The Happiest Hour {Bourbon & Peach}

Being from the south, I think it might be considered a sin if you don't like bourbon. Why? I'm not quite sure but it seems to be the drink of choice for just about everyone…myself included. Now I'm not talking week nights or even every weekend, but when given the choice on a cool winter's day, I will probably pick bourbon. While I do love a nice glass on the rocks, this bourbon and peach cocktail is my absolute new favorite. It epitomizes all that is southern and is perfect for those who aren't quite as big of bourbon lovers as the rest of us. I recently served it up for Rob's Whiskey and Cigars birthday bash and it was a huge hit. Even the guests who swore that bourbon didn't fit their taste enjoyed a glass! The best part is that with only three ingredients, it couldn't be simpler to mix up a batch for any event. Here's the recipe…enjoy!

:: Ingredients ::
(Makes 1 Cocktail)
1 oz Simple Syrup
4 oz Bourbon
3 oz Peach Nectar

:: Directions ::
Combine ingredients in a glass over ice. Stir and garnish with basil.

The Happiest Hour {Mango Peach Sangria}

Happy Friday y'all! We're finishing out picnic week with what I consider to be the most important part of any picnic...the cocktails. The perfect picnic cocktail has to contain many qualities such as easy drinking, fruity and fresh. This mango peach sangria is just that. It's full of flavor and subtly sweet with a pop of effervescent flair. Mix it up the night before for easy packing and you can't go wrong. Even if you aren't picnicing this weekend, mix up a batch and enjoy it while soaking up the sun on your back deck. Here's the recipe...

:: Ingredients ::
8 oz Mango Juice
750 ml White Wine
2 Mangos, sliced
2 Peaches, sliced
3/4 Cup Peach Schnapps
Club Soda

:: Directions ::
1. Combine mango juice, white wine, sliced mangos, sliced peaches, and Peach Schnapps in a pitcher. Let sit over night for flavors to combine.
2. Serve over ice and top with club soda. 

The Happiest Hour {White Grape Peach Mango Spritzer}

During the hottest time of the year, I love coming up with great new cocktail creations to help keep cool. And admittedly, my favorite way to do this is to walk down the juice aisle at the grocery store, see what interesting flavors they have and mix it with whatever I can find at the house. Well, this past weekend on the hunt for a new juice mixer, I stumbled upon a sweet little treat called White Grape Peach Mango. Sold! Never had I seen such and interesting combination of flavors and I was immediately intrigued to try. I was a little weary that this flavorful sounding juice would be too sweet and not enjoyable to drink. However, I was quite surprised by the lightness of it. The flavors were just subtle enough so that you could taste them, but weren't over powering at all. It was perfect in my opinion. Thrown together with lime juice, vodka, and club soda, I do believe this is one of my new favorite summer cocktails! Here's the recipe...

:: Ingredients (Makes 2 cocktails) ::
4 parts White Grape Peach Mango Juice
4 parts Vodka
Juice of 1 lime
Lime Slices
Club Soda
Ice

:: Directions ::
1. In a shaker, combine juice, vodka, lime juice and ice. Shake
2. Fill two stemless wine glasses with ice, and pour till half full with club soda.
3. Top each glass with vodka mixture. Garnish with lime slices.

Cheers! 

Color Me {Peach}

I'm not sure if I've shared with you or not, but R has started to brew his own beer. It's been an adventure thus far and we've definitely made some errors and brewed some pretty interesting beers. Everything we've brewed up to this point has been a little darker and heavier than my liking. But, this past weekend, we finally brewed a beer just for me, a peach flavored wheat ale. My soon to be Southern Peach Ale has left me inspired, wanting to cover everything in shades of peach. This beautiful shade is the perfect combination of pink and orange. It's light, subtle, and a wonderfully refreshing shade for both spring a summer that can add a touch of glam when mixed with gold accents or feel a bit rustic with vintage wood details. Trying to take it glam? Metallic gold vases filled with peach peonies or gold leaf accents on invitations or escort cars adds the perfect amount of pop. Opting for a down home feel? Family style tables with long vintage boxes filled with peaches is just what the planner ordered! 

Hope this leaves you feeling just peachy!