Drink Guide

St. Joseph’s Day, Easter, and Mother’s Day

St. Joseph‘s Day
Did you know: St. Joseph’s Day dates back to the 15th century Sicily, when famine-stricken people prayed to St. Joseph for relief and would offer a meal for the poor if their prayers were answered. This Catholic tradition of an open-door feast is always open to neighbors and strangers.

Wines to serve on St. Joseph’s Day:
Frascati
Pinot Grigio

Easter
Did you know: Easter is a movable holiday celebrated on the first Sunday after the full moon which happens on or after the Spring Equinox.

Wines to serve on Easter:
Dry rosé
Dry Rieslings
Gewurztraminer

Drink to serve on Easter:
The Easter Bunny
1.5 ounce dark creme de cocoa
.5 ounce vodka
1 teaspoon chocolate syrup
1 teaspoon cherry brandy

INSTRUCTIONS
Shake creme de cocoa and vodka with ice, then strain over ice in an old-fashion glass. Float chocolate syrup and brandy on top.

Mother’s Day
Did you know: the idea of Mother’s Day came about in 1907 when Anna Jarvis began to commemorate her mother’s legacy. The official holiday was approved in 1914 by President Woodrow Wilson.

Wines to serve on Mother’s Day:
Whispering Angel Provence Rose
Chinzano Prosecco

Drink to serve on Mother’s Day:
Tea-Tini
1 3/4 oz vodka
1 oz sweet iced tea
1/4 oz fresh lemon juice
Lemon wedge for garnish
Sugar for rimming

INSTRUCTIONS
Pour ingredients into cocktail shaker filled with ice before shaking vigorously. Strain into sugar-rimmed, chilled martini glass. Garnish with lemon wedge.

Memorial Day, Flag Day, Father’s Day, Fourth of July, and The Dog Days of Summer

Memorial Day
Did you know: Memorial Day was once known as Decoration Day. On May 5th, 1868, the head of the Grand Army of the Republic established Decoration Day for people to place flowers on the graves of fallen soldiers.

Wine to serve on Memorial Day:
Red Zinfandel
Sauvignon Blanc

Drink to serve on Memorial Day:
Rock Lobster
1 oz Malibu coconut rum
1/2 oz banana liqueur
Splash of grenadine
1/2 a banana
Pineapple and orange juice
Myers Dark Rum

INSTRUCTIONS
Mix all ingredients, except the Myers Dark Rum, in a blender with ice. Blend until smooth. Top with the Myers Dark Rum and garnish with a pineapple wedge.

Flag Day
Did you know: the U.S. flag has been modified 26 times since 1777.

Wine to serve on Flag Day:
Hazlitt Red Cat
Freedom Run White
Glenora Blueberry Breeze

Drink to serve on Flag Day:
Red, White, and Blue
1/3 oz blue curaçao
1/3 oz grenadine
1/3 oz peach schnapps

INSTRUCTIONS
Pour grenadine into shot glass, then carefully float the peach schnapps on top of the grenadine, and then carefully float the blue curaçao on top of the peach schnapps.

Father’s Day
Did you know: Father’s Day didn’t become official until 1966 when President Lyndon B. Johnson declared that the third Sunday in June would be a holiday to commemorate fathers.

Wines and Spirits to serve on Father’s Day:
Robert Mondavi Private Selection Meritage
Crown Royal Canadian Whisky – Give the King a Crown!

Drinks to serve on Father’s Day:
Harvey Wallbanger
2 oz vodka
4 oz orange juice
1/2 oz Galliano

INSTRUCTIONS
Pour vodka and orange juice into old fashioned glass with ice and stir. Carefully float the Galliano on top, but do not stir again before enjoying.

Fourth of July
Did you know: in July 1776, only 2.5 million people were living in the newly independent nation.

Wines to serve on the Fourth of July:
Red Zinfandel
Chardonnay
Syrah

Drink to serve on the Fourth of July:
Strawberry Lemonade Sparkler
2 oz Strawberry Lemonade Svedka
2 oz simple syrup
2 oz fresh lemon juice [or pink lemonade]
Sparkling wine

INSTRUCTIONS
Pour simple syrup and vodka into a shaker and shake with ice and then add lemon juice. Top with sparkling wine and then garnish with a strawberry and a sprig of mint.

The Dog Days of Summer
Did you know: the Romans associated the hottest days of Summer with the dog star, Sirius.

Drinks to serve during The Dog Days of Summer:
High Noon Vodka Seltzers
Dailys Pouches

Stumblin’ Tea
4 oz. Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka
4 oz. lemonade

INSTRUCTIONS
Pour ingredients into a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and then strain into tall tea glass. Garnish with sugared lemon.

Labor Day, Halloween, and Thanksgiving

Labor Day
Did you know: the first Labor Day was observed on September 5th, 1882, when Peter J. McGuire organized 10,000 workers to march in New York City. In 1894, Congress officially established Labor Day to be observed on the first Monday in September.

Wines to serve on Labor Day:
Red zinfandel
Chardonnay
Syrah

Drinks to serve on Labor Day:
Bing Cherry Sangria
Cherry Syrup
¾ cup sugar
¾ cup water
1 cup California cherries, pitted

Sangria
1 (750 ml) bottle fruity red wine, chilled
2 cups California cherries, pitted
2 oranges
2 limes
24-36 oz ounces mineral water
Fresh mint, for garnish (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS
Make cherry syrup by combining ingredients in small sauce pan. Bring to boil then reduce to simmer and then let fully cool before making the sangria. To make sangria, pour wine and strained simple syrup into tall, glass pitcher. Squeeze one orange and one lime and add the juice to the pitcher, making sure not to get any seeds into the drink. Then slice the remaining citrus fruits and add those into the pitcher as well as the cherries. Mix well before adding ice and mineral water to taste. Pour over ice in tall glasses and garnish with a slice of citrus fruit.

Halloween
Did you know: Trick or Treating evolved from the Celtic tradition of leaving treats and food for the spirits who roamed the streets at Samhain, a sacred festival which marked the end of the Celtic calendar.

Wines to serve on Halloween:
Black Willow Black Widow Berry

Drink to serve on Halloween:
Boo Juice
1 oz Vodka
2 dashes Blue Curacao
1 dash Grenadine
Fill with Orange juice

INSTRUCTIONS
Add ingredients into shaker with ice. Shake well. Strain into chilled spooky glass of your choice.

Thanksgiving
Did you know: the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade began in 1924 when employees recruited animals from the Central Park Zoo to march on the holiday.

Wines to serve on Thanksgiving: (Serve these birds with your bird!)
Ch. Ste. Michelle Riesling
Ravenswood Zinfandel
Gewurztraminer
Pinot Noir

Drinks to serve on Thanksgiving:
Turkey Gobbletini
1 1/2 oz. Wild Turkey
1/2 oz. Apple Jack
1 teaspoon lime juice
4 oz. cranberry juice

Fill glass with ice half full, add all ingredients and stir together. Garnish with lime wedge.

Christmas, New Year’s, President’s Day, Valentine’s Day, and St. Patrick’s Day

Wines to serve at Christmas time:
Niagara Landing Chirstmas Cranberry
Drink to serve at Christmas time:
Chocolate Peppermint Stick
1 1/2 ounce white creme de cacao
1 ounce cream
1 ounce peppermint schnapps

INSTRUCTIONS
Shake well with ice. Strain ingredients into chilled martini glasses. Garnish with crushed candy cane for that wintery feeling.

New Year’s
Did you know: in 46 B.C.E. the Roman emperor Julius Caesar first established January 1 as New Year’s day. Janus was the Roman god of doors and gates, and had two faces, one looking forward and one back. Caesar felt that the month named after this god (“January”) would be the appropriate “door” to the year.

Wines to serve on New Year’s Eve:
Champagne

Drink to serve on New Year’s Day:
Bloody Mary
1½ oz vodka
2 dashes Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp horseradish
Tomato or Clamato juice
4 dashes Tabasco sauce
Celery salt
Fresh ground pepper
Salt

INSTRUCTIONS
Put all ingredients in mixing glass. Shake briskly. Pour into pint glass over ice. Add a celery stick to garnish.

President’s Day
Did you know: Madeira wine was important to the history of our country? No wine-quality grapes could be grown in the colonies, so wines needed to be imported instead. Madeira was a favorite of Thomas Jefferson and was used to toast the Declaration of Independence.

Wines to serve on President’s Day:
Madeira

Drink to serve on President’s Day:
Hot Toddy
1 oz brandy, whiskey, or rum
1 Tbsp honey
1/4 lemon
1 cup hot water
1 tea bag

INSTRUCTIONS
Coat bottom of Irish coffee glass with honey. Make tea using hot water and tea bag in separate mug. While tea is steeping, add liquor and juice of the lemon into the honeyed glass. Pour perfectly steeped tea into the honeyed glass and stir.

Valentine’s Day
Did you know: the first ever recorded Valentine was sent in 1415 by the English Duke of Orleans to his wife while he sat in his jail cell at the Tower of London after The Battle of Agincourt. The valentine now resides on display at the British Museum.

Wines to serve on Valentine’s Day:
Gallo Pink Moscato
Sutter Home White Zinfandel

Drink to serve on Valentine’s Day:
Flirtini
2 pieces fresh pineapple
1/2 oz Cointreau
1/2 oz vodka
1 oz pineapple juice
3 oz Champagne
maraschino cherry for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS
Place pineapple pieces and Cointreau in the bottom of mixing glass, then add the vodka and pineapple juice. Stir these well before straining into a chilled cocktail glass. Top with champagne and garnish with maraschino cherry.

St. Patrick’s Day
Did you know: the actual color of St. Patrick is blue! The color green only became associated with the holiday in the 19th century, because, green in Irish legends is worn by fairies, immortals, and by people who wish their crops to grow.

Spirits to serve on St. Patrick’s Day:
Jameson Irish Whisky
Bailey’s Irish Cream

Drink to serve on St. Patrick’s Day:
Emerald Isle
1 teaspoon Creme de Menthe
1 ounce Gin
a couple of dashes of Bitters

INSTRUCTIONS
Add ice to shaker, add ingredients, then shake well before straining into a glass.

It’s Your Special Day!

Celebrate the day of your birth with a birthday cocktail!

Did you know: In North America, the celebration of a birthday is fundamentally about celebrating the role of friends and families in an individual’s life and recognizing their importance.

Birthday Cake
Author: The Wine and Liquor Outlet
Recipe type: martini
Serves: 1

Celebrate your birthday with a delicious drink!

Ingredients
1 part UV White Cake vodka
1 part vanilla vodka
1 part half and half

Instructions
Rim martini glass with multi-colored sprinkles, shake with ice, strain into chilled martini glass.