The Countess

For Downtown Abbey fans, you can count how many times Violet Crowley burned someone on the popular British series. The good news is you won’t get burned by this amazing cocktail. This recipe serves one, but you can double or triple up for eager party guests.

What to Gather

• 1 ½ ounces of Gin
• 1 ½ ounces of sweet vermouth
• 2 dashes of bitters
• 1 ½ ounces of club soda
• 1 orange garnish

Fill a shaker halfway with ice. Pour in gin, sweet vermouth, and bitters. Shake thoroughly. Pour into a champagne glass and splash with chilled club soda. Now run the orange garnish along with the full rim of the glass to flavor it. Place it in the beverage and cheers!

Brown Buttered Rum

This large batch recipe serves 8 to 10 guests and is perfect for intimate gatherings. Once it has been prepared, you are free to mingle and answer questions about the extraordinary twist on the traditional Hot Buttered Rum cocktail.

What to Gather

• 1 stick of unsalted butter
• 1 ¾ cups of brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons of nutmeg
• 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
• 1 750-ml bottle of Meyer’s dark rum
• 24 ounces of boiling water
• 3 cinnamon sticks

Place butter in a large saucepan on medium heat until it starts to turn a shade of light brown. Be certain to remove from heat if it begins to burn or shows signs of black spots. Add in the nutmeg and brown sugar and stir for about 1 minute or until fully melted.

Remove the saucepan from the heat and gently blend in the vanilla and Meyer’s rum. Now pour in the boiling water and cinnamon. Simmer and stir gently. Serve warm.

This recipe can also be tweaked by substituting apple cider for the water, brown sugar and vanilla. 

We hope our Carrington at Barker Cypress community members enjoy these cocktail recipes. If you or a friend would like more information about our Cypress apartments, call us today.

The post Party-Pleasing Cocktail Recipes appeared first on Carrington at Barker Cypress Blog.

Vanilla Sky

Ingredients:

1 1/2 ounces vanilla rum

A splash of Blanc de Noir champagne

1 ounce fresh strawberry puree

Sugar

Directions:

• Rim a martini glass with sugar
• Add the rum and puree into a cocktail shaker
• Shake and then strain your ingredients into the martini glass
• Add the splash of champagne and serve

Cherry Vanilla Rum and Coke

Ingredients:

1 cup cherry cola

3 tablespoons vanilla rum

1 tablespoon maraschino cherry juice

Maraschino cherry

Directions:

• Pour the cherry cola, vanilla rum and the cherry juice into a tall glass over ice
• Garnish with a maraschino cherry and serve

Palermo

Ingredients:

2 parts vanilla rum

2 parts pineapple juice

1 1/2 parts dry white wine

1/3 part simple sugar

Directions:

• Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes
• Pour in your ingredients
• Shake and then strain your drink into a cocktail glass

Vanilla Rum Mojito

Ingredients:

2 ounces vanilla rum

1 ounce simple syrup

7 mint leaves

Half of a lime, cut into quarters

6 ounces seltzer

Directions:

• Muddle the mint leaves and the lime at the bottom of a cocktail shaker
• Fill a cocktail shaker with ice 
• Add the simple syrup and the vanilla rum
• Shake well 
• Pour into a glass and top with seltzer

Cheesecake Martini 

Ingredients:

2 ounces vanilla rum

1 ounce pineapple juice

1 ounce cranberry juice

Directions:

• Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker that is half filled with ice cubes
• Shake, then strain into a cocktail glass

After a long day at work, what can be more relaxing than sipping one of these cocktails? How about enjoying your cocktail in the privacy of your own patio or balcony? If your current home doesn't offer you a beautiful private space for relaxation, come check out our apartments in Cypress, Texas. Each has either a private patio or balcony. Our gated community also boasts a resort-style pool and a gourmet grilling area. 

The post 5 Delicious Vanilla Rum Cocktails to Add to Your Drink Repertoire appeared first on Carrington at Barker Cypress Blog.

Blueberry Rum Smash

The blueberries in this cocktail make it a fresh, fruity drink that is perfect for a baby shower or a backyard barbecue. 

What you’ll need: 

1 tablespoon of brown sugar

Fresh or frozen blueberries

2 ounces of rum

3/4 ounce of freshly squeezed lemon juice

Ginger ale

How to make it: 

Cover the bottom of the glass you’re using with some blueberries. Add lemon juice and brown sugar, muddling until the sugar melts. Add crushed ice to the glass and then add rum. Top with the ginger ale and stir gently. Makes one cocktail. 

Green Tea Infused Mojito

This fresh, springy twist on the mojito is sure to please your guests, and green tea is a healthy choice. 

What You’ll Need: 

4 large mint leaves 

1 tablespoon of fresh lime juice

1/2 cup of brewed green tea that has been chilled

2 teaspoons of sugar

1 ounce of white rum

How to Make It: 

Muddle mint, sugar and lime juice together in a glass until the flavors of the leaves release. Add ice until the glass is around three-quarters full. Pour green tea and rum into the glass, and then stir well. Makes a single cocktail. 

Basil Strawberry Margarita

This cocktail doesn't just taste great, but it looks beautiful at your spring party, too. 
 

What you’ll need: 

8 basil leaves

1 can of frozen limeade concentrate

2 to 2 1/2 cups of tequila (silver or gold)

10 strawberries (more if you’re using small ones)

How to make it: 

Add limeade concentrate to a pitcher. Add 2/5 cans of water and the tequila. Stir well. Hull your strawberries and then slice, adding to the pitcher. Crumple leaves of basil in your hands, so the flavor and smell releases, and then add them to the pitcher. Refrigerate the pitcher, covered, for a minimum of 4 hours. Serve with extra strawberries for garnishing if desired. Makes around 8 servings. 

Planning a spring party? These drinks are sure to please everyone who attends. If any of your soiree guests are looking for apartments in Cypress, have them call our office to find out what floor plans we currently have available. 

The post 3 Cocktails You Can Serve at Any Spring Soiree appeared first on Carrington at Barker Cypress Blog.