Summertime is synonymous with grilling and barbecues. This is the perfect time to spend a quality afternoon with friends and family while enjoying delicious food. But all that grilling can make you thirsty, especially when the summer sun is beating down. It’s important to have an assortment of drinks for you and your guests nearby. There’s no official grilling beverage, so you can fill your cooler with some time-honored alcoholic and non-alcoholic favorites. From National Burger Day beers to options for the kids, here are a few beverage suggestions from Columbia Distributing.
Mothers provide us with so much support and love that it can be difficult to find the perfect gift for Mother’s Day. Besides the usual bouquet of flowers, a bottle of wine can be a great choice – especially if it’s rosé. Not only is it delicious, but rosé also has abundant health benefits, so you can feel good giving Mom something that tastes good and is good for her. As a beverage distributor that serves customers across the Pacific Northwest, Columbia Distributing explains why rosé makes an amazing Mother’s Day alcohol gift.
Margaritas don’t have to be limited to the traditional ingredients of tequila, orange liqueur, and lime. Fruits, such as strawberries, mangoes, and more, can be added for extra flavor. Or you can make a simple syrup with unique spices to add to your margarita. They can even be served frozen instead of on the rocks. Once you pick your preferred brand of tequila, Columbia Distributing has a few recipes for you to try the next time you’re looking to spruce up your margarita.
Strawberry Cucumber Margarita
This variation is incredibly refreshing, and the sweetness of the berry is complemented by the crisp, subtle flavor of the cucumber.
Ingredients
1 1/4 cups sugar
1/4 cup kosher salt
1/2 cup reposado tequila
Splash orange liqueur, such as triple sec
12 strawberries cut into quarters
1/2 peeled and seeded cucumber to garnish
2 cups ice, for blending
1 lime, quartered
Instructions
Make a simple syrup by combining sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium-high heat.
Bring to a boil and stir until the sugar is dissolved.
Remove from heat and allow the mixture to cool to room temperature.
Mix the remaining salt and sugar in a bowl.
Combine 3/4 cup of the simple syrup, tequila, orange liqueur, quartered strawberries, cucumber, and ice in a blender.
Blend until smooth.
Moisten the rim of a margarita glass with lime.
Coat the rim of the glass in the sugar/salt mixture.
Pour your margarita and garnish with cucumber slices.
Mango Lime Margarita
This margarita is excellent for a hot day, and the citrus from the limes gives it a zesty kick.
Ingredients
2 limes
2 tbsp. coarse sugar
Two 20-oz. jars of mango chunks, drained
Ice, for blending
1 1/2 cup tequila
1 1/2 cup triple sec
1/2 cup granulated sugar
Instructions
Zest the limes and combine with coarse sugar in a bowl; set aside.
Add the mangos, tequila, triple sec, granulated sugar, and ice to a blender.
Blend until smooth.
Wet the rim of the glass with a lime wedge and dip in lime zest/sugar mix.
Pour your margarita and enjoy.
The Harvest Margarita
This specialty margarita was created by Bobby Flay, and the unique simple syrup adds a depth of flavor thanks to a handful of pungent spices.
Ingredients
2 oz reposado tequila
1 1/2 oz. chilled spiced simple syrup, consisting of:
1 cup sugar
8 whole allspice berries
8 whole cloves
3 cinnamon sticks
1 inch fresh ginger, peeled and coarsely chopped
1/2 oz. freshly squeezed lime juice
A few dashes of bitters
Lime wedge, for garnish
Ice, for blending
Instructions
For the simple syrup, combine the sugar, 1 cup water, allspice, cloves, cinnamon, and ginger in a small saucepan.
Bring to a boil and cook until the sugar is completely melted.
Remove from heat and let steep for one hour.
Strain into a small bowl, cover, and chill in the refrigerator.
In a blender, combine tequila, simple syrup, lime juice, bitters, and ice.
Blend for 10 seconds.
Serve over ice and garnish with a slice of lime.
For Recipes and Tequila, Contact Columbia Distributing
Whether you’re making a traditional margarita or mixing it up with unique ingredients, Columbia Distributing carries several brands of tequila that are perfect for margaritas. Contact us today to learn more about the brands we carry and distribute to businesses in Oregon, California, and Washington.
Star Wars is one of the most popular science fiction movie series in existence. Over the years, its fan base has grown so large it has earned its own holiday. People all over the world join together, put on costumes, and throw parties every May 4. You can enhance your next celebration with these Star Wars Day drink recipes from Columbia Distributing, which are sure to be a hit with your crowd.
Creating and making cocktails is considered by many as an art form, requiring many bartenders to spend years perfecting their craft. Whether they’re mastering the classics or creating a drink of their own, professional bartenders and home mixologists alike are always finding new ways to please the palate. But where did cocktails come from, and how did we end up with the thousands of recipes we have access to today? Columbia Distributing provides alcoholic and non-alcoholic products to bars and other businesses across the Pacific Northwest, and here’s what we know about the art of cocktail creation.
Cinco de Mayo is fast approaching, and you may already be stocking up on piñatas, taco shells, and the like. But have you determined what will be on your drink menu? Whether you’re hosting a party or eating in, any holiday deserves a good beverage, especially one that brings out the best of spring. To help you prepare, Columbia Distributing in Portland, Oregon, suggests these Cinco de Mayo drinks to serve at your festivities.
Whether you’ve purchased a low-quality product or the taste is completely different than you expected, there comes a time for all of us when we purchase a bottle of bad alcohol. Once it’s open, you can’t return it, but there are a few things you can do so it doesn’t completely go to waste. Here, Columbia Distributing provides some suggestions.
Filter the Alcohol a Few Extra Times
One of the main issues with cheaper liquor and spirits is that the alcohol in question is given a very short distillation time and filtration process – affecting its taste drastically. The amount of time something is filtered directly corresponds to whether or not a spirit has that harsh burning sensation after you swallow it.
Luckily, there are a couple of easy ways for you can filter cheap alcohol at home and alleviate that bad aftertaste, including using a water pitcher with a filtration system in it. You can also strain it through a coffee filter and food-grade activated charcoal. Charcoal has been used to filter impurities out of spirits for centuries, making this a tried and true method.
Don’t Drink It Straight – Use a Mixer
If you’re looking to pour a few shots, avoid doing so with bad alcohol by itself. Instead, use mixers to alter the bitter taste. Many people use fruit juices or seltzer water to help wash it down. While this is an excellent option, you should aim to mix the alcohol with natural fruit juices and unsweetened seltzer. This is because bad-tasting alcohol is typically very dehydrating, and the added sugars in some mixers will only make the dehydration worse. Be sure to read the labels of whatever mixer you purchase to be sure that the added sugars are close to or at zero, as fruit already has natural sugars.
Infuse Cheap Spirits, Like Vodka
If you have a clear spirit like vodka or gin that needs an extra something to make it more palatable, you can infuse your bad alcohol. The most popular choice is fruit, such as apples, strawberries, watermelon, and the like. This is an exceptionally good idea if you’re looking to make cocktails with it, as the natural sugars in the fruit will add a sweetness that can cut the harshness of the alcohol and make it easier to consume. You can also use certain herbs and spices like cinnamon or mint. Of course, a combination of fruit and herbs, like watermelon and mint or apple and cinnamon, go very well together, as well.
For the Best Results, Combine These Methods
Doing any one of these things on their own will help alleviate the burn and bad taste associated with bad alcohol, but using two or more of these methods in combination can turn a bottle of cheap alcohol into a high-end spirit of your own making. At the very least, we recommend filtering the alcohol and infusing it afterward. For more tips and tricks or to view our range of products, contact Columbia Distributing today.
Alcohol is used for celebrations of all kinds, and when there is a special occasion, you break out the wine and spirits. While you may not think much of it, certain storage requirements should be maintained to ensure the integrity and quality of your alcohol. At Columbia Distributing, we offer a wide variety of products, including wine and spirits. Here are some of our best practices for wine and spirit storage.
There’s something extra refreshing about a cold soft drink on a hot day. The carbonation mixed with delicious flavors makes for a beverage that you want to come back to time and time again. Though many of the soft drinks we love are chock-full of sugars that make you feel slow and bloated, you can still get the refreshing zing of a soda without the sugar. Sparkling water is perfect for those looking to get that satisfying zing of soda without the sugar crash. Best of all, you can add virtually whatever you want to it to give it a customized flavor fit to your liking. Columbia Distributing carries an assortment of sparkling water brands, and here are a few ways to enhance yours.
Whether you’re having dinner with family or throwing a gathering with friends, it’s always important to have beverages on hand that your guests will enjoy. While beer, wine, or cocktails are usually fine, some guests can’t have or don’t prefer alcoholic beverages. Instead of limiting their choices to just water or soft drinks, it’s always a good idea to offer up a fun mocktail. At Columbia Distributing, we know how important a feeling of togetherness and inclusion is at a gathering. Here, we offer up a few mocktail recipes that will work for all your guests, no matter their age or alcohol preference.
Blueberry Guava Mocktail
With its bright and fruit-forward flavors, this mocktail is great for brunch gatherings.
Ingredients
2 oz. lemon/lime-flavored soda
5 oz. blueberry simple syrup
5 to 2 oz. guava juice
Seltzer
Ice
Instructions
Fill a tall glass with ice.
Combine the blueberry simple syrup, lemon-lime flavored soda, and guava juice.
Top with seltzer.
Garnish the leftover blueberry simple syrup.
Non-Alcoholic Sangria
Sangria is always a refreshing crowdpleaser at events and functions. This non-alcoholic sangria comes very close to the taste you get from a traditional one.
Ingredients
2 cups boiling water
2 black tea bags
2 cinnamon sticks
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3 cups pomegranate juice
1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
1 thinly sliced orange
1 thinly sliced lemon
1 thinly sliced lime
1 apple, cored and cubed
3 cups cold sparkling water or club soda
Instructions
Steep the black tea bags and cinnamon in boiling water for five minutes.
Remove and discard the tea bags.
Stir in sugar until it dissolves.
In a large pitcher, combine tea and cinnamon sticks with the pomegranate juice, orange juice, and sliced fruit.
Refrigerate for at least one hour or overnight for a more intense flavor.
Add sparkling water to the pitcher before serving.
Serve in glasses over ice.
7UP and Watermelon Float
This sweet, brightly colored drink is sure to be a hit with everyone, especially the children. It’s a fast, easy twist on the traditional root beer float.
Ingredients
Cherry 7UP
Concentrated fruit juice with a watermelon flavor
Vanilla ice cream
Instructions
Fill the glass halfway with Cherry 7UP.
Add three to five drops of the fruit juice concentrate and stir.
Place roughly two scoops of ice cream on top, or until the drink reaches the brim.
For More Mocktail Recipes, Contact Columbia Distributing
When throwing a gathering, be sure to serve beverages that everyone can enjoy. Making family-friendly mocktails is the perfect way to accomplish this. And with the wide variety of brands available through Columbia Distributing, your business will never be short on the supplies your customers need for their celebrations. Contact us today for more information about our beverage distribution services throughout Oregon, California, and Washington.
