What will life look like after the coronavirus? No one can tell. But we know at some point we’ll all get back to doing the things we love, with the people we love. For now, we have to get creative and make the best of sheltering in.
Social distancing may mean the end of cocktail hour as we know it, but lately people are overbooking their freed-up calendars with scheduled “quarantini” hours. And while Zoom, Google Hangouts and FaceTime can’t take the place of a tasting room visit or an impromptu meetup with coworkers at a nearby watering hole, video chatting is a way to connect with friends and family over an icy cocktail in a coupe glass—even if it feels more like a meeting. A virtual quarantini hour (or longer, if you have more time on your hands) can cheer you up, reduce stress, and help you deal with the new normal while you’re cooped up at home.
We’ve rounded up a weeks-worth of cocktails using local ingredients that are easy to make with supplies on hand, but if you’re running low you can order from a nearby bottle shop or direct from the producer online. Many local businesses are open for curbside pickup or delivery, and some even offer batched cocktails ready to go. See our Curbside and Delivery Guide and stock up while you can.
It’s quarantini hour somewhere, so mix up a shaker-full of these recipes (or improvise your own), and raise a glass with your BFFs, coworkers, and family on the other side of the screen. Just don’t forget to toast all the essential workers and first responders who are going above and beyond to keep us all safe, while wait for our next virtual invite.
Be safe, drink responsibly, and share your favorite #quarantini cocktails with us on Facebook. #Cheers!
1. The Smoking Bee
Recipe/Photo: Kas Krupnikas
1 ounce KAS Krupnikas
1-1/2 ounces Mezcal
3/4 ounce lemon juice
Shake well with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Add a pinch of smoked salt.
2. Raise the Gates
Recipe/photo: Helderberg Meadworks
8 ounces Helderberg Black Currant Mead
4 mint leaves
Splash of hard cider
Muddle mint leaves in shaker, add mead and ice. Stir well and pour into glass. Top with hard cider and garnish with mint leaves.
3. Taconic Boulevardier
Recipe: Taconic Distillery
1-1/2 ounces Taconic Founders Rye Whiskey
1 ounce Campari or Aperol
1 ounce Sweet Vermouth
Twist of orange peel
Place ingredients in shaker with ice. Stir well and strain into coupe glass. Garnish with twist of orange peel.
4. The Orange Beacon
Recipe/Photo: Barrow’s Intense
1 ounce Bourbon of your choice
1 ounce Barrow’s Intense Ginger Liqueur
3/4 ounce Drink More Good Orange Pop Syrup
3/4 ounce lemon juice
Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with an orange twist.
5. The Sage
Recipe: Brotherhood Winery
4 ounces Brotherhood Riesling
8 small fresh sage leaves
1/2 ounce simple syrup
Slice of lemon
Tear sage leaves and muddle with syrup and lemon. Add Riesling and ice, shake then strain into martini glass. Garnish with lemon twist.
6. Millbrook Breeze
Recipe/photo: Peony Vodka
2 ounces Peony Vodka
1 ounce fresh squeezed grapefruit juice
3/4 ounce fresh squeezed lime juice
1/2 ounce St. Germain liqueur
Shake all ingredients with ice, strain and pour into an ice-filled glass.
7. Harvest Saketini
2-1/2 ounces Harvest Spirits Core Gin (or vodka)
1/2 ounce premium sake
Cucumber slice
Shake gin and sake together in an ice-filled shaker. Strain into chilled martini glass. Garnish with cucumber slice. (see top photo)
