Holiday Cocktails

Get ready for the holidays with a few cocktails, perfect for New Year's Eve or anytime.

Sparkle and Spice

INGREDIENTS

·                750ml bottle aged rum

·                1/2 cinnamon stick

·                1 clove

·                1 cardamom pod

·                1 star anise pod

·                1 vanilla bean

·                3 allspice berries

·                Pinch of freshly ground nutmeg

·                Sparkling Ice Lemon Lime

DIRECTIONS

1.              Combine rum, cinnamon stick, clove, cardamom, star anise, vanilla bean, allspice berries, and nutmeg in an airtight jar.

2.              Split vanilla bean and scrape seeds into jar along with the bean pod. Close jar and allow infusion to sit in a dark place for at least 3 days.

3.              Strain rum into an airtight jar with a fine-mesh strainer, discarding spices.

4.              Over ice, pour 2 ounces of rum infusion.

5.              Top with Sparkling Ice Lemon Lime and garnish with blackberries.'

 Recipe Credit: Sparkling Ice

Ginger Whiskey Cider

INGREDIENTS

·                2 oz. Hard Cider

·                1 oz. Whiskey

·                Brooklyn Crafted Ginger Beer Mini in Traditional, to fill

·                Crushed Ice

DIRECTIONS

1.              In a 12-16 oz. high ball glass, combine the hard cider and whiskey.

2.              Fill the glass with crushed ice and top with Brooklyn Crafted.

Recipe Credit: Brooklyn Crafted

KOP Donnerstag and Beerfest Royale Kick Off Fall with a Stellar Beer Weekend

Every year, I get super excited because October marks the time when Donnerstag and the King of Prussia Beerfest Royale is back! 

This is truly one of the best beer events in Montgomery County (and I would know, having run a couple of them) and this one is probably the best.

I brought my photographer friend Diane (all pictures here she shot), and we totally enjoy ourselves for the night. 

We both aren't huge beer drinkers, as she is gluten-free, and we were wowed by the amount of gluten-free offerings on display.

Donnerstag is always held on a Thursday night before the event- a super-charged happy hour outside, with two giant tents full of music, beverages, and food. 

For me, it's a great time to speak directly to managers and chefs at the hottest KoP restaurants- from great spaces inside the mall to some of new restaurants in the KoP center across 202 near Wegmans and CHOP.

All were divine, the music, the food, the cider, the cocktails. We were happy ladies- this event just gets better every year. 

I'm already counting down til next year, and don't forget to vote KoP Beerfest Royale as the BEST OUTDOOR EVENT in MONTCO in March!

Photos by DL Cooney.