When it’s time to toast the future as husband and husband or wife and wife, offering a signature cocktail during the reception not only cut costs, but infuses the couples’ personality into the libations. So why not add some marriage equality spirit into your, well, spirits? Here are five cocktail recipes that toast to equality.
APPLE PIE COCKTAIL
Perfect for fall fetes, an apple pie cocktail is a nod to Ben & Jerry’s Apple-y Ever After, their latest flavor dedication to marriage equality in the U.K.
- 1/2 ounce green apple puree
- 1 1/2 ounce Montecristo Spiced Rum
- 1 ounce RHUMBAR daiquiri mix
- 2 pieces dried green apple chips
Directions: Add apple puree, spiced rum, and daiquiri mix into a mixing glass. Shake and stir vigorously in ice. Strain and serve into a martini glass. Garnish with dried green apple chips.
ANNIVERSARY COCKTAIL
Back in 2009, the Bostonist celebrated Massachusetts’s fifth anniversary of legally recognizing same-sex marriage with a cocktail recipe adapted from a Manhattan variant.
- 1 ounce gin
- 1 ounce Armagnac
- 1 ounce sweet vermouth
- 2 dashes orange bitters
Directions: Stir with ice and strain into a chilled glass. Garnish with a cherry, or leave it out in deference to Rachel Maddow.
LIBERTY AND EQUALITY
For a spring or summer soiree, a sweet Liberty and Equality libation will add a pop of color to your décor as well as be a tasty reminder to our rights.
- 1/2 ounce pomegranate liqueur
- 1 ounce light rum
- 1/4 ounce Blue Curacao
- 1 teaspoon agave nectar
- Maraschino cherry, for garnish
Directions: Pour pomegranate liqueur into a martini glass. In a cocktail shaker, add other ingredients except cherry and shake well. Slowly strain over pomegranate liqueur into martini glass. Garnish with maraschino cherry.
GIVE A DAMN MARTINI
Created by master mixologist—“The Cocktail Guru”—Jonathan Pogash, the Give a Damn Martini is currently being offered in several hotspots around the country, with a portion of proceeds from on-premise sales benefiting the Give a Damn campaign on March 28th, in partnership with Van Gogh Vodka. Turn the inspiring cocktail into your signature spirit (and perhaps donate to the cause in your guests’ honor in lieu of favors).
- 1 1/2 ounce Van Gogh BLUE Triple Wheat Vodka
- 3/4 ounce POM pomegranate juice
- 3/4 ounce Monin cinnamon syrup
- Top off with 1 1/2 ounce sparkling wine
Directions: Shake first three ingredients very well with ice and strain into a martini glass. Top off with chilled sparkling wine. Garnish with half orange wheel.
WHEN MARY MET SALLY
The perfect marriage of sweet and spice, the When Mary Met Sally drink was concocted by SKYY Vodka for a Los Angeles pride event.
- 3 ounces SKYY Vanilla
- 1 ounces Frangelico
- Splash of cream
Directions: Shake vigorously and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.
