Welcome to a tongue-in-cheek, but sometimes super serious column documenting adventures with spirits and cocktails when out and about or from the comfort of my own home. Let's discover new things together!
I was grocery shopping the other day, and as I was browsing the beer aisle (as I do), I spotted some bottles that seemed like they were looking at me. Perhaps you've spotted The Traveler Beer Co. bottles at your local grocery or liquor store, too. They feature a mustached bespectacled fellow and sometimes his eyes are slices of fruit.
Does that pique your curiosity? Well, that's what they intended with their lemon shandy, aptly called Curious Traveler.
"What's a shandy?" you might be asking yourself. A shandy is a beer that's mixed with juice or soda. The Curious Traveler is an American craft wheat ale mixed with lemon and lime. The Traveler Beer Co. also has a the Grapefruit Traveler, a grapefruit shandy (wheat beer mixed with grapefruit).
If you're not a fan of beer (or like me, don't like to drink too much beer), here are some awesome cocktail recipes you can make using these two beers, courtesy of the brewer.
Ruby Traveler
In a shaker glass filled halfway with ice, combine 2 oz. Deep Eddy Ruby Red Vodka, 0.5 oz simple syrup, 0.5 oz lime juice and 0.5 oz triple sec. Shake and strain into a pint glass with ice. Fill to the top with Grapefruit Traveler. Garnish with a grapefruit slice.
Ginger Shandy
Combine 1.5 oz citrus vodka (any kind works) and 0.75 oz lemon juice. Shake and strain into a pint glass with ice. Fill to top with equal parts ginger beer and Curious Traveler. Garnish with lemon.
'Stache on the Beach
Fill a shaker glass halfway with ice. Pour in half a shot of peach vodka and 1 shot cranberry juice. Shake and strain into a pint glass with ice. Fill to top with Grapefruit Traveler.
Booze News Insider Rachel Hart believes in the importance of expanding one's happy hour and nightcap repertoire beyond a glass of wine (although, she'll happily take one). She loves to discover creative quality spirits and cocktails and hopes you'll go on the journey with her.
