5 Essential Cocktails for March

Each month, Chilled is bringing you five essential cocktails based on our National Drink Day Calendar.
Don’t forget to reference it so you can prepare for the upcoming holidays. Spring is right around the corner; therefore, we need to celebrate the warm weather approaching with some delicious cocktails.

Give these delicious cocktails a try during march!

Old School Peanut Butter & Jelly Infused Cocktail

March 1 marks National Peanut Butter Lovers Day, and who wouldn’t want a cocktail to celebrate that? This peanut butter and jelly cocktail will take you back to being a kid but with an adult twist.

Photo by Arbella Chicago

Vodka

Old School Peanut Butter & Jelly Infused Cocktail

Ingredients

• 2 oz. Peanut Butter Infused Vodka*
• 3 oz. Grape Juice

Preparation

1. Serve over ice and enjoy.

Peanut Butter Infused Vodka*

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Ingredients

• Peanut Botter
• 1 Bottle of Vodka

Preparation

1. Spread a layer of peanut butter inside of a long and wide plastic container.
2. Pour bottle of vodka over the peanut butter (the goal is to get as much vodka exposed to the peanut butter) and let this sit for a day.
3. Turn the peanut butter with a spatula on Day 2. You will notice that the peanut butter exposed to the vodka is a pale color while the bottom is a nice rich brown. Turn to expose the rich brown peanut butter.
4. On Day 3, strain the peanut butter vodka and start steps 1 and 2 over again using the strained peanut butter vodka.
5. Repeat step 3.
6. On day 5, strain using cheese cloths.
7. Once strained let sit and the oil and vodka will separate. It will be very clear as to what part is the oil (transparent and brown in color compared to the thick pale infused vodka).
8. Pour into another container only getting the infused vodka.

Mulled Wine

While mulled wine is a great fall beverage, it can still be enjoyed all year round. Celebrate National Mulled Wine Day (March 3) with this citrus and peppermint cocktail.

Red Wine, Whiskey

Mulled Wine

Ingredients

• 8 parts Drambuie
• 1 bottle (750 ml) Red Wine-Suggest Cabernet Sauvignon
• 2 parts Honey
• 1 Spearmint-Peppermint Tea Bag
• Peel of 1/2 Grapefruit
• Peel of 1 Orange

• 2 tbsp. Fresh Grated Ginger
• 1/2 tsp. Whole Juniper Berries
• 1/2 tsp. Whole Allspice Berries
• 1/2 tsp. Whole Peppercorns
• 1 Cinnamon Stick
• Serve in Irish Coffee Mug

Preparation

1. With a mortar and pestle grind the berries and pepper corns and add to a sauce pan.
2. Add all other ingredients to the sauce pan and bring to a boil over medium heat.
3. Remove from heat and let stand for 1 minute.
4. Strain and serve.
5. If not hot enough, bring back to a simmer.
6. Serve hot.

Lucky Shamrock Shake

Another childhood classic! National Cereal Day on March 7 is the perfect day to whip up a cereal-flavored cocktail. This St. Patrick’s Day-inspired shake is an adult treat. Anything garnished with Lucky Charms is yummy in our book.

Photo by Coupons.com

Liqueur

Lucky Shamrock Shake

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup Bailey’s Irish Cream
• 1 tsp. Honey
• 2 Cups Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
• 1/4 Cup Milk
• 1 Small Bunch of Fresh Mint Leaves
• 1/2 tsp. Pure Peppermint Extract
• 2 tsp. Green Sprinkles
• 2 tsp. Green Food Coloring

Preparation

1. Rim two glasses with honey, dip in green sprinkles, and set aside.
2. In a blender, puree ice cream, Irish Cream or milk, mint leaves, peppermint extract, and green food coloring.
3. Pour into a glass.
4. Top with whipped topping.
5. Garnish with Lucky Charms marshmallows.
6. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Negroni Blanco

Happy Spring Equinox (March 20)! Let’s enjoy the birds chirping, the snow melting, and the blue skies with this spring cocktail from Brockmans Gin.

Photo by Brockmans Gin

Gin

Negroni Blanco

Ingredients

• 1 part Brockmans Gin
• 1 part Bitter Bianco
• 1 part Sparkling Grapefruit (1/2 part grapefruit juice to 1/2 part soda water)

Preparation

1. Fill a tumbler glass with ice and add Brockmans Gin and Bitter Bianco.
2. Top with equal measures of grapefruit juice and soda water.
3. Give it a gentle stir.
4. Garnish with a thin wedge of pink grapefruit.

Police + Thieves

International Waffle Day on March 25 is the perfect day to enjoy a maple syrup cocktail. After all, what’s a waffle without maple syrup?

Photo by Seth Dunne

Rum, Whiskey

Police + Thieves

by The Copper Grouse

Ingredients

• 1 oz. Mad River Rum
• 1 oz. Applejack Liquor
• 1/2 oz. Amaro Nonino
• 1/2 oz. Maple Syrup
• 1 dash Peychauds

Preparation

1. Combine all ingredients in a glass and stir.
2. Garnish with a lemon peel.

Description

The Copper Grouse, a new restaurant in Manchester, VT that celebrates the bounty of Vermont’s four seasons, has created a maple cocktail – Police + Thieves ($12) – the perfect balance of sweet and tart to satisfy any sweet tooth.