Three Pumpkin Cocktails

In case you hadn’t heard, there was a little storm around these parts last night.

Oh, who am I kidding? EVERYONE knows about “Superstorm Sandy.” We didn’t know how hard we would get hit — we live fairly far inland and have yet to lose power during a storm, but the news media sure did their part in making me nervous. I’m happy to say that we never lost power, and we’re no worse for the wear. What I did have time to do, though, was experiment with a new flavor of vodka that I discovered on Friday: Pinnacle’s Pumpkin Pie.

Strawberry Beer Cocktail

Today is sad because there are so many clever, delicious things I could say about this strawberry-beer cocktail. Like how it’s ridiculously amazing. Like how serving it in mason jars makes it 10 times more amazing. Like how it packs a punch that you don’t even see coming.

Cranberry Margaritas for a Crowd

This recipe is strong. You have been warned. I even toned down the original recipe by adding simple syrup, but it’s still really strong. It also serves a lot of people — like, 30-plus — so scale down as necessary.

Cranberry margaritas for a crowd
6 cups tequila
2 cups Triple Sec (or other orange liqueur)
Juice of 3-4 limes
32-ounce bottle pure cranberry juice
3 cups simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water boiled until the sugar dissolves, then let cool)
Ginger ale to taste
Fresh cranberries

Combine the first 5 ingredient in a large beverage dispenser (as seen above) or two pitchers.  Top with ginger ale to fill up the containers. Add fresh cranberries for aesthetic purposes. Serve over ice … and try not to get too drunk.

Spiked Apple Cider

This autumn cocktail makes enough for a crowd. Even when it only serves three people. (Who, us? No.)

Spiked Apple CiderIn a large pitcher (or in our case, a large jar), combine 3 cups apple cider, 1.5 cups spiced rum (we used Brinley Gold’s Shipwrecked), and 3/4 cup Domaine de Canton, a ginger liquer.

Add a little cinnamon, a little ground ginger, perhaps a little nutmeg, and shake, shake, shake! Or, in the case of a pitcher, stir, stir, stir!

Add some sliced apple and refrigerate until ready to serve.