Cocktails for Agave Lovers & Mom

This week we are focusing on cocktail basics, infusions, and of course fun recipes to celebrate Cinco de Mayo & Mother's Day!

What’s going on this week:

• Just the Basics with Jules

• Margaritas, Palomas, oh my!

• The tequila trip with Tequila Ocho

• Mother’s Day recipes

• DIY Tequila Infusions to spice up your margs

• Homemade Passionfruit liqeueur

• New cocktail idea, pssst there’s Campari & rum in it

Hi everyone! It always shocks me that two weeks has gone by since I last wrote here… time is flying! And also, as I’m writing this I’m at my hotel here in Dublin, Ireland about an hour away from sipping on a Guinness. Anyway, this week we have two fun little celebrations from Cinco de Mayo & Mother’s Day. There will be plenty of Tequila & Mezcal cocktail recipes along with some inspiration for mom this Mother’s Day. But, before we get into all the cocktail recipes and have our little spirits chit-chats, I wanted to share with you some cocktail items that I think would make a great gift for Mom this year! So, if you’re looking for a little inspiration… here you go!

5 O'Clock Box Cocktail Kit | Mackenzie Childs Cocktail Shaker | Big Night Box: Dirty Martini

Breville InFizz Fusion Sparkling Beverage Carbonator | Infusion Bottle | Business & Pleasure Co. Premium Cooler Bag

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So, I’m starting a new series on Instagram called Just the Basics with Jules where I will cover some of my favorite classic cocktails that are specifically EASY and yet so delicious you should put them on your bar cart so you have them at the ready when you have a cocktail party or just want to treat yourself! That being said, I wanted to share some basics here that we should all have if we want to step up our home bartending game. So, here we go - a list of the cocktail basics 101

• Cocktail shaker: I like a tin-on-tin Boston Shaker, my ol’reliable is from ABarAbove.

• Jigger, with lines! Get a jigger that actually shows you the line measurements 1 oz 2 oz etc.

• Strainers: Fine mesh & Hawthorne are what you NEED because we are always using fresh ingredients (right?)

  • Fine mesh: gets all the pulp, ice shards, etc.

  • Hawthrone: holds the big stuff from falling in like your ice!

• Mixing Glass: This is a large glass that will hold your ice and spirits to stir & chill cocktails like an old-fashioned or negroni

• Glassware: Martini, Coupe, Rocks, Double rocks, highball

• Bonus must-haves: Bar spoon, Citrus press, y-peeler, & cocktail picks!

This should be your starting point for success!

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I also wanted to share an amazing video from The Agave Social Club during our brand trip out to Mexico with Tequila Ocho! I do have to say, going out there and meeting the people behind our spirits is SO special and I’m so lucky to have gotten the opportunity to learn more about Ocho. I can honestly say it’s a top-tier tequila from the single estate agave fields (meaning, they grow/harvest themselves rather than outsourcing agave) to the man behind the brand as a whole, Carlos Camarena. Give this video a watch to learn more and if you ever get the chance to go visit the distillery, I highly recommend it!

Also, if you are planning a trip out to Guadalajara, I have good news! I’ve started a Google Maps guide with some great cocktail bars to check out, I’ll continue to add but want to share some good ones we found

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And now, we sip!

Margaritas, Palomas, oh my!

Always remember: Margarita = 2 parts tequila, 1 part orange liqueur, and 1 part lime juice, and salt!

Strawberry Basil Spicy Margarita

• 1.5 oz tequila

• 3/4 oz fresh lime juice

• 3/4 oz cointreau

• 1 oz strawberry puree

• 3/4 oz basil syrup (equal parts water and sugar with fresh basil on medium heat until sugar dissolves, let cool and strain)

• 2-3 jalapeno slices