Drink Recipes

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
Easy To Make Kahlua Cocktails - Spec's Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods

Easy Kahlúa Cocktails

Spec’sology Blog, Drink Recipes
What is it about Kahlúa that makes it so popular? Made with 100% Arabica coffee beans and rum, Kahlúa coffee liqueur is one of the main ingredients in many of the world’s favorite cocktails. Brunch, lunch, evening drinks, or whenever—Kahlúa helps turn the average into the extraordinary and any coffee into a delicious coffee cocktail. Below you’ll find 5 delicious and super easy Kahlúa cocktails you’ll be able to whip up in no time!   Kahlúa & Coffee Serves 2 Ingredients... Read More
The History of Mardi Gras in Texas - Spec's Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods

The History of Mardi Gras in Texas

Spec’sology Blog, Drink Recipes, Holidays
When we think of Mardi Gras we think of New Orleans. Mardi Gras began in medieval Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries and eventually made its way to the French House of the Bourbons. From there, the traditional revelry of “Boeuf Gras,” or fatted calf followed France to her colonies one of which was New Orleans. The first American Mardi Gras took place on March 3, 1699, when French explorers Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville and Sieur de Bienville landed near present-day New Orleans, Lo... Read More
Tea-Infused Martini Recipes - Spec's Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods

3 Easy-to-Make Tea-Infused Martinis

Spec’sology Blog, Drink Recipes
Pardon me, old chap, but did you know that teatime is becoming the new happy hour?! Calm down, we’re not suggesting you replace your happy hour with tea and crumpets! Quite the contrary actually. Our mixologists have been crafting new ways to incorporate tea into delicious cocktails! Use the recipes below as an excuse to call up your Sunday brunch crew for a very un-brunchy afternoon gathered around a Mad Hatter inspired tablescape with all the fixins for tantalizing tea-based cocktails! Just ... Read More