Memorable Memorial Day Cocktails

Memorial Day. The day we celebrate and remember our fallen soldiers who served in the United States Armed Forces. During your commemoration, we encourage you to create a memorable day for yourself and for your friends. How? Well, with these cocktails of course, which are as patriotic as they come.

 

The Flag Pop

 

Photo courtesy of flickr.com

Photo courtesy of flickr.com

 

1/2 oz Grenadine
1/2 oz Mr. & Mrs. T Sweet & Sour Mix
1 oz Skyy Infusions All Natural Raspberry Vodka
1/2 oz Dekuyper Signature Blue Curacao

 

Pour sour mix and vodka into cocktail shaker over ice. *Pour the 1/2 oz of grenadine, followed by the vodka/sour mix and finish with the Blue Curaco.

 

*For best results, use a spoon to help layer the liquids.

 

 

Binny’s Apple Pie

 

2 oz Binny’s Hand Picked Buffalo Trace
1 oz Dr. McGillicuddy’s Apple Pie Schnapps Liqueur

 

Pour bourbon and apple liqueur into cocktail shaker over ice. Strain over ice in a rocks glass.

 

 

Uncle Sam-tini

 

Photo courtesy of halfhourmeals.com

Photo courtesy of halfhourmeals.com

 
 
1 oz Dekuyper’s Island Punch Pucker
1 oz Smirnoff Lemon Light Sorbet Vodka
1/2 oz Cointreau
1/2 teaspoon Agave Nectar
Sugar
Maraschino Cherries

 

Pour the Island Punch Pucker, vodka, Cointreau, and Agave Nectar over ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake until chilled. Create a sugar rim on the glass. Strain mixture equally between two glasses. Garnish with cherries.

 

 

Please enjoy responsibly.

 

Cinco de Binny’s: Taco Night

Jalepeno. Cilantro. Mango.

 

YUM.

 

Binny’s South Loop Tasting Room bartender, Josh Dempsey has done it again! You can find him this weekend whipping up some SPICY (yet sweet) margaritas! Can’t make it to the bar? Here’s how to create your own!

 

Cocktail GlassTaco Night

 

2 oz Camarena Silver Tequila
1/4 oz Luxardo Triple Sec
1 1/2 oz Mango Puree
2 oz Stirrings Margarita Mix
Slice of Jalapeno
Lime wheel
2-3 Sprigs of Cilantro

 

Mix together and shake. Strain into a margarita glass and garnish with lime wheel and slice of jalapeno! Aplausos!

 

Binny’s Derby Mint Julep

It’s time for the Kentucky Derby! We’re celebrating with a classic – you guessed it – a Mint Julep. Of course our favorite is a Buffalo Trace Mint Julep. We headed to the South Loop Tasting Room for this not-so-secret recipe:

 

Derby Mint Julep
 
2 1/2 oz Buffalo Trace Bourbon
1/2 oz Simple Syrup
2 oz Water
4 Sprigs of Mint
 
Muddle the sprigs of mint with the simple syrup. Pour in bourbon and water. Serve on the rocks with a mint sprig garnish!

 

Binny’s Loaded Bloody Mary

Day after the St. Patrick’s Day… Saturday mornings after a night at The Hanguppe… Another Cub’s loss… we’ve all been there. But don’t worry, this bloody mary was designed to help you get through it all.

 

Cocktail GlassBinny’s Loaded Bloody Mary

Zing Zang Bloody Mary Mix
Your choice of vodka
Dash of hot sauce

 

Now for the good part- the garnish. On a skewer place a:
Pickle
Piccante Salami
Peccoroni with red pepper
Cocktail onion
One massive blue cheese stuffed olive
Drench in balsamic vinaigrette

 

Give our South Loop Tasting Room a visit and one of Binny’s awesome bartenders will be sure to whip up this meaty cocktail for you!

Countdown to St. Patrick’s Day: Two Days!

It’s Thursday and we’re ready for some Whiskey! Celebrate this St. Patrick’s Day weekend with an authentic Irish cocktail!

 

2 Days Left to St Patrick’s Day Weekend! Sláinte!

 

Bushmills Irish Buck


1.5 oz Bushmills Blended Irish Whiskey

2 oz Ginger Ale
1 Squeeze Lime Juice
1 Wheel Lime

 

Combine the whiskey and lime juice over ice in a collins glass. Top with ginger ale and garnish with a lime wheel.

 

 

Countdown to St. Patrick’s Day: Four Days!

 It’s one of our favorite times of the year, and we’re counting down with some Irish inspired cocktails. Enjoy!

 


 

Baileys Minty Shamrock

 

2oz Baileys Mint Chocolate Irish Cream Liqueur
0.5oz Smirnoff Vanilla Flavored Vodka

 

 

Shake with ice, strain into martini glass, garnish with mint and chocolate swizzle stick.

 

 

National Kahlua Day

I bet you’re getting a little tired of all these holidays… but we’re just getting started!

 

Today is National Kahlua Day.

 

 
Here’s the story of Kahlua (according to Kahlua) in a few sentences.
 
-Kahlua was created in 1936 by chemist Montalvo Lara. It means “House of the Acolhua people.” Lara used coffee beans from the fields of Veracruz, which were grown by a pair of brothers, the Alvarez.
 
-In the 1950′s,Kahlua became popular and began global distribution. It wasn’t until the 1960′s though, that it hit North America and of course, the U.S. fell in love with its creamy and distinctive Mexican flavored goodness. From there, it grew and grew!
 
-In 2007, Kahlua joined the flavor craze and added flavors like French Vanilla, Hazelnut and Mocha.
 

Kahlua has been a huge staple in weddings contributing to the white russian phenomenon and has been sweetening peoples coffee since.. well.. seems like forever. Be sure to stop by your local Binny’s after work and grab that big bottle of Kahlua… you know you want to!

 

Happy National Margarita Day!

You might think that the month of February already has too many holidays. Well, here’s a holiday we can all get behind. Join us this Friday as we celebrate National Margarita Day.

 

Yep. It’s a thing.

 

To prepare, we headed to our South Loop Tasting Room and asked our crack team of cocktail specialists for their best custom margarita recipe. Check it out:

 

Cocktail GlassThe Binny’s Margarita

 

2oz Don Julio Blanco
3/4oz Gran Torres
1/4 to 1/2oz Agave Nectar (Add more or less to taste)
2 1/2oz Fresh Lemon/Lime juice blend (Add more or less to taste)

 

   Give it a quick shake, strain over ice and garnish with a slated rim and lime wheel. 

 

That agave nectar is the secret to a great margarita. It’s cleaner in taste and naturally lower in calories than sugar or high fructose corn syrup based mixers. Special thanks to Josh, our bartender, for sharing his awesome Margarita recipe!

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Lovely Cocktails for Valentine’s Day

Oh, Valentine’s Day. A time of celebration, love and of course- indulging! Try one of these recommended holiday treats with your loved one or single bff’s!

 

Popping bottles: The 2011 Banfi Rosa Regale Brachetto d’Acqui is a sparkling red with festive cranberry color and has a fresh raspberry taste, with crisp acidity, enticing the palate with an initial softness, graduating to a round luscious finish with just a touch of sweetness to hit the spot.

 

For all of you adventurous beer lovers: Try Lindemans Framboise or  Liefman’s Cuvee Brut. They both offer a lot of sweet and tart fruit. Both are a pinkish red, succulently fruity, and almost dangerously sippable.

 

Now if you’re trying to get really fancy, we have some great cocktail choices fit to please everyone.

 

For the ladies

Be sure to try X-Rated Fusion Liqueur. At $22.99 a bottle, you have many ways to enjoy this sensuous fusion of ultra premium French vodka & Sicilian blood orange mingling with mango and passion fruits. Enjoy over ice or mix with Champagne for a fruity and bubbly Valentine’s Day treat.

 

For the men

 

Bring on the whiskey! This Cupid’s Manhattan is guaranteed to not disappoint. Pour him this spicy twist on a classic cocktail to make his head spin… in a good way. Include 2 parts Redemption Rye, 1 part M&R Sweet Vermouth, a dash of Fee Brothers Cherry Bitters for fruity sweetness and a dash of Bittermens Hellfire Habanero Shrub Bitters to spice things up.

 

So whether you’ve got a hot date or are celebrating with your closest friends, be sure to try one of these festive liquid treats! Show us your version on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram!