Sips & Synopsis - This Weeks Makings

• Refresh Your Spirits

• Trivia Question

• Drink of the Week - The Garden Gimlet

• Two Sippers and a Mocktail

• Bar Cart Makeover Tips

🌿 Time to Refresh Your Spirits (Literally)

Spring is in full swing, and it's the perfect moment to declutter your bar cart and rejuvenate your cocktail game. This week, we're diving into:
✔️ 3 crisp, herbaceous cocktails to welcome the season
✔️ A delightful mocktail that doesn't skimp on flavor
✔️ Tips for a bar cart makeover that’s both stylish and functional
✔️ A true trivia question to test your mixology knowledge
✔️ An inspiring quote to toast to new beginnings

Trivia Question❓

Q: What is the primary botanical flavoring agent in traditional gin?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter

Drink of the Week

🌿 The Story Behind This Week’s Drink:

Spring is that magical time when we all suddenly feel inspired to get our lives together. Closets get purged. Fridges get wiped. And that one drawer full of takeout sauce packets? It finally sees the light of day.

So why not give your bar cart the same fresh start?

That’s what inspired this week’s Drink of the Week: The Garden Gimlet.
This cocktail is everything your bar setup should be right now: bright, botanical, and totally unfussy. It’s made with fresh lime, gin, and crisp herbs like basil and cucumber—ingredients that remind us of green things growing and actually wanting to be outside again.

The Garden Gimlet is the first sip of spring, shaken, strained, and served in your cleanest coupe glass because you finally dusted it off!

🍹 Two More Spring Sippers

1. Elderflower Spritz

Light, floral, and effervescent.

• 1.5 oz elderflower liqueur

• 3 oz prosecco

• 1 oz soda water

• Lemon twist for garnish

2. Mint Julep Fizz

A bubbly take on a Southern classic.

• 2 oz bourbon

• 0.5 oz mint syrup

• Top with club soda

• Fresh mint sprig for garnish

🥂 Mocktail Moment: Citrus Herb Cooler

Bright, zesty, and utterly refreshing.

• 1 oz lemon juice

• 0.5 oz honey syrup

• Fresh thyme sprigs

• Top with sparkling water

• Lemon wheel for garnish

Muddle thyme with honey syrup, add lemon juice, shake with ice, strain into a glass, and top with sparkling water.

Why Spring Cleaning Your Bar Cart is a Power Move

Let’s be real—your bar setup probably saw some stuff this winter. Half-used syrups, sticky bottles, maybe a mystery citrus rolling around in the back (RIP).

Here’s why a spring refresh is more than just a vibe—it’s good drinking hygiene:

• 🍋 Fresh ingredients = better flavor. That bottle of triple sec from 2021? It’s probably not doing your margaritas any favors.

• 🍃 Clear bar, clear mind. When you can see your tools and ingredients, you’re way more likely to get creative and mix something fun.

• 🧊 Good ice matters. Seriously, toss that old freezer-burned stuff and start fresh. Your drinks will thank you.

• 🌸 Aesthetic counts. Add a plant. Display your favorite bottles. Make it feel like a place you want to shake things up.

So go ahead—wipe the sticky ring off your bitters bottle, toss those expired mixers, and give your bar cart the glow-up it deserves.

🛠️ Bar Cart Makeover Tips

• Declutter: Remove expired mixers and seldom-used bottles.

• Organize: Group items by type—spirits, mixers, tools.

• Accessorize: Add a touch of greenery or a stylish tray.

• Stock Up: Ensure you have fresh citrus, herbs, and quality ice.

📚 Additional Reading for Zen Cleaning

If you're in the mood to channel your inner Marie Kondo while clearing out those crusty bottles and expired bitters, we recommend picking up The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo.

It’s the perfect companion for spring—whether you're folding your t-shirts into tiny joy-filled rectangles or holding up your bottle of banana liqueur and asking, “Does this spark joy?” (Spoiler: it probably doesn’t.)