No-Fail Cocktails for Any Dinner Party

(Source: Pexels) Image: https://images.pexels.com/photos/316891/pexels-photo-316891.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&dpr=2&h=650&w=940

What’s a dinner party with a little booze?

If you’re looking to up your hostess game this season, we’ve got 5 extremely easy cocktails to take your party up a notch.

And don’t worry if you’re not that great at mixing drinks. Everything on this list is just as simple and foolproof as Happy Camper’s very own winter brunch cocktail, Tarragon and Quince. Though in case you mess up on these recipes, or a guest isn’t a huge fan of your concoction, it doesn’t hurt to have a couple bottles of wine as a backup.

While we love our booze, we’d just like to remind you that alcohol is a diuretic. Pretty Me indicates the ratio of booze to water is 1:1, so make sure your guests readily have access to water to avoid getting dehydrated, as well as nasty hangovers!

Let’s get right into it!

1. Gimlets

One of our absolute favorite pre-prohibition style drinks, and also according to The Spruce Eats, this classic cocktail goes well with almost anything, and guests will have a hard time not falling in love with it.

You will need:

• 700 ml bottle of gin (try making it with an American or botanical style gin like Amethyst Gin from Washington state)

• Lime cordial (make your own from leftover lime juice!)

• Lime wedges

• thyme garnish

To make:

Pour 2 oz of gin and ¾ oz lime cordial in a mixing glass with ice. Mix thoroughly, then strain into a cocktail glass of your choice. Serve with a lime wedge and garnish with the fresh herbs.

2. Earl Grey Martinis

Courtesy of BBC Good Food, this martini is extremely easy to make and is a great alternative to after-dinner tea. Plus, you can make it in a huge batch ahead of time since there are not any citric or sugar ingredients that would break down over time and taste poorly if batched.

You will need:

• 1 tbsp loose leaf Earl Grey Tea

• 700 ml bottle of gin

To make:

Scoop Earl Grey tea into a large jug. Pour the gin into the jug and mix with a long spoon for a minute. Using a funnel, pour the liquid back into the bottle. Wash and dry the jug, then strain the gin back into the jug with a coffee filter or cheesecloth. Stores in the refrigerator for months. Shake with ice, or pour over ice to serve.

3. Molasses-Spiced Spiked Cider

Leaning towards a warm cocktail for this holiday season? This spiked cider from Real Simple is packed with amazing flavors to turn up the heat.

You will need:

• 4 cups apple cider (buy local for ultimate taste!)

• 3 tbsp molasses

• 2 cinnamon sticks (optional: extra for garnish)

• 1 in piece of ginger, peeled

• 1 orange, quartered

• ½ cup (4 oz) gold rum or bourbon

To make:

Add apple cider, molasses, cinnamon sticks, ginger, and orange into a pot. Heat on medium high until simmering, then turn down to low and cover. Simmer for 20 to 25 minutes, then remove from heat. Pour liquid through a fine wire-mesh strainer into a heatproof bowl or pitcher. Stir in rum. Serve warm in mugs or teacups.

4. Pineapple Party Punch

Distract your guests from the cold winter days with this fruity punch from Crazy for Crust. You might not be anywhere near a beach, but the tropical vibes of this beverage will totally make up for it.

You will need:

• 4 cups pineapple juice, chilled

• ½ cup white rum (we love Flor de Cana 4 year rum)

• 750 ml bottle of prosecco

• 2 cups chopped pineapple, frozen

To make:

Pour all ingredients into a large pitcher. Stir and serve immediately.

5. Candy Cake Vodka

Is there anything more fitting for the holiday season than this candy cane vodka? Courtesy of Rachel Ray Every Day, this can be served on its own or used to spike winter beverages.

You will need:

• 12 candy canes

• 750 ml bottle of vodka

To make:

Pulse candy canes in a food processor or blender. Pour the candy cane dust into the vodka bottle using a funnel. Screw the lid on and shake to mix. Let the vodka sit, shaking every now and then until vodka is red and candy is fully dissolved after 30 minutes. Add to homemade eggnog, hot chocolate, or serve it over ice.

Prepared solely for happycampercocktailcompany.com

Authored by Cindy France

Weddings Aren’t Seasonal: Why Fall and Winter are Great Times to Get Married

We’ve never done this before, but why not celebrate all these recent graduates, support an up and comer’s growing resume, AND learn from someone new, by having a guest post!

About the author: Andee is a recent college graduate from Arizona State University with a love of writing, the outdoors, and funky cafes. You can usually find her hiking or planning her next trip. She is passionate about traveling, her family, and the perfect cup of coffee.    

Photo by Dan Manning photography

Weddings Aren’t Seasonal: Why Fall and Winter are Great Great Times to Get Married

If you want a unique wedding, consider getting married in the fall and winter seasons. These months in the Pacific Northwest have a beauty all their own.  Many people would try to hide what these months are like by having a tropical beach theme, but that's a mistake. Instead, lean into the qualities of these months. Imagine bright fall colors or jewel tones contrasting with gray or rainy skies, cozy warming cocktails, and blazing fires. Look through these ideas and decide which sounds most appealing, then find a venue that will help you realize your wedding dreams.

Cozy Ideas

In colder months, weddings can be cozy and romantic.  To protect guests from the elements in a garden, have a tent with heaters. Provide blankets for guests to wrap around themselves. Consider providing umbrellas for guests to use and buying some wholesale towels for people to dry off.

Offer up a cocktail, like the Hello Fall, with apple cider, vanilla bean and pear puree, vodka or gin, and ginger beer-- all comforting spices that will warm up guests. Hot chocolate with fixings like marshmallows and whipped cream is also a good choice; you could offer the option of spiking it. Or, as a hot chocolate alternative, try the Chai Swizzle: chai with brown sugar, cinnamon, and Bailey's.

Chai Swizzle cocktail by Happy Camper Cocktails, photographed by Meredith McKee

Also, think about how the seasons may influence the toasts and first dance in special ways. For the toast, instead of plain champagne, try a special cocktail. The Tombez dans Les Pommes consists of apple cider, brut champagne, spice bitters, and a rosemary stir stick. For the first dance, consider a slower, more instrumental song-- there are actually fall and winter wedding song playlists available.

Hello Fall cocktail by Happy Camper Cocktails, photographed by Meredith McKee

Photography

Sparkler send offs are safer in late Fall as the rain comes into WA state, please avoid these send offs in dry weather

Before you choose a venue, you might want to consider what kind of wedding photos are the most appealing to you by looking through fall and winter bridal portfolios.  Having a photo shoot with a backdrop of fall leaves is lovely, with the rich colors a contrast to white or cream bridal gowns. Falling snow or rain in the background can be used to great romantic effect, as can umbrellas. If you can picture yourself in these photos, then that may be the type of venue and month you want to choose.

Venues

Now it's time to look at venues, which will depend on how many guests you're having and whether you want to stay indoors or out. Indoor venues include Magnuson Park in Seattle, a city-owned space with a variety of different-sized rooms you can rent with plenty of dance space. Westland Distillery in downtown Seattle has a dining room with 40-foot ceilings and floor to ceiling windows for lots of natural light; standing receptions can host 250 people while seated ones can handle 150.

For fall weddings, check out the University of Washington Botanic Gardens, which offers an indoor space that opens onto a large courtyard where you can place a bar and have dancing. The photos in the stack below are from the wedding of Jeremie and Kevin, and took place on a gorgeous day in early September.

Outdoor venues for fall or winter include Kelley Farm in Bonney Lake, Washington, which might be one of the best compromises between an indoor and an outdoor wedding. It has a huge barn, a big brick patio, spots for a tent, and separate spaces for the bride and groom to get dressed; they already have an indoor bar, so you would just need a tasty bar menu and talented bartenders to serve up some delicious winter warmers. Rock Creek Gardens in Puyallup also has a beautiful tented wedding space in a lush, private, and elegant garden setting.

Foods

For food, think hearty and warm. Find a caterer who changes their menu up for fall and winter months. Try serving hot soup in small mugs. Consider elevated comfort foods, like macaroni and cheese or grilled cheese with tomato soup. Small candied apples on sticks make a great thematic fall treat. Lava cakes, with their hot chocolate filling, are a good choice for a cooler day.

Wedding cakes should also lean into the fall and winter wedding themes. Autumn cakes can use seasonal spices, like pumpkin spice or chai and cinnamon, and be decorated with fall-colored flowers or berries. Winter cakes might be snow white or dripping with elegant chocolate ganache.

Fall and winter weddings are an opportunity to have a beautiful, creative wedding, where guests will remember cuddling up together and enjoying themselves. And during these months, venues are generally much less expensive, giving you the most bang for your buck as well as a wedding few other people will have. Just consider your guests' comfort, provide hot food and warming cocktails, and you'll be all set.