The days when we could meet after work for some festive cocktails at the happy hour bar down the street are gone for the foreseeable future. Time to brush up on your bartender skills for ZOOM drinks with friends this season.

Apartment Bartender, aka Elliot Clark, to the rescue. The first lesson is about ice. Yes, ice.

“Ice is the most underrated ingredient in a cocktail. When using poor quality ice (like cloudy, freezer ice), as it melts, it not only dilutes the drink at a faster pace, but it can also negatively affect the flavor profile of the cocktail. Why mix with premium booze if you’re not pairing it with premium ice? Essentia is my choice when making ‘premium ice.’ Its clean, smooth taste allows the true flavors of the cocktail to come through and be enjoyed” says Apartment Bartender, Elliott Clark.

The three unique cocktails include a riff on a Tom Collins (“The Essentia(l) Spritz”), a Vanilla Coffee Old Fashioned (“The Overachiever”), and a classic twist on 2020’s biggest winter trend, “The Supercharged Hot Toddy Bar”–each of which also features Essentia Water (the #1 alkaline water on the market that will help you stay hydrated) and Essentia’s Premium Ice (so that your cocktails don’t get watered down).

Fun fact: The Kardashians call Essentia Water their “Hangover Cure.”

 Tom Collins aka The Essentia(l) Spritz – 

Ingredients

  • 2 oz – clear spirit of choice, like gin or vodka

    • Brewed Green Tea as Non-Alcoholic option

  • 1 oz – Lemon juice

  • 3/4 oz – Spiced-cranberry syrup

    • 1 cup fresh cranberries

    • 1 cup Essentia water

    • 1 cup sugar

    • 2-3 Cinnamon sticks

    • 2 whole clove (optional)

    • 2 star anise (optional)

  • 2 oz – soda water (or sparkling wine)

 

 

 

 

🥃  Vanilla Coffee Old Fashioned aka The Overachiever 

Ingredients

  • 2 oz – Bourbon of choice

  • 1/2 oz – Vanilla syrup

    • (can sometimes find pre-made / pre-batched vanilla syrup from Monin)

    • 2-3 Vanilla pods (vanilla extract as a last resort)

    • 1 cup Sugar

    • 1 cup Essentia water

  • 1 oz fresh espresso (brewed with Essentia Water)

  • 2 dashes of Angostura bitters

Vanilla Syrup Instructions: In a medium saucepan, bring all ingredients to a light simmer until vanilla starts to release aroma. Stir to dissolve sugar (no need to bring to a boil). Set aside and let cool. Strain into a glass jar and save in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Prep Steps:

Combine all ingredients into a mixing glass, and stir with ice. Strain the drink into a rocks glass over ice, and garnish with an orange twist.

🍋

The Supercharged Hot Toddy Bar 

Ingredients

  • 2 oz Aged spirit of choice (whiskey, aged rum, reposado tequila, cognac, etc.)

  • 0.5 oz Honey for classic Hot Toddy OR Spiced-Cranberry Syrup for Cranberry Hot Toddy  OR Vanilla Syrup for Vanilla Hot Toddy

    • For spiced-cranberry syrup:

      • 1 cup fresh cranberries

      • 1 cup Essentia water

      • 1 cup sugar

      • 2-3 Cinnamon sticks

      • 2 whole clove (optional)

      • 2 star anise (optional)

    • For vanilla syrup:

      • (can sometimes find pre-made / pre-batched vanilla syrup from Monin)

      • 2-3 Vanilla pods (vanilla extract as a last resort)

      • 1 cup Sugar

      • 1 cup Essentia water

  • 3-4 oz Hot Water

  • 0.5 oz Lemon Juice

Spice-cranberry Syrup Instructions: In a medium saucepan, bring all ingredients except sugar to a light simmer until spices start to release aromas and cranberries start to split. Add sugar and stir to dissolve (no need to bring to a boil). Set aside and let cool. Strain into a glass jar and save in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Vanilla Syrup Instructions: In a medium saucepan, bring all ingredients to a light simmer until vanilla starts to release aroma. Stir to dissolve sugar (no need to bring to a boil). Set aside and let cool. Strain into a glass jar and save in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Prep Steps:

On a stove, heat one cup of water (to a very light simmer is fine, you don’t want the water to be too hot). Once the water is hot, combine the aged spirit, syrup, and lemon juice into a glass mug. Top with 4-5 ounces of hot water, and stir to combine. Garnish with a lemon wheel, cinnamon stick, or speared cranberries.

And our new favorite bartender reminds us: “Always offer a non-alcoholic version for your guests – it’s a great way to stay inclusive and great ingredients create great tasting non-alcoholic cocktails.”

About The Author

CEO/FOUNDER

Evan Hosie has worked as a Women's Lifestyle editor/writer (expert in the beauty and fashion vertical); created the Pop Culture section for Radaronline.com; never met a gadget she didn't want, and spends waaaaay too much time on Social Media.

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