With the start of the New Year quickly approaching, the question on everyone’s mind is: what drink should I ring in the New Year with? The clever creators from Shine Bar Catering answer with some fresh takes on some traditional drinks that are both fun and delicious. But before we dive into the booze, let us take a moment to tell you who Shine Bar Caterers are and why they are one of Tahoe Unveiled new vendors.
Their Background: Tess and Alicia worked at Napa/Sonoma, a wine bar and restaurant in Reno, Nevada and Alicia used to bartend at weddings. With Tess knowing the event side and Alicia knowing the cocktail side they started with a big dream, business cards and a liquor license. They were one of the first in their category, having the vision to elevate wedding and special event cocktail service and their company has really taken off!
Their Mission: They found that in general, people were paying tons of money for drinks but there was no creativity in the bar. Their mission became to step out from behind the bar and bring a unique one of a kind service to the guests. They work closely with the caterers to provide bubbly champagne for guests upon arrival, after ceremony cocktails, and of course drinks throughout the night. This not only has been a huge success but it has also taken pressure and stress away from the caterers.
What they do: Just like a wedding DJ or photographer, they meet with the couple and come up with a personalized, custom profile of flavors, colors and designs for their wedding cocktail menu. They even offer a full service menu for the entire weekend that can include: whiskey flight tasting for a rehearsal party, champagne toast/wine/beer/cocktails for the wedding reception, and even a Bloody Mary recovery bar for the after wedding brunch.
They also work with couples to create drinks inspired by their story (for example travel inspired or where they met), colors that work with the wedding palette, and even mocktails for guests who don’t drink.
With their love and talent of making cocktails we couldn’t be more thrilled to have them in our Tahoe Unveiled family and we look forward to tasting more of their fun creations. Continue reading below for their recommendations on the perfect drink to ring the New Year in with.
Anyone’s first thought for a refreshing beverage to celebrate the New Year, is always bubbles! This cocktail is easy, beautiful and delicious. It has pristine acidity and lightness mixed with a slight sweetness from the fresh berry syrup. The syrup can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 weeks or you can always freeze it for longer use and use it at your next get together.
Bubbly Berry Sparkler:
Shine’s Homemade Berry Syrup
Champagne
Fresh Rosemary Spring
Lemon
Ingredients:
Berries (Combination of Blackberry/Blueberry recommended)
Champagne
1 cup of Sugar
1 Lemon
1 cup of Water
Fresh Rosemary Spring for garnish
Directions:
1. Combine berries, 1 lemon juiced, sugar and water in a saucepan. (If you are trying to create a large batch for a party, always do double equal water/sugar) Bring to a boil on high heat. Once it has come to a boil reduce the heat and simmer for approximately 15-17 minutes. The berries will start to turn bright in color and a pink/purple syrup will begin to form in the saucepan. You want to make sure you cook down the berries enough where it starts to form an ombre effect which will leave the cocktail with a beautiful color and phenomenal fresh taste. In a separate bowl, drain the blackberries leaving only the syrup created. Set aside and cool.
2. Spoon 4 tablespoons of syrup at the bottom of each glass.
3. Top with Champagne or Prosecco of choice
4. Garnish cocktail with a spring of fresh rosemary and berries (optional) Enjoy!
Side note from Shine: This recipe explains how to make “fresh syrups” but you can use any flavor, fruit or color to create your favorite flavors desired to your liking. You can also mix fruits to come up with a fun flavor. Peach, Citrus, Pineapple, Strawberry, Mango, Kiwi… you name it! You can do: Strawberry/Mango Syrups for Margaritas etc. You can always freeze and use them at a later time. Syrups always impress guests and boost the flavors of your fun cocktails!
New Year’s “Party Punch”:
Ingredients:
1 jug of “Cran-Raspberry” Juice or regular “Cranberry Juice”
2 Bottles of Red Moscato
1 Bottle of Prosecco (Lamarca)
½ Cups of Vodka
½ a liter of Ginger Ale
1 Orange, sliced into rounds
Fresh Cranberries
Lemons, sliced into rounds
Directions:
1. Combine: Cran-Raspberry Juice, Moscato, Prosecco, Vodka, Ginger Ale and ice and mix until well blended together.
2. Slice Orange and Limes into rounds and add to punch. Allow the fruit to soak in the punch for 1-2 hours prior to event so the punch can soak in the fresh fruit flavors. You can always add as much fruit as you want or a variety to add to the color and taste of the punch. More fruit, more flavor!
3. Pour into desired cups and garnish with fresh cranberries. Enjoy!
*This will serve up to 25 people!*
Want to impress your whisky drinking friends? Instead of making your traditional “Old Fashioned” for your part, mix it up and create a cocktail to give you that holiday-spirit-feeling. This holiday whisky creations are a blend of all the right flavors. We embraced flavors people are normally nervous to blend whisky with and created something perfectly mixed together, leaving you a delicious cocktail creation that makes you not want to get over the holiday season. Enjoy!
Apple Cider Old Fashioned:
Ingredients:
½ cup of Ice or 1 Square/Sphere Ice Cube
2/3 Cup of Apple Cider
2 oz of Buffalo Trace (Or desired whisky)
3 dashes of Angostura Bitters
Orange peel
Apple slices, for garnish (optional)
Cinnamon Stick, for garnish (optional)
Directions:
1. Combine Apple Cider, Whisky, Bitters and orange peel in glass.
2. Gently muddle the orange peel 2-4 times. Try not to do it more than 2-4 times or you will bruise the orange peel. You want a nice hint of orange zest in the cocktail.
3. Add Ice and stir cocktail 23 times. This will blend the cocktail perfectly while also watering it down so you can enjoy the refreshing beverage.
4. Garnish with apple slices and cinnamon stick. (Optional) Enjoy!