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Spiced Cranberry Cocktail

spiced-cranberry-cocktail

Fall has come to the Pacific Northwest! Rain and all, we love the beautiful fall colors, crisp air, and slower pace that comes with the season. On top of that, fall cocktails are simply delicious and we can’t wait to dive into more of them this holiday season! 

A few weeks ago we got to test out one of our new favorites at the Sky Valley Celebrates Tour. The tour featured six venues of the newly formed Skykomish River Valley consortium. It was an amazing inaugural event focused on collaboration and sharing to promote venues, vendors, tourism, and lodging in the Skykomish River Valley.  

Sky-valley-celebrates-tour

Party on the Rocks was thrilled to be featured at the Gray Bridge Event Venue, which hosted eighteen vendors and over 150 guests. It was a great way for wedding couples and their families to experience a venue and meet with local vendors and community members. As we heard from Gray Bridge Owner Stacy MacGregor, an unexpected “win” of the day was the rainy weather, which allowed everyone to see the rain plan tents in action! It was also the perfect opportunity to feature beautiful fall decor, florals, and of course the Gray Bridge S’MORE station.

We kept the guests warm with our spiced cranberry “mocktail”, adapted from Caroline’s Cooking. This delicious warm drink of cranberry juice, spices, agave, and rum is the perfect fall pairing. We can bet that you’ll be whipping up a batch for each holiday this year! 

We suggest making this in a slow cooker ahead of time to have on hand for your next gathering. The slow cook time will infuse the cinnamon, clove, and ginger into something magical.

spiced-cranberry-winter-cocktail

This is the perfect drink to serve as a mocktail or cocktail, depending on your preference and the occasion. We’re turning up the spice in our recipe below by adding rum or spiced rum for an additional kick!

Make sure to use a high-quality cranberry juice for this recipe, avoiding cranberry cocktails and juice from concentrate. The agave, orange, and cinnamon will give this drink all of the natural sweetness that you need! 

Let us know if you make this fall cranberry cocktail! Tag us @partyontherocksseattle on Instagram, and stay tuned for more great recipes! 

Spiced Cranberry Cocktail

Ingredients

Makes 5 cocktails

  • 30 oz cranberry juice
  • 15 oz orange juice 
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 4 cloves
  • 3 inch piece of fresh ginger
  • 4 T agave
  • 8 oz rum (or spiced rum)
  • Orange slice for garnish

Instructions

  1. Place the cranberry juice, orange juice, cinnamon, clove, and ginger in a slow cooker on low. Heat for 1-2 hours. If short on time, instead bring to a boil on the stovetop and then simmer for 5 minutes. 
  2. Before serving, remove from the heat and stir in the agave and rum.
  3. Strain off the spices to serve. Add an orange slice for a garnish. Enjoy!

Beverages: Party on the Rocks 

Venue: Gray Bridge Venue

Photos: Emily Keeney Photography

Floral: Pollen In Love

Rentals: Cort Party Rental;  REMEMBER ME Pretty

Remember Me Pretty

Bottles vs. Kegs

bottles-vs-kegs-wedding

If you are planning a wedding or event, chances are you have beer on the brain! It’s the number one question our clients ask us when planning their bar menu, and we’re here to settle the age-old debate: bottles, or kegs? 

Well…. it depends! 

We know. Not what you were looking for. But the truth is, bottles and kegs both deserve a spot in the beverage lineup. What is important is determining what will work best for YOUR EVENT by considering a few key factors. 

Before we get into the nitty gritty details, take a moment to think about the amount of beer to serve at your event. Things like time of day, season, and guest preferences all factor in. Our rule of thumb is to plan for 60% wine and 40% beer. If you will also be serving spirits, we suggest 30% spirits, 30% beer, and 40% wine. We dive into this topic when planning your perfect bar menu, read it here if you haven’t yet! 

Bottles

Here are the key reasons that bottles might be the right choice for your event. 

beer-bottles

Variety 

With beer variety on the rise – it can be hard to decide on just one flavor that your guests will like. Bottles allow you to purchase different types of beer in smaller quantities, all the way down to six at a time if you like. If you go with bottles, we suggest offering no more than four types of beer in order to avoid decision-paralysis, for both you and your guests! 

Leftovers

Another great perk of beer in bottles is that they stay fresh for about a year when unopened. Kegs on the other hand, last less than 24 hours unless they are stored in a kegerator. If you want to avoid wasting any unused beer, bottles are the way to go. 

Ease of Service 

The number one reason to choose bottles, in our opinion, is ease of service. Bottles are fast to open and serve, whether they are given to guests directly in the bottle or taken a step further and poured in a glass. For a quick and happy bar line, bottles beat kegs every time. If you only take away one thing from the bottles vs kegs debate, it should be this: Kegs take 4x longer to serve than bottles. We repeat, four times!! This is a big factor to keep in mind when you are envisioning your event, as we all know that long bar lines can throw off your schedule and cause frustration among guests. 

Kegs

If you are feeling like bottles are the way to go – keep reading! Kegs still pack a punch when it comes to adding value to an event. Here are the key reasons why kegs might be right for you. 

pouring-keg

Cost 

Kegs allow you to buy in bulk in a way that bottles never can because you can skip the individual packaging and labels. In some cases, kegs can be 40-60% cheaper than bottles. If you are planning to serve a large portion of your guests beer, kegs are the most economical option. 

Waste 

What makes bottles easy to serve is also one of their downfalls—waste. Bottles are resource-intensive to manufacture and distribute, and can end up in landfills if not properly recycled. On top of eliminating packaging, kegs are reusable. If reducing the impact of your event and bar is important to you, kegs are the way to go. 

Variety (again)

While bottles won over based on the number of beer options you can offer at your event, kegs can expand the brands of beer at your disposal. Many local microbreweries don’t can or bottle their beer, but they do fill kegs. If you have a particular brewery or a specific beer that you want to share with your guests, getting a keg for your event may be the only way to serve it! While we recommend serving a maximum of four types of bottled beer, for kegs we recommend a maximum of two.  

There you have it folks, our thoughts on the bottles vs kegs debate! When it comes to serving beer, bottles and kegs both have their pros and cons. Consider the factors that are most important to you when it comes to cost, variety, waste, and servability. Whichever route you end up taking will ultimately support an amazing event! 

Tell us, do you have a preference between bottles and kegs? Tag us on Instagram with your thoughts!

What Every Bartender Should Have In Their Bar Kit

bartender-bar-kit

From measuring ingredients to muddling herbs to straining cocktails and opening beers, bartenders need a variety of supplies to get their job done. Having a good bar kit stocked with the right tools can make the difference between a quick bar line, happy guests, and a happy bartender! 

We’re taking you behind the scenes to show you the top ten items every bartender should keep in their bar kit. Whether you’re a professional bartender or just looking to up your at-home mixology game, this post is for you!

1. Cocktail Shaker

A bartender’s best friend, a cocktail shaker is a necessity for your bar kit. We use Boston Shakers, which are two-part shakers consisting of a glass and a metal tin. Another option is a cobbler shaker (which includes a strainer), but we find the Boston Shaker to be the most user-friendly!

boston-cocktail-shaker
Two-part Boston Shaker
hawthorne-strainer
Hawthorne Strainer

2. Cocktail Strainer

The sidekick to the shaker, a cocktail strainer keeps the ice and other non-liquid ingredients out of your final cocktail. Shown above is the Hawthorne Strainer, which works perfectly with a Boston Shaker. 

3. Muddler 

Mash fruit, herbs, or spices into the bottom of a glass (think a mojito!) 

cocktail-muddler

4. Jigger 

A jigger is an hourglass-shaped measuring device for accurately pouring alcohol. They come in multiple sizes, with the standard being 1.5 oz on one side and 1 oz on the other. 

jigger

5. Flat top Bottle Opener

Speed open beer bottles in quick succession with this handy tool.

6. Wine Key 

The preferred wine opener, a wine key has a knife to cut the seal on top of the wine bottle, and corkscrew to remove the cork.

flat-top-bottle-opener
wine-key

7. Pairing Knife & Cutting Board 

Cocktails aren’t just about the liquor. For garnishing and flavoring drinks, you’ll need a versatile pairing knife and cutting board to peel and chop fresh fruit and herbs.

pairing-knife

8. Pour spouts for the five most common types of liquor

A pour spout fits snugly into the top of a liquor bottle and is essential for smooth, consistent pouring and measuring. We keep pour spouts for the five most common types of liquor in our bar kit: Vodka, Gin, Tequila, Rum, and Whiskey 

9. Cocktail Stir Spoon

Not just any old spoon! Also known as a Bar Spoon, this spoon has an elongated handle and is specially designed for mixing around the inside edge of a glass. 

cocktail-stir-spoon

10. Two Bar Towels 

Thick absorbent bar towels always come in handy. From wiping up spills to drying off your hands and polishing glasses – we always carry at least two with us in our bar kit! 


With these ten essential items you are ready to tackle anything the bar throws at you. Feeling inspired to make some cocktails? Check out our recipes for classic and beginner cocktail recipes!

The Best At-Home Margarita

Don’t get us wrong, we love going out for a drink with friends, and there are countless amazing options to choose from in Seattle. But for the summer nights where you want to stay home and relax on your porch, THIS is the margarita for you. 

Margaritas are actually incredibly easy to make with a few key ingredients. Say goodbye to store-bought margarita mix and hello to our go-to recipe that comes together in a snap. 

We make this recipe all the time. With only three simple ingredients, we know you are going to love it! 

You’ll need: 

  • Your favorite tequila (we LOVE Sparkle Donkey, local to Seattle!) 
  • Fresh lime juice
  • Triple Sec 

This recipe is so simple, you will be wondering where it has been all your life. As with all the recipes we share, we invite you to mix up the ingredients based on your preferences. We’re a fan of silver tequila, but if reposado is your fave, go for it! You can also substitute Mezcal if you like smokey flavors.

For an orange liqueur we suggest Triple Sec or Cointreau, or you can substitute with St. Germaine for what we’ve coined the “St. Germainarita!” 

As for fresh lime juice – that one is non-negotiable. Emphasis on the fresh!

To add an optional touch of flavor in each sip, we love a good salt rim or chili salt rim (see directions below). Let us know if you make or modify this recipe! Tag us @partyontherocksseattle on Instagram, and stay tuned for more great recipes! 

 

Best At-Home Margarita

  • 2 oz Tequila 
  • 1 oz fresh lime juice
  • 1 oz Triple Sec 

Instructions

  1. Combine all ingredients in a shaker (or stir well) 
  2. Pour over your salt-rimmed glass with ice
  3. Garnish with a lime
Party on the Rocks Branding Shoot - Joanna Monger Photographt-249

Chili Salt Rim

  • 1 teaspoon salt 
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • Lime wedge

Instructions 

  1. In a small bowl combine salt and chili powder 
  2. Rub the rim of a glass with a lime wedge and dredge in the chili salt

How to Rock your next Corporate Happy Hour

Companies everywhere are realizing the importance of happy hours for maintaining employee happiness, strengthening collaboration, and creating an intentional office culture. From young startups to large firms, monthly or weekly happy hours have become a staple in the workplace.

If the thought of planning a company happy hour sounds overwhelming, hiring outside support might be right for you. Our corporate clients love the fact that we can offer a full-service happy hour – we bring all of the supplies, serve throughout, and take care of the cleanup! Knowing that we have the details taken care of makes it easy for employees to relax and engage with their co-workers.

Whether or not you do-it-yourself or hire bartending or event support, these tips will help you rock your next company happy hour.

Plan a Recurring Happy Hour

Build employee excitement and expectation by hosting a recurring happy hour. A weekly schedule is a great way to bake team bonding into your company culture. If weekly sounds too frequent, try bi-weekly or monthly. Whatever frequency you decide, keeping the schedule consistent will help employees plan for and look forward to each event.

Mix up the beverage options

Keep your events interesting by offering different selections for each event. We like to rotate a selection of local beer and wines so that you have something new to try each week.

Plan a themed event

Any good happy hour has two key items: appetizers and drinks. Pair these together to make a fun theme for each event, like a margarita and taco bar. Another option is to plan your happy hour around staff birthdays, and let the birthday person pick their favorite drink and food! You can even add team building activities to go with each theme.

Hire a licensed bartender

Depending on your office culture, having alcohol in the workplace may make some employers uneasy. Hiring a licensed and insured bartender to serve alcohol is a great way to ensure that all legal requirements are being met and that you are maintaining a safe and responsible environment.

Need more tips for your next happy hour? Contact us to see how Party on the Rocks can support your corporate events.

Spotlight on Craven Farm

Photo by Joanna Monger Photography

Wedding season is here, and we’re kicking off our first wedding venue feature to celebrate! Last month we took you behind the scenes of one of the newest venues in Seattle, and today we’re taking you to one of the oldest—Craven Farm in Snohomish County!

History

They are one of our favorite venues for so many reasons, starting with their history. Originally a family-run dairy farm, followed by a berry-picking venue, and eventually the first pumpkin patch in the Snohomish Valley, Craven Farm has been a staple in the community for generations.

Today, Craven Farm continues to be a working farm and wedding venue. Husband and wife team Kimi and Brian Chadwick purchased the farm just last December, and are excited to both continue and build on the great traditions of this historic venue.

Type of Events

Craven Farm specializes in weddings from January through mid-September, and they have some of the most amazing space options (see below!). They are open for the annual pumpkin patch and fall festival through October each year, and starting this year, they will also be open all of December for holiday parties and events. We are so excited to see new events happening in this lovely venue!

The Space

Our absolute favorite aspect of Craven Farm is the unique and diverse space options that they provide. Away from the main roads, the farm is peaceful and quiet, with room to explore. The 70-acre property boasts multiple barns, indoor and outdoor wedding ceremony sites, and spectacular views. They have the perfect kitchen set up for catering, ample parking, and just finished some amazing renovations.

You have to visit in person (of course!), but to get you started, here are some of our favorite aspects of Craven Farm.

Reception Barn

Holds up to 200 people, has indoor restrooms, and a recently renovated bridal suite!

Bridal Suite. Photo by Joanna Monger Photography

2 Outdoor Ceremony Sites

The first ceremony option is a lovely, small secret garden. Perfect for intimate ceremonies, you hardly even know that you are on a farm at this location! The second option is their Corn Room, equally as unique! By planting corn early in the season in a large field, ceremonies in the Corn Room are tucked away and private while having big beautiful views of the nearby mountains.

Open-air Pole Barn

Perfect for cocktail hour or dancing the night away. Seats 200.

Lawn & Fire Pit

Every wedding needs space for activities! You can have yard games on the lawn, and a HUGE fire pit for s’mores.  

Outdoor reception space. Photo by April Yentas Photography

Kids Play Area

Large play area perfect for kids with antique tractors, trucks, and room to play!

On-site Floral Design

Another unique aspect of Craven Farm is that they now offer on-site floral design with Chadwick Flower Company (Kimi’s first business venture!). Combination vendors make set-up and coordination a breeze!

Photo by Joanna Monger Photography

If you want to be able to spread out during your wedding, Craven Farm just might be for you. You can come visit them this Sunday during the Snohomish Wedding Tour to walk the grounds, get a sneak peek at their new renovations, and meet other great wedding vendors. Make sure to stop by and chat with Party on the Rocks! You can also find us on the Tour at Snohomish Red Barn Events, Belle Chapel, and Twin Willow Gardens.

Craven Farm has a few openings available for 2019 weddings, and is currently booking for 2020. If you are searching for your perfect venue, make sure to connect with them this weekend. We know you will love them as much as we do!

Moscow Mule Recipe

What’s better than a cool, refreshing Moscow mule on a warm summer night? The answer is … nothing! This classic vodka cocktail is a crowd pleaser with freshly squeezed lime juice, slightly spicy ginger beer, and of course – a copper mug.

Mules are one of our favorite specialty cocktails to serve at events. They only require three simple ingredients, and the combination of fresh citrus paired with spice from the ginger beer leads to a perfectly balanced cocktail.

Today we’re sharing with you the classic Moscow mule recipe, plus ideas to customize your mule and scale it up for a party!

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

Like all cocktails, the quality of ingredients leads to the quality of the cocktail. For a Moscow mule, that starts with a great vodka. For a standard mule go with an unflavored vodka like Tito’s or our new local favorite, Oola Vodka made from organic wheat.

Next up is ginger beer. People are pretty particular when it comes to their preferred brand of ginger beer. We suggest trying out a few to find the one you like as they will vary in their level of sweetness and spiciness. To get you started, we love: Rachel’s Ginger Beer from Seattle, Gosling’s Ginger Beer, and Reed’s Jamaican Ginger Beer.

Finally, you will need freshly squeezed lime juice (no concentrate please!), ice, and if you have one, a stainless steel lined copper mug. The copper mug keeps your drink super-chilled, and is the quintessential Moscow mule accessory!

Classic Moscow Mule Recipe

Serving size: 1 cocktail

  • 2 oz vodka
  • 5 oz ginger beer (about half of a can or bottle)
  • Ice
  • Juice of 1/2 of a lime (plus more to garnish)

Instructions

  1. Fill your copper mug with ice
  2. Combine vodka, ginger beer, and lime juice directly into your mug
  3. Garnish with a lime wedge (voila! It’s as easy as that!)

CUSTOMIZE YOUR MULE

Once you have the classic recipe down, the Moscow mule is the perfect cocktail to customize. When you’re first experimenting, pick one of the customization ideas below to find out what you like! Here are three easy ways to customize your mule:

Flavored Ginger Beer

Easily add a twist to your mule with a flavored ginger beer. Rachel’s Ginger Beer comes in 10+ amazing flavors, we love the blood orange!

boston-cocktail-shaker

Infused Vodka

You can do the same with vodka by swapping for a flavor-infused option. We suggest staying away from overly sweet vodka (like whipped cream), but an infused blueberry or jalapeno vodka makes a killer mule!

Garnishes

Garnish your mule with fresh herbs like mint, rosemary, or basil. You can also add fresh fruit to complement the flavored vodka or ginger beer if you used it. One of our favorite combinations is blueberry-infused vodka with a basil garnish. Go wild!

MAKE IT FOR A GROUP

Moscow mules are one of our go-to signature cocktails to make ahead for events. Make a big batch for your next party using our recipe below.

Batch Moscow Mules
Serving size: 12 cocktails

  • One bottle vodka (750 ml)72 oz ginger beer (i.e. six 12oz cans)
  • 6 limes (plus 3 more for garnish)
  • Ice for serving

Instructions

  1. Combine vodka, ginger beer, and lime juice in a pitcher. Stir well and refrigerate.
  2. When ready to serve, pour into ice-filled glasses and garnish with a lime slice, herbs, or fresh fruit.

Let us know if you make this cocktail! Post your perfect mule photo and tag us at partyontherocksseattle. Happy cocktail-ing!

Element 79: Seattle’s Newest Swanky Event Center

There are so many amazing venues for events in and around Puget Sound. One of our favorite parts of bartending and staffing events in the area is being able to travel and get to know all of the unique venues and the people behind them.

Today we’re highlighting one of our favorite newest venues – Element 79 Seattle! Element 79 launched in November of last year, and they have quickly become a hot spot for a wide variety of events. They are conveniently located in Georgetown, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Seattle.

Decor

What we love the most about this venue is their unique and funky vibe. They marry an intimate speakeasy feel with a spacious and modern footprint. From their beautiful reclaimed wood to their gorgeous vintage bar to their live green wall – they have a ton of amazing pieces to work with that make for truly special events. On top of all of the built-in details, the space is a perfect canvas to add your own touch.  

Element79_02

Space Options

There are two space options to pick from – Element 79 and the vault. Element 79 is the larger of the two. With 3000 square feet to play with, it’s perfect for wedding receptions, photo shoots, or large private parties. It has a fully equipped kitchen and plenty of room to customize the space to your needs.

The vault is 800 square feet and is the ideal space for smaller, intimate gatherings and business meetings. It also makes a perfect bridal suite for getting ready! You can rent each space on their own, or combine them together for a larger event.

Rates

Element 79 Seattle has superb rental rates for Seattle, we love the affordability they offer with a ton of value! And, they share their rates directly on their website, so there is no guessing involved when you book with them.

Diverse Events

Another main perk of this venue is that it suits so many different types of events. We have done corporate events, weddings, birthday parties, fundraisers, and a vow renewal with Element 79 so far – and each event was perfectly suited to the venue. They make it so easy to customize to your liking and are great at working with outside vendors to bring in unique elements.

Amazing Staff

Melissa and Kori make up the dream team for this woman-owned business, and we just love working with them! They are professional, friendly, fun, and eager to think outside of the box to help customize to the needs of different events. They have also created great relationships with other vendors, making event set up and coordination a breeze.

We are so excited to have Element 79 Seattle as a new event staple in the community. Visit their website to get to know more about them or follow them to see some of their recent events!

Photos by Tori Dickson

How to Pick Signature Cocktails

Trying to decide what “signature cocktails” to offer for a wedding or event? Signature cocktails are a fun and creative way to personalize your bar menu – and picking them should be too!  

In our recent post on how to plan your perfect bar menu, we broke down the amount, type, and variety of beverages to serve at any event. Today we are taking it one step further to talk about how to pick your signature cocktails. Hint: simplicity is key!

Here are our top no-stress tips for picking signature cocktails that you, and your guests, will love.

Offer only one or two options

We suggest having one, or a maximum of two, signature cocktails at an event. The more options you give, the longer it takes your guests to choose and move through the bar line. You should spend your time drinking signature cocktails, not waiting in line for them!

Stay on theme

If your wedding or event has a theme, incorporate it into the bar! We often pair specialty cocktails based on food, such as mojitos or margaritas with Mexican food, or a Negroni with Italian. You can also pick based on your colors!

His & Hers, His & His, or Hers & Hers

If you can’t decide on just one, this is a great option for couples! Base it on each person’s favorite drink, or, just pick something that you’ll enjoy.

His & His Bar Menu Sign

In honor of

A special way to memorialize someone who can’t attend your event is to serve their favorite cocktail. Your guests will love sharing in that special memory with you.

Have fun!

Signature cocktails do not need to perfectly sum up your past and future relationship in a glass – that’s a lot of pressure for one cocktail. If you DO have a drink that is meaningful to you – use it! But if not, don’t stress. Above all, signature cocktails are a fun way to share a beverage with your guests. The most important criteria, of any beverage, is that it’s delicious!

Don’t try to please everyone

Our clients often get concerned that their guests won’t like the cocktails they pick. To that we say, don’t worry about it! As long as you are providing another option like a wine or beer, your guests will be more than taken care of. Think of specialty drinks as another fun way to include your family and friends in things that you really like.

Pick a spirit that you normally drink

If you don’t know where to start, first pick a type of alcohol that you normally drink. This will help you narrow in on the types of drinks that you will probably enjoy. If you are offering two cocktails, we suggest having one clear spirit and one brown spirit. Whiskey and Vodka are the two spirits we work with the most!

Rename a classic

Make your drink feel extra special with some personalization. Instead of a vodka soda, rename it!

Sample, Sample, Sample!

Our number one tip is to sample cocktail options before you commit. Go out to your favorite bar and try out a few that you are interested in. This saves you from buying all of the ingredients that you may or may not use again, and it’s the perfect date night! You can also go on Pinterest, Etsy, or Instagram for inspiration … there are so many great options to chose from!

—————-

Still having trouble deciding? Ask your bartending service for recommendations. Here is a short list of some of our favorite tried-and-true specialty cocktails. You can’t go wrong with one of these!

What are your favorite specialty cocktails? Leave a comment or tag us @partyontherocksseattle to let us know!

Manhattan Recipe

Manhattan’s are another one of our favorite classic cocktails. Dark, smooth liquor is both warming and relaxing, perfect for chilly nights.

Manhattans haven’t always been on our go-to drink list, though. In fact, one of our partners, Jan, inspired us to share this recipe! Before finding whiskey, Jan’s favorite drink was a dirty martini with two olives. But, over time, she started to try more and more dark liquors and found herself loving them even more. And whiskey and bourbon drinkers know that once you get hooked, there is no going back.

Now, Jan’s favorite cocktail is a Manhattan, and here’s why:

Making a Manhattan is fairly simple and only requires a few ingredients. You’ll need:

-Rye or bourbon (more on that below)

-Sweet Vermouth

-Bitters

-Cocktail cherry

When it comes to making a Manhattan there are only a few decisions to make, but the details can make all the difference. When you consider that there are only four ingredients, you have to make every ingredient count.

First off is your choice of liquor – you can make a Manhattan with bourbon or rye, but we lean towards the bourbon side! Bourbon will result in a slightly sweeter and smooth drink, while rye provides more spice and a drier finish.

A good option is always Makers Mark, but there are also some great local Seattle labels that we love using. Our favorite has to be the Batch12 Bourbon from Heritage Distillery in Gig Harbor. It’s truly unique and it’s amazing in a Manhattan!

You will also need sweet vermouth and bitters. We like using orange Angostura bitters for this drink, but unflavored bitters will work as well.

The last ingredient is an important one – the cherry. Go for a real cocktail cherry packed in sugared bourbon. We promise you will taste the difference! We like this one. Sweet, pink maraschino cherries from the grocery store just won’t do.

Ingredients

2 oz bourbon

1 oz sweet vermouth

3 dashes Angostura orange bitters

Cocktail cherry, for garnish

Recipe

1.Add bourbon, vermouth, and bitters to a glass with ice. Use a cocktail shaker or stir until chilled

2. Strain into a chilled glass

3. Top with a cherry or two for garnish

Let us know if you make this recipe! Take a picture of your creation and tag us @partyontherocksseattle. Check out some of our other great recipes below!