Grapefruit Rosemary Moscow Mule

March 3rd is Moscow Mule Day! The Moscow Mule was invented in 1941 in New York City at a bar called Cock ‘n’ Bull by its head bartender, Wes Price. John G. Martin, an executive for Heublein drinks company - which bought Smirnoff Vodka - was having trouble getting people to try vodka, as it wasn’t very popular back then. The owner of Cock ‘n’ Bull, Jack Morgan, also had too much ginger beer inventory on hand. One thing leads to another, add a splash of lime and voila, the Moscow Mule was born.

The Moscow Mule is traditionally made of vodka, ginger beer and lime juice. However, I’ve remixed it with this recipe using grapefruit and rosemary simple syrup. It’s still refreshing and delicious with a bit of extra flavor and I must say, it’s delightful.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. vodka (I used Black-owned Black Storm vodka)

• 3 oz. fresh grapefruit juice

• 1 oz. fresh lime juice

• .5 oz rosemary simple syrup*

• Ginger beer, to top

*Add 1 cup water, 1 cup sugar, about 3-4 sprigs of rosemary to water on a low/medium boil. Stir until all the sugar is melted and the rosemary softens. It should take about 10 minutes. Strain into a mason jar and let cool before use.

Instructions:

1. Place all ingredients in your copper cup with ice, except the ginger beer, and stir.

2. Top with ginger beer.

3. Garnish with rosemary or grapefruit and enjoy!

For a list of over 120+ other Black-owned spirits, click here!

Celebrate National Margarita Day with a Strawberry Lavender Margarita

Happy National Margarita Day! It’s one of my favorite drinking holidays. Who doesn’t love a good margarita?!

And to take it up a notch, I used a Black-owned spirit called Bleu Royal. It’s a tequila infused with rum. RUM! Looks like National Margarita Day and Black History Month collide only in a way possible here at Will Drink For Travel.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Bleu Royal Tequila (or other blanco tequila)

• 1 oz. St. Germain

• .5 oz. strawberry lavender simple syrup* (try .75 oz or 1 oz if you like your margarita a bit sweeter)

• .75 oz lime juice

• lime wheel, for garnish

* Add 1 cup water, 1/2 cup sugar, about 1 cup of strawberries (cup up into small pieces) and a handful of lavender to water on a low/medium boil. Stir until all the sugar is melted and the strawberries begin to break apart. It should take about 10 minutes. Strain into a mason jar and let cool before use.

Instructions:

1. Use a quarter of a lime wedge to rim your glass with salt or sugar, if you’d like.

2. Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice.

3. Shake for 10-20 seconds and then strain into your glass.

4. Garnish with your lime wheel and enjoy!

If you’re curious about the history of the Margarita, click here.

Check out my list of over 120+ Black-owned spirits and buy yours today!