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.
For centuries, people have enjoyed vodka all over the globe. Whether it’s used for cooking and cocktails or to sterilize injuries in a pinch, vodka has an astounding array of uses. ivermectin tablets for humans canada With countless brands and various proofs, vodka quite literally comes in all shapes and sizes for everyone of legal drinking age to enjoy. But how much do you know about vodka history – where it comes from, how it’s made, when it was invented? At Columbia Distributing, we provide several different types of vodka to retailers across the Pacific Coast, and here, we provide a brief history of vodka.
The quarantine lifestyle has taken a toll on our eating habits. It’s all too easy to run out and get some fast food or grab a couple of snacks on your way back from the grocery store. The food we eat gives us the fuel needed to get through the day. Having a set of high-nutrient quarantine snacks handy for when hunger strikes can help you maintain higher levels of energy while meeting your body’s nutritional needs. Plus, pairing healthy snacks with the right drinks can make satisfying your hunger even sweeter. Here are a few healthy snack and drink ideas from the team at Columbia Distributing.
Juice sometimes gets a bad reputation since it can have a lot of sugar and less fiber than whole fruits or vegetables. But at the same time, many juices contain minimal sugar and are packed with essential nutrients to promote better health. Plus, they taste great and make our mornings a little brighter. If you’re looking for delicious, healthy morning juices, Columbia Distributing suggests a few options to help start the day right.
Falling in love with great wine happens more quickly than you’d think. From savoring a glass now and then to learning more about varietals, regional nuances, and area wineries, you’ll find yourself immersed in the world of wine before you know it. Still, the steps from eager novice to confident wine enthusiast can be intimidating. No matter where you are on your wine journey, Columbia Distributing offers a few tips to help you make the most of your newfound passion.
