cocktail round-up and happy new year!

I love New Year's Eve. I truly do. I’ve spent the night of December 31st trying to speak Italian in Rome, toasting in the new year on a boat sailing down the coast of Chile, in the French Quarter of New Orleans, in San Francisco's Castro District, in Peru near Machu-Picchu, getting lost in the Sinai dessert and inside a few clubs in Manhattan and Brooklyn- all celebrated with the best of friends. Then I settled down and I had kids…

..whom I love dearly, but let's be honest, New Year's Eve is not exactly the wild celebration it once was…
Finding a babysitter can be a bit challenging and (it might be age) but everything seems so crowded. So recently I’ve kept it simple: a home cooked meal, a bunch of friends and some good cocktails. Which is all one ever really needs, right? 

Here's a little round-up of some of my favorite drinks this year. Enjoy them!
I hope that your new year is bright and filled with peace, love, friendship and adventure. Thank you for tuning in and being part of my little space on the very busy internet. 

See you all next year! Be well and cheers!

xo, 

Batya

1. Apple Cider Hot Toddy by Cookie + Kate

2. Golden Raspberry Lillet Cocktail by 101 Cookbooks, Quitokeeto 

3. Mango Raspberry Bellinis from a House in the Hills

4. Clementine Limoncello Champagne Cocktail from In Good Taste

5. Limoncello Raspberry Prosecco Cooler by Comfort of Cooking

6. The Roman Holiday by the Pharmacie on Design Sponge

7. Concord Lime Vodka Collins by Brooklyn Supper

8. Cardamom Rose Cocktail by Apothecary on Design Sponge

9. Winter Sun Cocktail by Two Tarts

Special thanks to Carly Loman, the Jr. Account Executive at DLD PR (which is where I work!), for putting this collage together. She's great!

mixology: summer quenchers with Royal Rose Syrups

I love to drink things: lemonade, limeade, berry drinks and fresh seasonal juices quench my thirst.  Of course I am not one to shy away from a great cocktail or a nice glass of wine either, though with the impending arrival of Baby #2 I stick to 'virgin' drinks these days.   After making Brian's Berry Limeade a few weeks ago, I decided I should really post more drink recipes.  

Royal Rose Syrups is a local Brooklyn-based company that makes simple syrups using organic ingredients, fair trade sugar, filtered water in addition to fruits and spices. The company was started by Emily Butters and her fiancé Forrest Butler. According to a piece the Tasting Table, canning peaches innocently led to the company's start.  Forrest asked if he could use left-over canning liquid which was then used in experimental batches of simple syrup…and Royal Rose Syrups was born.

I got my hands on some samples which included Raspberry, Lavender-Lemon, Cardamon-Clove, Rose and Three-Chiles.  
Here are a few recipes using Royal Rose Syrups.  These drinks are delicious and are perfect for a summer picnic or your July 4th BBQ party.  So go ahead, get in touch with your inner mixologist...bottoms up and enjoy!

For the mama-to-be/non-alcoholic...
Eternal Summer  (Courtesy of Royal Rose Syrups)
Yields: 1 serving
Ingredients
Juice of half an orange
3.5 oz. cranberry juice
3/4 oz. of Royal Rose Lavender-Lemon Syrup
Half a shot of lemon juice
Directions
Shake like mad, pour over ice, top with 7-Up (I went with some San Pellegrino) and garnish with an orange. Enjoy!

For those who imbibe the real stuff...
Cigarette Girl (Courtesy of Royal Rose Syrups)

Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients
2 oz. gin
3 teaspoons Royal Rose Raspberry Syrup
3 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
Fresh mint
Soda water
Directions
In a Boston shaker or jam jar, combine mint with raspberry syrup and lemon juice.  Add ice and gin and shake vigorously.  Serve on the rocks with a splash of soda water and a sprig of mint.  Enjoy!

World's End (Courtesy of Tasting Table, Adapted from Royal Rose)
Yield: 1 serving
Ingredients
½ ounce Royal Rose Cardamom-Clove Syrup
½ ounce fresh lemon juice
2½ ounces white rum
Lime wedge
Ice
Directions
Combine the syrup, lemon juice and ice in a Boston shaker. Add the white rum. Shake vigorously and serve straight up or on the rocks with a lime wedge.

Full size syrups cost $10 and are available at: Stinky Bklyn, Blue Apron, By Brooklyn, Brooklyn Larder and online at royalroseny.com