Oh my goodness!!! I cannot believe that it is almost the Fourth of July. I must admit, it is my  favorite holiday. I thought in preparation, which every good iron-ranger needs before the fourth. I think this will be the perfect cocktail to prepare us all! Now, rest up, and look out iron range fourth of July, I’m ready!!!!

All American Blue

2 oz. SKYY Vodka
1 oz. Blue Curacao
2 oz. White Grape Juice
Splash of soda

Pour all ingredients except soda in a shaker and shake hard. Pour into a highball glass with the ice and garnish with a lime or green apple slice.

Read more: http://www.drinkoftheweek.com

Cinco de Mayo (May 5) is a Mexican holiday celebrating the Mexican Army’s unlikely victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. While it’s not a federal holiday in Mexico or the United States, we observe the day as a general celebration of Mexican heritage and culture. Like with most holidays, the most popular way to celebrate is with cocktails and parties! The Margarita is the traditional choice for Cinco de Mayo festivities, but there are a lot of different styles and flavors as well as other cocktails that suit the mood.

The transition from winter to spring is one of the most anticipated times of year (especially for those of us in the north). The snow has melted, the sun in shining, the ground comes to life with green and it is once again enjoyable to be outside longer than 10 minutes at a time. Easter would not be the same without chocolate and the Easter Bunny cocktail will take care of your springtime sweet tooth! On behalf of rangebuzz.com Have a safe and happy Easter!

Easter Bunny Cocktail

1 1/2 oz. Dark Creme de Cacao
1/2 oz. Vodka
1 tsp. Chocolate Syrup
1 tsp. Cherry Brandy

Shake creme de cacao and vodka with ice. Strain over ice in an old-fashioned glass. Top with a float of chocolate syrup and cherry brandy.

Chocolate is a traditional Valentine’s Day gift. And while there isn’t really such a thing as bad chocolate, Valentine’s Day is an occasion to show you put more thought into your gift than running to Target and grabbing the last sampler box! This year make the one you love a mouth-watering cocktail to share. Enjoy, and Happy Valentines Day!

Chocolate Soufle-tini

1 ½ parts Vodka
1 ½ parts Chocolate Liqueur
Splash of Frangelico (hazelnut Liquor)

Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a cocktail glass
Garnish with a powdered chocolate rim (optional).

With Christmas just a few weeks away It’s time for parties and gatherings. This classic champagne cocktail is wonderful for Holiday entertaining. Light and refreshing, the Poinsettia Cocktail ads an extra bit of holiday cheer to any get together. Enjoy!

Poinsettia Cocktail

Champagne
1/2 oz. Cointreau
3 oz. Cranberry Juice

Add chilled Cointreau and Cranberry to chilled champagne glass. Stir and top with Champagne just before serving.

Now that Thanksgiving is over, it’s time to think Christmas! The Holiday season is one for gathering. Punches are a quick, easy way to let your guests serve themselves. I hope you enjoy this one. Salute!

Christmas Punch

1 (750ml) bottle light rum
1 oz. triple sec
2 cups orange juice
2/3 cup lemon juice
1 4 oz. jar maraschino cherries, with juice
1/2 cup sugar
1 orange, sliced into rounds
1 lemon, sliced into rounds
1 8oz. ) can pineapple chunks
1 liter carbonated water

1 In a punch bowl combine sugar, orange and lemon juice, stirring until sugar dissolves. Add cherries, triple sec, light rum, orange slices, lemon slices, and pineapple chunks. Set for 1-2 hours to allow flavors to blend.
2 Add carbonated water and ice just before serving.

This fall cranberry cocktail is perfect for Thanksgiving. It’s light enough that it won’t compete with a plate full of turkey, mashed potatoes and of course, pumpkin pie. The unique mixture of cranberry, honey, bourbon, green tea and ginger ale is full enough to satisfy any taste bud. Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy!

Grateful Cranberry Cocktail

1 1/2 oz. bourbon
1 oz. cranberry-honey syrup (recipe below)
Green tea flavored ginger ale
Frozen cranberries
Crushed ice

Fill collins glass three-quarters full with crushed ice and frozen cranberries.  Pour in bourbon and syrup, then top off with ginger ale.

Cranberry-honey syrup

Boil equal parts water, honey and cranberries. Strain out solids, then refrigerate the liquid syrup.

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. I mean, who doesn’t love the excuse to pig out on all sorts of yummy treats?  I know I do! Looking around for Thanksgiving dessert inspiration, I found some mouth-watering pumpkin desserts that incorporate a wee bit of booze. I hope you enjoy this one, it looked so good!

Pumpkin Mousse Parfaits

Ingredients:
1/4 cup dark rum
1 packet (2 teaspoons) unflavored gelatin powder
1 (15-ounce can) pumpkin (not pie filling)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
2 extra-large egg yolks
2 teaspoons grated orange zest
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 1/2 cups cold heavy cream
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Sweetened whipped cream
8 to 10 chopped ginger cookies
Crystallized ginger, for decoration, optional

Directions:
Place the rum in a heat-proof bowl and sprinkle the gelatin over it. Set aside for 10 minutes for the gelatin to soften.

In a large bowl, whisk together the pumpkin, granulated sugar, brown sugar, egg yolks, orange zest, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Set the bowl of gelatin over a pan of simmering water and cook until the gelatin is clear. Immediately whisk the hot gelatin mixture into the pumpkin mixture. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, whip the heavy cream and vanilla until soft peaks form. Fold the whipped cream into the pumpkin mixture.

To assemble, spoon some of the pumpkin mixture into parfait glasses, add a layer of whipped cream, then some chopped cookies. Repeat, ending with a third layer of pumpkin. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight. To serve, decorate with whipped cream and slivered crystallized ginger.