Drink Recipes

Italian Wine Cocktails

4 Simple Italian Wine Cocktails

Spec’sology Blog, Drink Recipes, Wine
How do you make happy hour even better? Simple, you just turn your glass of wine into a cocktail! It’s easier than it sounds and requires zero mystical powers (a plus for us muggles). We’ll be focusing on Italian wine cocktails, but feel free to do some experimenting based on the recipes below!   Lambrusco Sangria Ingredients 1 ounce brandy 1 ounce Tuscan Sangiovese wine ¾ ounce blood orange juice ½ ounce Cherry Heering ¼ ounce Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao ¼ ounce lime juice Lambrus... Read More
Tropical Rum Cocktails - Spec's Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods

Tropical Rum Cocktails

Spec’sology Blog, Drink Recipes
There’s just something about the taste of a tropical rum cocktail that can instantly transport you to a palm tree-lined beach. The steel drums fade in as the surf tickles your toes and the fresh saltwater air dances under your nose. No matter where you’re sitting, all it takes is one sip of paradise in a glass to have you longing for some serious R&R. So, in lieu of sunburns and jellyfish, we’ve put together a few of our favorite, lesser known, tropical rum cocktails that’ll have you... Read More
Tequila Slush Recipes - Spec's Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods

Tequila Slushes Recipes

Spec’sology Blog, Drink Recipes, Spirits
When it’s this hot out the only thing sweating should be your ice-cold beverage. And that’ll definitely be the case when you’re celebrating National Tequila Day with one of our highly recommended slushes in hand! Whether you’re lounging by the pool, grilling at a cookout, or just unwinding after a long hot day, these delicious frozen tequila cocktails are surprisingly easy to make with just a blender, some ice and a handful of ingredients. If slushes aren’t your thing, be sure to c... Read More
The Dirty Shirley & Other Vintage Cocktails - Spec's

The Dirty Shirley & Other Vintage Cocktails

Spec’sology Blog, Drink Recipes, Spirits
The summer’s hottest sipper is a refreshingly delightful twist on the vintage Shirley Temple – introducing the Dirty Shirley! The Shirley Temple may have been invented in the 1930s by a bartender at Chasen’s, a restaurant in Beverly Hills, California, to serve then-child actress Shirley Temple. Of course, there are other claims to its origin, but we like that one best. The Shirley Temple has been a favorite drink order for kids since the 1930s, but in the hands of crafty adults, it... Read More
5 Daiquiri Twists - Spec's Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods

5 Daiquiri Recipes With A Twist

Spec’sology Blog, Drink Recipes, Spirits
July is blender season at Spec’s! Nothing makes hosting easier than simply dumping ingredients into a blender and then pouring out cups of delicious sunshine to eager guests. And there isn’t an easier go-to cocktail than the classic daiquiri. Made with only 3 ingredients: rum, sugar, and lime; the daiquiri is the perfect drink to hone your bartending skills. With a few simple additions, you’ll be slinging top-shelf tropical delight in no time! Check out some of our favorite daiquiri twists... Read More
Big Batch July 4th Cocktails - Spec's Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods

Big Batch July 4th Cocktails

Spec’sology Blog, Drink Recipes
Everybody loves serving up a signature cocktail at a Fourth of July party, but absolutely nobody wants to be stuck behind the bar working up a sweat shaking cocktails all night. The solution? Big batch cocktails! Hosting a stress-free party starts by whipping up big-batch cocktails in advance and then simply leaving a pitcher or punch bowl out for guests to use at their (and your) convenience. Checkout some of our favorite big batch cocktail recipes and don’t miss a minute of the fun!   (... Read More
The Best Camping Cocktails - Spec's Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods

5 Best Camping Cocktails

Spec’sology Blog, Drink Recipes
June is National Camping Month! (we can only assume this was created in some northern state where it’s a high of 80 in June!) Camping is a great way to get out and see America the beautiful in all its glory. Gathering around a campfire with your favorite pals can be the perfect vacation from the everyday hustle and bustle of modern life. Some of us here at Spec’s are avid outdoor enthusiasts while others prefer a shower and a tv; so, for this collection of campfire cocktails we’ve relied o... Read More
Mastering The Martini - How To - Spec's Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods

How To Make A Perfect Martini

Spec’sology Blog, Drink Recipes
The martini is a timeless classic. It never falls out of fashion as it is fashion. And there’s never a shortage of Bond films to remind us of its cool factor as well as to pique the interest of younger generations. Numerous theories on the cocktail’s origins exist, as do numerous versions and recipes. From gin or vodka to fruity or savory, the martini is a jack of all trades. Although, attaching “tini” to the end of a cocktail usually just means it’s served in a v-shaped glass, often c... Read More
Tequila Punch Recipes - Spec's Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods

Tequila Punch Recipes

Spec’sology Blog, Drink Recipes, Spirits
Tequila punch is always a wonderful addition to any gathering, but even more so for Cinco de Mayo! A punch cocktail is made with fruit juice and alcohol and is a great way to get yourself out from behind the bar and back into the party. These large-batch cocktails can be made well in advance of your gathering and stored in the fridge until guests arrive. We’ve got 5 punches to put the feisty in your fiesta!   Patrón’s Citrus Punch Ingredients 2 oz agave nectar 9 oz Patrón Añejo 3 oz... Read More
Popular Cocktails By Decade - Spec's Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods

Cocktails Through The Decades

Spec’sology Blog, Drink Recipes
You can walk into almost any bar and order whatever cocktail you’d like, and they’ll easily be able to make it for you. But this wasn’t always the case. We didn’t have access to the variety of spirits and flavors we have today, which made for some creative cocktail making back in the day. Join us on a journey through time as we take you through 7 decades of cocktail decadence highlighting the most popular drink of choice for each time period.   1950’s Martini The ease of gin manuf... Read More
Fresh Botanical Cocktails - Spec's Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods

Fresh Botanical Cocktail Recipes

Spec’sology Blog, Drink Recipes, Spirits
Nothing screams spring like colorful flowers and fresh blooms! And we can’t think of a more suiting way to praise the petals than by adding them to a cocktail! Botanical cocktails are as delicious as they are beautiful, and we think they’re the perfect way to welcome in the changing of the seasons! Check out some of our favorite floral and herbal cocktails and be sure to hit up your local florists or garden for the pretty plant parts!   Herb Gardner Ingredients 1 ½ oz Patrón Silver ... Read More
An Irish Twist On Classic Cocktails - Spec's Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods

Irish Twist On Classic Cocktails

Spec’sology Blog, Drink Recipes
When it comes to classic whiskey cocktails we typically find them made with American bourbon or whiskey, and that is absolutely fine! But, if you were to swap that spirit with an Irish whiskey you might be in for a treat! Bourbon tends to be sweeter and denser than Irish whiskey, which is less smoky, but very smooth and a bit fruity. Typically, bourbon boasts strong flavors of oak, caramel, marshmallow, and vanilla. Whiskey, however, has a taste that is warm, spicy, sweet, caramelly, or toasty i... Read More