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 IV
By Count Blogula on Dec 18 Filed In Austin, Texas, Cocktail Recipes, Food & Beverage, Uncategorized, Vacation 2 Comments
Oh look! We’re standing under the mistletoe. How did that happen?
The holidays are here. We’ve got a funny way of changing our consumption habits during this time of year – something I don’t completely understand. It’s not just a weather thing either. Have you ever caught somebody drinking eggnog or baking a fruitcake in February? In any case, we’ve created some holiday specialties.
“The Snowplow”
2 parts Mango Green Tea
1 part Vodka
Pour into sugar-rimmed glass
Stir with sugar cane stick
“Naughty & Nice”
2 parts Half & Half Lemonade Tea
1 part Vodka
Add muddled strawberries
Garnish with strawberry slice
“The Nutcracker”
2 parts Pomegranate Green Tea
1 part Vodka
Garnish with sugared lime
“Sugar & Spice”
2 parts Mint & Honey Green Tea
1 part Vodka
Stir with peppermint candy cane
Invite your friends and family over to wet their whistles. Even your crazy uncle. It’s the holidays, after all, and the family that drinks together stays together.
Send me your drink ideas. I’ll try ‘em. If it’s any good, I’ll blog about it and put it on our website.
Ho ho ho,
-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
Mixers & Fixers – Part II
By Count Blogula on Nov 3 Filed In Austin, Texas, Cocktail Recipes, Food & Beverage, Organic, Uncategorized Add a Comment
Hello again. Is this seat taken? It’s been a while, hasn’t it? You look as striking as the day we met.
It’s been almost 2 months since Part I. You might be thinking to yourself, “Didn’t you say this was going to be a weekly thing?” Well, nobody’s perfect – I promise to do better.
If you’re still reading, it’s because you like to enjoy yourself from time to time with a little bit of intoxicating refreshment. Me too.
Love him or hate him, today’s beverage marks the one year anniversary of President Obama’s election. Before you get too riled up about the semantics of that statement, yes, I do realize that the election was on the 5th, but today is Election Day – the Tuesday after first Monday in November. No matter how you feel about him, you could probably use a drink about now. How to make some “Obamanade”:
2 parts Sweet Leaf Original Lemonade
1 part vodka (try not to read anything into its Russian origins)
Garnish with stimulus check.
You might have heard this drink called “Electric Lemonade” or “Texas Lemonade.” Call it what you will. It’s delightful. This is a great drink for pitchers on patios. There’s still just enough sun in the air here in Texas for that sort of thing, enjoy it while you can. If you’ve got a recipe that I ought to try, please share it! I promise to try it, and if it’s any good, I’ll post it on the blog and on our website.
Cheers,
-Craig
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
