Cocktail Guide
Drink Responsibly
This guide is for those who are 21 years or older. Please drink responsibly.
Tips for Your Best Cocktails
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What's your flavor?
Cocktails start with the best liqueur exclusively at Hy-Vee! Get Finagren's Irish Whiskey passed down between generations and aged in casks for 3 years; Row Vodka crafted with 100% American corn, Row vodka is distilled 5 times for a clean, smooth taste; or Cross Keys Rum an award-winning Barbados aged rum has notes of caramel, vanilla, and spice.
What is Vodka?
Vodka is a clear distilled liqueur that can be made from any starchy or sugary plant such as wheat, rye, corn, or potato. Vodka's origins stem from Eastern Europe where it has been loved since the 8th century. It has a subtle flavor making it perfect for making martinis, vodka sodas, or mixing into citrus juices.
Hyvee Culinary Expert Tip
Fresh watermelon juice adds a refreshing twist to this otherwise classic white wine sangria recipe. Make sure to add vodka and triple sec for extra flavor.
House Favorites
Let the Fun Be Gin
Gin is a clear liqueur distilled from grapes and grains. Originating in Europe, it is still a well loved alcoholic drink that gets its flavor from juniper berries.
Hyvee Culinary Expert Tip
Infuse your liqueur! Pour gin into a glass container and add citrus peels, cucumber ribbons, and/or spicy peppers. Then, cover and refrigerate. The longer the gin sits, the more flavorful it will be.
Hyvee Culinary Expert Tip
A French 75 is a classic drink that combines gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and champagne. This particular drink is super simple, but also a really fun way to feel fancy.
Tequila, Tequila!
Best known for being the star ingredient in margaritas, tequila hails from Mexico. Tequila is made from distilling agave nectar and, if bottled right away, it is clear (referred to as "silver tequila"). If the tequila is aged or referred to as "repasado," the tequila will appear golden due to resting for a few months in wooden barrels.
Worth a Shot
We all know and love the classic marg. But what else can you make with tequila?
Call Us Old Fashioned
Whiskey or whisky is a dark liqueur made from grains like wheat, barley, corn, and/or rye aged in casks. Depending how the whiskey is aged, it can have notes of nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon, or even spicy peppery notes. Our favorite way to enjoy it: Old Fashioned cocktails.
Hyvee Culinary Expert Tip
Spirits such as bourbon and scotch are actually defined as types of whiskey.
Whiskey Business
Yo Ho, Ho! (And a Bottle of Rum)
You don't have to sail the 7 seas to enjoy some rum! But, you can thank the Caribbean for this sweet liqueur. Distilled from sugar cane, rum has an underlying flavor profile of toasted sugar. Clear rum is bottled directly after distilling while spiced rum typically has more flavor after aging in oak barrels.
