4 Holiday Cocktail Recipes for You and Yours!

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Happy Holidays from the CopperMuse family!

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Enjoy these recipes we’ve put together for you. We’re wishing you all a safe and healthy holiday season. Scroll down to find a mocktail as well!

PUMPKIn chai

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WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

  • CopperMuse Gold Rum

  • 1 29 oz. can of Pumpkin Purée

  • Cinnamon

  • Cloves

  • Brown Sugar

  • Vanilla

  • Apple Juice

  • Maple Syrup

  • Chai Tea

HOW YOU’LL MAKE IT:

  1. Make the Pumpkin Chai Liqueur

    1. Combine 2 cups of water with 1 cup of sugar, bring to a simmer on stove until sugar is dissolved

    2. Add in 1 cup brown sugar, 7 cloves, 4 cinnamon sticks, 5.5 tsp. vanilla, 8 tbs. chai (or 8 tea bags), and pumpkin purée.

    3. Simmer for 40 minutes

    4. Cool, strain with coffee filter

    5. Add in 2 cups of Gold Rum

  2. Combine 2 oz. of Pumpkin Chai Liqueur with 3 oz. of apple juice, and .25 oz. maple syrup.

  3. Add ice, shake, and pour into your favorite festive glass.

  4. Top with a dash of nutmeg.

 

Holiday thyme

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WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

HOW YOU’LL MAKE IT:

  1. Make the Thyme Simple

    1. Combine 1 cup of water and 2 cups of sugar and bring to a simmer, keep stirring until dissolved, then add in three thyme sprigs and let cool and strain.

  2. Combine 2 oz. Gin, 3 oz. cranberry juice, 1 oz. Thyme Simple, 1/4 oz. lemon juice, and 3 dashes orange bitters

  3. Add ice, then shake.

  4. Strain into martini glass, garnish with orange peel, cranberries, or a sprig of thyme.

 

Rosemerry old fashioned

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WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

HOW YOU’LL MAKE IT:

  1. Make the Rosemary Vodka

    1. Combine 1 bottle of Vertueux Vodka with one package of rosemary, let sit in sealed jar for one day. Strain the rosemary.

  2. Muddle 2 sugar cubes (or 2 tsp sugar) with 3 dashes of rhubarb bitters.

  3. Add 2 oz. Whiskey, 1 oz. Rosemary Vodka, and 2 oz. Grapefruit juice.

  4. Add ice, then stir for 30 seconds.

  5. Strain over ice sphere, garnish with a rosemary sprig.

 

Bougie hot chocolate (mocktail)

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WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

HOW YOU’LL MAKE IT:

  1. Chop chocolate bar into small pieces, combine with 2/3 cup milk and crushed peppermint in small saucepan, bring to a simmer while whisking constantly

  2. When chocolate is well blended, remove from heat and pour into your favorite mug

  3. Option to make it boozy: add 2 oz. Gold Rum.

  4. Top your hot chocolate with whipped cream and peppermint candy.

Merry Christmas!

5 Cocktails to Keep You Company For Thanksgiving

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WE’VE PUT TOGETHER A LIST OF SIMPLE TO MAKE COCKTAILS for your thanksgiving friends & family!

we even have a fun CRAFT MOCKTAIL FOR THE KIDS!

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APPLE ‘RITA

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

HOW YOU’LL MAKE IT:

  1. Make Your Simple Syrup

    1. Combine 1 cup of water and 2 cups of sugar and bring to a simmer, keep stirring until dissolved, then let cool.

  2. Combine 2 oz. White Tie with 2 oz. Apple Cider and .5 oz. of Lime Juice and .25 oz. Simple

  3. Add ice, then shake

  4. Put a layer of cinnamon sugar on a plate, then rim your glass with a lime wedge. Dip your glass in the cinnamon sugar.

  5. Pour your prepared cocktail into the glass and enjoy!

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A GREAT(FUL) PEAR

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

HOW YOU’LL MAKE IT:

  1. Combine 1 oz. Coffee Liqueur, 1 oz. Vodka, 2 oz. pear juice, and .25 oz. of maple syrup.

  2. Add ice, then shake.

  3. Strain into martini glass.

  4. Garnish your drink with a thin pear slice.




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PUMPKIN SPICED AND STORMY

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

HOW YOU’LL MAKE IT:

  1. Combine 1.5 oz. of Spiced Rum, 1 oz. of Gold Rum, 2 tsp. of pumpkin purée, .25 oz. Lemon juice, and 1 tsp. of brown sugar.

  2. Add ice, then shake hard for 15 seconds.

  3. Top with a splash of ginger beer.

  4. Garnish with an orange peel and two dashes of nutmeg.

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NOT YOUR MOM’S MULLED WINE

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

HOW YOU’LL MAKE IT:

  1. Combine 8 oz. Straight Malt with 4 oz. of Amaretto, 1 bottle of red wine, 4 oz. of honey, and 4 orange slices in a large saucepan.

  2. Bring to a simmer, then add in 3 bags of chai.

  3. Reduce heat to low and cover, then let sit for 15 minutes.

  4. Strain, then taste. Add more honey if desired.

  5. Pour into your favorite mug, then garnish with an orange slice.

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THE EARLY RESOLUTION (MOCKTAIL)

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

  • White Grape Juice

  • Lemon Juice

  • Tart Cherry Juice

  • Thyme Simple

  • Sparkling Cider

  • Optional: Bordeaux Cherries

  • Make it boozy: CopperMuse Gin with Hibiscus

HOW YOU’LL MAKE IT:

  1. Make the Thyme Simple

    1. Combine 1 cup of water and 2 cups of sugar and bring to a simmer, keep stirring until dissolved, then add in three thyme sprigs and let cool and strain.

  2. Combine 2 oz. white grape juice, 1 oz. lemon juice, .5 oz. tart cherry juice, and .5 oz thyme simple.

  3. Optional: add 2 oz. Gin

  4. Add ice, then shake.

  5. Top with sparkling cider.

  6. Garnish with a Bordeaux cherry and thyme sprig.

We hope you enjoy these Thanksgiving treats!

5 Easy to Make Halloween Cocktails!

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Happy Halloween from the Muse family!

Halloween+Cocktails

We’ve put together these craft cocktails that are easy to make — so you can enjoy some spooky libations from the comfort of your own home!

Scroll down to find a craft mocktail for the kids!

Monster Smash

Monster Smash

What You’ll Need:

How You’ll Make It:

  1. Muddle three lemon wedges, four mint leaves, and .5 oz. of honey.

  2. Combine with 2 oz. of Straight Malt Whiskey

  3. Add ice, then shake

  4. Serve on the rocks

Basic Witch

Basic Witch

What You’ll Need:

How You’ll Make it:

  1. Pour .5 oz. of lime juice into your copper mug

  2. Add in 2 oz. of Black Vodka

  3. Add in 3 dashes of angostura bitters

  4. Top with ice and Kure’s Ginger Beer

Candy Apple

Candy Apple

What You’ll Need:

How You’ll Make It:

  1. Warm your salted caramel and pour .5 oz. in a mixer glass.

  2. Add in 2 oz. of your favorite Apple Cider

  3. Pour in 2 oz. of Spiced Rum

  4. Top with .5 oz. of grenadine.

  5. Add ice, then stir for 30 seconds

  6. Pour your warmed caramel around the rim and top with an apple slice.

Hocus Pocus

Hocus Pocus

What You’ll Need:

How You’ll Make It:

  1. Make the Pumpkin Liqueur

    1. Combine 2 cups of water with 1 cup of sugar, bring to a simmer on stove until sugar is dissolved

    2. Add in 1 cup brown sugar, 7 cloves, 4 cinnamon sticks, 5.5 tsp. vanilla, and the pumpkin purée.

    3. Simmer for 40 minutes

    4. Cool, strain with coffee filter

    5. Add in 2 cups of Gold Rum

  2. Combine 2 oz. of Pumpkin Liqueur with 1 oz. of Black Vodka.

  3. Add ice, then shake

  4. Strain into snifter glass

  5. Top with 2 oz. of ginger beer

  6. Garnish with a ginger candy

Vampire's Delight

Vampire’s Delight (MOCKTAIL)

What You’ll Need:

How You’ll Make It:

  1. Combine 2 oz. Pomegranate juice with .5 oz of lime juice

  2. Optional: add 2 oz. Gin

  3. Add ice, top with seltzer

  4. Garnish with a Bordeaux cherry

We hope you enjoy these Halloween treats!

2019 Festivals

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May 1, 2019 Blog

Festival time is almost here!

Spring, summer, and fall are the prime festival times for Colorado. Whether you like music, food, beer, spirits, or art, there will be a festival near you. CopperMuse participates in several festivals each year. In the past we have served our spirits at the Whiskey Warm Up (link) in Estes Parks, Cocktails on the Rocks (now – 303 Cocktails) (link), Central City Stills in the Hills (link), the Rocky Mountain Cigar Festival (link), Fall Back Beer Fest (link), Breckenridge Craft Spirits Festival (link), and the Fall Harvest Brewfest (link). Our schedule is still changing, but the CopperMuse website will have information about where you can find us this year.

The festivals provide us with time to introduce people to our unique premium spirits and cocktails. We hope to see you at a festival this summer!

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Return to Simplicity

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AUTHOR: LOUISA DEMMITT

As the new year has gotten underway, I’ve been making an active effort to return to simplicity. It’s so easy to get caught up in all of the things I want to do and accomplish and all of the ways I want to make changes. Instead of letting myself get overwhelmed, I’m trying to keep an uncluttered mind and do simple things that bring me joy.

Books have been written about the therapeutic side effects of taking the time to brew a simple cup of tea, and making a hot toddy follows the same basic principles. A combination of hot water, lemon, honey, and whiskey (or bourbon, or rum, or...whatever you fancy) this drink is straightforward and soothing. There are many differing opinions on the best ratios to use, but the basic ingredients are usually the same. Coming inside from the cold after a long day of work, it’s easy to put the kettle on, wait for the whistle, and easily make a soothing and warming beverage.

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Feel the warmth of this soothing elixer

Using a liquor that has spicy notes makes for an even tastier and more interesting toddy, and CopperMuse’s spiced rum is a perfect option. It smells like my great aunt’s gingerbread, but tastes like so much more; the flavor is a well-rounded balance of citrus and spice with a gently sweet finish. As I’ve used it more and more, I’ve found that my at-home toddies don’t need honey because the rum’s sweetness is perfect on its own.

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Spiced Rum

Our award-winning Gold Rum is infused with nutmeg, cinnamon, grains of paradise, cloves, vanilla and blood orange zest.

Spiced rum also pairs extremely well with ginger (which is spicy and sweet in its own right), and mixing this new CopperMuse rum with ginger beer and lime is fantastic if you’re a Moscow mule fan willing to branch out a bit. Both toddies and mules are simple drinks that really allow the individual ingredients to shine, while also creating beautifully cohesive finished flavors. They don’t require super fancy mixings, and they’re easy for everyone to make at home.

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Spiced Rum Gold 'n' Stormy

2 oz. CopperMuse Spiced Rum

1/2 oz. Lime Juice

Top with your favorite Ginger Beer

Garnish with a Lime wedge

 

*For a truly divine mule, pour limeade into an ice cube tray & freeze. Add a couple limeade ice cubes in place of regular ice

Though the winter has been mild so far in Colorado, we all know we’re going to get the snow and cold sooner or later. Along with your cozy coat, warm boots, and firewood, it’s a great idea to have a bottle of CopperMuse Spiced Rum at the ready. You won’t regret it! Get a 750 mL bottle for yourself at the distillery, and while you’re there, try some of the innovatively delicious offerings on the winter drink menu; you won’t regret that either!

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Give a gift basket they will truly enjoy!

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AUTHOR: LOUISA DEMMITT

The general trouble with gift baskets is that they can be really hit or miss. Maybe you don’t need more sweet or salty snacks, or you will never in your life eat that jar of orange marmalade or sausage log. What if the whole basket is filled with white chocolate (which is lying about being chocolate)? No thank you. With the abundance of cakes and cookies and other edible treats this time of year, it’s nice to have a different kind of gift basket, one with a built-in activity, and even better, with fine alcohol!

For a basket unlike so many of the others out there, look no further than CopperMuse’s creative offerings. There are three unique themes to choose from, each filled with makings and mixings for some fantastic cocktails. With included recipe cards as well as appropriate drinkware, your giftee will have both the materials and the instructional know-how to make cocktails on her or his own (or maybe even with you).

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Bloody Mary Gift Basket

choice of regular or infused vodkas (bacon, horseradish or jalapeño)

The Bloody Mary Basket is perfect for those who love a superbly stocked DIY Bloody Mary bar. You can choose one large bottle of Vertueux Vodka, or two smaller bottles of infused vodka in flavors that complement and enhance one another (jalapeno, horseradish, or bacon). There’s also a laundry list of fantastic other ingredients included, from a zesty base Bloody Mary Mix to spices and sauces and garnishes to make show stopping drinks.

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Martini Gift Basket

shaken, not stirred...

 

If you’re more in the market for a well-crafted, shaken-not-stirred beverage, the Martini Basket is where to go. Not only does this basket have the Vertueux Vodka and assorted olives that make a great martini, you will also get all the tools you need to mix the perfect drink. This basket is a great idea for someone looking to start making drinks at home, who doesn’t yet have a shaker, strainer, and mixing glass!

 

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CopperMule Gift Basket

choice of Vertueux Vodka (classic Moscow Mule) or Gold Rum (Gold 'n' Stormy)

For the ginger lover, the CopperMule Basket is an excellent gift. This basket includes ginger beer, lime juice, one (or two) beautiful solid-copper mug(s), and you can choose either CopperMuse Vertueux Vodka or Gold Rum as your alcohol. As a person whose drink of choice tends to veer to the menu option with ginger and lime, this basket is right up my alley. Not to mention, every grown-up should have a solid-copper mug or two, because you just never know when the mood for a mule will strike at home!

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So much better than wicker

 

All these options come in stylish faux leather baskets that can be repurposed and reused, so again, nothing goes to waste. Contact CopperMuse at 970-999-6016 to ask about pick-up availability or reserve yours online here, sooner rather than later to make sure you can get the basket you want! These baskets are not available to be shipped, but can be picked up at the distillery. Don’t let this deter you though; get a basket for visitors from out of town and then you can all make drinks together! Spending good time with good people is what the holiday season is all about, and mixing up some cheer with a CopperMuse gift basket is a great way to get in the spirit of the season.

 

Video of CopperMuse Bartending Class in Fort Collins, Colorado

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Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado, Collegian TV ("CTV") recorded one of our recent Bartending classes. Check it out here!

We host Bartending classes monthly and can even schedule a private Bartending event for you and your friends (10-12 people required). Call us at 970-999-6016 or email us at info@coppermuse.com to find out more details.

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BINGO Night at CopperMuse

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AUTHOR: LOUISA DEMMITT

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Ready to Play

Two BINGO cards

Copper pennies to mark your numbers

Cocktail & Food in hand

Tuesdays at CopperMuse are bingo nights, and even with a digital set-up, the best and most charming parts of the game many of us remember from our youth are still there: good-natured heckling and cheering, a cacophony of sounds and sights, and prizes galore! Everyone shares each other’s highs and commiserates in the lows in an encouraging environment, conducive to strangers becoming friends, and blowing off steam in a fast-paced but low-stress way.

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Game on!

Past numbers are displayed as well as the current BINGO pattern

 

It’s free to play, and each participant gets two bingo cards. Pennies are used to keep track of what’s going on, and you can order drinks and food throughout playing. One of my favorite aspects is that the shapes you have to create on your cards are not always average bingo lines; sometimes you make turtles, or bobbins, or power lines. You need to pay close attention and make sure you’re following what’s happening. If you call “bingo!” and you don’t have it, you will be called out for your blunder, not in a malicious way, but in an “oh-thank-goodness-I-still-have-a-chance-to-win” way. This bingo has really great vibes.

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Uh Oh! 

SpaghettiOs!!!

 

The prizes are fun, and range from cans of Spaghetti-Os (plus a shot!), to raining money (something you should see to get a full understanding), to solid copper mule mugs, to a whole 750 mL bottle of CopperMuse spirit (excluding whiskey), and other quirky things that change from week to week. Even if you don’t win, it’s highly entertaining to see what other people snag and how they react to their loot; adults finding joy in silly prizes is priceless!

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Kristie

classy, sassy, and absolutely hilarious

 

Kristie, bingo caller and emcee, is classy, sassy, and absolutely hilarious. She encourages everyone, gets the crowd on the side of winners and losers alike, and makes sure everyone is hydrated and having fun. It’s a rare person who can handle such a group with the grace and humor she has, but every week she makes it a memorable and enjoyable evening. Come give it a try, get some great drinks, and say hello to the awesome Kristie, Tuesdays from 7-9 PM!

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CopperMuse Distillery takes a Gold and Silver medal for their recently released Whiskeys

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We earned a Gold Medal for our White Tie Whiskey and Silver Medal for our Straight Malt American Whiskey at the 2017 Breckenridge Craft Spirits Festival. This follows similar wins from prior years:

2016: Silver Medal - Gold Rum

2015: Silver Medals: Silver Rum, Horseradish Vodka

2014: Gold Medals: Gold Rum, Vertueux Vodka

Link to all 2017 Spirit Tasting results

Channel Your Inner Bartender

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AUTHOR: LOUISA DEMMITT

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Lauren

CopperMuse, Queen of Liquid Arts

Planning a birthday party for a grown-up can be hard. We don’t have a lot of good ready made options like we had when we were kids, and if you want to do something that’s fun, classy, and unique, that can be a super tall order.

 

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Be the bartender

Hands on instruction - no sitting around here

My lovely friend Laura recently turned thirty and we, her friends, wanted to surprise and celebrate her in style. We had done a public bartending class earlier this year with CopperMuse and had a great time, so I reached out to the team to see if we could organize another class as a private event. Everyone was receptive and enthusiastic and we got to planning.

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Free Pour

Learn how to use counts to pour exact amounts

 

We agreed on four cocktail options, choosing some of Laura’s favorites. Peter, CopperMuse’s talented chef, made delicious plated snacks, and even had gluten and dairy free options. During the class, after we surprised Laura and there were happy tears all around, we took turns making drinks. We each made one complete drink and also tasted the liquors from each drink on the birthday menu. There was a pouring contest (with the winner receiving a free shot) as well as a short tour of the distillery.

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Watch a pro

Learn to use bartending equipment with confidence

 

This was a time to cheer for each other unabashedly, while we all learned, made messes, and ended up with some fantastic drinks. Lauren, who taught the class, is super smart and incredibly fun, and energized the group while she taught us. She is approachable and kind, and made sure that everyone was involved and enjoying themselves. We learned bartending basics, some cocktail specifics, and overall had a fantastic evening.

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Don't be shy

Make your favorite cocktail of the evening

 

These classes are held when the distillery is closed, so you have the place to yourself which makes you feel like your group is getting specialized attention (because you are!). Classes are also held at regular times throughout each month, so if you don’t need a whole class to yourselves, you can join an open to the public class and meet some new people. Drinks are changed seasonally so there are always new things to learn and to try.

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Graduating Class - September 2017

 

 

Not only do you make your own cocktail, try all the liquors from that class’s menu, and have tasty food, you also get a discount to take home a bottle of CopperMuse liquor so you can start mixing drinks at home. Experiencing these classes has raised the bar on grown-up celebration, showing that you don’t always have to do the same old thing. To get to planning a party of your own, please call CopperMuse at 970-999-6016 or email info@coppermuse.com. Trying something new with friends is always exciting, and when the end result is a great cocktail, all the better!

CopperMuse Bartending Classes - Available Monthly to the Public or book as a Private Event

CopperMuse Bartending Classes - Available Monthly to the Public or book as a Private Event

CopperMuse Bartending Classes - Available Monthly to the Public or book as a Private Event

Unique Cocktails using Vicieux Black Vodka

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Author: Louisa Demmitt

There’s much to be said about spirits when fall comes around. The ghostly kind are on everyone’s mind as Halloween approaches, and a good (spirit filled) libation with friends is always a good idea as days get shorter and nights get colder. One of the most appropriate liquors for this time of year is black vodka, which sounds and looks deliciously mysterious and kind of spooky.

The cocktails made from CopperMuse’s Vicieux black vodka are memorable and unique. I didn’t know about black vodka before I started spending time at CopperMuse, but I’ve become a true fan. Being a black vodka newbie, I started off asking the superb bartenders which drinks they would recommend. I began my education with the delicious Black Betty, which includes tart cherry juice, lemon juice, basil, and simple syrup along with black vodka. (I challenge you not to say “bam-ba-lam” in your head after ordering one!)

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Black Betty

Whoa, Black Betty (Bam-ba-Lam)

I then tried the Tchaikovsky, whose combination of coffee and ginger flavors meld beautifully with black vodka. The Caraway With Me features caraway-dill infused black vodka with lime and cranberry, and fantastically manages to taste like sweet toasted pumpernickel bread with a fruity twist.

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Caraway With Me

I finally settled on the White Island as my go-to CopperMuse drink; its coconut, coffee, and cream elements are topped with black vodka for a dramatic effect and comforting flavor. (The vodka floating on top gives the White Island its name.) All of these drinks, as well as the other black vodka creations on the menu, have balanced flavor profiles as well as strong visual impact. These are drinks to be savored with both your eyes and your taste buds.

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White Island

Our unique take on a White Russian

 

Unlike many flavored vodkas which can come across way too strong, black vodka makes a statement without drowning other flavors. It’s incredibly versatile, pairing well with a myriad of ingredients and flavors. It makes fruit filled red drinks have deeper and more vibrant color; floating it on creamy drinks creates a unique visual; and as Kristie (bartender extraordinaire)  likes to say, “it makes a dirty martini look dirty.”

There really is nothing like a well made drink in good company as summer has given way to autumn and we settle in for winter. Stop by CopperMuse to try one of these cocktails for yourself, or to buy a bottle or two for mixing drinks at home. There’s always something creative and seasonal to try, and if you’ve never had black vodka before, you’re in for a definite treat.

CopperMuse Distillery Amaretto wins Silver Medal in the 2017 American Craft Spirits Association competition

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CopperMuse Distillery took home a Silver Medal in the category of Specialty Spirits for their all-natural Amaretto Liqueur. According to the ACSA press release, "Winners were hand-selected among a record-breaking pool of more than 550 entrants – up more than 20 percent over last year."