Tag Archive: citrusy

  • garden-party-recipes-with-Clique-Vodka
  • Cocktail Pairing: Summer Rolls and Zen Gardens
  • Using complementing flavors and ingredients is the first step in creating a fabulous cocktail pairing, so today I'll be showing how to make one of my favorites using herbs and veggies from the garden in summer rolls, paired with a Zen Garden cocktail from the MixBook!   The first thing ...
  • Fri Jun 26th
    Tara Shinn
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  • berries-loaded-with-antioxidants
  • Are you getting enough antioxidants from your cocktails?
  • We all know that making healthy choices can be hard- especially when the weekend rolls around. Luckily, berries have tons of positive effects on health and can easily be added to to your liquid diet for a tasty dose of vitamins and antioxidants that will help you keep partying for years to come! H...
  • Sat Jun 13th
    Tara Shinn
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  • use-any-vinegar-to-make-a-cocktail-gastrique
  • Using cocktail gastriques
  • If you're an avid diner I'm sure you've seen the term "gastrique" used on a menu at least a few times (*Bonus points if you knew it was some type of sauce!*), but what are they really? To put it quite simply, it's caramelized sugar that has been mixed with vinegar to create a very flavorful sweet an...
  • Thu Mar 26th
    Tara Shinn
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  • thanksgiving-cocktail-bruleed-cranberries
  • The perfect Thanksgiving cocktail: Cran-Apple Cider
  • What's a celebration without the perfect Thanksgiving cocktail? Whether you're hosting Thanksgiving dinner, or don't want to show up empty handed, this super easy infusion recipe might even turn into a annual tradition!   For this deliciously easy infusion recipe you'll need to first infu...
  • Thu Nov 20th
    Tara Shinn
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  • halloween-happy-hour
  • Up the Boos for your Halloween Happy Hour!
  • Not sure what to serve at your Halloween party or just need a quick pre-game cocktail before Halloween Happy Hour? These 5 Halloween cocktails will have you full of boos and ready to party! 1. Pumpkin-Tini You can't go wrong with this classic recipe, and with just 5 minutes of prep, it's a sna...
  • Fri Oct 31st
    Tara Shinn
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  • pixie-stick-syrup-blog
  • How to make pixie syrup for cocktails
  • Everyone knows that candy is the best part of Halloween- now you can turn it into a cocktail! This simple pixie syrup recipe is easy to make and can be made into cocktails, martinis or shooters for your big Halloween bash! 1. Sort your pixies You can choose to make whatever colors you want, bu...
  • Thu Oct 9th
    Tara Shinn
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  • top-5-home-bar-tools
  • Top 5 tools every home bar should have
  • Whether your experimenting with new cocktail trends or just love a good Martini, having the right tools (and knowing how to use them!) in your home bar makes crafting a great cocktail about a zillion times easier. Worried about breaking the bank? Fret not- you should be able to pick up everything on...
  • Thu Sep 18th
    Tara Shinn
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  • ultimate-mule-blog
  • What’s 10x better than a Moscow Mule? A Latvian one of course!
  • Who doesn't love a good Moscow mule? They're spicy, citrusy, and if made properly, super cold due to the traditional copper mug. It's almost silly to think you could improve on the classic cocktail, but we did! Here are step by step instructions on how to make a Latvian Mule- Made with Latvian Cliqu...
  • Thu Sep 11th
    Tara Shinn
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  • Untitled
  • celebrate labor day with the real maguire
  • Labor day weekend is upon us, and we all know what that means- Sunday Funday cocktails!! We work hard all year round so it seems natural to find a reason to celebrate even if we don't know who exactly came up with the idea ( was it Peter J. Maguire, co-founder of the Federal Labor Union, or Matthew ...
  • Fri Aug 29th
    Tara Shinn
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  • herbal-sugars
  • How to make herbal sugars for rimming
  •   We all know how a cinnamon sugar rim can take a fresh apple-tini to a new level- so why stop there? Using dried herbs to make herbal sugars is super easy, and will take classics to a whole new level! Let get started:   Add a few pinches of dried herb to a mortar (or spice gr...
  • Thu Aug 7th
    Tara Shinn
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  • How to dry fresh herbs
  • Growing a cocktail garden: Part 3- Drying Herbs
  • You cocktail garden should be in full bloom at this point (refer to How to Grow A Cocktail Garden: Part 1 or 2 to catch up!), but what if you have more herbs than you can use or give away? Simple- dry them! Dried herbs fresh from the garden have way more flavor than anything you can buy in the store...
  • Fri Jul 18th
    Tara Shinn
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  • strawberry-shrub-blog
  • How to make a Strawberry Shrub
  • Condensing the flavor of seasonal ripe fruit, then preserving it with vinegar is know as a shrub, and is an easy way to add flavor to cocktails well after the growing season is over. Today I'll be showing you how to make a strawberry shrub, but you can use any high water content fruit you wish- plum...
  • Fri Jun 27th
    Tara Shinn
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  • how-to-make-the-best-sweet-tea-vodka
  • How to make your own sweet tea vodka in 10 minutes!
  • Sweet tea vodka comes in many different flavors and sizes (and prices!)- but they all have one thing in common: they're too sweet. Syrupy sweet- and unless you have the diet of a hummingbird (no judgment here if you do!) they can be pretty hard to stomach- especially if you're planning on mixing it ...
  • Fri Jun 13th
    Tara Shinn
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  • BYOV
  • Heading out to eat? Why not BYOV?
  • We're all familiar with the BYOB concept (it's when you bring you own booze to a restaurant or eatery without a liquor licence), but if you're heading out with a bunch of friends that can get pretty pricey. Why not BYOV (Bring Your Own Vodka!) and drink better while saving some cash! Afraid that a r...
  • Fri May 30th
    Tara Shinn
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  • planting-a-cocktail-garden
  • Growing a Cocktail Garden: Part 2
  • Now that your soil is prepped and your seedling are starting to grow (See Growing a Cocktail Garden: Part 1), it's time to start the most important part: Planting! I know it sounds easy enough, but there are a few factors that you will want to take into consideration when planting:   1. ...
  • Fri May 16th
    Tara Shinn
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  • springcocktails
  • Check out these top spring cocktails!
  • Spring is here, so why not celebrate with a nice refreshing spring cocktail? Here are the top 3  from the #MixBook: 1. Basil Lemondrop 2 1/2 oz Clique Vodka 1/4 oz basil syrup* 1/2 oz lemon juice Shake all ingredients over ice to chill, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass. ...
  • Fri Apr 25th
    Tara Shinn
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  • egg-white-cocktails-using-nitrous-oxide
  • Egg white cocktails: Make a foam using nitrous oxide instead!
  • Egg white cocktails: We all love 'em for the silky texture and mouthfeel with the added bonus of that signature foam that gently settles on top, but most people shy away from this method due to possible cross contamination. We all know that raw egg is considered a hazardous substance in the kitchen ...
  • Mon Apr 21st
    Tara Shinn
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  • Growing-a-cocktail-garden-part-1
  • Growing a cocktail Garden: Part 1
  • Summer cocktails require fresh ingredients, and you can't get any fresher than plucking them from your own backyard, so why not spend a little time now (and save a lot of money later!), by planting your very own cocktail garden!   Step 1: Find your Zone It is imperative to find out wha...
  • Fri Apr 18th
    Tara Shinn
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  • carbonated_cocktails_header
  • How to make carbonated cocktails using a soda siphon!
  • Everyone loves a bit of bubble in their cocktail, but sodas can be sugary and high in calories. What if you could take and entire cocktail and carbonate it yourself with a soda siphon? What endless possibilities would you come up with? Read the next few steps and let us know what you come up with by...
  • Sat Mar 29th
    Tara Shinn
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  • How to dress up your lemondrop martini with lemon garnishes
  • Dress up your Lemondrop!
  • Spring is officially here, and for us that  means sun, fun and lemondrop martinis! There are dozens of lemondrop recipes out there for you to choose from, but after some searching we realized that it isn't quite the recipe the makes a lemondrop so enticing- it's the garnish! Whether you use one of ...
  • Fri Mar 21st
    Tara Shinn
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  • Green St. Patrick's Day cocktails!
  • Try a Cucumber Melon-Tini: The Perfect St. Patrick’s Day cocktail!
  • You don't need to be Irish to be excited for Saint Patrick's Day, if fact there's only one real necessity:  some tasty green St. Patrick's Day cocktails! Whether you want one that's clean and crisp, or one that goes down quick, here are a couple excellent recipes that you can whip up in no time! ...
  • Fri Mar 14th
    Tara Shinn
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  • carnivalsin1
  • Indulge yourself this Fat Tuesday with a “Carnival Sin” cocktail!
  • Fat Tuesday is just a few days away, and even if you're still contemplating where to celebrate, make sure you shake up a "Carnival Sin" for a delightfully decadent pre-game cocktail- wherever the Mardi party takes you! With only 4 ingredients, this creamy lemon cocktail takes just a minute to make, ...
  • Fri Feb 28th
    Tara Shinn
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  • ibc
  • Power up with these immune boosting cocktail recipes!
  • Got the sniffles? Runny nose? Try one of these immune boosting cocktail recipes to make sure you kick that cold to the curb (or never get one in the first place)!   1. Powerhouse Punch Blueberries naturally increase the number of Natural Killer Cells- the ones that are responsible for ...
  • Sat Jan 18th
    Tara Shinn
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  • Stargazer
  • Low calorie cocktails: 4 simple rules to follow
  • Americans drink about 20% of their calories, so stick to those New Year's resolutions by following these 4 simple rules for low calorie cocktails! 1. Cut the soda. Of course it seems obvious that soda water has less calories than cola, but did you know that a Clique & tonic has only 3 calori...
  • Fri Jan 3rd
    Tara Shinn
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  • blog-cover
  • 5 Fun and Easy New Year’s Eve Cocktail Recipes!
  • Whether you're hosting a New Year's Eve party this year, or just want to try a few tasty cocktails before you go out, here are 5 fun and easy New Year's Eve cocktails for you to try out! (Click on pictures for complete recipe instructions):  1. Prickled Pink This vibrantly colored cocktail mu...
  • Tue Dec 31st
    Tara Shinn
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  • Tips and tricks on how to make Holiday Vodka Infusions
  • Tips, tricks and recipes for making holiday vodka infusions!
  • Making your own infused vodka for the Holidays is not only a fabulous way of creating unique cocktails for your holiday gathering, but also makes a great gift too! By following a few simple rules, you can make sure that your holiday vodka infusions come out full of flavor and have a long shelf life!...
  • Fri Dec 13th
    Tara Shinn
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  • Host the perfect holiday gathering with "The Partystarter" cocktail!
  • Host the perfect holiday gathering with “The Partystarter!”
  • Hosting the perfect Holiday party is never effortless- it takes planning, excellent timing, and attention to detail to pull off a good one, so for your next party, why not leave yourself more time to mingle by letting the guest serve their own cocktails? I know- part of being the host is providing d...
  • Fri Dec 6th
    Tara Shinn
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  • blog
  • This is a Mandatory Cocktail We Cant Figure Out
  • It's been 6 weeks since the Affordable Care Act (or ObamaCare) was initiated on Oct. 1st, and let's face it- the rollout wasn't too smooth. With a constantly crashing website and Americans receiving cancellation notices from their insurers for not meeting all the requirements of the new law, Preside...
  • Thu Nov 21st
    Tara Shinn
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  • spiced-toddy
  • Warm up with a hot cocktail!
  • With temperatures dropping all over the place, there's no reason you should have to settle for ice cold cocktails all  the time! The toddy is a traditional hot cocktail that consists of a spirit warmed up with hot water (or tea) and flavored with citrus (usually lemon) and spices, and does wonders ...
  • Fri Nov 8th
    Tara Shinn
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  • blog
  • Make your own flavored sours mix for this “FireDancer” cocktail!
  • For this deliciously delicate cocktail the trick is all in the mix- papaya sours mix that is. Making flavored sours mix is easy and brings a ton of flavor to cocktails in one pre made mixer  instead of muddling or infusing to get the papaya flavor into the cocktail. With just few easy steps you can...
  • Fri Nov 1st
    Tara Shinn
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  • zevia
  • Use Zevia all natural sodas for sugar free Halloween cocktails!
  • If you've been searching for a way to cut down the amount of sugar in your cocktails, search no more! Our friends at Zevia natural soda have created a line of tasty carbonated sodas with you guessed it- no sugar! Instead they sweeten these bubbly beverages with stevia extract- a natural plant comp...
  • Sat Oct 26th
    Tara Shinn
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  • Hail-yes-cocktail
  • Pittsburgh Yellow Cab celebrates 100 years with a “Hail, Yes!”
  • Pittsburgh Yellow Cab, a division of the Pittsburgh Transportation Group, celebrates 100 years of "Moving Pittsburgh Forward" this year. To celebrate, they are partnering with Clique Vodka for their anniversary gala to be held tomorrow and will be unveiling 2 new cabs designed by John Ross in additi...
  • Wed Oct 16th
    Tara Shinn
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  • cocktail-creation-101
  • Cocktail Creation 101
  • So you've already mastered your shake, and know how to stir up the perfect martini (congrats!), but for The National Vodka Day Toast, we want you to step up your mixology game by adding a few new techniques to your roster. Sure, making the perfect cosmo is no small feat, but if you try adding in one...
  • Thu Oct 3rd
    Tara Shinn
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  • sangriastacker
  • Take your sangria to the next level by stacking it!
  • Sangria is undeniably the most loved wine cocktail, probably because it's so versatile.  You can make it with red, white, or rose wine and basically any fresh fruit you have lying around. For the endless flavor possibilities you can come up with for a batch of sangria, one things is always the same...
  • Fri Sep 13th
    Tara Shinn
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  • blog
  • Who’s ready for some Steelers football?
  • Of course we are all excited to jump back into the NFL season, which means there will undoubtedly be some well needed cocktails come Sunday.  This particular fall cocktail pays homage to the Steel City, home of not only our beloved Importer, Premier Innovations Group, but to some of the most infamo...
  • Fri Sep 6th
    Tara Shinn
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  • Zen-garden
  • Relax this weekend with a refreshing “Zen Garden”
  • One of my favorite ways to relieve stress is gardening, and right now is my favorite time of the year. The garden is in full bloom, all the herbs are big enough to survive some snipping and the vegetables get bigger everyday. When I get home from a long day, the first thing I do is make myself a "Ze...
  • Fri Aug 16th
    Tara Shinn
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  • blog
  • Check out these amazing Shark Week cocktails!
  • We're almost through Shark Week, and if you are not sipping on some themed cocktails yet- We have a bunch for you to try! Grab some friends, the remote, and a bottle of Clique Vodka this weekend, and get into Shark Week! Shark Attack The main ingredient in this delightfully gory cocktail is wh...
  • Sat Aug 10th
    Tara Shinn
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  • blog
  • Get the good times rollin’ with an Aloe-El!
  • Extracting aloe gel from a plant can be time consuming, sticky and slightly dangerous if you don't remove the entire yellow latex layer from the gel sac (it's poisonous in small quantities), but with all new aloe drinks on the market today, adding aloe to your cocktails is simpler than ever! Aloe ju...
  • Fri Aug 2nd
    Tara Shinn
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  • blog
  • Try making your own orange infused vodka!
  • This week's cocktail, Pirate City, incorporates 2 different homemade ingredients: Homemade orange infused vodka, and homemade orange liqueur! Part I The first (and most crucial) ingredient to the Pirate City recipe is orange infused Clique Vodka. I know, it sounds slightly complicated, but I assur...
  • Fri Jul 26th
    Tara Shinn
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  • blog
  • Make infused vodka in minutes with the “Insta-fusion!”
  •   Making infused vodka by steeping it with fruit, vegetables, herbs and spices is a great way to flavor cocktails naturally, but let's face it- sometimes you just don't want to wait 4-5 days for Meyer lemon zest to infuse Clique Vodka. The "Insta-fusion" utilizes a much different technique u...
  • Sat Jul 6th
    Tara Shinn
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  • expedition
  • Need a fantastic 4th of July Cocktail? Go on “The Expedition!”
  • This year, forget the sweet red, white and blue drinks and try a 4th of July cocktail with character! "The Expedition" has a many complex flavors and is a tribute to the accidental discovery of our whole continent in the quest for spices. With just three ingredients and a bit of prep, you can forget...
  • Fri Jun 28th
    Tara Shinn
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  • swim
  • Try a “Midsummer Swim” on Summer Solstice!
  • Today is the longest day of the year, most oftenly called Midsummer's Eve or Summer Solstice. Taking that into consideration, I am assuming that most of you will be spending a bit more time outside today, so why not celebrate with the perfect midsummer cocktail? Named for everyone's most favorite re...
  • Fri Jun 21st
    Tara Shinn
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  • mistercocktail
  • Looking for the perfect Father’s Day Cocktail?
  • If you've been combing the interwebs looking for the perfect Father's Day cocktail to make Dad on his day of recognition- be glad you landed here, this is the last thing you'll need to read today. This cocktail is made for Dad- It's simple, strong, effective, and you get to use an interesting gadget...
  • Fri Jun 14th
    Tara Shinn
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  • basillemondrop
  • Try this summery Basil Lemondrop Martini recipe!
  • Fresher ingredients undeniably make for better quality cocktails, so most of my favorite summer drinks always utilize things from the garden, whether it's herbs, spices, vegetables or fruit. This delightfully light and savory Basil Lemondrop martini is not only refreshing, but causes my basil plants...
  • Fri May 31st
    Tara Shinn
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  • blog
  • Give mom some “En-Lighten-Mint” this weekend!
  • For mother's day brunch this weekend, show mom how much you appreciate all she does with this simple cucumber recipe. It's light, refreshing, and soothing, everything a pampered mom wants on Mother's Day! Muddle 1 1/4 oz Clique Vodka, 1 mint sprig, 2 cucumber slices and 2 lemon wheels in a co...
  • Fri May 10th
    Tara Shinn
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  • Perfect Pair
  • The “Perfect Pair” Martini!
  • The "perfect pair" of anything always good news- perfect pair of cards, perfect pair of jeans, or my personal favorite- the perfect pairing of two ingredients in a cocktail! Sweet green melon and pear are both light summery flavors, but when combined in this fabulous martini they make a dynamic duo-...
  • Fri Apr 26th
    Tara Shinn
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  • sbs
  • Have you ever tried smoking a cocktail?
  • It's the 3rd weekend in April, and we all know what that means. It's time to take your cocktail adventures outdoors of course! Finally I can put some fire to my cocktails and not worry about dropping embers all over my kitchen! This tried and true "Smoked Blackberry Sour" is one of my all time summe...
  • Fri Apr 19th
    Tara Shinn
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  • dayofreck
  • Celebrate the “Day of Reckoning” with a liquid reward!
  • Well, it's just a few days away. April 15th. The national "Day of Reckoning," is the the cutoff for paying your taxes, and if you're anything like me- you'll be finishing them up this weekend.  Thanks to you, you'll have the perfect way to celebrate - and it will only take a couple minutes.  Pick ...
  • Sat Apr 13th
    Tara Shinn
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  • shamrockshaker
  • Go green this weekend with a “Shamrock Shaker!”
  • We all lucked out a bit this year, with St. Paddy's Day falling on Sunday- It's almost like getting  2 St. Paddy's Days back to back. So, on Sunday (The REAL St. Paddy's Day) when you think you just can't dance to any more Irish jigs- go ahead and have a few "Shamrock Shakers," I promise they'll ge...
  • Wed Mar 13th
    Tara Shinn
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  • greyhound
  • Take a mental vacation with a Greyhound Station
  • With spring fast approaching, I can't help but get a little excited for all the concerts, festivals, and trips I'll be taking this year. This weekend while I research all the lineups to my favorite annual festivals, I'll be sipping on the deliciously bubbly citrus cocktail, which always reminds me o...
  • Fri Mar 1st
    Tara Shinn
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  • Carnival Sin
  • Get the party started with a:
  • The last day of carnival season has arrived! Mardi Gras, French for Fat Tuesday, is the biggest street party of the year- but don't feel left out if your not in Rio or New Orleans today, you can still indulge yourself before the ritual abstinence that starts tomorrow by sipping on a: For this...
  • Tue Feb 12th
    Tara Shinn
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  • Cooler than a Kiwi
  • Treat yourself to a tropical getaway with:
  • Tomorrow is Feb 2nd, and of course that means that our favorite furry friend, Punxsutawney Phil, will deliver the weather report for the next 6 weeks, based solely on his shadow (oddly enough I have more faith in Phil than the Weather Channel). While I do hope we get a break in from the cold soon, s...
  • Fri Feb 1st
    Tara Shinn
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  • Smokey Eyed Mary
  • Warm up today with a:
  • There's nothing quite like a spicy cocktail to warm you up when it's cold outside- and it's COLD out there. Luckily I always  have some tomato juice around in the winter, for those days when your toes are still frozen after a long day at work. Kick off your shoes as soon as you get home today, and ...
  • Fri Jan 25th
    Tara Shinn
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  • Executive Decision
  • End your workweek with an:
  • Thank goodness it's Friday.  After a the first full work week of the new year, I'm certainly ready for the weekend! I have the perfect little infusion cocktail that is so delicious- there will be no second-thinking on this one. Sweet, tart, and simply executed- scoop up all of life's lemons this we...
  • Fri Jan 11th
    Tara Shinn
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  • powerhousepunch
  • Pump it up with a….
  • It seems like every few months a new superfruit loaded with antioxidants floods the market, promising to fight free radicals and make you healthier with new exotic flavors. With all the available options in the grocery and specialty stores, getting your daily dose of antioxidants is as easy as drink...
  • Fri Jan 4th
    Tara Shinn
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  • Prickled Pink
  • Let this one tickle your taste buds this NYE:
  • Are you excited for New Years yet!? I am. It's my favorite holiday of the year- a time to reflect on your achievements, make new goals and resolutions, and of course, over-indulge in exotic Champagne cocktails. One of my favorites, this one is fruity, bubbly, and just happens to be my favorite color...
  • Fri Dec 28th
    Tara Shinn
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  • stealingspotlight
  • Stealing the Spotlight
  • In light of all the new changes going on with Clique Vodka, today I have a magnificent cocktail that is almost as mesmerizing as #TheNewBlack bottle! It's sweet, a bit tart, and like no cocktail you have ever seen before. Get ready for a drinking experience like no other, today we are making a cockt...
  • Sat Dec 1st
    Tara Shinn
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