Beverages

A Hot Buttered Rum is the perfect drink to warm up with on cold winters night.

A spooky good martini - perfect for a Halloween party.

Recipe courtesy of Kahlúa.

An easy-to-make homemade cocoa mix.  This makes a great holiday gift, when packaged in a pretty container. 

Great family treat for a warm up after a winter hike or a skating party.

Great twist on all-time favorite.

Has replaced the southern sweet tea of my youth as my absolute favorite iced tea.  The bright red color makes this tea a festive addition to any meal.

Having an elegant holiday party? Here's your punch! It's reworked from Christmas with Southern Living 2004.

I love sangria and this one is especially unusual.  Try different fruit combinations or mixing white wine with a sweeter white zinfandel.  This is a definite make in advance recipe.  You need time for the syrup to chill before blending with the wine.  I make mins a day in advance and let the flavors marry.

Lemonade is one of the classic summer drinks. The juxtaposition of tart and sweet gives this simple drink wonderfully complex flavor, adding fresh strawberries adds just enough flavor to make this an amazing cool summer drink.

Lemonade is one of the classic summer drinks. The juxtaposition of tart and sweet gives this simple drink wonderfully complex flavor. It is a great refreshing drink to pack up in your picnic basket.

No Derby Party is complete without the Mint Julep which has been the traditional beverage of Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby for nearly a century.  Each year, almost 120,000 Early Times Mint Juleps are served over the two-day period of the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby. This is a feat that requires over 10,000 bottles of Early Times Mint Julep Ready-to-Serve Cocktail, 1,000 pounds of freshly harvested mint and 60,000 pounds of ice.

The Bellini is a nice fruity champagne cocktail. In some ways this is similar to the Mimosa, but it has a distinct and unique flavor.

The Caipirinha is also gaining popularity throughout the world. It is best made with Cachaca, a Brazilian alcohol made from sugar cane, but light rum is an acceptable substitute if you can't find any Cachaca.

The ever-present, classic Lemon Shake Up is the universal fair drink. If you are looking to enjoy this cool and refreshing drink on some hot day, here is the simple recipe so you can make them for yourself rather than waiting for the fair!