Okay, I know what you’re thinking–beer in a margarita?! That’s crazy talk! My mom actually introduced me to this recipe and it is so refreshing and delightful! Perfect for these sunny Santa Barbara days. Cheers!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 shots of gold tequila

1/2 shot triple sec

2 lime wedges

Heavy splash of Mexican beer

Heavy splash of lemon lime soda (or Sprite)

*Squeeze limes and add all ingredients in a blender with ice. Serve blended with a salted rim–quadruple the recipe for a pitcher.

-XOXO Melissa

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Happy Friday SB Chic readers! It feels great to be back and boy–do we have some tasty holiday treats in store for you! This Persimmon Margarita with a salted-cinnamon rim is sure to knock your socks off….Enjoy!

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I just LOVE cucumber in my cocktails! It offers such a freshness and is so darn pretty. This lovely libation incorporates all things green and is sure to be a crowd pleaser. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 shot of silver tequila

Homemade cucumber sweet n’ sour (directions below)

Pureed honeydew

Lime

Fresh mint

Soda

*Muddle mint and lime wedge in a martini shaker. Add a spoonful of pureed honeydew, tequila, a heavy splash of the cucumber sweet n’ sour, and a small splash of soda. Shake well and serve on the rocks.

Homemade Cucumber Sweet n’ Sour

Ingredients:

1 Cup simple syrup

2 Cups bottled lemon juice

2-4 pureed cucumbers (I left the skin on)

Add all ingredients in a pitcher, strain and refrigerate. Make it skinny by subbing raw Stevia for the sugar in your simple syrup. And to see even more On the Rocks cocktail ideas they’re right here.

-XOXO Melissa

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TGIF! I am so excited because I have some of my girlfriends coming up to visit me this weekend and you can bet that we’ll be shaking up some cocktails. Today’s tasty treat is for the ginger beer fans out there and is a beautiful concoction. The bright red color of the blood orange addition gives a vibrant addition to this yummy yummy drink and pays further homage to the name “Sweet n’ Salty Gingy”…a double entendre no?

Ingredients:

1 1/2 shots of silver tequila

Blood orange soda

Lime

Ginger Beer

Kosher Salt

Granulated sugar

On a plate, add Kosher salt and granulated sugar and mix well with a fork. Rub the rim of a glass with a lime wedge and dip into sugar/salt mixture. Set aside. Add ice to a martini shaker, tequila, lime wedge (squeeze first), splash of blood orange soda, and heavy splash of ginger beer. Shake well and serve on the rocks in your rimmed glass. Enjoy!

-XOXO Melissa

PS The coaster and glass are both available at Anthrologie….And for even more cocktail ideas check out past On the Rocks posts here.

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It is Friday at last! This spicy concoction is incredible tasty and is sure to have your taste buds dancing this weekend. Enjoy!

Add one spoonful of pureed mango to a glass and a small splash of habanero simple syrup (directions below). Add 1 ½ shots of your favorite tequila and a heavy splash of homemade habanero sweet n’ sour (directions below). Then add a small splash of soda water–to balance the sweetness from the sour and simple syrup. Shake well and serve on the rocks with 3-4 habanero slices.

Cocktail Recipe: 

-1 Tbsp pureed mango

-1 1/2 shots tequila

-Small splash habanero simple syrup

-Heavy splash sweet and sour

-Splash soda water

Habanero Simple Syrup:

Bring equal parts sugar and water to a boil until sugar is completely dissolved. Add a few slices of raw habanero and let sit for 10 min. Remove pepper slices and refrigerate until use.

Homemade Sweet & Sour:

Add equal parts simple syrup and lemon together juice and refrigerate. And to see even more On the Rocks cocktail ideas they’re right here. 

-XOXO Melissa

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I think a good ol’ margarita is the perfect way to wrap up this busy week. This particular marg is incredibly easy and tastes much fancier than it actually is. Pair with some homemade guacamole and you’ve got yourself the perfect little fiesta at home. Enjoy!

Cut watermelon and cantaloupe into small cubes and add to a glass with a lime wedge. Muddle and make sure to extract oils from the lime rind. Add tequila and a small splash of Amaretto almond liquor (I prefer this over triple sec, but either works). Add a heavy splash of homemade sweet n’ sour (ingredients below), ice, and give it a good shake.

Serve on the rocks with a salted rim and lime wedge. Ole!

Ingredients:

Cubed watermelon

Cubed cantaloupe

Lime wedge

1 ½ shots of Tequila (silver or gold)

½ shot of Amaretto almond liquor

Heavy splash of homemade sweet n’ sour

Kosher salt

Homemade Sweet n’ Sour Ingredients:

Equal parts simple syrup and lemon juice

*Add ingredients together and refrigerate

XOXO-Melissa

And to see even more On the Rocks cocktail ideas they’re right here.

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Happy Friday! Today I have a special concoction for you that you can experiment with to make it all your own. Basil is one of my all-time favorite ingredients in a cocktail because it is so aromatic and offers a complexity to an otherwise basic fresh-fruit alcoholic beverage. I’ve made this cocktail at home with vodka, and rum but I can pretty much guarantee that the gin and tequila fans can substitute with their favorite liquor and it would be delicious as well. With such basic ingredients, the options are endless… Start experimenting with your cocktails!

Cut a lime and add a wedge to a pint glass or martini shaker. Add 3-5 rinsed basil leaves to glass, depending on size (careful not to add too much…you want a nice subtle basil flavor). Add 4-5 rinsed black berries to glass (this is an opportunity to experiment if another type of berry is more readily available—raspberries, blueberries, etc.).

Agave Nectar is a great ingredient for cocktails to add a bit of natural sweetness. I prefer this particular drink not to be too sweet so I only add a small amount, but you can add it to taste. Muddle all ingredients in glass and make sure to extract the oils from the lime rind. Now it’s time for you to add ice and 1 ½ shots of your favorite alcohol. For this cocktail, I used vodka, but I experimented with rum recently and I couldn’t decide which I liked better. I feel like tequila would be excellent and for all of you gin fans out there…I’m sure it would be great as well. Also add a splash of soda water.

In a pretty glass, add ice And strain. I prefer this cocktail strained because I’m not a fan of blackberry seeds getting stuck in my teeth. Garnish with a whole blackberry and basil leaf.

Here’s the complete ingredient’s list:

1.5 shots of vodka (or your favorite booze)

4-5 blackberries

2-3 basil leaves

splash of soda

splash of agave nectar

Voila, enjoy!

xoxo,

Melissa

And to see even more On the Rocks cocktail ideas they’re right here.

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