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by Emily

Cocktail O’ Clock: Blackberry Resolution

Let’s be real, even though we always resolve to drink less in the new year, it doesn’t often happen. So this year, I’m resolving to drink better – quality over quantity, that kind of thing. My friends at Austin’s Mettle have the perfect cocktail to kick off this goal. The Blackberry Resolution is made with all sorts of deliciousness – gin, citrus, blackberry, and yes, my very favorite: champagne.

Bartender Brice Davis says, “I wanted to make a drink that made every man feel comfortable about drinking gin and bubbles.” That’s all well and good (and some guys I know are weird about drinking champagne, which is ridiculous because champagne is the best thing ever), but I think this cocktail is perfect for any human’s celebration, no matter their gender.

Happy 2015!

Blackberry Resolution

by Emily

Cocktail O’ Clock: The Eversong

This cocktail hails from Mettle, one of my favorite spots here in Austin. I just love a Vesper in the wintertime (and champagne literally any time), so Mettle’s twist on this is something special. They were kind enough to share their recipe with me so I could share it with all of you.

A few words on the drink from bartender and creator, Mike McMillan: “It’s an ode to the classic Vesper. Also known as the Eversong, which is the sixth of the seven canonical hours, this reminded me of the hour before midnight drawing near.”

The Eversong

.5 oz. NOLET’S Silver Dry Gin
.5 oz. Ketel One Vodka
.25 oz. Kina L’Avion d’Or

Top with Moet Imperial Reserve Cuvee

Shake all ingredients (excluding the Champagne) together in a cocktail shaker, strain into a martini glass. Top up with Cuvee. Garnish with a lemon twist.

by BS

Cocktail O’Clock: A Fall Drink Sans Pumpkin

OK people, I know we all like to get overexcited about our pumpkin beers and our PS lattes, but does every fall cocktail these days have to be pumpkin-based? Nothing against the good ol’ gourd, I just feel like some other fall ingredients tend to get overloooked — like apple cider!

This classy fall cocktail combines cider, champagne, bourbon and pear for a decidedly different fall taste.

Pear and Sparkling Cider Cocktail

in Drinks / Recipe 0 comments

by Emily

Top 10 Champagne Cocktails for New Year's Eve

What”s the best part about New Year”s Eve? Spending time with friends, reflecting on the great times of the year past, dressing up in fun outfits? NO! It”s drinking champagne until you black out, obviously.

In honor of the year-end holiday encouraging America to drown all its sorrows and joys in an everlasting river of champagne, here are ten of my favorite champers recipes I”ve found floating around the Internet, including some memorable champagne posts from ES days of yore.

Happy new year!

10. Watermelon Champagne Cocktail from A Fabulous Fete

9. Champagne Jell-o Shots from SheKnows

8. Berry best online casino Pear Champagne Cocktail from Polka Dot Bride

7. Blackberry Prosecco Popsicle from Bakers Royale & Endless Simmer!

in Drinks / Holiday / Lists 0 comments

by Emily

San Francisco: Land of a Thousand Brunches

I recently went to eat some food – uh, I mean, visit some friends – in the Bay Area. Kidding, of course my friends are first priority, but obviously any time you”re visiting San Francisco you would be doing yourself a disservice if you didn”t take advantage of its awesome culinary scene.

One thing SF does really well is brunch. Not only brunch, but boozy brunch (and honestly why are you going out to brunch if you”re not planning on drinking?), particularly mimosas. Search SF Yelp for “bottomless mimoas” and you”ll get over 100 results. Preach! No self-respecting bruncher is gonna stop at just one mimosa, let”s be real.

Just as mimosas are an integral part of brunch, eggs benedict is the brunch dish to beat. It”s indulgent without being completely devoid of nutritious ingredients (eggs! They”re good for you!), and it”s just a liiittle too complicated to want to cook at home on a regular basis, so you feel justified paying $13 for someone else to whip up that hollandaise. When getting brunch in the city that overflows with brunch, where to find the best benedict? Here you go:

in Breakfast / Food Travel / Restaurants 1 comments

by snebbu

Cocktail O’Clock: Blue Moon Brunch Punch

Ever hear of brunch punch? I didn’t until we visited my college friend in Baltimore. In preparation for a day of beveraging at the Preakness, she made us a brunch punch. This punch consisted of a mix of orange-pineapple juice, Malibu, and champagne. It was refreshing, while also giving you a bit of a buzz to start off your morning.

At the beach this past weekend, I decided to make my own version of brunch punch with one of my favorite beverages—beer. The result: positive reviews and an empty pitcher of my Blue Moon brunch punch.

At first I served the brunch punch with just the orange-pineapple juice, champagne, and vodka. But I realized we had Blue Moon in the fridge, and added that to the mix. Blue Moon particularly complements these flavors because of its citrus undertones and sweet taste. The punch actually tastes better with the beer—and I wasn’t the only one that thought such. Why didn’t I think to put this on the list?!

Blue Moon Brunch Punch

in Drinks / Recipe 0 comments

by ML

Cocktail O’Clock: The Manmosa

For an unknown reason, I find day drinking more socially acceptable when it’s warm and sunny outside. Given the unseasonably warm weather we’ve been having for the past few months, my spring (and end of winter) have seen their fair share of drunk brunches. Even though mimosas and bellinis are synonymous with single 20s girl brunches (or at least that’s what twitter tells me), my weapon of choice is normally beer or bloody marys.

But on one particularly Saturday, after a morning of volunteering and sweating, my favorite brunch bartender suggested he make me a “manmosa.” His story is this: one day a bunch of big guys came in and ordered mimosas….but he figured he could do better, and make something a little better suited to these men. Apparently the real “manmosa” is supposed to be vodka, beer, and orange juice. Even though I love to drink, that is *not* something I can drink before 1pm without some serious consequences, or my “friends” calling me an alcoholic.

The “manmosa” I was served was better (and not modified for me! This is his recipe):

in Drinks / Endless Cocktails / Recipe 4 comments