Mai Tai

Mai Tai

Rum, Orgeat, Orange Curacau, Lime and more Rum...

The flavors are so fruity and complex that you forget there’s alcohol involved. The orgeat does its job by giving this cocktail a unique taste, unlike any other, but it is seriously strong. This classic rum based cocktail is a go-to while laying under an umbrella on the beach in the Caribbean.

Ingredients:

1 ½ oz white rum

¾ oz orange curacau

1oz fresh lime juice

½ oz orgeat (almond syrup)

½ oz float dark rum (Meyer's Jamaican Rum is a go to for me)

Garnish:

Lime wheel & mint sprig

Throw in a cane sugar stick for stirring and maybe even an umbrella if you're feeling fancy!

How To:

Pour the white rum, orange curacau, lime juice, and orgeat into your cocktail shaker. Add ice, close your shaker and shake well. Strain into a tiki glass or collins glass. fill with ice and add a little crushed ice on top. Slowly pour the ½ oz of dark rum on top of the ice and add a little bit more crushed ice on top. Then add your garnish and....

Enjoy!

One is enough to seriously ease you into the afternoon, two means you're about to get feisty and three is best consumed with a true friend to ensure each of you will have at least one focused eye by the end of the night. Getting home in one piece is rule number 32 in the book of responsible drinking.

Spring Slumber Tea

Lemon Balm, Lemon Verbena, Chamomile, Lavender, Lemon Peel

This tea is perfect for sinking into the evening. On those mid-weeknights, when you really shouldn't be having that glass of wine, make yourself a cup of this delicious tea and you'll ease into the evening.

The fresh and slightly minty combination of lemon verbena and lemon balm are subtle enough to allow the chamomile and lavender to shine through to use their aromatherapeutic properties. As for the lemon peel, it doesn't do much flavor wise, but it adds a nice pop of color! You can even add a bit of honey and fresh cut lemon to add some extra pizazz!

Recipe:

5 parts Lemon Balm

5 parts Lemon Verbena

3 parts Chamomile Flowers

3 parts Lavender

2 parts Dried Lemon Peel

Mix together and store in an air tight container. When ready to use take one tablespoon and steep in almost boiling water for about 5 minutes. As mentioned previously, add some honey or fresh lemon for some added zing. Make one for yourself and your partner, especially if you're trying to keep off the booze!

Enjoy, relax and ease into the evening.

Infused Sparkling Waters

Fruit, Herbs, Sparkling Water

Sometimes it's nice to have a quick grab'n'go delicious and hydrating drink. La Croix's are a great option, but it's easy and more creative to make your own flavored sparkling water. You can make infusions with both still and sparkling water, but I enjoy the bubbles. It's much more fun to drink!

Gram some sealable mason jars or any clear reusable water bottle and make a few on-the-go favorites to keep in your fridge. The longer the infusion, the more intense the flavors become.

Here are some fun infusion ideas to get the juices flowing:

Lime, Cucumber & Mint

Bell Pepper & Basil

Peach & Lemon

Orange & Vanilla Bean

Cranberry & Pine

Grapefruit & Rosemary

Ginger & Lemongrass

Tips and Techniques:

Leafy herbs like basil and mint need to be clapped to release the oils without becoming bitter.

To release the flavors of lemongrass, lie it on its side and smash it with the flat side of your knife.

Cut the vanilla pod lengthwise to release the beans, and remember a little goes a long way.

Skin ginger root by scraping it with a spoon. cut into pieces to infuse.