Margaritas are great and all, but this tequila cocktail involves ice cream, coffee, and fire. Considered an after dinner drink, the Cinco de Pyro (aka “Mexican coffee”) is more conducive to starting the party than winding things down. For a less sweet version, substitute whipped cream for ice cream.

Ingredients (per drink)

1 ½ oz. reposado tequila (high proof)
½ oz. Kahlua coffee liqueur
Hot coffee, we used our Mexican Altura
Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream

Instructions

Add the Kahlua to your mug and top with hot coffee, leaving room at the top for the tequila and ice cream. Add the tequila to a heat-proof pitcher or sauce boat, and light. Carefully pour the flaming tequila into your glass and top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

One of our favorite teas this time of year is our Moroccan Mint blend of herbal peppermint and high quality Pinhead Gunpowder green tea. Delicious hot or iced, it’s perfect for spring’s crazy temperature changes. We’ve been wanting to try this tea in a cocktail, and a mojito seemed the perfect choice. Just add rum, lime juice, and simple syrup. The only thing better would be all those ingredients plus shortbread. Our shipping manager Lori found a recipe for Cuban mojito shortbread bars, and substituted fresh mint with our Moroccan Mint. The results were sweet, tart, decadent, delicious.

Ingredients

3 teaspoons Moroccan Mint looseleaf tea, roughly ground
1 cup cold butter, chopped
½ cup sugar
1 cup flour
1 cup almond meal
pinch kosher salt
3 large egg yolks
1-14 oz. can fat free sweetened condensed milk
¾ cup lime juice
2 tsp rum extract (or rum)
powdered sugar for dusting

Instructions

For the shortbread

Preheat oven to 350° F. Blend together the butter, sugar, salt, flours, and half the dry tea. Press the shortbread dough evenly into the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking pan lined with parchment paper, allowing the paper to hang over for easy lifting later for cutting. Bake for 25 minutes until golden brown. Allow the shortbread crust to cool for about 10 minutes.

For the custard

In the food processor, add the egg yolks, condensed milk, rum extract, lime juice, rum extract and the remaining tea leaves. Pulse until combined and pour over the baked shortbread base. Bake for another 20 minutes or until the custard appears to be set. Cool completely and cut into squares. Top with powdered sugar just before serving.

The old fashioned cocktail recipe hasn’t changed much since the 1860s (or earlier) for a reason. When made well, it’s perfect. Coffee and whiskey are great partners however, and we like this caffeinated twist perfect for iced coffee season.

Ingredients 

1 sugar cube

2-3 dashes Angostura bitters

2 oz bourbon or rye

1 oz cold strong coffee (or chilled espresso)

Ice

Twist of lemon

Instructions

Place sugar cube and bitters in a rocks glass. Add a splash of the coffee and muddle well. Add the bourbon or rye, followed by the remaining coffee and ice. Stir until chilled. Garnish with a twist of lemon.

Considering a single serve brewer? Read this before you buy! If you have one already let us know what you think and check out our reusable Ekobrew filters which allow you to brew your favorite fresh roasted coffee single serve style.

We love this spring-y cocktail for its secret ingredient: green tea flavored syrup. Don’t have any on hand? Substitute a cup of brewed Jasmine 1st Grade green tea for water when making simple syrup (instructions below). Try the leftover syrup as a sweetener in iced tea or homemade lemonade.

Ingredients

For the syrup:

1 cup brewed Jasmine 1st Grade green tea

2 cups sugar

For the cocktail (per serving):

2 oz vodka

1/2 oz lemon juice

1 1/2 oz jasmine simple syrup

Instructions

To make the syrup, combine the sugar and tea in a small saucepan over medium heat. Simmer, stirring, until the sugar has dissolved and the syrup is clear. Let cool.

Add the syrup, vodka, and lemon juice to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a glass. Garnish with lemon zest if you like, or a jasmine flower if you can find one. Cheers!