“Duke of Earl” – Inspired by Bridgerton
Courtesy of 700 Drayton at Mansion on Forsyth Park
Drink away your sorrows that Regé-Jean Page isn’t reprising his role for season two and join Mansion on Forsyth Park for a spiked afternoon high tea. Worthy of a Bridgerton or anyone partaking in London’s high society … it’s the talk of the ton and sure to keep his memory alive. This pastel-hued, fruity, Earl Grey inspired cocktail, fitting even for the Duke of Hastings (cue the waterworks), is festively garnished and prepared for the most sophisticated palate. Some might say this cocktail is this season’s “Diamond of the First Water.”
Ingredients
.75 ounce Earl Grey syrup
.5 ounce lemon juice
1 ounce dry gin
1 ounce Lillet Blanc
Directions:
For the Earl Grey syrup: Bring 1 cup sugar, 1 cup water and 2 tablespoons loose leaf Earl Grey tea to a simmer in a small sauce pot and remove from heat. Allow to steep for 2 minutes then strain and cool.
For the cocktail: Combine ¾ ounce Earl Grey syrup, ½ ounce lemon juice, 1 ounce dry gin, and 1 ounce Lilet Blanc into a shaker half filled with ice and shake vigorously. Strain through a fine mesh strainer into a chilled coupe and garnish with a lemon twist or a sprig of lemon verbena.
“Kiawah Sunrise” – Inspired by Selling Sunset
Courtesy of Timbers Kiawah in Kiawah Island, SC
Showcasing a life of luxury through the lens of million-dollar real estate, Selling Sunset delivered a much-needed retreat and taste of the *sweet* life during lockdown. Inspired by this real estate themed reality escapism, Timbers Kiawah is serving up curb appeal in cocktail form with their Kiawah Sunrise, blending fresh strawberries, tart lemon juice, strawberry simple syrup, demerara syrup, whiskey bourbon, a dash of black walnut bitters and a splash of club soda, making for a perfect concoction to close any sale.
Ingredients
2 fresh strawberries, sliced
.5 ounce lemon juice
.25 ounce Demerara syrup
.25 ounce strawberry simple syrup
2 ounces Four Roses whiskey bourbon
2 dashes black walnut bitters
Splash club soda
Strawberry garnish
Directions:
In a shaker glass, combine strawberries and lemon juice and muddle together. Add in ice, demerara syrup, strawberry syrup, bourbon and bitters. Shake vigorously for six to eight seconds. Fill rocks glass with ice and double-strain cocktail into glass. Float with club soda and garnish with strawberry.
“Emily in the Smokies” – Inspired by Emily in Paris
Courtesy of Southern Comfort at Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Water Park
Emily turned some heads when she arrived in Paris, and this smokey concoction is bound to turn yours! Similar to the Netflix hit, this cocktail is all about adding some foreign flair to an American classic. Made from aged Buffalo Trace mixed with blood orange bitters, Bordeaux cherries and orange expression, this will have anyone, from fashionistas in Paris to Smoky Mountain bourbon connoisseurs, saying, “ooh la la!”
Ingredients
2 ounces Buffalo Trace bourbon
Splash of Bordeaux cherry juice
3 dashes blood orange bitters
2 sugar cubes
1 Bordeaux cherry (for garnish)
Orange peel (for garnish)
Directions:
In a glass old fashioned mixer, place two sugar cubes and the fruit of an orange wedge into the bottom of the glass, then coat the sugar cubes with three dashes of blood orange bitters and a splash of Bordeaux cherry juice. Pour in two ounces of Buffalo Trace Bourbon, then stir with bar spoon until sugar is dissolved. Double strain into a rocks glass and pour over one large ice ball. Garnish with a Bordeaux cherry and an orange peel. Delivered to the table in a smoking decanter from ignited cherry wood.
“Key Largo’s Little Secret” – Inspired by Bloodline
Courtesy of Bungalows Key Largo, Fla.
The first and only all-inclusive resort in the Florida Keys, Bungalows Key Largo, is a luxury, adults-only escape perfect for those looking to forget the naggings buried in everyday life. While Bloodline is all about family secrets and a dark past, Bungalows’ secret to success is embracing the easy-going, island vibes of Key Largo – no family drama welcome here! The resort’s specialty cocktail, Key Largo’s Little Secret, embraces the elegance of the property with a simple yet delightfully refined libation, made for guests lounging poolside without a care in the world.
Ingredients
1.5 ounces vodka
4 ounces lemonade
1.25 ounces blueberry simple syrup
Directions:
Pour vodka, lemonade and blueberry syrup into a shaker with ice and mix for 10 seconds. After fully mixed, strain the liquid and pour into a Collins glass over fresh ice. Garnish with a lemon wedge, blueberry and cherry.
“The Lavender Lasso” – Inspired by Ted Lasso
Courtesy of Charlie Park in Tallahassee, Fla.
In a year filled with despair, Ted Lasso provided a much-needed break in order to laugh and have hope. With its London setting, Ted Lasso was a refreshing newcomer to the AppleTV lineup, just like this refreshing libation will be hitting Tallahassee, Fla. this spring. The Lavender Lasso features floral Empress Gin, with its distinct purple hue coming from the pigment of the butterfly pea flower – amplified by florality with a house made lavender syrup, house made IPA syrup, in addition to coconut water and pineapple juice. This is all accented with fresh edible flowers, dried lavender on the rim and a sprinkling of ube dust to add some brightness to an otherwise lackluster year.
Ingredients
1.5 ounces Empress gin
.75 ounces Coco water
1 ounce pineapple
1 ounce lime
.25 ounce lavender syrup
.25 ounce IPA syrup
.25 ounce butterfly pea flower syrup
Directions:
Shake all ingredients vigorously with ice and strain into martini glass or coupe rimmed with dried lavender flowers. Lightly sprinkle ube dust over the froth when poured for contrast.
“Pogue Tea” – Inspired by Outer Banks
Courtesy of Bogue Sound Distillery in North Carolina’s Crystal Coast
John B and friends (and foes) will be back soon for Season two of the Netflix coming-of-age hit, and local Bogue Sound Distillery is ready with summery cocktails inspired by the show, which is set within the destination, including Pogue Tea.
Ingredients
2 ounces JAPC Salted Caramel spirit
.5 ounce Triple Sec
Top off with ½ sour mix & ½ Coca Cola
Directions
Pour all ingredients into a highball glass over ice. Pour into mixer and then back into glass. Garnish with lemon slice.
“Royal Dog” – Inspired by The Crown
Courtesy of Mico at Grand Bohemian Hotel Charlotte
Looking for a cocktail fit for the royal family? Look no further than the Royal Dog at Grand Bohemian Hotel Charlotte located in the heart of The Queen City. This royally inspired cocktail is a jubilee of flavors and will curb any craving with hints of elderflower, grapefruit and rose botanical vodka and lavender powder – even Queen Elizabeth’s sweet tooth couldn’t bypass this charming concoction.
Ingredients
1.5 ounces Lillet Blanc
.5 ounce St. Germain Elderflower liqueur
2 ounces Ketel One Grapefruit & Rose Botanical vodka
Lavender powder
Directions:
Place in a cocktail shaker with ice chips and shake for 15 seconds. Rim your favorite vintage glass with lavender powder and strain.
“Polly’s Lament” – Inspired by Peaky Blinders
Courtesy of Stone & Webster at Plant Riverside District
The classic Tipperary cocktail dates back to 1917, a time of turmoil in post World War I Britain – as well as the setting for the crime family series Peaky Blinders. The name Tipperary is a nod to the county in Ireland, home to many a battle-weary soldier in search of life after war. Our version at Plant Riverside District, Polly’s Lament, features Grand Marnier liqueur in celebration of the flashy, tough as nails matriarch of the Shelby gang and Polly’s own violent battle to protect her family. Ahead of her time and as dangerous as any man, Polly herself said it best: “Sometimes the women have to take over…”
Ingredients
1.5 ounces Teeling’s Irish whiskey
.5 ounces Green Chartreuse
1 ounce Carpano Antica vermouth
Bar spoon Grand Marnier
4 dashes Angostura bitters
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass and stir to dilute. Strain into a chilled coupe and express an orange peel over the cocktail. Garnish with an orange twist.
“Lucin Cut-Off” – Inspired by Hell on Wheels
Courtesy of High West Distillery in Park City, Utah
Built by the Southern Pacific Company between Feb. 1902 and Mar. 1904, The Lucin Cut-Off was the ambitious project to bypass the original Promontory Summit line where the Golden spike was driven in 1869 – marking the completion of the first Transcontinental Railroad. By heading west across the Great Salt Lake from Ogden to Lucin, 44 miles (71 km) were cut off the original route and significantly decreased curvature and grade, saving considerable time and expense for freight.
Ingredients
1 ounce Double Rye
.75 ounce Averna
.5 ounce Highland Park 12
Barspoon Crème de Banane
1 ounce cold brew concentrate
.5 ounce cinnamon syrup
Orange garnish
Directions
Add all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice, stir until chilled. Strain over 1×1 ice in an old-fashioned glass. Garnish with orange zest.
“Cobra Strike” – Inspired by Cobra Kai
Courtesy of Planet Hollywood Beach Resort Cancun
Nostalgia goes hand in hand with iconic 90s brand Planet Hollywood – and so does movie memorabilia. With Karate Gi shirts from the original “Karate Kid” film on display at the resort, Planet Hollywood draws inspiration from the movie’s new sequel, “Cobra Kai,” to create a cocktail that packs a “Cobra Strike.”
Ingredients
1 ounce lychee syrup
.33 ounce vermouth bianco
1.5 ounces vodka
Top soda
Lychee (for garnish)
Basil (for garnish)
Directions:
Place in a cocktail shaker with ice chips and mix for 15 seconds; pour into your favorite vintage glass. Bubble smoke gun is used for the final effect with Bubble Gum-infused smoke. Add lychee syrup, vermouth and vodka into a shaker. Add in ice and shake your mixture. Strain and serve in a glass over crushed ice, top off with soda. Decorate with a lychee and basil in a spear.
“Burst Your Bubble” – Inspired by Sex and the City
Courtesy of Terrace 16 at Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago
During the pandemic, nostalgic shows provided a sense of comfort (and created a stir when revivals were announced). Inspired by the iconic Carrie Bradshaw, Sex and the City takes place in a time when people would dress up and get out and socialize – something we are all eager to do. The cleverly-named “Burst Your Bubble” cocktail at Terrace 16 is designed to be enjoyed once people are ready to safely socialize once again, featuring iichiko, St. Germain, raspberry and sparkling white wine with an eye-popping bubble gum-infused smoke finish.
Ingredients
1.5 ounces iichiko
.75 ounce St. Germain
.75 ounce 100% raspberry puree
.5 ounce 1:1 simple syrup
.5 ounce lemon juice
.5 ounce sparkling white wine
Directions:
Place in a cocktail shaker with ice chips and mix for 15 seconds. Pour into your favorite vintage glass. Bubble smoke gun is used for the final effect with bubble gum-infused smoke.
“Streamsong Private Select” – Inspired by Yellowstone
Courtesy of Streamsong Resort
In Yellowstone, the Dutton family – led by patriarch John Dutton (played by Kevin Costner / Josh Lucas) – owns the largest cattle ranch in the country, with enough land to fit all the drama the family stirs up. On this land, steeped in rich history, loyal wranglers bear a branding mark as a badge of honor. While Season 4 is due out in June, Florida’s Streamsong Resort has partnered with Maker’s Mark for its own “new release,” a bespoke bourbon blend called Streamsong Private Select.
Bottled and branded with the signature red wax, the secret is in the wood; American and French oak staves (wood planks) are cooked at varying temperatures and lengths to create unique taste options. Matured Maker’s Mark is barrel finished with the resort’s unique combination of staves with prominent flavors of smoke, dark fruit and cacao.