Cocktails Archives - A Beautiful Mess

Cosmopolitan Drink Recipe

Emma Chapman — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000

We love the classic 1990s Cosmopolitan Cocktail. The Cosmo is made with vodka, orange liqueur, cranberry juice and fresh lime juice. This fun, pink drink became famous from HBO’s Sex and the City. The Cosmo is tart, fresh and not too sweet. It’s the perfect drink to serve at dinner parties and girls’ nights.

History of in the Cosmopolitan Cocktail Recipe

The modern day Cosmo is a variation of the 1930s cocktail called Cosmopolitan 1934 which was made using gin, Cointreau, lemon juice and raspberry syrup.

According to Gary Regan, the Cosmopolitan as we know it today was first mixed in 1985 by Miami bartender, Cheryl Cook. At the time Cook was working at a South Beach bar called The Strand. She created the Cosmopolitan as a variation of the Kamikaze with an added splash of cranberry juice.

Others believe the Cosmo was invented by Dale DeGroff at New York City’s Rainbow Room. Still other’s say it was first mixed by bartender Toby Cecchini in the late 1980s. Cecchini mixed his cosmo with Absolut Citron vodka, a citrus flavored vodka along with cranberry juice, orange liqueur and lime juice.

The drink became staple for New York City sophistication thanks to Sex and the City‘s Carrie Bradshaw in the 1990s. It has remained extremely popular ever since.

Ingredients in the Classic Cosmopolitan Cocktail

Vodka Choose unflavored or citrus flavored vodka.
Orange Liqueur Such as Cointreau, Triple Sec or Grand Marnier.
Cranberry Juice Cranberry Juice Cocktail (not 100% cranberry juice)
Lime Juice freshly squeezed.
Orange Peel (optional) for garnish

You can use any brand of vodka you prefer for this cocktail. We recommend a top shelf vodka such as Grey Goose.

How to make a Cosmopolitan

In a cocktail shaker with ice, add the vodka, orange liqueur, cranberry juice and lime juice.

Shake until the shaker feels very cold in your hands or 10-15 seconds.

Strain into a martini glass or coupe glass and garnish with an orange peel.

Orange Twist Garnish

And here’s how I make those little orange spirals. You can buy a fancy peeler or a potato peeler to scrape off a large piece of orange peel, and then simply use my kitchen shears to cut strips and curl them.

Tips for Making

Chilled Cocktail Glass A chilled cocktail glass elevates any cocktail. Place your glass in the freezer for 30 minutes to 2 hours before you serve your drink.
Simple Syrup If this recipe is too stiff for you try adding half an ounce to one ounce of simple syrup before shaking.
White Cosmo A popular variation of the cosmo is the White Cosmo. Swap St-Germain in place of orange liqueur to try make your own.

More Cranberry Drinks

More Classic Cocktails

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Cosmopolitan made of?

Dirty Martini

Laura Gummerman — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000

There are few drinks more classic than a dirty martini. The simple combination of gin (or vodka!), dry vermouth, and olive brine packs a punch that’s been adorning cocktail tables for decades. And of course, don’t forget the olive garnish!

Whether you use vodka or gin, this easy to make drink is a top choice for the savory cocktail lover and we’ve got a video to show you exactly how to do it.

Do you use gin or vodka for a dirty martini?

While gin is more commonly used for a dirty martini, it’s up to your personal preference to use vodka or gin as your base. The more subtle flavors of a vodka-based version allows the olive brine to rise to the front over the gin’s stronger botanical flavor.

What makes a dirty martini dirty?

The difference between a regular martini and a dirty one is that the dirty version has olive brine from a jar of olives added to the drink for an extra punch and usually a skewer of cocktail olives for a garnish. You can even up the amount of brine to go from a dirty martini to an “extra dirty” or “filthy” version.

Ingredients

Gin: Try out different gins to find your favorite for a dirty martini, some enjoy less juniper forward choices like Hendrick’s or Aviation over heavier flavors like Beefeater or Tanqueray.
Dry Vermouth: You’ll want to choose a dry vermouth for a dirty martini. Just a splash of it adds a note of tartness to help balance out the gin or vodka taste.
Olive Brine: The brine adds salt to the cocktail which enhances the flavors of the vermouth and the natural oils from the olives add a buttery mouth feel to the drink.
Cocktail Olives: What’s a dirty martini without a garnish of cocktail olives? Add a few jumbo olives to a skewer and you’ll also have a little built in snack to nosh on while you drink.

A dirty martini is best served in a classic martini glass and you can also do a stemless version for a different look.

Directions

Add your gin (or vodka), dry vermouth, and olive brine to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.

Give the shaker a good shake for about 15 seconds and use a strainer to pour your drink into a chilled martini glass (if you don’t have a separate strainer you can just use the strainer top of the shaker).

Add a garnish of olives on a cocktail stick and your drink is ready to go!

Tips for Making a Dirty Martini

Make sure your glass is chilled and your martini is ice cold! This is definitely a drink where temperature affects the taste, so go the extra mile to chill the glass to keep it cold.
For extra olive flavor, you can muddle olives into the drink before straining, or add extra brine for a heavier olive taste.
To make the perfect dirty martini for you, play around with the ratios of gin or vodka and vermouth until you find the sweet spot for your taste level.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you chill a glass quickly?

Grasshopper Cocktail

Laura Gummerman — Sat, 27 Dec 2025 14:05:00 +0000

The grasshopper cocktail is a classic drink that tastes like an after-dinner mint with its delicious creamy combination of mint and chocolate. The drink’s vibrant green color (thanks to the crème de menthe) makes it perfect for a Christmas holiday party or St. Patrick’s Day, but it can really be enjoyed any time of year.

The grasshopper drink is easy to make, so you can get your party cocktails together in a snap. Most recipes call for an equal parts crème de menthe and crème de cacao and you can play around with the cream proportion if you like to find the right balance for your taste. Try a pink squirrel for a cherry version of this drink!

Cocktail Ideas: Classic Mojito Recipe, White Russian, Peppermint White Russian, Classic Gimlet Cocktail, 50+ Fun Cocktails to Make at Home

What does a grasshopper cocktail taste like?

With its combination of mint, chocolate, and heavy cream, this after-dinner drink tastes like an Andes mint in liquid form. It’s basically a dessert you can drink as it has the flavor of melted mint chocolate chip ice cream.

What’s the origin of the grasshopper drink?

While the origin of the grasshopper cocktail recipe is unclear, the most popular story says that Philibert Guichet, owner of the New Orleans eatery Tujague’s, created the drink for a 1918 New York city cocktail competition (which won him second place). There is a mention of a drink from a 1907 cocktail book that layers crème de menthe and crème de cacao, so Prohibition caused the drink to fall out of fashion for a while but by the ’70s the drink was widely popular again.

Ingredients for a Grasshopper Cocktail:

Crème de menthe: The vibrant green crème de menthe is what gives this cocktail its amazing color and mint flavors.

Crème de cacao: This white liqueur brings the chocolate note to the drink with its buttery mouthfeel and sweet cacao profile.

Heavy cream: This is what gives the grasshopper its thick and creamy base and gives it that dessert-in-a-glass decadence. You can also use half-and half as a slightly less rich option.

While you can use any glass for a grasshopper, it’s traditionally served in a coupe style or martini glass.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you use milk for a grasshopper instead of heavy cream?

Espresso Martini

Emma Chapman — Fri, 26 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000

This recipe makes a classic Espresso Martini. It’s the perfect after-dinner drink or dessert cocktail. It’s tastes strong, balanced and has a creamy, foamy top. If you love coffee cocktails, you have to try this recipe. This recipe is the perfect marriage of cocktail and coffee. With only three ingredients, this drink is easier to make than it looks.

In this recipe, simple ingredients combine to create something magical. Espresso flavors meld with flavors of strong coffee balanced by sweetness.

Looking For More Espresso-Flavored Recipes?

Before making your espresso martini, there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind. First, you will want to use espresso instead of brewing coffee or using instant coffee. It’s important for the flavor profile.

Next, it’s important to let the espresso chill before adding it to the ice and alcohol so that it does not melt the ice.

The foam is an important part of this cocktail, both for flavor and presentation. It’s kind of like when you order a latte, the more foam the better! The foam comes from shaking in a cocktail shaker for 10-15 seconds.

Espresso Martini Ingredients

Espresso – 1 shot (about 1.5 ounces) espresso
Vodka – 2 ounces vodka
Kahlúa – 1/2 ounce coffee liqueur
Simple Syrup – 1/2 ounce simple syrup (this is optional but I recommend it)
Coffee Beans – For garnish

This will make one drink. You can easily make two servings in the same shaker by doubling the ingredients. The best cocktail glass to serve an Espresso Martini in is a martini glass or a coupe glass. You will also need a cocktail shaker to make this recipe. If you don’t have a cocktail shaker, a jar can be used.

Espresso Martini Recipe

Make your espresso and allow to cool (otherwise, it will melt your ice). If you’re in a hurry, you can put it in the refrigerator.
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and pour in the espresso, vodka, Kahlua and simple syrup (optional).
Shake until chilled. This will also create the froth for foam.
Strain and pour into a chilled glass.
Garnish with a few coffee beans.

Bonus points if you chill your martini glasses in the freezer ahead of time.

Tips for Making

Substitutions – If you don’t have a way to make fresh espresso cold brew, concentrate is an acceptable substitution.
Variations – You may swap unflavored vodka for vanilla vodka, or a seasonal flavor such as caramel, pecan, pumpkin or peppermint. While some would consider this sacrilegious, we would point out that the Espresso Martini isn’t technically a true martini and so if you enjoy seasonal coffee drinks, why not?
Sweetness – The simple syrup (sugar syrup) is technically optional, but we find it essential to creating balance between strong and bitter flavors.
Garnish Ideas – In addition to coffee or espresso beans, many bartenders like to dust the top of the martini foam with espresso powder.

History

The Espresso Martini was created in 1983 by bartender Dick Bradsell at Fred’s Club, a bar in London. It continued to gain popularity throughout 1980s and more recently had a second resurgence. The famous tale says that Bradsell was asked by a famous model of the era to make a cocktail that would “wake me up and fuck me up.” And so the Espresso Martini was born. Bradsell is also famous for creating the Bramble cocktail.

Home Espresso Makers

We’ve tried many espresso makers over the years, and here are our favorites at different price points and skill levels:

Cafe Automatic Espresso Machine – My current machine. It uses any whole beans, so if you use high quality beans you’ll get high quality espresso. It makes espresso shots automatically (no barista skills required) and includes a milk frothing wand to heat and froth milk. We’ve used this machine almost every day since we got it seven months ago and we love it! It comes in three colors.
Breville Barista Touch – We bought this for a good friend as a wedding gift once and they said they love it. It’s a higher end machine that you will need some barista skills to operate, but it’s an excellent home espresso maker.
Nespresso Vertuo – For those who want an espresso maker that uses pods, this is my favorite. Depending what pod you use, it can make espresso or coffee.
MiniPresso – This machine will make you a single shot of espresso by adding boiling water into one end, your grinds into the other, and then you pump a button that pops out.
French Press – It’s also possible to make espresso in your French press.

Not only is this espresso martini delicious, but it can be a great conversation starter. I know I’m a little bit more talkative when I have a little jolt of caffeine in my system.

Frequently Asked Questions

What vodka is best for an espresso martini?

Vanilla Syrup

A Beautiful Mess — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 14:57:00 +0000

This vanilla syrup is easy to make and SO useful. I love this in homemade lattes and other coffee drinks as well as added to cold beverages like sparkling water or Diet Coke. Vanilla simple syrup is also useful for making lots of different kinds of cocktails and even in baked goods or as a glaze.

This vanilla syrup recipe only requires 3 ingredients and about 15 minutes or less to make!

Related: Next up make Cinnamon Dolce Syrup or Pumpkin Spice Syrup.

Ingredients

Granulated white sugar
Water
Vanilla bean paste, vanilla bean pods or vanilla extract

You’ll also need a glass jar with spout for storage and easy use.

How to make Vanilla Syrup

In a small to medium pot add the sugar and water. Over medium/high heat whisk the sugar until it’s fully dissolves. The water should get hot during this process but you do not need to reach a boil.

Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract. If you are using vanilla beans slice them down the center and then use the tip of your knife to carefully scrap out the beans (the little black dots). Add those as well as the vanilla bean pods to the syrup. Whisk to combine. Allow the mixture to sit and cool for about 10 minutes.

If you used vanilla bean pods remove the pods now. Pour the vanilla syrup into your storage container.

Tips and Notes

Vanilla bean paste, vanilla beans or vanilla extract will all work well in this recipe. However, if you are wanting the look of the vanilla beans (little black speckles) you will need to use either vanilla bean paste or vanilla beans.
Store the vanilla syrup in an air tight container in the refrigerator for at least two weeks.
As you can see from the photo above my vanilla bean paste was actually ‘Bourbon vanilla bean paste’ so it had a slightly different flavor. That’s OK! This is your vanilla simple syrup—add anything you want like a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg.
Swap the granulated white sugar for brown sugar for a slightly different flavor.

Drinks you can add this to

Vanilla Syrup

Vanilla simple syrup made with sugar, water and vanilla bean paste

Course cocktail, Drinks

Cuisine American

Keyword vanilla syrup

Cook Time 5

Cool Time 10

Total Time 15

Servings

Calories 83kcal

Author A Beautiful Mess

Ingredients

1 cup granulated white sugar
1 cup water
1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste

Instructions

In a small to medium pot add the sugar and water.
Over medium/high heat whisk the sugar until it’s fully dissolves. The water should get hot during this process but you do not need to reach a boil.
Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract.
If you are using vanilla beans slice them down the center and then use the tip of your knife to carefully scrap out the beans (the little black dots). Add those as well as the vanilla bean pods to the syrup.
Whisk to combine.
Allow the mixture to sit and cool for about 10 minutes.
If you used vanilla bean pods remove the pods now.
Pour the vanilla syrup into your storage container.

Notes

If using vanilla beans use 2-3 vanilla bean pods. If using vanilla extract use 1 heaping tablespoon.

Vanilla bean paste, vanilla beans or vanilla extract will all work well in this recipe. However, if you are wanting the look of the vanilla beans (little black speckles) you will need to use either vanilla bean paste or vanilla beans.

Store the vanilla syrup in an air tight container in the refrigerator for at least two weeks.

Swap the granulated white sugar for brown sugar for a slightly different flavor.

Nutrition

Hot Buttered Rum

Laura Gummerman — Sun, 09 Nov 2025 14:00:00 +0000

When it comes to wintertime drinks, cozying up by the fire with a hot buttered rum is the top way to pass the time on a cold winter’s night. While the name may sound odd, this hot buttered rum recipe is actually a delicious drink that combines sweet, creamy, and buttery flavors with winter spices and a dose of rum to warm you from the inside out.

You can easily make a batch of hot buttered rum “batter” to keep in your fridge so you can make this Christmas cocktail at a moment’s notice, and you can even make it without the alcohol to be a family-friendly drink. Check out our instructional video to see how easy it is to make!

What’s the history of hot buttered rum?

Hot buttered rum dates all the way back to the American colonial period of New England in the 1650s. Rum was a popular drink as water wasn’t always safe to drink and the hot buttered rum was an alternative to a hot toddy as it also added some calories. The basic recipe consisted of rum, butter, spices, and sugar, which are still the main ingredients in modern hot buttered rums.

What does hot buttered rum taste like?

While the name may not sound appetizing to some, hot buttered rum has a creamy sweet taste punctuated with warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. The butter does give the drink a delicious buttery flavor similar to drinking a buttery cookie in a glass!

What type of rum is best for hot buttered rum?

While it’s possible to use white rum if that’s all you have on hand (and if that’s the rum you prefer), spiced rum or dark rum is a better flavor profile for this particular drink. Spiced rum will have some added caramel flavor and spices while dark rum will be a little more of a darker molasses flavor profile.

Hot buttered rum ingredients:

Unsalted butter: This is the buttery part of your hot buttered rum!

Brown sugar: You’ll get sweet notes of caramel by adding brown sugar to your batter mix.

Powdered sugar: Adding some powdered sugar gives the drink a lighter sweetness on top of the deeper brown sugar flavor.

Ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove: These warm spices combined together make this drink taste like Christmas in a glass! Feel free to add some ground allspice or cardamom as well for even more levels of spice.

Vanilla extract: Try and use vanilla extract rather than imitation vanilla for a more pure vanilla flavor.

Rum: A dark or spiced rum is your best choice for the perfect hot buttered rum.

Hot water: Adding hot water to your hot buttered rum batter is what gives you a warm and cozy drink.

TIP: Rather than boiling water, you’ll want to use hot water that’s just under boiling as water that’s too hot can dull the flavors a little.

How to make hot buttered rum

For the batter:

Add unsalted butter to a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir until butter is melted and then whisk in your brown and powdered sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove until sugar is melted and ingredients are combined.

Remove from heat and add in your vanilla and stir to combine. Use to make hot buttered rum or allow to cool and then store in the fridge in an airtight container until ready to use.

For the hot buttered rum:

Add 2 tablespoons of the butter mixture to a heatproof mug and pour in 6 ounces hot water and 1-2 ounces of rum depending on how strong you want your drink. Stir and add more batter to taste if necessary and enjoy!

TIP: Since you are adding hot water to your drink, you don’t have to heat the rum as well, so feel free to use room temperature rum.

Tips for making hot buttered rum:

Add a dash of salt to your batter to really bring out the flavors.
Adding a dollop of whipped cream to the top of your drink will not only look pretty, but it will add extra creamy sweetness as it melts into the drink.
Sprinkle some cinnamon or freshly grated nutmeg on top of your drink or add in a cinnamon stick before serving for a boost of cinnamon flavor.

TIP: To keep your drink warm longer, serve the hot buttered rum in pre-warmed mugs!

How do you make hot buttered rum nonalcoholic?

To make a family-friendly version of hot buttered rum, simply use just the batter and hot water to make your delicious drink. You can also add the batter into milk, apple cider, or coffee for a nonalcoholic treat.

How do you make hot buttered rum in a crockpot?

To make hot buttered rum for a crowd in a slow cooker, put the batter ingredients into the crockpot first and cook on high until all the ingredients are blended together (about 30-60 minutes).

Add in your hot water and rum and reduce heat to low until ready to serve. Ladle into mugs and garnish as desired before serving.

How long does hot buttered rum batter last in the fridge?

Hot buttered rum batter will last in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 1-2 weeks.

You can also put it in the freezer and it will last around 3 months frozen. Just let thaw in the fridge before using.

Can you use salted butter in hot buttered rum?

While most recipes call for unsalted butter so you can control the salt level to taste, you can also use salted butter with great results.

Hot buttered rum variations:

Make it with tea: Use your favorite black tea bags to brew tea with your hot water before adding it to your drink.

Play with spices: Try adding ginger, allspice, or cardamom to your batter until your reach your favorite spice combo.

Swap the rum: You can try brandy, whiskey, or cognac in place of the rum for a twist on the classic.

Make it with ice cream: It’s also popular to add some melted vanilla ice cream to your hot buttered rum batter for extra creamy sweetness.

Add notes of orange: Orange is such a popular holiday flavor as well so try some orange zest in the batter or a touch of orange extract.

Try these festive appetizers at your holiday party!

Hot Buttered Rum

This hot buttered rum recipe is sweet, creamy, and buttery with warm winter spices and a dose of rum.

Course cocktail

Cuisine American

Keyword hot buttered rum, hot buttered rum recipe

Prep Time 10

Total Time 10

Servings drinks

Calories 394kcal

Author Laura Gummerman

Ingredients

Hot Buttered Rum Batter

½ cup unsalted butter one stick
1 cup brown sugar
½ cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ground clove
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
pinch of salt

Hot Buttered Rum Cocktail

2 tablespoons hot buttered rum batter
6-8 ounces hot water
1 ounce rum

Instructions

For the batter:

Add unsalted butter to a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir until butter is melted and then whisk in your brown and powdered sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove until sugar is melted and ingredients are combined.
Remove from heat and add in your vanilla and stir to combine.
Use to make hot buttered rum or allow to cool and then store in the fridge in an airtight container until ready to use.

For the cocktail:

Add 2 tablespoons of the batter mixture to a heatproof mug and pour in 6-8 ounces hot water and 1-2 ounces of rum depending on how strong you want your drink.
Stir and add more batter to taste if necessary and enjoy!

Notes

Store in the fridge in an airtight container.

Tips for making hot buttered rum:

Add a dash of salt to your batter to really bring out the flavors.
Adding a dollop of whipped cream to the top of your drink will not only look pretty, but it will add extra creamy sweetness as it melts into the drink.
Sprinkle some cinnamon or freshly grated nutmeg on top of your drink or add in a cinnamon stick before serving for a boost of cinnamon flavor.

TIP: Rather than boiling water, you’ll want to use hot water that’s just under boiling as water that’s too hot can dull the flavors a little.

TIP: To keep your drink warm longer, serve the hot buttered rum in pre-warmed mugs!

Nutrition

Gingerbread Shot

Elsie Larson — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 14:05:00 +0000

This shot recipe tastes just like a gingerbread cookie. It’s the perfect blend of butterscotch schnapps, fireball and heavy cream. Mix all that with some gingerbread syrup for a sweet, spiced shot recipe.

Ingredients

Fireball – Cinnamon Whiskey.
Buttershots – Butterscotch Schnapps.
Heavy Cream – Or Half and Half.
Gingerbread Syrup – Make homemade gingerbread syrup or pick up a bottle.

Optional Garnish: I garnished the shot glasses with a bit of buttercream icing and crumbled gingerbread cookies. You can also use festive sprinkles as your rim garnish.

Equipment Needed: I used my go-to set of tall shot glasses for this recipe. You will also need a cocktail shaker of some kind. If you don’t own a cocktail shaker, you can use a sealed jar or even a water bottle as a shaker.

How to Make

Gather your ingredients. For this recipe, you’ll need Fireball whiskey, butterscotch schnapps, heavy cream and gingerbread syrup.

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake for 15 seconds until icy cold.

Pour your shot into a shot glass and serve immediately.

Next up, I will go over the garnish instructions.

If you’re planning to garnish your shot glass with a gingerbread crumb rim, go ahead and crumble one cookie. My favorite way to do this is to throw it into a plastic bag and use a rolling pin to crush it.

To rim your shot glass, use some buttercream icing to rim the top and then dip it into the gingerbread crumbles.

Tips for Making

More garnish ideas – I think these would be so cute with a garnish of colorful sprinkles. You could save your leftover sprinkles from a cookie making session to use here.
If you make a batch of gingerbread syrup, be sure to also try our gingerbread latte. I think it would also be delicious in tea or a gingerbread steamer for kids (milk and a little gingerbread syrup, steamed).
If you want to make these shots ahead, you can save a pre-made mixture in a bottle in your fridge, but don’t add ice until you are ready to shake and serve them.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s in a Gingerbread Shot?

Homemade Old Fashioned Mix

Elsie Larson — Sat, 18 Oct 2025 13:00:00 +0000

The Old Fashioned is my favorite classic cocktail. I love ordering it when dining out, and I often make them at home. I have tried several options for Old Fashioned Mix (also called Old Fashioned Simple Syrup) and after some research, I strongly believe the most delicious mix you can use is homemade.

This recipe is simple and you can whip it up and enjoy it for weeks (or even months) in your fridge. Having this mix on hand makes mixing a cocktail faster and less messy. All you have to do is mix it with your spirit, shake, and pour over ice.

Related: If you’re already making some homemade syrups, why not try our Homemade Margarita Mix, Homemade Sour Mix, Classic Old Fashioned and Simple Syrup, and Mint Simple Syrup recipes while you are at it?!

Old Fashioned Mix Ingredients

granulated white sugar
water
freshly squeezed clementine juice
maraschino cherries
cinnamon stick
aromatic and orange bitters

How to Make Old Fashioned Simple Syrup

In a sauce pan, combine 3 cups sugar, 2 cups water, and 1 cup freshly squeezed clementine juice. I used 5 clementines and a citrus juice hand press to juice them.

Next, add 5 maraschino cherries cut into halves and stems removed. Add one cinnamon stick. Let the mixture simmer on medium heat until the sugar has completely dissolved into the water.

Next, remove the mixture from the heat and let it sit to cool and for the flavors to steep for one hour.

After the ingredients have steeped for one hour, add aromatic and orange bitters. I used about 50 drops of each bottle, or you can measure out 1/2 tablespoon of each bitter type.

Use a fine mesh strainer and a funnel to decant your syrup into a glass bottle. I used this bottle set for mine.

As a finishing touch, you can use rubber stamps to create a label like I did. This is especially useful if you are getting ready for a party where guests will serve themselves, or if you are making more than one type of syrup.

Tips for Mixing an Old Fashioned

To mix an Old Fashioned using this recipe, combine 2 ounces high quality bourbon and 1 ounce of mix. Stir and pour over a large ice cube to serve in a whiskey glass.
Garnish your drink with an orange wedge and a maraschino cherry.
If you are in the market for glassware that works great for an old fashioned, these glasses are great for whiskey cocktails.

An Old Fashioned Pairs Well With

Other recipes you may like:

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What does an Old Fashioned taste like?

35+ Halloween Cocktails

Elsie Larson — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 13:07:00 +0000

Here’s a list of our best Halloween cocktails to make for your next Halloween party. Whether you are looking for a Halloween punch bowl, martinis, jello shots or a cozy warm beverage, we’ve got the perfect recipe for you.

El Diablo Cocktail

Learn to make the El Diablo cocktail using reposado tequila, crème de cassis, lime juice, grenadine and ginger beer.

Get the Recipe

Corpse Reviver

Learn to make a Corpse Reviver No. 1 cocktail using absinthe, gin, Lillet Blanc, orange liqueur and fresh lemon juice.

Get the Recipe

Halloween Jello Shots

Four easy ideas to make fun Halloween jello shots for your Halloween party!

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Spider Bite Cocktail

Learn to use a stencil to add a creepy spider web to your cocktail.

Get the Recipe

Spooky Eyeball Jello Shots!

The perfect jello shots for grownups trick-or-treating.

Get the Recipe

Candy Corn Jello Shots

Learn to make layered jello shots in the colors of candy corn.

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Monster Cocktail Stirrers

Make these easy candy stirrers to add to any cocktail for Halloween fun.

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Evil Eye Halloween Cocktail

These evil eye ice cubes make your drink so festive and creepy.

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Mexican Candy Shot

Try this easy tequila shot for your next occasion.

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Blood Orange Margarita

Learn to make a Blood Orange Margarita using blood orange juice, tequila, orange liqueur, fresh lime juice and agave.

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Halloween Eyeball Martini

Learn to make a Halloween lychee martini.

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Gummy Bear Shot

Learn to make a gummy bear shot at home!

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Old Fashioned Cocktail

When autumn rolls around, I love a bourbon cocktail. The classic old fashioned is the ultimate fall drink.

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Halloween Punch Bowl

Use latex gloves to create these scary ice cubes for your punch bowl.

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Easy Orange Cranberry Margarita

Our favorite margarita recipe for fall!

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My Favorite Fall Cocktail!

An easy-to-make, crisp apple cider cocktail recipe.

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Chocolate Martini Recipe

Learn to make a classic chocolate martini.

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Boozy Apple Cider A La Mode

The aroma of apple and spice is so delightful and mulling cider is one of my favorite scents this time of year. Try this delicious recipe.

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Incredible Hulk Cocktail

Learn to make the Incredible Hulk cocktail recipe with just three ingredients: Hpnotiq, cognac and orange bitters.

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Sazerac

Learn to make a classic New Orleans Sazerac cocktail at home.

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Espresso Martini

There is nothing better than an espresso martini.

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Cinnamon Toast Crunch Shot

If you have never tried this recipe, it tastes exactly like Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, but is in shot form. It’s perfect for fall!

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More Halloween Ideas

We’re got more Halloween ideas for you! Halloween Crafts for Adults, 15 Halloween DIYs, Halloween Drinks (without alcohol) and Halloween Food Ideas like Candy Apples and Caramel Apples. Plus, on Childhood Magic, we have Halloween Activities for Kids.

Thanks so much for reading!

Washington Apple Shot

Elsie Larson — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 13:08:00 +0000

Let’s learn to make a Washington Apple Shot. This recipe tastes just like a fresh, crisp apple. It’s one of the tastiest shot recipes I have ever tried. It’s a scaled down version of a Washington Apple cocktail. We’ll teach you to make a full-sized cocktail in addition to the shot.

More shot recipes: Green Tea Shot, Lemon Drop Shot, Chocolate Cake Shot, White Tea Shot, Mexican Candy Shot, Scooby Snack Shot, Jolly Rancher Shot.

Ingredients in a Washington Apple Shot

Canadian Whiskey – I used Crown Royal.
Sour Apple Schnapps – (Also called sour apple pucker or sour apple liqueur) gives your drink a lot of apple flavor.
Cranberry Juice – Makes the drink red. Chilled juice is best.
Club Soda – Just a splash at the end for a bit of sparkle.

I used my favorite decorative shot glasses to serve this drink.

Directions

In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine the Canadian whiskey, apple schnapps and cranberry juice.

Shake for 10-15 seconds.

Pour into a shot glass and top with a splash of club soda. Cheers!

How to make a Washington Apple Cocktail

To turn this shot recipe into a sippable cocktail, simply double the recipe and serve it into a martini glass instead of a shot glass. This recipe is so tasty—I think it’s great as a full-sized cocktail.

Tips for Making

A chilled shot glass makes any shot more magical, as does a sugared rim.
If you don’t have Canadian whisky on hand, you can substitute for a different type of whiskey.
If you don’t enjoy the sour aspect of sour apple schnapps, you can replace it with a sweeter apple liqueur or apple flavored brandy.
I like the tartness and color the cranberry juice adds, but if you use apple juice instead you can create a green apple shot.
Garnish with an apple slice if you like.

History of a Washington Apple Shot

Washington state is home to some of the most beautiful apple orchards in the U.S. In the late 1980s, a bug destroyed most of Washington state’s apple orchards. A man named Christof Guycoogan had the idea to distill the ruined apples into an apple liqueur. He mixed the resulting liqueur with his favorite drink, Canadian whiskey and cranberry juice, and the Washington Apple Cocktail (and shot) were born!

More Apple Recipes to Try

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