Tasty Tuesday: {Paradise-Inspired Mojito}

Recipes

If you’ve been following along on Instagram, you’ve been secretly hating our Editorial Manager, Bianca, every time she posts a pic of her amazing adventures in Thailand and Bali. She’s living it up on the other side of the world and while we may not be enjoying a vacation in South East Asia, it doesn’t have to mean we can’t recreate the scene with an island-inspired Mango Gin Mojito!

Mango Gin Mojito

Ingredients:
3 oz. mango puree
juice of 1 lime
7 mint leaves
1 1/2 oz. mint simple syrup
1 1/2 oz. gin
club soda

Directions:

For the mango puree, puree 1 fresh mango and lime juice in blender until smooth.

In a tall glass, gently muddle mint leaves and mint simple syrup. Add mango puree, gin and a handful of ice to the glass. Then top off with club soda. Garnish with a sprig of mint and enjoy!

I can’t imagine a better way to enjoy the tropics whilst not actually being on vacation than with this tangy and sweet twist on the tradition mojito. This version is lighter, brighter and a little more refreshing than the typical rum version. With a cute striped straw and a couple of juicy mango slices {pre-soaked in gin, of course!}, I’m instantly transported to a white sand beach in the middle of winter. Sounds like exactly what we all could use right about now, doesn’t it?!

P.S. Don’t forget to Pin this recipe for later- it’s going to be the perfect cocktail to help us transition into spring. As soon as the days warm just a few more degrees, I’m hitting the rooftop with said drink in hand!

original photography for apartment 34 by Aubrie Pick // styling + art direction by Apartment 34 // original recipe created by Apartment 34

Tasty Tuesday: {Warming Winter Cocktails III}

Recipes

Were you one of the many who enjoyed a sweet, romantic Valentine’s Day? While we certainly love Love, we took a slightly different focus for the holiday. Rather than our partners we took the opportunity to celebrate cocktails!

We really flexed our mixology muscle with this one- inspired by the bright red hues of the big V-day- we wanted something lovely and intense. We pushed ourselves to create a uniquely sweet and smokin’, lip-smackin’ Raspberry Mezcal Margarita! Oh yea. Nothing like a margarita with a kick to get you hot and bothered during the middle of winter!

Raspberry Mezcal Margarita

Ingredients:
2 oz. Fresh raspberry puree
2 oz. Mezcal
juice of 1 lime
1/2 oz. agave
raspberry ice cube

Raspberry puree:

6 oz. raspberries
1/2 oz. lime juice
1 tbl. sugar

Directions:

First make the raspberry puree by blending all ingredients until smooth. For margarita, combine all ingredients in a shaker with handful of ice. Shake for 30 seconds. Strain into a martini or margarita glass and garnish with raspberry ice cube. For your raspberry ice cube, simply place one or two berries in large cube maker, add water and freeze.

This is certainly not your average margarita! For those who have yet to venture into the Mezcal world, the tequilla-like liquor packs a smoky punch that instantly takes you to the vibrancy of vacation in Mexico City- the perfect warm and romantic getaway for this time of year!

Enjoy!!

original photography for Apartment 34 by Aubrie Pick // styling and art direction by Apartment 34 // original recipe created by Apartment 34

Tasty Tuesday: {Warming Winter Cocktails Part II}

Recipes

Last week we kicked off our Cozy Winter Cocktails series with a spiked hot chocolate that certainly warms the soul. This week, we’re obsessed with sipping something a little more “grown-up” {although, who are we kidding- we kind of love hot cocoa!} and since it’s Valentine’s Day on Friday, we’re turning up the sexy factor!

Nothing quite does that than a twist on a confident and classic Old Fashioned. Think Don Draper meets Salma Hayek in this sweet and exotic Aztec Chocolate Old Fashioned with brandied cherries. That’s one dead sexy combo if you ask us!

Aztec Chocolate Old Fashioned

Ingredients:

2oz Bourbon
few dashes Fee Brothers aztec chocolate bitters
½ oz Creme De Cacao
Peeled orange wedge
Brandied cherry
1 oz Soda Water

Directions:

Gently muddled orange slice and brandied cherry in glass with creme de cacao and chocolate bitters. Add ice cube. Pour in bourbon and soda water. Garnish with a blood orange slice {or orange peel!} and plop in a brandied cherry {or two or three!}.

We feel both fancy and bold when we sip on this gussied up Bourbon-based drink. If you haven’t been brave enough to give Bourbon try, we promise this is the perfect way to do it. If you mix one up this week we’d love to hear what you think!

original photography for Apartment 34 by Aubrie Pick // styling and art direction by Apartment 34 // original recipe created by Apartment 34

Tasty Tuesday: {Warming Winter Cocktails}

Recipes

Most of the Northern hemisphere is smack dab in the middle of polar vortex-like weather {I myself am trudging through ankle-deep slush in NYC right now, yuck!} With no end to winter in sight, we decided we’re gonna try to warm ya’ll up! With more snow scheduled to hit the east coast this week, we thought it’d be the perfect time to relive those fabulous childhood memories of snow days. Remember when you got to play hookie and cozy up with a book and hot chocolate?? Awww, those were the days….

Oh, but back to that hot chocolate! We’ve got a recipe that is as far from your ordinary SwissMiss as you can get! To kick off our Warming Winter Cocktails series we’re sharing a decadent Spiked Hot Chocolate with Grand Marnier Whipped Cream!!

Spiked Hot Chocolate with Grand Marnier Whipped Cream

Ingredients:

For Whipped Cream:
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1 tbl. Grand Marnier
1 tbl. sugar

For Hot Chocolate:
1 cup semisweet chocolate
3 cups Whole milk
⅓ cup Half and Half
1 tsp. vanilla extract
½ cup Baileys

Directions:

Whip cream, sugar and Grand Mariner in mixer until soft peaks form. Set aside.

For the hot chocolate, heat milk and half and half in a pot on medium flame until simmering, whisking occasionally so the milk does not scald.

Take pot off stove and add chocolate. Whisk until chocolate is melted. Whisk Baileys and vanilla into mixture until combined. Pour into your favorite mug. Top with whipped cream, chocolate shavings and orange peal for an extra-pretty garnish. Enjoy!

This hot chocolate is the perfect pick me up on a dreary day. It has all the not-so-healthy stuff which makes it oh so delicious. And we would not complain if we had to shovel snow, knowing that this warm winter cocktail was waiting for us at the finish line. Disclaimer: Limit one per week, especially if the gym is snowed in!

original photography for Apartment 34 by Aubrie Pick // styling and art direction by Apartment 34 // original recipe created by Apartment 34

Tasty Tuesday: {A Sparkly Christmas Cocktail}

Entertaining

There’s no denying, even for a scared-of-sequins girl like myself, that the holidays just aren’t the same without some serious sparkle. Glittery ornaments glisten, trees twinkle and party dresses shimmer under candlelight, so it’s a must that your cocktails do the same!

Obviously – that’s why champagne is the star of the holiday cocktail season. Champagne bubbles shimmer and its golden hue shines like no other. And while a glass of bubbly is always a classy and well received option, why not offer your guests something just as fizzy and fabulous, but a little gussied up? Our Sparkling Raspberry Cocktail is just the ticket – and we swear, it is as delicious as it looks!

Sparkling Raspberry Cocktail Recipe

Ingredients:
1 bottle Champagne
1 cup raspberries
Dash of St. Germain
Sugared Raspberries

Blend raspberries in a blender. Once blended, pour the raspberries into a fine strainer, encouraging them through. This is your raspberry puree. Add two tablespoons of puree to each glass. Then, add a splash of St. Germain and top off each glass with Champagne. Garnish the rim of each glass with a sugared raspberry.

Sugared Raspberries Recipe

Ingredients:
1 egg white
1/2 cup raspberries
1/4 cup sanding sugar

Whip the egg white and then brush a thin layer on each raspberry. Pour the sanding sugar in a bowl. Roll the raspberry in the sugar, coating evenly. Place the berries on a plate and allow them to dry for 1-2 hours.

After a restful weekend, just thinking about throwing a little shindig featuring this cocktail is making it difficult to get through the work day. I don’t know about you guys, but I have serious holiday fever. You know, when you want to skip out of work for the entire month of December? Hopefully a few more fabulous holiday parties, complete with Raspberry Champagne Cocktails, will get me through!

Cheers to that!!

original photography for apartment 34 by Aubrie Pick // glassware c/o Frances Lane // styling and art direction by erin hiemstra

Tasty Tuesday: {Bourbon, Anyone?}

Recipes

I’ve had so much fun ~~taste testing~~ creating our signature cocktails for this Tasty Tuesday series that I’m pretty bummed to be sharing our last drink today {we just might have to bring our cocktail series back, yes!?}. But for now, we’ve saved the strongest for last. Let’s not kid ourselves, the holidays are here and we’re going to need something to get us through!

Did somebody say Apple Spice and Bourbon Flip? Why yes, yes, they did!

This is Ashley’s signature drink {for the time being- the girl is such a mixologist, she switches her drink of choice with the season!} and she couldn’t have come up with a tastier holiday-inspired cocktail. It has enough kick, spice and depth of body to get you feeling cozy and warm this time of year. And the egg white foam on top makes it feel extra special!

Here’s what Ashley had to say about it: “I love to change my spirit of choice with the season so I just recently transitioned from gin to bourbon, a bolder flavor. I also enjoy using seasonal fruit and what better fruit to experiment with right now than apples {especially if you carried home a load full from the apple farm!}. An egg white on top seals the deal for me everytime!”

Apple Spice Bourbon Flip

Ingredients:
2 1/2 oz. bourbon
3/4 oz. apple spice syrup
1 egg white
nutmeg or cinnamon for garnish

Place all ingredients dry (no ice) into shaker and shake for 20 seconds. Add a cup of ice to the shaker and shake for another 20 seconds. Strain into a coupe and sprinkle with cinnamon or nutmeg, or both!

Apple Spice Syrup

Ingredients:
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
1 apple, cored and diced
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Add sugar and water to pot and bring to boil. Once sugar is incorporated, take off heat and add apple and cinnamon. Let steep for 2 hours. Strain mixture through a fine strainer and refrigerate remaining up to 30 days in refrigerator.

This drink would be perfect to serve your guests at cocktail hour, pre turkey-time. It smells like the holidays, gets people in the spirit and is the perfect color to compliment your Thanksgiving tabletop! Plus, my philosophy is: get them intoxicated so they don’t notice the burned dinner rolls! Who’s with me- bourbon, anyone??

PS: Be sure to check back later today for a special holiday table how-to post!!

original photography for apartment 34 by Aubrie Pick // original recipe created by Apartment 34 // syrup recipe c/o Pour Me // art direction and styling by erin hiemstra

Tasty Tuesday: {Cucumber Ginger Gin Fizz}

Recipes

For today’s Tasty Tuesday we are continuing our thirst quenching cocktail series and it just so happens that today we’re featuring my current favorite drink! I first had something like this Cucumber Ginger Fizz at a good friend’s house and ever since then I’ve been hooked on the flavor pairing.

The fresh cucumber juice has the most refreshing quality and the ginger provides just a bit of kick at the back of the mouth. It’s like a cocktail that’s good for you and I’m obsessed. Plus, I get to use my brand new juicer when making it which is awesome- the best purchase I’ve made all year!

Cucumber Ginger Gin Fizz

Ingredients:
1 oz. fresh cucumber juice
1 oz. gin
1 oz. ginger simple syrup
1 oz. fresh lime juice
club soda

You can either juice about two inches of a cucumber or muddle and strain pieces of fresh cucumber to obtain 1 oz. of juice. Mix juices, syrup and gin in shaker with ice. Shake for 20 seconds. Top off with club soda and serve in an old fashion glass with a cucumber slice and ice ball!

Pour Me Ginger Simple Syrup

Ingredients:

1 cup water
1 cup sugar
4 oz. ginger, peeled and chopped

Add sugar and water to pot and bring to boil. Once sugar is incorporated, take off heat. Add ginger to mixture and let seep for 2 hours. Strain mixture through fine strainer and refrigerate remaining syrup. Lasts up to one month in fridge.

This drink is perfect for one of those days that you’re exhausted and need a pick-me-up, fast. The cucumber refreshes and the ginger enlivens your senses. It even feels like you’re hydrating, ha! It’s the perfect before dinner drink or signature cocktail for your next party!

If you try it, we would love to hear what yout think!!

original photography for apartment 34 by Aubrie Pick // original recipe created by Apartment 34 // syrup recipe c/o Pour Me // art direction and styling by erin hiemstra

Cocktails in the {Lemon} Grass

Recipes

It’s official, the vacation veil is upon me and I see nothing else in sight but crashing waves, stunning ocean views, warm sand and cocktails in hand. Having the bartender whip up Bianca’s signature cocktail as soon as I land in Sydney is going to be the best decision I’ll make this week. Her Peach and Rosemary Lemongrass Cocktail is the perfect balance of sweet fruit and sophisticated flavors!

In Bianca’s words: “When it comes to my signature drink, I definitely go for something a bit sweet and fruity {it wouldn’t be completely incorrect to call me a wuss!}. I love the tropical flavor of the peach but especially like that it’s far from a fru-fru umbrella drink. The rosemary and lemongrass add such an interesting depth that is subtle and sophisticated. So good!”

This drink was especially fun to perfect because we had the chance to experiment with team member, Ashley’s simple syrups. Called, Pour Me, she whips up some mean combinations like this Rosemary and Lemongrass syrup and she is graciously sharing her recipes for them here on our cocktail series!

Peach, Rosemary and Lemongrass Infused Vodka Cocktail

Ingredients:
1 peach (4-6 oz juice)
1 oz. rosemary and lemongrass infused simple syrup
1 1/2 oz. vodka
club soda to top off

First, pit and juice one small peach. Place peach juice, vodka and simple syrup in shaker with ice. Shake for 20 seconds and strain into a highball. Top off with club soda and garnish with sprig of rosemary.

Pour Me Rosemary Lemongrass Syrup

Ingredients:
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
2 stalks lemongrass, chopped
1 sprig rosemary

Add sugar and water to pot and bring to a boil. Once sugar is incorporated, take off heat. Add lemongrass and rosemary to the sugar water mixture and let seep for 2 hours. Refrigerate remaining syrup. Lasts up to one month in refrigerator.

You must try making this simple syrup. It’s great to have on hand and experiment with.

If you missed last week’s Pomegranate and Blackberry Lemondrop, find the recipe here!

original photography for apartment 34 by Aubrie Pick // original recipe created by Apartment 34 // syrup recipe c/o Pour Me coming soon // art direction by erin hiemstra

It’s Four-Thirsty Somewhere, so Drink Up!

Recipes

Do you have a cocktail that you just can’t quit? A fave that that if you’re running late, your girls know exactly what to order for you??

Well, we leap at any excuse to spend time outside of the office {and errr, at a bar!} that I have Team Apartment 34’s orders down: Jessica wants to feel fancy, Ashley wants to the mixologist to the test and Bianca wants to feel like she’s in Hawaii! It’s great fun chatting {and let’s be real, Instagramming!} with a beautifully mixed drink in hand, but when work is coming in hard and fast, we need to whip up our own happy hour specials at home.

We’ve been working our signature recipes for awhile now and they’re finally ready for sharing! So without further ado, the first cocktail in our new series is Jessica’s Pomegranate and Blackberry Lemondrop! It’s the perfect dark and moody drink to serve up this Halloween.

As Jessica explains, “I have to start with vodka- my go-to choice of alcohol- and then add a burst of tang to it. The obvious is lemon balanced with my favorite sweet n’ tart fruit: pomegranate {fresh juice is time consuming and messy, but so much fun!}. Serve the drink in a fancy stemless martini glass with beautiful blackberries on a pick and I’m in the building!”

Pomegranate + Blackberry Lemondrop

Ingredients:
6 blackberries
1/3 cup pomegranate juice
1 oz. lemon juice
1 oz. vodka

First, muddle blackberries and place in shaker with juices and ice. Shake for 20 seconds, strain into glass and garnish with blackberries on a pick.

This drink makes you pucker, in a good way! It’s perfectly sweet at first with a punch of sour towards the end. We love the idea of blackberries as a garnish, making the dark, berry drink even more moody and monochromatic. Not to mention, they’re the easiest and yet beautiful garnish. The deep purple hue of this lemondrop almost looks black and is a perfectly sophisticated and spooky choice for a Halloween soiree, don’t you think?

I know I said I’m skipping Halloween this year, but you better believe I’m going to enjoy one of these while I lay low on the couch.

Like what you see? We have more yummy cocktails to get you ready for the holiday season. You definitely won’t want to miss raising your glass with us!

original photography for apartment 34 by Aubrie Pick // original drink recipe by team apartment 34 // art direction and styling by erin hiemstra

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