We know the classic recipe for a Bellini calls for peach schnapps, but the fake tasting flavor of that infamous liqueur is a little too high school party vibes for us. Ask Megan about the time EVERYONE drank too much of it on New Year's Eve after swiping it from a parent's party and you'll be regaled with quite the tale of too many queasy stomachs and not enough bathrooms. When we want a sparkling peach cocktail, we opt for our Peach Hibiscus simple syrup and a little bit of orange liqueur. The liqueur is optional -- this drink is delicious with just the syrup. It's perfect for brunch, bachelorette parties, baby showers, you name it, and with the addition of soda water it can easily be non-alcoholic! And it's super simple: just pour the orange liqueur and simple syrup into the bottom of a champagne flute and fill the rest of the way up with champagne. Garnish with a fresh peach slice if you want to make it fancy. Cheers!
This classic brunch cocktail can be bracingly sweet, so we switched it up a little bit by using vodka and our syrup in place of Peach Schnapps. To make it, all you have to do is add all ingredients to a shaker with ice, shake until cold, and strain into a Rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with a fresh orange or peach slice!
Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake until cold. Strain into a Hurricane glass filled with fresh ice. Don't forget a suitably over-the-top garnish, like a dried pineapple ring or some pineapple fronds.
Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice and strain into a coupe. Garnish with a lime wheel.
Start with a nice large wine glass and pour your simple syrup in. Top with wine, then add soda to your desired fullness. Add some ice cubes and give a quick stir to mix your ingredients. If desired, add a few slice of fresh or frozen peach to the glass to make it similar to a Sangria! This is also delicious with any of our berry flavors.
Start by lightly muddling the mint with the Peach Hibiscus simple syrup in the bottom of a Collins glass. Add the lemon juice, bourbon and ice, then top with soda water. Toss the cocktail into the bottom of a cocktail shaker to mix all the ingredients together, then slowly pour it back into your glass. Garnish with more mint.
Shake all your ingredients with ice and serve with fresh rocks in a Collins glass.
Whenever I want to take a night off but still have something complex to drink, this is my go-to mocktail. Sometimes I add the sweet vermouth and bitters as a low ABV option on nights I just want to take it slow. The recipe sounds strange, but the combination of very sweet peach with the acid, vinegar, and salt in the pickle brine just...works. It's like the dash of salt you always add to cookies. The salt brings out the sweetness! To make it, shake the first four ingredients with ice, strain into a Collins glass with fresh ice, and top with soda water. Give it a quick stir with your barspoon to combine. If you're making the low ABV version, add the bitters and the sweet vermouth to the shaker, too.
Peach and ginger are always a great flavor combination! You can just build this directly in a Collins or pint glass filled with ice and give it a quick spin with a barspoon to combine the flavors.
Hellfire Margarita
2 oz tequila
.75 oz lemon juice
.5 oz green chartreuse
.5 oz Lime Jalapeno Crescent Simples
3 dashes Bittermens Hellfire bitters
This is a play on a spicy margarita, taken to the next level with the addition of chartreuse and Hellfire bitters. Enter if you dare! To make it, add all ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake until cold. Strain into a rocks glass with ice and garnish with a lime wheel and some floating jalapeno slices.
Daiqual
2 oz Mezcal
.75 oz lime juice
.75 oz Lime Jalapeno Crescent Simples
Fill a small plate with coarse ground pink salt. Run a lime wedge around half the rim of a coupe and dip it into the salt. Add all your ingredients to a shaker with ice and a pinch of salt. Shake until cold and strain into your rimmed coupe.
Fancy Vodka Pineapple
2 oz vodka
.5 oz Lime Jalapeno Crescent Simples
.5 oz Pineapple MOTHER shrub
.5 oz lime juice
Make it Zero Proof: Skip the vodka and top with soda water
This is my version of a Vodka Pineapple. And if I do say so myself, I think it's much better than the original. I am absolutely addicted to MOTHER shrub's Pineapple flavor and it pairs perfectly with our Lime Jalapeno syrup. Add all the ingredients to a shaker with ice, shake until cold, and strain into a coupe. If you're feeling really gung ho, you can make (or buy) dried pineapple rounds to garnish this drink with and then eat them when you're done drinking it.
Pisco Sour
2 oz pisco
1 oz lime juice
.5 oz Lime Jalapeno Crescent Simples
1 egg white
3 dashes of Angostura bitters
Add the pisco, lime juice, simple syrup, and egg white to a shaker WITHOUT ice in it. Shake for about 10 seconds, then add ice to the shaker and shake for another 10 seconds. Double strain into a coupe, then carefully dash 3 dots of bitters onto the top of your egg white foam. Gorgeous!
Spicy Blood Orange Margarita
2 oz tequila
1 oz lime juice
.5 oz blood orange juice
.5 oz Lime Jalapeno Crescent Simples
Make it Zero Proof: Skip the tequila, double the blood orange juice, and top with soda water
Run a blood orange wedge around the rim of your glass and dip it into a plate of Pink Himalayan salt. Add all your ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake until cold. Strain into your rimmed glass and add ice!
Spicy Blood & Sand
1 oz Scotch
.5 oz Sweet Vermouth
.5 oz Cherry Heering
.5 oz fresh squeezed orange juice
.5 oz Lime Jalapeno Crescent Simples
Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice, shake until cold, and strain into a coupe. Garnish with an orange zest.
Spicy Watermelon Margarita
2 oz tequila
1 oz lime juice
.5 oz watermelon juice
.5 oz Lime Jalapeno Crescent Simples
Make it Zero Proof: Skip the tequila, double the watermelon juice, and top with soda water
Start with an empty rocks glass and use a wedge of lime to coat the rim with lime juice. Dip it into a plate of salt and make sure it's sufficiently coated. Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake until cold, then strain into the rimmed glass. Add fresh ice and garnish with a jalapeno slice. The ultimate taste of summer!
Cucumber Limeade (Zero Proof)
1 oz lime juice
.75 oz Lime Jalapeno Crescent Simples
6 cucumber slices
Top with soda water
Add your cucumber slices, syrup, and lime juice to the bottom of a Collins glass, muddle lightly, and top with soda water. Give it a whirl with a barspoon to properly mix. If you like your drinks extra spicy, cut up some jalapeno slices and drop them in before muddling. This limeade is also delicious when spiked with vodka or gin!
Aviation
2 oz gin
.75 oz lemon juice
.5 oz Luxardo maraschino liqueur
.5 oz Blueberry Lavender Crescent Simples
The Aviation is a classic cocktail typically made with Creme de Violette, which is made from violet flowers and has a sweet, floral flavor. Very similar in profile to our Blueberry Lavender syrup! To make this version, just add all your ingredients to a cocktail shaker, shake until cold, and strain into a coupe. Garnish with fresh blueberries, lavender, or a lemon wheel.
Bee’s Knees
2 oz gin
.75 oz lemon juice
.5 oz Blueberry Lavender Crescent Simples
.25 oz Salted Honey Mother Shrub
Add your ingredients to a shaker with ice, shake until cold, and strain into a coupe.
Spicy Bee’s Knees
2 oz gin
1 oz lemon juice
.5 oz Blueberry Lavender Crescent Simples
.5 oz AR's Hot Southern Honey
To make sure this cocktail mixes properly, try to squeeze the honey directly into the bottom of your shaker. Then add the rest of your ingredients, a few ice cubes, and shake, hard, to make sure that honey is getting mixed in! Strain into a coupe with an optional hot honey rim (for those who like it extra sweet and spicy) and a lemon wheel.
Caipirinha
2 oz cachaca
1 lime, cut into wedges
.5 oz Blueberry Lavender Crescent Simples
Make it Zero Proof: Skip the cachaca and top with soda water
You can make a version of this drink with light rum, but for the real taste definitely grab a bottle of cachaca if you can find it. To make it, add all ingredients to a rocks glass and muddle the lime. Fill the glass with ice and give the drink a stir, then garnish with a lime wedge. We like to top ours with a little soda water, as well.
Lavender Lemondrop
2 oz Belle Isle Lemon Lavender Moonshine
1 oz lemon juice
.5 oz Blueberry Lavender Crescent Simples
First, fill a small plate with raw sugar crystals. Add all your ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake hard until the shaker is frosted on the outside and almost too cold to hold. Dump the ice water out of your coupe, run a lemon wedge around half of the rim, and dip it into the plate of sugar. Strain your cocktail into the coupe and garnish with a lemon wheel or some fresh blueberries on a cocktail pick.
Mojito
2 oz rum
1 oz lime juice
.75 oz Blueberry Lavender Crescent Simples
5-6 mint leaves
Top with soda water
Make it Zero Proof: Skip the rum, or use a zero proof rum like Rumish
Add your mint leaves, lime juice, and simple syrup to the bottom of a Collins glass and muddle lightly. You don't want to smash the mint leaves, you just want to express them. Top with rum, ice, and soda water, then stir with a barspoon to combine.
Lavender Latte (Zero Proof)
6 oz hot coffee
2 oz whole milk, oat milk, or other dairy alternative of your choice
.5 oz Blueberry Lavender Crescent Simples
Use a milk frother or immersion blender to froth your milk and Blueberry Lavender syrup. Pour the mixture into a mug, top it with hot coffee, and you have your very own lavender latte at home!
Baby John (Zero Proof)
4 oz coconut water
.75 oz lime juice
.75 oz Blueberry Lavender Crescent Simples
We actually created this recipe as an alcoholic cocktail for Yummvee's restaurant, and it was inspired by owner Tracy's son, whom she lost in childbirth (read more about Tracy, her experience and her restaurant here). We found we really enjoyed it as a non-alcoholic drink, as well. To make it at home, add all ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake until cold, then strain into a Collins glass with ice. If you want it spiked, reduce the coconut water to 1 oz and add 2 oz gin (or use Ginish to keep it zero proof but spirit forward!).
Berry Martini
2 oz vodka
.75 oz lemon juice
.5 oz Blackberry Vanilla Crescent Simples
.5 oz Cranberry MOTHER shrub
Make it Zero Proof: Replace the vodka with 2 oz of iced hibiscus tea
We're huge fans of the Cranberry MOTHER shrub + Blackberry Vanilla Crescent Simples combo. To make this cocktail, add all the ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake until cold. Strain into a coupe.
Black Russian
2 oz vodka
.5 oz coffee liqueur
.5 oz Blackberry Vanilla Simple Syrup
Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake until cold. Strain into a rocks glass and add a few cubes of ice.
Brandy Milk Punch
3 oz whole milk or oat milk
1.5 oz bourbon
.5 oz brandy
.5 oz Blackberry Vanilla Crescent Simples
Add the ingredients to a shaker with ice, shake until cold, and strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice. It's also delicious with Apple Spice or Blueberry Lavender, in case you're looking to mix things up!
Espresso Martini
2 oz vodka
1.5 oz espresso
.5 oz Kahlua
.5 oz Blackberry Vanilla Crescent Simples
Make it Zero Proof: Skip the vodka and Kahlua and top with tonic. Espresso tonics are delicious!
In a pinch, cold brew can be substituted for fresh espresso (although you'll get the best cocktail with the real thing, because the hot espresso is what makes for the thick foam). Simply add all the ingredients to a shaker with ice, shake until the shaker is too cold to hold, and strain into a chilled coupe. Garnish with three espresso beans -- one for health, one for wealth, and one for happiness.
Manhattan
2 oz scotch
.5 oz sweet vermouth
.5 oz Blackberry Vanilla Crescent Simples
3 dashes Angostura bitters
Add all ingredients to a mixing glass and fill with ice about halfway up the glass. Stir for about 20 seconds with a bar spoon. Strain into a coupe and garnish with a Luxardo cherry.
Old Fashioned
2 oz bourbon
.5 oz Blackberry Vanilla Crescent Simples
5 dashes Artemisia Quercus Oak Bitters
Artemisia Bitters are made in Northwestern Virginia at Artemisia Farm & Vineyard. There are four diverse, delicious flavors, but we've really been digging the Oak Bitters for our Old Fashioneds. They pair perfectly with our Blackberry Vanilla syrup for a smoky, woodsy finish. If you don't have access to Artemisia, use another oak or smoked bitter. Use one large ice cube in a rocks glass for this, then dash your bitters on it, add the syrup, and add the bourbon. Give it a stir with a barspoon and garnish with a Luxardo cherry.
Rum Runner
1 oz light rum
1 oz dark rum
1 oz banana liqueur
1 oz pineapple juice
1 oz lime juice
1 oz Blackberry Vanilla Crescent Simples
Make it Zero Proof: Skip the liquor and add some extra juices, like orange, passionfruit, etc.
Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice, shake until cold, and strain into your best tiki glass filled with fresh ice! Pineapple leaves make for a great garnish.
Rickey
2 oz gin
.75 oz lime juice
.75 oz Blackberry Vanilla Crescent Simples
Top with soda water
Make it Zero Proof: Skip the gin, this cocktail is just as delicious without
Add your whiskey, lime juice, and simple syrup to a shaker with ice and shake until cold. Strain into a Collins glass filled with ice, then top with soda water. Stir with a barspoon to fully mix the ingredients. Garnish with a lime wheel or some fresh blackberries.
Blackberry Hot Cocoa (Zero Proof)
1 cup milk (I've made it with oat milk before and it still works!)
.75 oz Blackberry Vanilla Crescent Simples
1 tbsp cocoa powder
Optional: spike with 1.5 oz bourbon or dark rum
Who doesn't love a homemade hot chocolate in the winter? This simple, 3-ingredient recipe is a delicious use of our Blackberry Vanilla syrup. To make it, just add all the ingredients to a small pot on the stove over medium heat, stirring consistently until the desired temperature is reached.
Kir Royale (Zero Proof)
.5 oz Blackberry Vanilla Crescent Simples
Top with non-alcoholic champagne or soda water
Replace the Creme de Cassis in a traditional Kir Royale with our Blackberry Vanilla syrup and you're off to the races! Just pour both ingredients directly into a champagne flute and enjoy.
Apple Spice Martini
2 oz vodka
.5 oz lemon juice
.5 oz Apple Spice Crescent Simples
3 dashes spiced bitters (think Chai'Walla by Dashfire or Cardamom by Scrappy's)
Make it Zero Proof: Skip the bitters and use 2 oz iced black tea
Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake until cold. Serve in a coupe, garnished with a lemon wheel or dried apple slice.
Brandy Crusta
2 oz brandy
.5 oz lemon juice
.5 oz Apple Spice Crescent Simples
.25 oz orange liqueur
Barspoon maraschino liqueur
1 dash Angostura bitters
We strongly recommend a chunky raw sugar rim, so start by running a lemon wedge around the rim of a coupe glass and dipping it into a plate of raw sugar until it is satisfactorily coated. Add all your ingredients to a shaker with ice, shake until cold, and strain into your rimmed glass.
Hot Buttered Rum
Makes 2:
1 cup water
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup Apple Spice Crescent Simples
4 oz dark rum
Make it Zero Proof: Increase the water by half a cup and skip the rum, or use a zero proof dark rum like Rumish
Even to a seasoned bartender, a Hot Buttered Rum can sound time consuming and intimidating. We're here to make it easy for you. This recipe is only four ingredients because our Apple Spice syrup contains many of the spices that would normally be called for. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the water and simple syrup and whisk consistently as the mixture comes to temp. Once the mixture is hot, add the rum and split into two mugs. Garnish with a cinnamon stick!
Hot Toddy
2 oz whiskey
1 oz Apple Spice Crescent Simples
.75 oz lemon juice
1 cup hot water
Make it Zero Proof: Skip the whiskey or use a zero proof whiskey like Free Spirits Spirit of Bourbon
Bring your water to a simmer on the stove or in the microwave, pour it into a mug, and add the rest of the ingredients. Give the drink a nice stir to mix, and you've got your go-to winter warmer!
Mint Julep
2 oz Woodford Reserve
.5 oz Apple Spice Crescent Simples
8 mint leaves
(Optional) Top with soda
We love almost all of our syrups in a Mint Julep (with the exception of Lime Jalapeno, but if that's your thing, you do you!), but it's especially delicious with our Apple Spice syrup. Build it by adding 8 mint leaves to the bottom of a julep tin along with your simple syrup. Muddle lightly, just to express the flavors of the mint. Add the 2 ounces of Woodford Reserve, top with crushed ice, an optional splash of soda, and swirl with your barspoon to mix. Add additional crushed ice to create a dome on the top of the cocktail and dash a few drops of Angostura bitters on the top. Garnish with a big beautiful sprig of fresh mint.
Moscow Mule
2 oz vodka
1 oz lime juice
.5 oz Apple Spice Crescent Simples
Top with ginger beer
Make it Zero Proof: Skip the vodka, it's still just as delicious!
Add all your ingredients to a mule mug with ice (or honestly whatever other glass you have on hand) and give it a stir. Garnish with a lime wedge.
Mulled Wine
750 ml (1 bottle) of dry red wine
2 oz Apple Spice Simple Syrup
Optional: 4 oz Apple Brandy
Make it Zero Proof: Replace the red wine with hot black tea
Our Apple Spice simple syrup contains most of the spices used to make traditional mulled wine, so we knew we had to create our own version. To make it, all you have to do is combine the ingredients and heat them on the stove (or in a crockpot!). Then ladle it out into mugs, toss in some cute garnishes (we like star anise, cinnamon sticks, and dried apple slices), and you have a crowd-pleasing beverage for your next gathering. Just keep it on low heat and let your guests serve themselves!
Of Laughter and Forgetting
1.5 oz Cynar
.75 oz lime juice
.5 oz Green Chartreuse
.5 oz Apple Spice Crescent Simples
14 dashes Angostura bitters
Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice, shake until cold, and strain into a coupe. Garnish with a dried apple slice.
Pink Lady
2 oz gin
.75 oz lemon juice
.5 oz apple brandy
.5 oz Apple Spice Crescent Simples
.25 oz grenadine
1 egg white
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker, but don't add ice yet! Shake for about 20 seconds without ice to get a nice foam. Be careful to hold the pieces of your cocktail shaker together as you do this, as the cold is what makes them stick so well normally and without it, you can be in for a real mess. Next, add ice to the shaker and shake again for another 15 seconds or so. Double strain (using both a Hawthorne and a fine mesh strainer) into a coupe glass. Garnish with a few dashes of Angostura bitters on top of your egg white foam.
Rusty Nail
2 oz scotch
.5 oz Drambuie
.5 oz Apple Spice Crescent Simples
Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with ice. Stir for about 20 seconds, then strain into a Rocks glass with a single large cube or a few small cubes of ice. Garnish with a lemon zest.
Quick Hot Apple Cider (Zero Proof)
2 oz Apple Spice Crescent Simples
6 oz hot water
Marshmallows (preferably Karmalita's Apple Spice if you can get your hands on them!)
Don't have apple cider, but got a bottle of Apple Spice? This makes a delicious version of hot apple cider. This drink is a great way to make kids feel included in the festivities, but it's also a delicious treat for adults. You can add a splash of bourbon or dark rum if you want to spike it, a zero-proof version of the same liquors if you're not a drinker, or simply leave it as is. Just add your Apple Spice to a mug, pour the hot water on top, and add your marshmallows. If you're fancy, give the marshmallows a toast with a kitchen torch!