Long Weekend Bites & Booze
By Faith Bennett Published May 2021
There’s something special about a long weekend, especially this year. As things are starting to settle into a new kind of normalcy with friends and families reuniting, we’re beginning to gear up for a long weekend of food, drinks and fun in the sun. Not only do we get an extra day to sleep in, we also get an extra day to enjoy time with the people we love. And what’s a better way to do that than with some boozy bites and cocktail recipes?
We have options for all those grillin’ by the pool, chillin’ at the lake and sippin’ all day. Flip through our recipe book and select your favorites for all your festivities.
If you like grillin’
Long weekends are notorious for massive grill outs with all the classic fixings. We are here to enhance your grill skills with these booze-infused recipes that’ll pair perfectly with Grandma’s potato salad. Just be sure you mark them as “adult-only.”
Twisted Tea Bacon-Wrapped Hot Dogs
Is there anything more American than a good ole hot dog? Wrap your franks in Twisted-Tea-soaked-sugar-coated bacon strips, for a sweet and salty flavor explosion.
Summer Ale Grilled Chicken Sandwich
Samuel Adams incorporates their seasonal Summer Ale with garlic, lemon and a mix of spices to create a mouthwatering marinade for your chicken before plopping it on the grill. They accompany it with a homemade dressing recipe and all the toppings for a classic beer-infused chicken sandwich.
German Lager Bier Brats
Are brats more your style? Then grab yourself a bundle of bratwursts and a pack of German lagers. Simmer your links in a mixture of lager, onions, Worcestershire sauce, butter and seasoning before grilling them to perfection. Bun or not – these will be a hit!
Marsala BBQ Sauce
If you already know what you’re grilling up but need to sauce it up – try this BBQ sauce made with wine. It calls for Florio Sweet Marsala combined with brown sugar and spices for a sweet and savory tang.
If you like chillin’
If you are planning for a long weekend of relaxation and soaking up the rays, then we have the recipes for you. They are easy to make and downright delicious. We’ve even paired our favorite sips to complement each.
Tequila Guacamole & Tortilla Chips
-
3 ripe avocados
-
¼ cup cilantro
-
½ jalapeño, remove seeds to taste
-
4 tablespoons red onion
-
1 tomato
-
Dash of salt
-
1 lime, juiced
-
2 ounces Espanita Blanco Tequila
Mash ripe avocadoes into a bowl. Dice cilantro, jalapeño, red onion and tomato. Gently mix into mashed avocado. Finish by stirring in salt, lime juice and tequila. Pair with your favorite tortilla chips and get to dipping.
Pair this dip with: Cutwater Margarita
Jai Alai IPA Hummus
-
2 cans chickpeas, drained and well-rinsed
-
¼ cup tahini
-
3 cloves of garlic, minced
-
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
-
3 tablespoons olive oil
-
¼ teaspoon cumin
-
1, 12-ounce can of Cigar City Jai Alai IPA
-
Pita bread and crudités
Add chickpeas, tahini, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil and cumin to a food processor and blend. Once ingredients are blended, stop food processor and add beer along sides of processor, mixing until desired consistency is reached. Serve with pita and crudités.
Pair this dip with: Cigar City Mixed Pack
Fruit Kabobs
Just when you thought there was nothing better than a bowl of fresh fruit...we hit you with spirit and wine infused fruit kabobs. These skewers are sure to delight your long weekend group, make a variety of all three options or choose your favorite.
If you like sippin’
Sometimes all you need are dang good frozen cocktails on a hot Florida day. These recipes are our top picks to slowly sip and keep you cool all day. Make a batch for your friends or a solo drink for one.
Watermelon Daiquiri
-
1 ounce Cruzan Dark Aged Rum
-
1 ounce watermelon schnapps
-
1 ounce melon liqueur
-
2 ounces sour mix
-
Splash of lemon-lime soda
Add rum, schnapps, liqueur and sour mix to a blender with ice. Blend until desired consistency (add more ice if needed) and pour into a glass. Top with a splash of lemon-lime soda.
Blueberry Frosé
-
1 bottle, 750mL Stella Rosa Blueberry
-
2 ounces vodka
-
2 cups frozen blueberries
-
¼ cup lemon juice
-
Fresh blueberries
Pour wine into ice cube trays and freeze for 6 to 8 hours, or until almost frozen (wine will not freeze completely). In a blender, add frozen wine, ice cubes, vodka, frozen blueberries and lemon juice. Pulse until desired consistency and divide into 4 glasses. Garnish with a handful of fresh blueberries. Serves 4.
Frozen Mango-Ritas
-
1 ounce simple syrup
-
2 ounces water
-
6 ounces 21 Seeds Valencia Orange Tequila
-
½ ounce fresh lime juice
-
2 cups ice
-
2 cups frozen mangos
-
Fresh mint
In a cup, mix together simple syrup and water. Add simple syrup mixture, tequila, lime juice and ice to a blender. Blend until smooth. Then, add the mango and blend again. Pour into glasses and garnish with fresh mint and lime slices. Serves 4.
Find more recipes to fill your long weekend here.