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Drinks

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Celebrations are best enjoyed with a glass of bubbly… Or in this case, a black salt pineapple cocktail or a citrus whisky tonic.

Oh yes, let the party begin! Here are a few of our favourite wedding cocktail recipes to add to any party:

Vodka + pineapple cocktail with black salt rim

Tropical flavours are such a popular trend right now – we’ve glammed this up with the dark and mysterious black salt. The pineapple, paired with the mineral undertones of the black salt creates a deliciously refreshing drink. 

Makes: 6 | Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients: 

  • 6 cups pineapple juice and extra for dipping
  • 300ml Anestasia Vodka
  • 12 blocks ice
  • 12 tsp black salt

To serve: 

  • 6 large slices of pineapple

Method:

  1. Combine pineapple juice, vodka and ice in a cocktail shaker or large jug. Stir and leave to chill while you prepare the glasses.
  2. Dip the rim of each glass in a saucer filled with some pineapple juice.
  3. Then dip the rims in another saucer with the black salt. Roll the rims in the salt so that they are well coated.
  4. Once the glasses are ready, pour the prepared cocktail into the glasses and add a pinch of black salt to each one.
  5. Serve each with a large slice of pineapple.

Spumanté + Pomegranate Cocktail 

What is Spurmanté, you’re wondering? It is a lovely, slightly sweet wine, with a fruity and floral undertone – and a lively spark! Paired with the sharp flavour of the pomegranate juice, this is a balanced and invigorating cocktail. 

Makes: 6 | Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients: 

  • 1 bottle Ovation Spurmanté, chilled.
  • 6 tsp honey
  • 2 pomegranates thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup pomegranate juice

Method: 

  1. Divide the Spurmanté between 6 glasses, and add 1 tsp of honey per glass. Stir.
  2. Garnish the edge of the glass with a thin slice of pomegranate.
  3. Just before serving, pour a small amount of pomegranate juice into each drink.
  4. Serve chilled.

Honey Bubbles

This trend is new to SA but really ancient. Mead is a wine made from fermented honey, creating a distinct flavour like nothing you know.

Makes: 5 | Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients: 

  • 1 bottle Melaurea Mead Methodé Traditionelle, chilled.
  • To serve – six small pieces of honeycomb.

Method: 

  1. Divide the Melaurea mead between 5 glasses.
  2. Garnish the side of each glass with a smaller piece of honeycomb.

Berry + Lime Gin With Cashew Snack Basket

The small snack basket in the cocktail is a fun way to keep your guests satisfied while you’re busy getting your photos taken. And the best part? You can add any snacks you like!

Makes: 4 | Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients: 

  • 300ml Flowstone Bushwillow Gin
  • 4 cups strawberry juice
  • 6 cups crushed ice
  • 1 1/2 cups fresh raspberries
  • 3 limes, halved and flesh removed
  • 1 1/2 cup raw cashews

Method: 

  1. Combine the gin and strawberry juice, stirring well.
  2. Fill 4 glasses with crushed ice and place a few fresh raspberries in each glass.
  3. Pour the cocktail over the crushed ice.
  4. To garnish, settle the halved lime into the crushed ice and fill with a quarter cup of cashews. Serve immediately.

Citrus Whisky Tonic

Use any citrus juice you fancy for this drink – it really depends on how sweet or sour you like it. For a sparkling and glamourous finish, add a small pinch of edible gold glitter to the glasses. 

Makes: 6 | Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients: 

  • 24 blocks ice
  • 300ml American Barrels Bourbon Whiskey
  • 4 cups tonic
  • 1 tbsp citrus juice (orange, grapefruit or lemon juice)
  • 6 small pinches of edible glitter (to serve)

Method: 

  1. Divide the ice between 6 glasses, and tip up a double shot of bourbon in each glass.
  2. Finish the cocktail by filling each glass with tonic, and stir in a tablespoon of the citrus juice.
  3. Serve immediately.

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Basking in the beautifully warm rays of the African sun while walking down the aisle and saying “I do” to your special person sounds magical. For many couples, warmer weather means wedding bells with summer being a favourite season amongst bridal couples looking to get hitched.

But one of the most important aspects of planning a summer wedding it – hydration, hydration and more hydration. Adding a signature cocktail to your wedding day not only helps your guests to cool off, but a signature cocktail can set the mood. 

Stumped on which mouth-watering cocktail you should add? Here are five mouth-watering cocktails that your guests will love.

Coconut Margarita
Photo: With Salt and Wit

Whether your beachside or on a wine farm, this creamy addition will transport your tastebuds to the ocean thanks to the coconut milk, water and fresh squeeze of lime. Get the recipe here.

Blackberry Whiskey Lemonade
Photo: Life as a Strawberry

Lemonade screams: “summer is here!” But this blackberry and whiskey lemonade drink will certainly wow guests and become an instant hit. Get the recipe here

Rum Orange Swizzle
Photo: Jelly Toast Blog

When we think of rum and orange were immediately reminded of the turquoise waters and white-sandy beaches of a tropical island. There’s no question that this drink will transport your guests to their favourite tropical destination in the world. Get the recipe here.

Sparkling Raspberry Lemonade
Photo Cooking Classy

Another lemonade winner, this time with raspberry. This delicious cocktail packs a summery punch thanks to the raspberries and lemonade – yum!  Swap the sparkling water for some sparkling wine. Get the recipe here.

Frozen watermelon margarita
Photo: BBC Food

Watermelon is a staple during summer, so why can’t it be a staple at your wedding too? This tantalising summer cocktail blends frozen watermelon and tequila, bringing to life something your guests will never forget. Get the recipe here.

Cucumber Lime Basil Sparkling Spritzer
Photo: Food52

Cucumber slices, basil leaves, and sparkling wine – this is what makes a refreshing drink! This is the perfect cocktail addition to any wedding if you’re not looking for something too sweet. Get the recipe here, swapping Preseco for your favourite bottle of sparkling wine.

Picture: Unsplash

It’s summer! If there ever was a time for beautiful and refreshing drinks, this is it. Whether you go the fruity way or the floral way and whether you choose the alcoholic or the non-alcoholic route, there’s something out there for you.

Choose a colour that suits your wedding’s theme so the drinks serve as decor too. Play around with different mixes and have some variety to tickle your guests’ tastebuds.

Here are a few different drinks styled to perfection to inspire you.

 

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Picture: Unsplash

Planning your wedding to the last detail can greatly help to cut down costs. Importantly, not everything needs to be outsourced, You can easily serve up some delicious DIY drinks to your guests, adding an extra interactive element to your big day.

Not only will it save you costs, but this will also create a fun vibe and you won’t have people complaining that eadrink menu did not have their favourite drink. Here are 5 DIY drinks your guest can make for themselves.

Cool lemonade 

For the non-drinkers and possibly children (if you will have them at your wedding) a cold lemonade is always a winner, it is very easy to make and you can easily be creative when making it. Another plus about this drink is that you don’t need a lot of ingredients. All you need are some lemons, water, and sugar/syrup.

Cut the lemons in half and then juice them.  Pour water and stir in sugar. Continue stirring until sugar is dissolved and the liquid looks clear again. Combine sugar solution with lemon juice. When ready to serve, add water to taste.

Mimosa 

This lovely two ingredients cocktail is a favorite amongst champagne lovers. It is easy to make. All you need is some chapmpagne and orange juice.

Ensure both ingredients are well chilled, then mix into the glass. Serve cold. To get the best taste, stir and not shake. For the ambiance you can add cherries, grenadine, strawberries
Gin bar
For gin lovers, Here’s an easy option that only requires one main ingredient and that is gin. Have mint, rosemary, and basil ready, slice up limes, lemons, and grapefruit to let guests add a refreshing twist to the classic. Look at how you can set up a gin bar.
Mojito
This is a sweet cocktail that is also very easy to make. It has versatility because you can have it as a non-alchoholic beverage but you can also add  your rum. You will need white rum, lime juice, sugar, mint leaves and soda water.
Whiskey cocktails
For guests who like hard liquor, this is the perfect thing for them. If you are tired of drinking it in shots, you can make cocktails out of them. You can have whiskey with apple tiser or red bull. The options are endless.
Pictures: Unsplash

Let’s toast to the good life! A wedding day is often made much more entertaining with some bottles of your favourite booze. While an open bar is aways welcomed by guests, there are more ways to bring in your favourite drink in your big day.

Couples who have a deep appreciation for alcohol can get creative in showcasing their passion. Go big with unique drink displays, incorporate it into your seating chart or even give it out as wedding favours.

Here are some awesome ideas to sip on:

Seating charts and escort cards:

Use you leftover wine bottles as escort cards! Simply clean them out and remove the labelling, then use a marker to write out the names of your guests or print it out on paper and paste it to the bottle. Think beyond bottles and use decanters or even cocktail shakers as seating charts!

If you’d like something your guests can sip and savour, use glasses of your favourite drink as escort cards. Wine walls are super trendy and double as an amazing art installation. For a more casual vibe, have shot glasses and mini wedges of lemon set up for your guests to get the party started.

Credit: Pinterest
Credit: Pinterest
Credit: Pinterest
Credit: Pinterest
Credit: Pinterest

Interactive bars:

There are so many interesting and fun ways to serve up your alcoholic beverages. Instead of a boring bar, get more interactive with booze carts. A dedicated stand to your favourite drink like a champagne cart acts as an extra feature and adds a cool edge to your big day.

You can also set up some DIY drink stands to allow your guests to help themselves. Think of a gin or prosecco bar with an assortment of fruits and mixers to pimp out your drink.

Credit: Pinterest
Credit: Pinterest
Credit: Pinterest

Wedding favours:

Give your guests something to enjoy on their way out of your festivities with miniature bottles of your favourite drink. From whiskey and tequila to bourbon and bubbly, each little drink can be complimented with a fun and cheesy slogan. Drunk in love, anyone?

Credit: Pinterest
Credit: Pinterest

Feature image: Pexels

In the wedding industry, lockdown has become synonymous with creativity. Everything is different than it used to be, and planning a wedding in a COVID-19 era needs more lateral thinking than ever. Fear not! All that really matters on the day is being united with the person you love most in this world.

When it comes to refreshments, alcohol is a no-go for the foreseeable future in South Africa. Some couples might simply not want to offer alcohol, regardless of the ban. Whatever the reason, there are tonnes of ways to have a stellar reception without a drop of booze.

1. Have a breakfast wedding

During the morning, guests will be less likely to miss having an adult drink in hand. Brunch weddings are expertly classy, fun and pretty. Who needs wine when there’s an omelet station?

2. Have a connoisseur coffee bar

This fits in perfectly with a brunch wedding, but of course will work for any time of the day. Go all out with fancy coffee that will have even the most snobbish barista coming back for more. Add variety with other hot drinks such as teas and hot chocolate.

3. Have guests mix their own fruit juices

Having a juice bar where guests can mix and match as they please doubles as a fun activity too! Print out a directive of which juices pair well together, and label the different kinds. Add fresh fruits, ice and paper straws for extra “punch.”

4. Serve non-alcoholic drinks

These days, you can find almost any alcoholic beverage with an alcohol-free counterpart. Wine, sparkling wine, beer and even spirits like gin all have non-alcoholic ranges that are equally tasty and will add a sophisticated feel.

5. Don’t hold back with the dessert table 

What better way to celebrate than to eat delicious treats? A delectable dessert table will have the mouths watering and no alcohol likely means you’ll have slightly more flexible budget. The key here is variety. More options mean more happy taste buds!

Images: Pinterest

Featured image: Unsplash

Winter is coming. While this season might not be the obvious choice for a wedding day, it actually has many benefits.

Winter weddings add a special feeling of cosy romance and magic to even the frostiest of days. Using decor pieces like fairylights, candles and tons of greenery, any space can be transformed into a winter wonderland.

If you’re having your big day during the winter, remember to offer treats and favours that will warm up your guests in more ways than one. We’ve got some sweet ideas for you to try.

Decor:

Credit: Pinterest
Credit: Pinterest
Credit: Pinterest
Credit: Pinterest
Credit: Pinterest

 

Drinks and treats:

Credit: Pinterest
Credit: Pinterest
Credit: Pinterest

Send-offs and favours:

Credit: Pinterest
Credit: Pinterest
Credit: Pinterest
Credit: Pinterest

Feature image: Unsplash

When guests toast to the newlyweds, it should be in style. It’s easy to pour some bubbly in a glass, but where’s the fun in that?

Since signature drinks have grown in popularity over the years, many couples are opting for creative, aesthetically pleasing ways to serve up their beverages. If you’ve got a particular wedding theme, extending it to your drinks is a great way to make your wedding even more cohesive.

Here are some fun and creative ways to serve up your drinks and give your guests liquid courage.

A champagne tower:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_r6P5HlrAe/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Cotton candy dreams:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_t-8orDsg_/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Wall of wonder:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9z13cQpyZF/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Floral fancy:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_q7g7GD2oQ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

One tequila, two tequila:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_1IYJSlrtn/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Go coco-nutty:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B67Ot5Yqsqd/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

DIY:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_pxdXQHCuA/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Popping prosecco popsicles:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_o5Q8cqLfK/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Tutti-frutti:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_X5tItpDHu/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

When life hands you lemons:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_XgAD1FA6G/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Feature image:

Synonymous with celebrations and a must at every wedding, everyone enjoys a glass of bubbly on the odd occasion. Feminine, sophisticated and classy, Prosecco is popular not only in South Africa where sales are up 24%. Globally 325 million bottles of this premium Italian sparkling wine are sold per year: that’s a lot more than the ‘odd occasion’. So why is Prosecco so popular? And where does Sparkling Wine fit in?

Here are some pointers from Rowan Leibbrandt, founding owner of Cape Town-based premium drinks company, Truman & Orange:

  1. Prosecco is crisper, slightly sweeter and more delicate than Méthode Cap Classique (MCC) and both have a subtler fizz and softer bubble than sparkling wine.
  2. While MCC, Champagne and Prosecco are all double-fermented to produce their unique fizziness, Prosecco’s second fermentation is according to the “Italian Charmant” method and involves fermenting in tanks, resulting in a crisp taste.
  3. Prosecco is made to be drunk fresh and derives its delicate floral and lively fruity notes from the Glera grapes used to produce it, characteristic of the rolling hills they’re grown on in Northern Italy, in a relatively small area protected by the surrounding Alps, called Prosecco DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata).

Recommendation: Try Mionetto Prosecco – as the world’s best-selling international Prosecco, its R200 a bottle price tag answers the call for a premium, exceptionally-made, genuine Italian Prosecco fit for any occasion. Its affordability makes it possible to enjoy an imported glass of bubbly as an everyday luxury and is certainly a great option for a wedding celebration.

  1. Sparkling wine is created by carbonating wine, resulting in a large, even bubble and a distinctly different – and perhaps even more celebratory – drinking experience. While MCC and Prosecco offer more refined effervescence, many people enjoy the more exciting fizz of sparkling wines and the sweetness created when bubbles pop on the palate.

Recommendation: Using grapes chosen for their balance of sweetness and acidity and harvested at night to maintain their freshness, Grace du Roi sparkling wines offer a lively bubble, and a refreshing green apple and pear character, while the Rose variants offer a hint of raspberry and cream. Naturally cold-fermented, the clean, delicate character of the Grace du Roi sparkling wines is gently fruity as a result of their Chenin Blanc base and the use of the cuvee (first press) of the grapes. The wines in the blend are kept separate to allow flavour to develop first before marrying achieving a ‘state of Grace’: lighter, more delicate flavours. Retailing at only R95 a bottle, we’d recommend having each of the 3 variants – White Gold, Rose Gold and White Sapphire – on offer at your wedding. That way you have something to suit every palate!

Still battling to decide which to choose? This might help: a glass of Prosecco contains only about 80 calories, while a glass of MCC or Champagne contains around 130 calories and a glass of sparkling wine can contain up to 200 calories!

Feature image: supplied

Vegan wine is fast becoming a sensation in South Africa. People are seeking out ethically made wines in exchange for their hard earned money. Providing guests with vegan wine on your wedding day will not only tantalise their tastebuds, it will also teach them about the incredible variety that is available in South Africa.

What classifies wine as vegan?

Vegan wines are made without animal products. During the typical winemaking process, the wine is filtered through substances called fining agents. These are used to remove unwanted flavours or colours, protein, yeast, cloudiness and other organic matter. Typical fining agents are animal-based. These, according to PETA include

– Blood and bone marrow,

– Casein (milk protein),

– Chitin (fiber from crustacean shells),

–  Egg albumen (derived from egg whites),

– Fish oil

– Gelatin (protein from boiling animal parts),

– Isinglass (gelatin from fish bladder membranes).

Vegan winemakers will leave the particles to sink naturally to the bottom of the wine or otherwise they will use fining products like bentonite (type of clay) or pea protein – both of which are non-animal fining products, to remove the organic matter. Voila! Your wine is vegan.

Some delicious vegan wines that are produced in South Africa include:

White:

– Franschhoek Cellar La Cotte Mill Chenin Blanc 2019

– Franschhoek Cellar Statue de Femme Sauvignon Blanc 2019

– Franschhoek Cellar Town Hall Chardonnay 2018/9

– Boschendal Le Bouquet 2018

– Bellingham Bernard Series Viognier 2018

– Boschendal Rachelsfontein Chenin Blanc 2017

MCC:

– Boschendal Brut NV MCC

– Backsberg Kosher Brut Méthode Cap Classique

Red:

– Franschhoek Cellar Baker Station Shiraz 2018

– Brampton Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

– Brampton Roxton 2015

– Boschendal Noble Late Harvest Vin d’Or 2017

– Franschhoek Cellar The Old Museum Merlot 2017/18

– Boschendal Lanoy 2017

– Brampton OVR (Old Vine Red) 2016

– Brampton Shiraz 2016

Pink:

– Alvi’s Drift Rosé Wines

– First Cape Five Cellars Rosé

– First Cape Rosé

– Delheim Pinotage Rosé

Picture: Unsplash