Showing posts with label skyy vodka. Show all posts

Thursday, August 4, 2016

Gastronomista x SKYY Vodka Pool Party!

I'm so excited to *finally* share some of the photos from the party I hosted with SKYY Vodka last week! It was a magical night - and I am eternally grateful to everyone who came out to support me. Thank you.

This summer has been brutal in New York, and what a treat it was to hang out at the Sixty LES pool all night sipping on frozen fruity cocktails, all Gastronomista creations!!

I know you're dying for the recipes, so here they are:

Frozen Strawberry Hibiscus Lemonade

Created by Gastronomista

2 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
2 oz Frozen Strawberries
2 oz Mint Simple Syrup
2 oz Hibiscus Tea
1 oz SKYY Infusions Strawberry Vodka

Blend with ice and pour into a lowball glass. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint and a lemon wheel.

Green Tea Pear Punch
Created by Gastronomista

Makes 6 cocktails

4 Cups Water
4 Green Tea Bags
1-1/2 C Pear Juice
1 Cup Mint Simple Syrup
1 Cup Sparking Water
1/4 Cup Pear Brandy
1 Cup SKYY Infusions Pear Vodka

Boil the water in a small pot. Let cool for just a few moments, and then add the green tea bags. Steep for 5 minutes or so depending on your preference, then remove the tea bags and discard.

In another pot boil 1 cup water with 1 cup sugar until the sugar is dissolved. Turn off the heat, and add a handful of fresh mint. Let steep for 10 minutes, then remove the mint leaves and discard. Transfer to a non-reactive glass bottle for chilling.

In a large pitcher mix all the ingredients together and stir. Serve into individual glasses and garnish with a festive straw.

Grilled Pineapple Chi Chi
Created by Gastronomista

2 Chunks Grilled Pineapple
1/2 oz Creamed Coconut
1 oz Fresh Lime Juice
4 oz Pineapple Juice
1 oz SKYY Infusions Pineapple Vodka
4 Dashes Memphis BBQ Bitters

Blend with ice and pour into a highball glass. Garnish with a pineapple slice and a fresh orchid.

Guests even got to go home with a goodie bag packed with recipe cards, SKYY sunnies, custom Skyy Straws, and a pretty sweet beach bag.

Big thanks to SKYY Vodka for supporting Gastronomista and throwing this party in my honor - it was such a fun night!

-sponsored-
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of SKYY Vodka. All opinions are 100% mine.

Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible.

Thursday, April 28, 2016

Bottled Apple Green Tea Vodka Punch

You know those cute little apple juice bottles that are shaped like apples? The little ones that go down in one gulp and are the most delicious apple juice in the world? I've always fantasized about doing a cocktail and serving it in those cute little bottles - and TODAY IS THE DAY.

When SKYY Vodka asked me to create a cocktail recipe for their SKYY Infusions Honeycrisp Apple, I knew exactly what I wanted to do: a batched apple vodka cocktail that would be perfect for parties all summer long - picnics, garden parties, and rooftop soirées. This cocktail is amazing because it is made with green tea, so you get a little buzz of caffeine.

This cocktail does take a little bit of prep-work, so plan accordingly and start early. I recommend prepping the mint simple syrup and the green tea a few hours ahead of time so they have time to cool before you mix everything together. Extra points for the hostess who has all the cocktails bottled and chilled before the party starts.

Another thing I love about this drink is that you can serve the regular apple juice along with the cocktails and no one feels left out. Pick up some fancy straws such as the W&P metal straws to serve with the mini apple bottles, and you have a perfect bottled libation, with or without the booze!

Bottled Apple Green Tea Vodka Punch
Created by Gastronomista

Makes 6 bottled cocktails

4 C water
4 Green Tea Bags
1-1/2 cups Apple Juice
1 Cup Mint Simple Syrup (1:1)
1/4 Cup Fresh Lemon Juice
1 Cup Sparkling Water
1/4 Cup Apple Brandy
1 Cup SKYY Infusions Honeycrisp Vodka

Fresh Mint to Garnish

Boil the water in a small pot. Let cool for just a few moments, and then add the green tea bags. Steep for 5 minutes or so depending on your preference, then remove the tea bags and discard.

In another pot boil 1 cup water with 1 cup sugar until the sugar is dissolved. Turn off the heat, and add a handful of fresh mint. Let steep for 10 minutes, then remove the mint leaves and discard. Transfer to a non-reactive glass bottle for chilling.

In a large pitcher mix all the ingredients together and stir. Pour into the emptied apple juice bottles, and cap. Label accordingly, and chill in the refrigerator until party time.

Styling Notes
5" Stainless Steel Straws - W&P

-sponsored-
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of SKYY Vodka. All opinions are 100% mine.

Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible.

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Mango Chi Chi Cocktail

Today I am working with SKYY Vodka to bring you a tiki-tastic recipe using vodka, yes you read that right, vodka. Usually when one thinks of tiki drinks, rum comes to mind. But there are a lot of incredible tiki recipes out there using all kinds of spirits: tequila, mezcal, whiskey, and perhaps most surprising of all, vodka. One of my favorite classic tiki recipes uses vodka as the base spirit - the Chi Chi - a cocktail that gained massive popularity with tourists in Hawaii in the 1950's.

I haven't been to Hawaii since I was about 8, but one of my most visceral memories of the trip is of the pineapple. I had never tasted such delicious pineapple - it was so vivid and full of flavor. I can only imagine that drinking Chi Chi's made with fresh pineapple juice in Hawaii is pretty much heaven on earth, but sadly the pineapple on the East Coast just doesn't taste the same as it does on the islands. I have fortified this Chi Ch variation with mango, in the forms of mango juice and the newly released SKYY Infusions Tropical Mango Vodka to give the cocktail a round sweetness to balance the piquant flavors of east coast pineapple.

Like any tiki cocktail, the Chi Chi is best served in a festive tiki mug and garnished opulently - fresh fruit, swizzle sticks, bamboo straws, and fresh orchids - anything to help transport you back to the islands for a mini mental vacation.

This is a great cocktail to make for summer parties - you can batch ahead of time and mix in the blender to eliminate shaking. Set up a garnish station to allow your guests to garnish their cocktails themselves, just order extras because you know half the flowers will end up in your guests hair!

Enjoy!

Mango Chi Chi
Adapted by Gastronomista

2 oz SKYY Infusions Tropical Mango Vodka
1 oz Creamed Coconut
3 oz Pineapple Juice
2 oz Mango Juice

Shake with ice and strain into a tiki mug filled with ice. Garnish with fresh mango and an orchid.