8 Ways to Mix with Mom

Is there any greater unsung hero than your dear old mom? Apart from Mother’s Day, where mom inevitably has to finish cooking her own breakfast, or on her birthday, when she’s likely to have a hand in picking her own gift, there’s little time for mum to enjoy some well-earned rest and relaxation.

At ReserveBar, we believe that every day can be Mother’s Day and that everyone should take the time to celebrate the countless selfless acts that moms everywhere carry out. It’s for that reason we bring you 8 of the best cocktails created especially for mom to enjoy on Mother’s Day, on her birthday, and really every other day.

MORNING MIMOSAS

There’s no better way to start your mom’s day of relaxation than waking her up with a sparkling morning mimosa. Elegant and classy, just like Mom.

• 2 parts Veuve Clicquot Champagne
• 1 part Chilled, fresh orange juice

Add Champagne to a flute. Slowly pour in the orange juice and gently stir. Garnish with a slim slice of fresh orange for a perfect zesty brunch treat. If you want to add a little glam to this drink, you may want to consider some new glassware like these Rolf Stemless Flutes.

Make it Non-Alcoholic: substitute Betty Buzz Tonic Water and a dash of vanilla for the Champagne to make a delicious creamsicle treat.

GIN SPRING SPRITZ SPARKLE

Now that the sun is back in the sky and the weather is warming, it’s time to treat mom to a refreshing Gin Spring Spritz Sparkle.

• 2 oz. The Botanist Gin
• Mom’s favorite springtime fruit and citrus
• Fever-tree Refreshingly Light Tonic Water
• Sparkly drink umbrella and edible glitter (garnish)

Fill a large wine glass with ice (cubed is perfect). Add the gin and plenty of delicious spring fruit, like limes, raspberries, and strawberries. Top up with sparkling tonic. Give a brisk stir and garnish with a sparkly umbrella and edible glitter.

Make it Non-Alcoholic: substitute Clean G in place of gin to make a refreshing, clean cocktail.

FRENCH MARTINI

A timeless classic (just like mom), created by famed bartender Allen Katz, this cocktail surprisingly only emerged in New York during the 1980s. However, in the nearly 40 or so years since its creation, the recipe has remained relatively unchanged.

• 1 oz. Chambord
• 1 oz. Grey Goose Vodka
• 2 oz. Fresh pineapple juice
• Two raspberries (garnish)

Chill a coupe glass with ice and soda, and set it aside. Add Chambord, vodka, and pineapple juice to a Boston Shaker. Fill the shaker with ice and securely close it. “Shake ‘til you ache.” Empty the melting ice and soda from your coupe glass. Pour the cocktail through a strainer into that chilled coupe glass. You should be left with a lovely frothy head and a smooth, classy drink. Garnish with two raspberries on the froth of the cocktail.

Make it Non-Alcoholic: substitute Chambord with raspberry syrup to taste and Grey Goose with Seedlip Grove 42 to shake up a classic.

FABULOUS FRENCH FANCY 75

Another classic, this one dates back to 1915 at the New York Bar in Paris in the midst of WWI. Created by barman Harry MacElhone, it was said the drink gave such a kick that it felt like being shelled with the powerful French 75mm field gun.

• 1 ½ oz. No. 3 Gin
• 1 tbsp. Simple syrup
• 1 tbsp. Lemon juice
• McBride Sisters Black Girl Magic Sparkling Brut
• Lemon twist (garnish)

Chill either a sling glass or a slim wine glass. Take your Boston Shaker and add gin, simple syrup, and lemon juice. Securely close the shaker and “Shake ‘til you ache.” Drain the chilled glass, and then use a strainer to slowly pour the cocktail into the glass. Add a splash of champagne and garnish with a twisty strip of lemon peel. Serve.

Make it Non-Alcoholic: substitute Seedlip Garden 108 for the gin and Surely Sparkling White for the Brut to create a delightful French 75 twist.

AL B WITH LOVE - (ALCOHOL ABSENT BUT FILLED WITH LOVE)

This Cranberry and Pomegranate Punch Mocktail is perfect for an alcohol-free garden party, especially for all moms out there who love the fancy flavors of a cocktail but are too busy to deal with the effects of a hangover.

• 2 cups Cranberry Juice
• 2 cups Pomegranate Juice
• 2 tbsp. Grenadine
• Fresh cranberries
• Mint leaves
• Sparkling water

Fill a bowl with ice. Add cranberry juice and pomegranate juice to the bowl and stir. Add grenadine, fresh cranberries, and lightly crushed mint leaves. Stir the bowl vigorously. When ready to serve, garnish by adding fruit and sparkling water to individual glasses after serving from the punch bowl.

RUBY PUNCH

This one will take a little more preparation, but the resulting flavor explosion and warmly felt appreciation will definitely be worth the extra effort. This punch also happens to be perfect for a summer garden party.

• 2 bunches of rhubarb
• 2 tsp. vanilla paste
• 6 oz. sugar
• 1 full cup of water
• 1 cup pomegranate molasses
• 2 oz. Two James Barrel Reserve Old Cockney Gin
• 1 oz. strawberry kombucha

Dehydrate a bunch and a half of rhubarb in a preheated oven set to 250° for an hour and a half or until dehydrated (not browned). Remove and allow to cool, and then finely chop.

Chop remaining rhubarb and place in a saucepan with vanilla paste, sugar and water over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Bring to a simmer and cook until thick and syrupy. Strain through a fine sieve into a bowl. Reserve both the puree from the sieve and the strained rhubarb syrup.

Divide pomegranate between glasses and add a spoonful of puree. Add ice to the glass. Add gin, kombucha, and a splash of rhubarb syrup, and stir vigorously. Garnish with finely chopped dehydrated rhubarb.

Make it Non-Alcoholic: substitute gin with either Seedlip Spice 94 or Fever-Tree Elderflower Tonic Water for a delightful spring-forward drink.

WHITE/DARK RABBIT DELIGHT

Perfect for an Easter or Autumn afternoon palate revitalizer, this cocktail is mouthwatering, tarte, and tasty.

• 2 oz. Añejo Blanco or Añejo Clasico Havana Rum
• Egg white
• ½ oz. Lemon juice
• ¾ oz. Simple syrup
• Angostura Bitters (garnish)

Chill either a coupe or rocked glass. Add rum, lemon juice, egg white, and simple syrup to a Boston Shaker and fill with ice. Securely close Boston Shaker and “shake til you ache.” Strain slowly into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a few delicate splashes of Angostura Bitters.

Make it Non-Alcoholic: substitute CleanCo Clean R for rum to craft a clean and slightly spicy Dark Rabbit.

APEROL SPRITZ TONGUE TINGLE

A modern, stylish, simple classic, combining the delightful summer flavors of Aperol with the crisp sparkling bubbles of Prosecco, a drink beloved by moms everywhere.

• 1 ½ oz. Aperol
• 2 ½ oz. Cinzano Sparkling Wine Prosecco
• Soda
• Orange slice (garnish)

Fill a large wine glass with ice. Add Prosecco and Aperol. Top up the wine glass with soda. Stir elegantly. Garnish with a generous slice of orange.

Make it Non-Alcoholic: Substitute Aperol/Prosecco with Roots Divino Rosso and Surely Sparkling White OR substitute Aperol/Soda with Hella Aromatic Spritz and Prosecco with Surely Sparkling Rosé to craft a spritz she'll drink all summer long!

We hope that your mom enjoys some of these cocktail suggestions, especially as we all know that mums everywhere deserve far more than the occasional cocktail. They deserve to be showered with love because they are worth far more than any priceless treasure.

To moms everywhere, thank you for everything you do.