörg was a wealth of knowledge and I always learned something when I spent time with him, and was surprised when he told me one day that it took around 50 pounds (23kg) of Bartlett pears to make just one bottle of pear eau-de-vie, and he laughed that his biggest restaurant account sold only a half bottle of eau-de-vie every two months. He reveled in the bounty of excellent produce in California, making eau-de-vie from everything, including kiwifruit, apples, raspberries, pears, and even holly berries.

One day while at the distillery he gave me a sip of apple brandy which he’d made but promptly forgot about, which was similar to Calvados, but without the terroir. (To be called “Calvados” the apple brandy has to be made in Normandy with only certain varieties of local apples, with a few pears added for their aroma, and must be aged in wooden barrels for at least two years.) His apple brandy had been sitting in a barrel for ten years and when he discovered it, it was delicious.

Jörg eventually retired from distilling and sold the company, which is still going strong, and St. George Spirits under master distiller Lance Winters, continues to make excellent liqueurs that include gin and other distillations (they now call their eau-de vie “brandy”), absinthe, vodka (including a green chile one), shochu and Bruto Americano, a botanically-rich alternative to Campari that I particularly enjoy, with no artificial colorant, made with an expressive blend of local botanicals and other ingredients.

But even if you’re not in Normandy, or Northern California, and far from an apple (or pear) tree, you can still enjoy these fall and winter flavors in a cocktail.

Our three favorite cocktail spots in the fantastic port city of Marseille

The post Where to Drink Cocktails in Marseille appeared first on Paris • Cocktails • Bars.

Low ABV isn't a new trend but House Garden still manages to bring something fresh to this approach to cocktails.

The post Low ABV cocktails in Paris at House Garden appeared first on Paris • Cocktails • Bars.

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As if we need one more reason to go to Venice! But, here you have it: this charming Italian city has launched its own cocktail week

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