VnC Cocktails was founded in 2007 and is the brain child of entrepreneur Shane McKillen. After finding himself stuck in the kitchen mixing cocktails at parties, McKillen created VnC Cocktails. Every bottle of VnC Cocktails is made with 100% natural fruit juice and no artificial preservatives, additives or colors. So you can feel good about serving them to your guests. All cocktail flavors include 14% New Zealand vodka or premium tequila. With a range of delicious flavors and weighing in at only 150 calories or less per serving, it’s as easy on the waistline as it is the taste buds. VnC Cocktails’ are conveniently packaged, lightweight, affordable and ready-to-pour. There’s no waste, no excess, no mistakes and no drama.

Fun flavors like the Vodka Mojito, Strawberry Daiquiri  and Pacific Mai Tai mean everyone is covered with their favorite cocktail without forcing a power surge from multiple blenders.
The 200ml servings come with their own cup, so, they are perfect for popping in your picnic basket or taking along to watch the fireworks. .

For an extra fun, adult-friendly treat, freeze your flavor choice in a popsicle mold.  Frozen cubes of VnC Cocktails are also a great way to keep your drink cold without watering it down.

Just in time for Cinco de Mayo, Skinnygirl has launched the White Peach Margarita.  Bethenny Ever After fans watched as the star taste tested her way through batches of new flavors for her signature company on a recent episode. White Peach Margarita was the winning flavor.  It’s very fruit forward and offers a light and refreshing taste with flavors of sweet and juicy peach complimented with notes of silver tequila, tropical tones and lime with a lingering finish of peach and lime.  At only 100 calories per 4 oz. serving, it’s a yummy way to spend your favorite Mexican holiday!

Skinnygirl Cocktail Recipes

Skinnygirl Sangria Recipe

Serves 6 to 8

• 8 peaches, sliced into wedges
• 4 white plums, sliced into wedges
• 1 pound of green grapes split in half
• 3 bottles of Prosecco
• 1 can of diet lemon lime soda
• 1 can of club soda

Combine all ingredients into a large pitcher and add ice. Chill for an hour to set or serve immediately.
*FOR RED sub the Prosecco for light to medium bodied red wine and apples, red grapes for all other fruit.

Skinnygirl Mojito Recipe

Mojitos made with mixes have a lot of sugar. Request the Skinnygirl version, or make your own at home. I created this for Daisy Fuentes in my column for Health Magazine. It won’t weigh you down or make you feel like you just drank your dessert.

Serves 1

• 1/2 Fresh line, cut into 6 wedges
• 2 tablespoons torn fresh mint leaves
• 1 cup of ice
• 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 1/2 teaspoon of honey, gently warmed (microwave for 5 seconds)
• 2 ounces of clear rum
• 4 ounces of club soda
• Fresh mint sprig and lime wedge for garnish

In a martini shaker, muddle the lime and mint with a pestle or a long spoon until well bruised and fragrant. Add 1 cup of ice and the lime juice.
Combine the honey, rum and club soda in a glass or small bowl. Stir gently to dissolve the honey. Add this combination to the muddle mixture. Stir until the mixture is well chilled. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with the mint sprig and lime wedge.

Skinnygirl Cosmo Recipe

Cosmos are such a popular drink, but I think they are too sweet. This version tastes delicious and has just a fraction of the sugar and the calories. Indulge and still fit into your jeans the next day.

Serves 1

• 2 ounces of vodka
• 2 ounces club soda
• splash of cranberry juice
• Juice from 2 lime wedges plus 1 lime wedge to garnish

Combine all of the ingredients except the garnish in a shaker full of ice. Stir and pour into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with the lime wedge.

Skinnygirl American “Virgin” Recipe

I created this drink for a Richard Branson Virgin America flight launch. You can make it a true virgin drink as is (no alcohol), or you can make it with peach vodka in place of the peach juice, for a less than virginal version.

Serves 1

• 2 ounces of peach juice
• 2 ounces of club soda
• splash of orange juice
• splash of lemonade
• lemon wedge for garnish

Combine all of the ingredients except the garnish in a shaker full of ice and stir to blend. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with lemon wedge.

SingleMindedWomen.com Resources

• Skinnygirl Cocktails

More Cinco de Mayo Recipes from SingleMindedWomen.com

Cinco de Mayo Drinks

Cocktails to Shake Up Your Cinco de May Fiesta

Guy Fieri’s Mojito Chicken

Planning  Cinco de Mayo parties? Switch it up from the conventional margarita with a cocktail creation from Appleton Estate Reserve, “The Stone Place.” Or for those margarita enthusiasts, here’s a fun twist to the traditional salty treat brought to you by Alizé Liqueur.

Golden Margarita Recipe

• ⅓ oz Alizé Gold Passion
• ⅓ oz tequila
• ⅓ oz lime juice
• 1 oz triple sec

Serve in a margarita glass coated with salt and garnish with a lime wedge.

The Stone Place Cocktail Recipe

• One orange wedge
• 1/2 oz Organic Fresh Lemon Juice
• 3/4 oz pomegranate grenadine
• 2 oz Appleton Estate Reserve rum
• Nutmeg

Shake with orange wedge and ice, and strain into a chilled coupe dust with nutmeg.

To celebrate Cinco de Mayo, TY KU Premium Asian Wine & Spirits has concocted some more of their famous skinny cocktails with low-cal variations on favorites.

Skinny Rita Cocktail Recipe

• 1.5 oz TY KU Liquer
• 1/4 oz silver tequila
• 1/4 oz agave nectar
• squeeze of lemon

Mix all ingredients in a shaker until well blended. Pour over glass filled with ice or strain into a martini glass for a Skinny Rita straight up.

Skinny Mojito Recipe

• 2 oz TY KU Liqueur Mint
• Splash of Diet Citrus Soda
• Squeeze of Lemon/Lime/Orange

Mix all ingredients in a shaker filled with ice until well blended. Pour into a collins glass filled with ice and garnish with fresh lime leaves.

Island Breeze Coctail Recipe

• 1.5 oz TY KU Sake
• 2 oz Vita Coco Coconut Water
• Slice of Fresh Cucumber

Mix the TY KU and Vita Coco in a shaker filled with ice until well blended. Strain and pour into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with the cucumber slice.

More Cinco de Mayo Recipes from SingleMindedWomen.com

Arriba! Cinco de Mayo Recipes for Your Mexican Fiesta

Cocktails to Shake Up Your Cinco de May Fiesta

Guy Fieri’s Mojito Chicken

Introducing, VnC Cocktails. These award winning cocktails are pre-mixed and ready to serve. They even come with their own drinking vessel which makes them ideal for picnics, barbeques, a day at the beach, or just hanging out with your gal pals at home.

Even better, these sumptuous cocktails are made with 100% all natural juices and are preservative and additive free. Oh, and did we mention that each VnC Cocktail contains less than 150 calories per serving?

VnC Cocktails come in 8 different varieties:

• Strawberry Daiquiri
• Banana Daiquiri
• Pacific Mai Tai
• Vodka Mojito
• Margarita
• Pomegranate Cosmopolitan
• Mango Daiquiri
• Passionfruit Caprioska

Try them all and let us know which one is your favorite. As always, please drink responsibly and remember to recycle your VnC Cocktail  bottles!

“The Give a Damn Campaign is excited to be a part of Van Gogh Vodka’s Cocktails without Prejudice,” says Cyndi Lauper, co-founder of the Give a Damn Campaign. “The company’s commitment to raising awareness and funds for our shared mission is truly inspiring. It is time for things to change and through this program we will be able to make a real difference in encouraging everyone to give a damn about equality.”

The martini is the perfect cocktail to toast with, as it celebrates love and acceptance for all.

Give a Damn Martini Recipe

Created By The Cocktail Guru, Jonathan Pogash

• 1 1/2 oz. Van Gogh BLUE Triple Wheat Vodka
• 3/4 oz. POM pomegranate juice
• 3/4 oz. Monin cinnamon syrup
• Top off with 1 1/2 oz sparkling wine

Directions: Shake first three ingredients very well with ice and strain into a martini glass.  Top off with chilled sparkling wine.

Garnish: Half orange wheel.

SingleMindedWomen.com’s Resources

• True Colors Fund
• Van Gogh Vodka

More Cocktail Recipes from SingleMindedWomen.com

Cocktails from the Ocean Key Resort & Spa

Oprah’s Favorite Tequila

Fashion Week Cocktails

Courvoisier Rosé

Launched last summer by the house of Courvoisier, this new Rosé, is a blend of cognac and premium French wine grapes. The flavor profile features notes of blackberry, black currant and a touch of cherry, complemented by vanilla, honey and vine-peach flavors. So, not only does it taste and smell delicious, it is ideal for mixing.

Rosé Kiss

Created by Moses Laboy of Red Rooster in NYC

Ingredients:

·         Muddled pineapple and mint
·         2 parts Courvoisier Rosé
·         ½ part French Dry Vermouth
·         ½ part Fresh Lime Juice
·         ¼ part simple syrup
·         3 splashes of Peychaud bitters
Directions:
Start by muddling pineapple & mint in a cocktail shaker.
Add the remaining ingredients, shake well and pour into a rocks glass.
Garnish with a fresh pineapple chunk.

C ² (Cupid’s Cocktail)

Available at Millesime at The Carlton Hotel, NYC

·         1 part Courvoisier Rosé
·         1.5 parts Courvoisier VSOP
·         .25 parts Agave nectar
·         .5 parts Fresh lime juice
·         Splash of Aromatic bitter
·         Flamed orange peel garnish

Purity Vodka

Thomas Kuuttanen spent the last ten years formulating Purity Vodka, so, no, this is not your run of the mill vodka. Hand-crafted at Ellinge Castle in Southern Sweden, Purity is made with using a customized distillation process with a unique still made of copper and gold that help the spirit retain the flavors of the wheat and barley. The heart of the vodka is distilled 34 times in a small-batch, craft distillation process, remaining unfiltered. Purity Vodka’s unique full-bodied flavor is a direct result of the organic wheat and grain and mineral-rich artisanal water from which it is made.  This dedication to using quality ingredients is what distinguishes Purity from the competition, even making it the most award-winning vodka in the world.  The Swedish brand has created monthly “What’s In Season” cocktails that use the freshest ingredients based on when they are at peak ripeness.  This February, the featured cocktail is the Purity Tangerine Rose.   It combines the juice of in-season tangerines, rosewater, lime juice, rose syrup, Peychaud’s bitters, and tangerine-infused Purity Vodka. How exactly do you infuse vodka? with an iSi canister, available at Williams Sonoma. This method allows for the essence of natural ingredients to enhance the vodka without the addition of artificial flavors.

The perfect complement to a romantic dinner, showcasing sweet citrus with the delicate floral notes of roses, Italian eatery Baraonda in Atlanta will be serving The Tangerine Rose.  The Pied Piper at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco is the West Coast location it and if you’re a New Yorker, head to Dick & Jane’s in Brooklyn to give it a try. Or give it a go yourself!

Fill an iSi canister with fresh tangerine slices and juice and 3oz of Purity vodka, making sure that they do not exceed the fill line.  Put the lid on the canister, load N₂O charger into the charger holder, and screw onto canister until the sound of gas releasing can be heard. Agitate (but do not shake) for 30 seconds, let infusion stand for two or three minutes, and while holding the canister upright, rapidly discharge the gas by squeezing the lever fully.  Unscrew the top and let stand until the carbonation subsides.  Pour liquid into a basket strainer over a mixing glass, add ice, and stir until cold.

For similar results at home without the necessary iSi equipment, muddle  ingredients with Purity Vodka and soak for a minimum of four hours (preferably overnight).  Pour this liquid into a basket strainer over a mixing glass, add ice, and stir until cold.

Directions: Combine Limoncello, lemons, syrup, and lime juice in a mixing glass and shake well. Pour into a flute or martini glass and top with Prosecco and lemon twist.

Tequila Partida

Tequila Partida is an authentic, estate-grown premium tequila, made from 100% blue agave in the heart of Mexico’s historic tequila region. Partida Añejo is aged 18 months in once-pass Jack Daniels American oak barrels and exhibits a depth of flavor that is clean and full bodied. It is an intense golden color with ochre and copper tones and should be savored slowly, with a fruity aroma and flavors of spices and dried fruits and almond.

The extraordinary dark cocoa inside of your favorite chocolate highlights the cinnamon and butterscotch flavors of Partida Añejo. With perfect pairing combinations like this, your loved one will fall in love with you all over again!

Añejo Kiss, by Marita Leonard of Tequila Partida

1 1/2 oz. Partida Añejo
1/2 oz Creme de Cacao (white)
1 oz. Amarula Cream
Mix ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake well. Strain into a chilled martini glass.

“When sipping on the Añejo Kiss you can experience the warmth of the South African sun through the flavor of the Partida Añejo and a kiss of sweetness from the Amarula Cream,” says Marita Leonard

CASCAL Fermented Soda

CASCAL Fermented Soda in Ripe Rouge has notes of cherry, chocolate, and rose – perfect for Valentine’s Day!

INGREDIENTS

1 1/4 oz vodka

3 fresh strawberries or 1 oz of strawberry liqueur

2 oz CASCAL Ripe Rouge

Garnish with strawberry

INSTRUCTIONS

Start by muddling strawberries with a dash of strawberry liqueur in the bottom of mixing glass

Add vodka and ice and shake hard

Pour in the CASCAL, stir gently and then fine strain into a Cocktail glass

This is a light a fruity cocktail with nice depth in finish.

A stay on Key West is one of our favorite girlfriend getaways, but if you can’t get to Key West, sit back and relax with the Ocean Key Resort’s famous cocktails.

The resorts top mixologist Al Nelson suggests this to get you and a loved one in the mood for a romantic evening:

Cocktail Recipe from Sunset Pier

Cayo al Corazón (Key to the Heart)

In a pint glass filled with ice, add the following:

Ingredients:

• ¾ oz Mount Gay Rum (or your favorite gold rum)
• ½ oz Peach Schnapps
• ½ of Malibu Coconut Rum
• 1 oz of Orange Juice
• ¾ oz Pineapple Juice
• ¾ oz Cranberry Juice
• A dash of Angostura Bitters

Directions:

1. Shake well until very cold and then strain into a highball or Double Collins glass filled with ice.
2. Top with a splash of great champagne like Veuve Clicquot and garnish with cherry.

For more info, visit The Ocean Key Resort & Spa in Key West.

More SingleMindedWomen.com Cocktail Recipes

Fashion Week Cocktails

Holiday Cocktails: Spicy GingerMan

The Charlie Sheen Cocktails

Sugar Cookie
2-1/2oz Partida Resposado Tequila
1 Tsp Brown Sugar
Brown Sugar for garnish

Rim a cordial glass with brown sugar.  Add tequila and brown sugar into a shaker with ice and hake ingredients well.  Strain into glass.

Check out all our holiday cocktails here… ‘Tis The Season for Holiday Cocktails.

SPARKLING COCKTAILS
Merry Berry Cocktail
MARTINI Poinsettia Punch
Angel’s Dessert
Rosato Toast
Sparkling Ginger Daisy Punch

VODKA COCKTAILS
Purity Holiday Meringue
Purity Champagne Cocktail
Purity Egg Nog
Purity Holiday H20

DESSERT COCKTAILS
Snickerdoodle
Seven Layer Cookie
Chocolate Peppermint Cookie
Toasted Macaroon
Sugar Cookie

But O didn’t say goodbye to TV or tequila forever. She heads up her OWN Network and gave pal Rosie O’Donnell a chance to helm her own show again, “The Rosie Show.”  The friends got together on October 17 to toast the new show with what else? Tequila!

And finally we know what kind of tequila Oprah actually likes! Tequila Partida Blanco.

This is not the first time Oprah has celebrated a milestone with Tequila Partida. In fact, during her final days at Harpo Studios earlier this year, Oprah threw a special Happy Hour Partida-theme party for her entire staff along with her special guest Partida’s Founder, Chairman and CEO Gary Shansby.

Tequila Partida is a high quality and all natural tequila made from 100% blue agave.  And while Oprah may have the gusto to drink it straight up, we realize some might prefer a tequila cocktail instead. So we asked Partida to send over some delicious ones for you to try while you watch Rosie and reminisce about Oprah!

Tequila Cocktail Recipes

Partida Margarita with 100% Organic Agave Nectar

1 1/2 oz Partida Blanco Tequila
1 oz Fresh squeezed lime juice
3/4 oz Agave Nectar
3/4 oz Water

Shake all ingredients with ice in a shaker. Strain over fresh ice into a Margarita glass or Old-Fashioned glass. Taste for Balance.

Note: This is the Margarita recipe made World famous by Julio Bermejo at Tommy’s Mexican Restaurant in San Francisco.

Ruby Partida

1 1/2 oz Partida Reposado Tequila
1 1/2 oz Fresh Ruby Red Grapefruit juice
1/2 oz Cointreau
1/2 oz Fresh squeezed lemon juice
1/2 oz French Cassis.

Shake the first 4 ingredients in a shaker with ice. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Dribble the 1/2 oz French Cassis down the inside of the glass so it will settle at the bottom.
Recipe by King Cocktail – Dale De Groff.

Big Spender

2 1/4 oz Partida Anejo Tequila
1 oz Winter Spiced 10yr Old Tawny Port
Dash of Angostura Bitters

In a mixing glass Stir all ingredients with ice. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with brandied cherries.

Recipe by Jacques Bezuidenhout – San Francisco

Scramble

1 1/2 oz Partida Blanco
1/2 oz Fresh squeezed lime juice
1/2 oz Fresh squeezed lemon juice
1/2 oz Agave Nectar
1/4 oz Crème de Mure (French Blackberry liqueur)

Shake all ingredients except for Crème de Mure with ice. Strain over crushed ice into a Old-Fashioned glass. Drizzle 1/4 oz Crème de Mure over the top and it will slowly bleed into the cocktail. Garnish with a Lemon Spiral twist and 3 Blackberries.

Recipe by Dre Masso & Henry Bessant from the World Wide Cocktail Club – London

Yerba Buena

2 oz Partida Reposado
8 to 10 Mint Sprigs
1/2 oz Fresh squeezed lime juice
1/2 oz Agave Nectar
Ginger Beer

Muddle Mint, Lime juice & Agave Nectar in a highball glass. Add ice to fill. Add Tequila & top with Ginger Beer. Stir with bar spoon. Garnish with Mint sprig & lime wheel.

Recipe adapted from Donna Scala of Bistro Don Giovanni in Napa California.

Sofia’s Swizzle

1 3/4 oz Partida Reposado Tequila
1 1/4 oz Organic unfiltered apple juice
1/4 oz Fresh squeezed lime juice
1/4 oz Velvet Falernum
Dash of Angostura Bitters
Ginger Beer

Shake the first 5 ingredients in a shaker with ice. Strain over fresh ice into a highball glass. Top up the rest of the cocktail with chilled Ginger Beer and garnish with a lime wedge.

Created by Jacques Bezuidenhout – San Francisco

Southern Heat

1 1/2 oz Partida Blanco Tequila
3/4 oz Cointreau
1 oz Fresh squeezed lime juice
6 slices of cucumber skinned
2 to 3 slices of Jalapeno’
1/4 oz Simple syrup

In a mixing glass muddle the cucumber, Jalapeno, lime juice and simple syrup. Add the ice, Partida Blanco Tequila & Cointreau. Shake and strain over fresh into an Old fashioned glass and garnish with cucumber slices fanned out.

Heated Affair

2 oz Partida Anejo Tequila
6 oz Hot Spiced Apple Cider
Heavy Cream

In a small warm wine glass add Tequila and hot apple cider. Float heavy cream. Garnish: Grate fresh Nutmeg over cream.

Apple Cider Preparation:

In a pot add Organic Apple Juice. Add winter spices like Cloves, Cinnamon Stick, All Spice, and Orange Peel. Start of by adding a few cloves one cinnamon stick etc so as to find the right-spiced apple cider flavor. You can always add more spice later. Bring everything to a low heat for about 15 mins. Taste for flavor. When the desired flavor is reached then take off stove. Strain out all the spices and orange peel. Serve warm and enjoy!

More SingleMindedWomen.com Cocktail Recipes
Holiday Cocktails
Vodka Cocktails
Halloween Cocktail Recipes

Van Goghst Punch (serves 12)

*Created by The Cocktail Guru Jonathan Pogash
1 bottle Van Gogh Rich Dark Chocolate Vodka
12 oz orange juice
12 oz pomegranate juice
12 oz club soda or lemon-lime soda

Directions: Pour ingredients into large punch bowl or pitcher filled with ice and stir to chill and dilute.  Ladle or pour out into small punch glasses.

Garnish: Several sliced orange wheels

Milky Way Martini
2 oz Van Gogh Rich Dark Chocolate Vodka
½ oz Van Gogh Vanilla Vodka
1 oz Butterscotch Schnapps

Combine all ingredients into a shaker with ice.  Shake vigorously and pour into a chilled martini glass.

PepperMint Pattini

1-1/2 oz Van Gogh Rich Dark Chocolate Vodka
1/2 oz Crème de menthe
1/2 oz Chocolate Liqueur
1/2 oz Cream

Add all ingredients into a shaker with ice and shake vigorously.  Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a Peppermint Pattie candy wedge.

Bazooka
½ oz. fresh egg white
½ oz. simple syrup
1 oz. lemon juice
2 oz. Bubble Gum flavored vodka like Three Olives (or make your own using the instructions below)

Directions for DIY Bubble Gum flavored vodka: . Place around 30 pieces of Dubble Bubble gum, each cut in half, into a bottle of vodka and leave for 24 hours. Then strain vodka and store in fridge.

To make the cocktail:  Combine all ingredients in a shaker, add ice, then shake and strain into a chilled glass.

by Eben Freeman, director of bar operations forAltamarea Group


Green Ghoul Martini with Blood Garnish
2 ounces Midori Melon Liqueur
2 ounces Mr. and Mrs. T Sweet and Sour Mix
1 ounce Vodka

 
Mix all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well and strain into blood rimmed martini glass.

 
There are two ways to  make the “blood garnish.” One is by making hard
red candy, the other is much easier. Simply dip  the rim of a  martini glass into Smucker’s Raspberry Jam. The effect is not quite as dramatic, but it gets the job done!

Red Blood Candy Garnish
1 c. Sugar
1/2 c. Karo Syrup
1/2 c. Water
Red Food Coloring

Directions:
Combine sugar, syrup and water. Heat over low flame in a heavy duty pot, stirring continuously until the mixture reaches a stiff consistency (roughly 300 degrees so be careful!). Add food coloring and reduce the flame to very low.

While the mixture is still hot, carefully dip the rim of your cocktail glass into the liquid. The candy will drip creating a blood like effect on the glass.

Panamanian Devil 

*Created by The Cocktail Guru Jonathan Pogash
2 oz Ron Abuelo Añejo rum
1 oz chilled espresso
3 drops liquid smoke
1/4 oz simple syrup
Spray of Lucid Absinthe

Directions: Shake first four ingredients with ice and strain into martini glass rimmed with smoked chili powder.  Spray on top of drink some Lucid Absinthe.

Garnish: flamed orange peel