Spirit.Ed: We've Got Some Cocktails & Brews On Deck For Memorial Day Weekend 2025

Black America Web

26-05-2025

Happy Memorial Day Weekend! We're getting this roundup posted later than we intended, so our apologies. Keep reading and scrolling for all the recipes and selections.
I'm getting a later-than-normal start for Memorial Day Weekend due to some unforeseen circumstances, but we're back on track. In this roundup, I'm focusing on cocktails, which is the primary focus of Spirit.Ed, but also some brews and some ready-to-drink (RTD) options.
As I'm writing this particular piece, I'm having a neat pour of Foursquare Distillery's Doorly's 14, a fantastic aged rum out of Barbados that doesn't fuss with any additional dosing, aka added sugar. I'm trying it out neat to figure out what kind of rum-based cocktail I'll be making. It does make a mean Old Fashioned, especially with chocolate and orange bitters, along with rich demerara simple syrup.
Lately, I've been wanting a crisp, cold beer, especially as the days grow longer and the temperatures warm ever so slightly. It's been a bit cool in the mid-Atlantic for this time of year, but that won't stop the festivities for many, including me.
For now, enjoy this selection of cocktails, beers, and more. We thank all of our armed forces veterans for their service.
Have a happy Memorial Day Weekend.
Source:Ketel One
Ingredients: 1.5 oz Ketel One Botanical Grapefruit & Rose0.5 oz Fresh lemon juice0.3 oz Rose syrupTop with Sparkling Rosé
Garnish: Grapefruit peel
Method:
Combine Ketel One Botanical, lemon juice, and rose syrup in a cocktail shaker with good quality ice cubes. Shake and fine strain into a flute glass. Top with sparkling rosé and garnish with a grapefruit peel. Source:Milagro Tequila
Ingredients:
2 parts Milagro Cristalino Añejo1 part dry vermouth
Bar spoon of Cointreau
Grapefruit peel to garnish
Method: Combine ingredients over ice in a mixing glass and stir. Strain into martini glass and garnish with grapefruit peel. Source:Elysian Brewing
Elysian Brewing is one of my favorite beer brands, and when I reach for a cold one, it's usually one of their delightfully hoppy pale ales. For the summer, Elysian is rolling out an easy-drinking blonde ale under the name Lemon Daydream that we'll be trying out soon.
Learn more here. Source:Lavazza
Ingredients:
1 fl oz Lavazza coffee1 fl oz vodka1 fl oz coffee liquor6 ice cubes
1 teaspoon sugar
Method:
STEP 1 – Make the sugar syrup by placing the caster sugar in a small pan over a medium heat and pouring in 50ml water, stir and bring to the boil.
STEP 2 (Optional) – Place a few ice cubes in the glass for a few minutes while you prepare the drink and then discard before pouring the drink.
STEP 3 – Once the sugar syrup is cool, pour 1 tbsp. into the shaker along with the ice, vodka, coffee liqueur and coffee.Shake until the outside of the shaker feels icy cold.
STEP 4 – Strain into the chilled glasses and garnish. Source:Teeling
Ingredients:
1 ½ oz Teeling Small Batch Irish Whiskey1 oz Fresh Grapefruit Juice
½ oz Martini Riserva (aperol) ½ oz Simple Syrup
1 dash of Orange Bitters
Method: Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker. Shake until chilled and fine strain in a Rocks glass over ice. Garnish with a grapefruit slice. Source:Hendrick's
Ingredients:
1 ½ parts Hendrick's Oasium2 parts chilled green tea¾ part lemon juice¾ part simple syrup2 dashes cardamom bitters1 ½ parts / top sparkling water
Cucumber slice and lemon wheel for garnish
Method: Build in a teapot over ice and garnish with a slice of cucumber and a lemon wheel. Source:Tullamore D.E.W.
Ingredients:
1 ½ parts Tullamore D.E.W. Honey3 parts lemonadeSqueeze of fresh lemon
Top with club soda
Method: Combine all ingredients. Stir and pour. Source:Angel's Envy
2 oz ANGEL'S ENVY Bourbon finished in port wine barrels0.5 oz lime
4 oz chilled club soda
Method: Squeeze the lime half into a tall highball glass and drop into the glass. Add ANGEL'S ENVY and chilled soda. Top with ice, stir well, and enjoy. Source:Lone Rive
Hard seltzers are a winner when it's warm out, and Lone River has a variety of flavors for the occasion. The Lemonade Splash variety pack is a good place to start for those curious to try out these crushable and low-calorie sips.
Learn more here. Source:Grey Goose
2 oz Grey Goose La Poire Flavored Vodka1 oz Lime Juice0.5 oz Light AgaveFrench Sea Salt
Tarragon or Thyme
Method: Rim half of a rocks glass with sea salt. Combine the liquid ingredients, shake, then strain over fresh ice in the glass. Garnish with your herb of choice — tarragon and thyme both work well. Source:1800 Tequila
1.5oz 1800 Blanco1oz Pineapple Juice.75oz Lime Juice.75oz Jalapeño Simple SyrupDashes Angostura Bitters
Garnish with Pineapple Frond
Shake all ingredients and strain over fresh ice into rocks glass. Garnish with 2 manicured pineapple fronds. Source:CELSIUS
(Created in partnership with Ninja Kitchen)
Ingredients:
1 can CELSIUS Playa Vibe1 cup pineapple juice
1/2 cup coconut cream
Blend for a frozen treat or serve over ice. Garnish with a cherry and pineapple slice—and enjoy! Source:D'USSÉ
1.5 oz D'USSÉ VSOP Cognac3 oz Lemonade
1 oz Pomegranate Juice
Method: Build a high ball with ice. Garnish with pomegranate seeds and rosemary sprig. Source:Monkey Shoulder
Ingredients:
2 parts Monkey Shoulder½ part honey syrup
3 dashes Angostura bitters
1 strip orange peel
Method: Combine ice and ingredients in mixing glass. Stir for 15 seconds. Strain over fresh ice in DOF/Rocks glass. Garnish with orange peel. Source:Glenfiddich
Ingredients:
2 Parts Glenfiddich Solera 15 Year Old
1 Part Campari
1 Part Sweet Vermouth
Method: Add a 2-inch ice cube to a rocks glass and set aside. In a mixing glass, combine Glenfiddich Solera 15 Year Old, Campari, and sweet vermouth. Stir over ice until well chilled, to enhance the whisky's silky smooth taste. Strain into the prepared glass and garnish with an orange twist. Source:Smirnoff ICE
Smirnoff ICE got into the ready-to-drink (RTD) game a bit ago, and now they're back with their Sunny Days variety pack. This is another one we'll be trying out soon.
Learn more here. Source:Bombay Sapphire
1.5 oz Bombay Sapphire3 oz Lemonade3 oz Club Soda
Fresh Lemon
Method: Build in balloon glass full of ice then garnish with a lemon twist from a fresh lemon. Source:Cutwater
Ingredients:
1 can Cutwater Lime Margarita3-4 slices of red pepper, muddledTajín for the rim
Dehydrated lime wheel
To Make: Rim a glass with lime juice and dip it in Tajín. Muddle the red pepper slices in the glass, add ice, and pour in the Lime Margarita. Garnish with a pepper slice and a dehydrated lime wheel. Source:Reyka Vodka
Ingredients:
1 ½ parts Reyka Vodka
1 part Ancho Reyes ¾ part Fresh Lemon Juice
6 parts Unsweetened Iced Tea
Method: Combine all ingredients into cocktail shaker. Shake and serve in Collins or Footed Pilsner glass and garnish with a lemon wheel. Source:Dewar's
1.5 oz Dewar's 12 Year Old Scotch Whisky0.75 oz Simple Syrup0.75 oz Lemon JuiceSoda Water
2 Strawberries, Quartered
Method: Muddle strawberries in bottom of shaker. Add scotch whisky, simple syrup, And Lemon Juice. Shake And Strain Over Fresh Ice In Glass. Top With Soda Water. Source:Bacardi
1.5 oz BACARDÍ Lime Flavored Rum1.5 oz Lemonade
1.5 oz Lemon-Lime Soda or Club Soda
Method: Fill a highball glass with ice. Pour and gently stir in all ingredients. Garnish with a lime wedge. Source:Astral Tequila
Ingredients:
1.5oz Astral Tequila Reposado3oz Lemonade1oz Ruby Red Grapefruit JuiceTop with Club Soda
Glassware: Highball Glass
Garnish: Chili Lime Seasoning + Grapefruit Wedge
Preparation: Add Astral Tequila Reposado, lemonade, and ruby red grapefruit juice to an ice-filled highball glass. Stir, top with club soda, and garnish with a grapefruit wedge topped with chili lime seasoning. Source:Marcado 28
Ingredients:
3 oz Marcado 28 Blanco Tequila2 oz Triple Sec2 oz fresh orange juice2 oz fresh lime juice1 oz fresh lemon juiceDash of citrus bittersAgave syrup (for rim)Ground dried hibiscus flower (for rim)Black lava salt (for rim)Garnish: Orange, lemon, and lime 'Volt' decorative slices Instructions:
Rim a cocktail glass with agave syrup, then dip into a blend of ground hibiscus flower and black lava salt. Fill the glass with ice. In a shaker filled with ice, combine tequila, triple sec, orange juice, lime juice, lemon juice, and a dash of citrus bitters. Shake vigorously. Strain into the prepared glass over fresh ice. Garnish with orange, lemon, and lime 'Volt' slice for a vibrant finish. Source:Ford's Gin
3 parts Fords Gin1 part Vodka
0.5 parts Lillet Blanc Lemon PeelGlassware: Cocktail Glass
Garnish: Lemon Peel
Method: Stir all ingredients over ice, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with lemon peel.