Mixers & Fixers – Part VI
By Count Blogula on Feb 23 Filed In Cocktail Recipes, Food & Beverage, Uncategorized Add a Comment
You must be tired, because you’ve been running through my mind all day long…
This one comes to us from a fan named April Green. Thanks a million! If she’s anything like me, she’s had just about enough of this nasty, cold, winter weather. Maybe that’s why she sent me her take on one of my favorite summertime drinks. Here’s the how-to for April’s Mint Julep:
2 parts Mint & Honey Green Tea
1 part Maker’s Mark
Simple enough. You may want to throw a sprig of mint into the mix just for presentation. You could even add some muddled mint leaves into the drink if you want to go the extra mile, but don’t go crazy – the tea is pretty minty to begin with. Of course if you’re in a hurry to get to thee rocking chair on the warm and sunny porch in your day-dreaming mind, then you should probably just stick to April’s version.
Send me your recipe. This one is proof that I’ll post them here, and that I’ll add them to our website.
Cheers,
-Craig
Mixers & Fixers – Part III
By Count Blogula on Nov 27 Filed In Austin, Texas, Cocktail Recipes, Food & Beverage, Organic, Uncategorized Add a Comment
Your friend over there thought you could use some company. Mind if I join you?
It’s Black Friday, people. If you haven’t already hit the mall, chances are you or someone you know will be braving the crowded masses for a chance at deep retail discounts. Me? I don’t subscribe to the super-sale mentality. Too much pushing, shoving, and hackneyed secular holiday muzak. But to each his or her own. For those of you taking part in this proud capitalist ritual (and some like me who are not), you’re probably going to want to take a load off tonight.
This one is my personal favorite. My good friend Colby introduced me to this a couple years ago, and it’s been “my drink” ever since. It’s known as “The Ori-GIN-al,” the “Bi-Partisan,” and at my favorite watering hole, it’s sometimes called “The Craig Special”:
1 part gin
1 part Original Sweet Leaf Tea
Mix with ice in shaker, do not strain.
Serve with a lemon wedge.
Shaking it up with ice is key, because melted water will cut the otherwise strong drink. Also, give a few different brands a chance. I’ve found that the quality of gin changes the flavor dramatically. I actually prefer some of the cheaper brands for this mix. If you’re not a gin drinker, I really suggest you try this before you make up your mind. I didn’t like gin until I got hooked on this.
Send me your drink ideas. Do it. I’ll post them here and on our website.
Cheers,
-Craig
Sweet Leaf Tea at Americana Music Festival – Nashville, TN
By Jake on Sep 21 Filed In Austin, Texas, Events, Live Music Add a Comment
Southeast RSM, Greg Moran, and I lit up Nashville, TN, this week for Sweet Leaf Tea’s sponsoring of the 10th Annual Americana Music Festival with a special Austin tribute night on Wednesday, September 16th. Featured performers included Austin’s own Seth Walker, Amy Cook, Asleep at the Wheel, The Trishas, and Reckless Kelly. A surprise cameo by former CCR front man, John Fogerty, was a welcome addition to the Austin lineup, and armed with a bar stocked full of Sweet Leaf Tea and Tito’s Vodka, the Cannery Ballroom in downtown Nashville rocked with great music and Austin flavor all night.
Seth Walker kicked off the night with his roots style blues and soul. The Carolina born, Austin-transplanted Walker stopped to grab a bottle of his favorite Sweet Leaf Tea and posed for a quick photo op with me after the show.
Sweet Leaf Jake and Seth Walker
Amy Cook took the stage next with some mellow, acoustic tunes, followed by nine time Grammy winner Asleep at the Wheel. The proclaimed “Kings of Texas Swing” got the crowd going with their hit song “Choo Choo Ch’Boogie”, which coincidentally also inspired purchase of several “Tito’s Sweet-O’s” among the crowd (1 part Tito’s Vodka, 2 parts Sweet Leaf Mint & Honey Green Tea)…or at least among the Willie Nelson look alike and myself (see below).
Willie (sort of) and Jake
Sweet Leaf Tea and Tito's Sign
Mr. John Fogerty was next to make an appearance, and he did not disappoint. Performing some classic CCR favorites like “Bad Moon Rising”, “Born on the Bayou”, and “Fortunate Son”, Fogerty had the crowd bumping. For a man in his mid-60s, this guy was out of this world. Though I can’t be sure, I’d say he definitely sampled one of the Sweet Leaf Tea/Tito’s concoctions provided in backstage goody bags prior to his on-stage romping Wednesday night. (Thanks to Charla Adams, Jenna Popiel and everyone (Sweet Leaf Interns!) involved in putting together goody bags for the artists!)
John Fogerty at Americana Music Fest
Sweet Leaf & Tito's Goodie Bags
The four lovely Austin ladies known as The Trishas hit the stage next with some amazing vocals, and Reckless Kelly closed the set with a great performance and a message-laden tune about our troops abroad.
In all, the Cannery Ballroom went through 35 cases of Sweet Leaf Tea in addition to the myriad Sweet Leaf Tea/Tito’s Vodka goody bags distributed to the performing artists. Needless to say, Sweet Leaf Tea has a new fan base in the Music City! With help from the Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau (especially event coordinator Rose Reyes), the Americana Music Festival was a huge hit for not only Sweet Leaf Tea, but the entire city of Austin. Bring it on, City Limits!
Mixers & Fixers – Part I
By Count Blogula on Sep 3 Filed In Austin, Texas, Cocktail Recipes, Food & Beverage, Organic, Uncategorized 3 Comments
Hi there. Haven’t seen you around… do you come here often? Really? Me too. I’m surprised we haven’t run into each other before.
This is my first in a weekly series of adult-beverage recipes. We’ve made our fair share here, and I feel like it’s time to show the world a whole new way to enjoy Sweet Leaf Tea. So if you’re ready to enjoy some delicious alco-treats (responsibly) then stay tuned.
Today’s drink is a staple for the Sweet Leaf family. We’ve got a long-standing (long-stumbling?) relationship with the wonderful people at Tito’s Handmade Vodka, also based here in Austin. Here’s how to make a “Tito’s Sweet-o”:
2 parts Mint & Honey Sweet Leaf Tea
1 part Tito’s Handmade Vodka
Pretty simple, right? You’ll inevitably find the right proportions for you – I like mine a bit stronger. It’s hard to mess up a drink made with two perfect ingredients. If you’re into presentation, I suggest garnishing with a sprig of mint or a lemon wedge. Serve it over ice (of course). It’s got to be Tito’s and it’s got to be Mint & Honey if you want to try a true “Tito’s Sweet-o,” but it’s no surprise that we’ve mixed other flavors and Tito’s with great results.
More to come…
If you fancy yourself a mixologist, feel free to share your concoctions with me. I promise to try as many recipes as I can, and if they’re delicious, I’ll post it on the blog and on our website. So, what kind of Sweet Leaf drinks do you mix up?
Cheers,
-Craig
Sweet Leaf Tea Roof-top Soiree
By April on Jun 18 Filed In Austin, Texas, Events, Sweet Leaf Tea Company News Add a Comment
Check out the awesome video footage of the last Sweet Leaf Tea Party! Our friend Ingrid Vanderveldt from On The Road with IV rolled into Austin just in time to attend our tea-filled soiree.
Ingrid came with her sister Erin and friend/business partner, Lyn Graft to help us celebrate Bryan Baralt getting his MBA, Macy Shaver leaving us to start her MBA saga and the cutting of Craig Steckbeck’s beard and hair to donate to Locks of Love.
Happy Mercado proudly holding up one of Craig's many locks o' love
Bryan Baralt or Mr. MBA to YOU!
I tell you what, we know a few things around this office about making great bottled tea and having a good time. I love that we are all about finding reasons to have a party and enjoy one anothers company both on and off the clock.
keep looking »
