Fall Cocktails
selecting one of the beverage styles below. DOWNLOAD RECIPES
Top Note Old Fashion(ed) Sour
A classic by any standard, we use our grapefruit soda as a sour mix to amp the barrel aged spirit you choose to make this classic cocktail with!
1.5 oz Brandy or Bourbon of your choice
1 orange slice
2 perfect maraschino cherries
1 sugar cube
Orange bitters
2 - 3 oz Top Note grapefruit soda
Place sugar cube in rocks glass. Top with a few dashes of bitters, orange slice and cherry. Muddle. Pour spirit (Bourbon, Whiskey or Brandy) into a rocks glass. Garnish with cherry and or orange slice. Options - Go without sugar cube!
Top with ice, and pour Top Note Grapefruit on top. Stir quickly and enjoy. Cap Top Note bottle off for next time you make a drink!
Amaro | Fall Cocktails | Gin | Grapefruit | Vermouth
Sparkling Grapefruit Negroni
1 oz gin
1 oz Campari
1 oz sweet vermouth
3 oz Sparkling Grapefruit
Stir ingredients together in a glass with ice. Garnish with a slice of fresh grapefruit.
Harvest Moon Punch
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Harvest Moon Punch
4 oz vodka
1 oz cranberry liqueur
4 oz unsweetened cranberry juice
1 oz lemon juice
4 oz Ginger Beer @topnotetonic
Stir ingredients together with ice. Garnish as desired.
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The Transfusion
If you don’t happen to have Concord grapes on hand, red or black grapes can be substituted, and Concord grape juice can be found at most major grocers.
And for those of you celebrating sober, the Transfusion also makes for a great mocktail: just leave out the vodka!
2 oz vodka
.5 oz ginger beer reduction
.5 oz lime juice
2 oz @topnotetonic club soda
Add the vodka, ginger beer reduction and lime juice to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake. Strain into a rocks glass over Concord grape juice ice cubes. Top with club soda and garnish with Concord grapes and crystallized ginger. If more sweetness or color is desired, add a splash of the juice!
Ginger beer reduction: pour an 8.5 oz bottle of @topnotetonic ginger beer into a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 15 minutes or until reduced by half. Remove from heat and let cool. Keep refrigerated.
Concord grape juice ice cubes: pour Concord grape juice into an ice cube tray and freeze for at least 8 hours.
CranApple Gin Cocktail
CranApple Gin Cocktail -
Makes 5 Cocktails
Inspired by: Great Lakes Distillery, Milwaukee WI
5 oz Gin (We like Koval Barrel Aged Gin for this)
4 oz Apple Cider Juice
2 oz Cranberry Liqueur (You can substitute Grenadine)
2 oz Lemon Juice
Lemon Wedge for Garnish
Top Note Club Soda No 1
Pour the ingredients above together in a pitcher, add ice and give it a good stir.
Add 8 oz Top Note Club Soda (1 Bottle) or to taste. Give a gentle stir and serve over ice in a rocks glass. Garnish each glass as you see fit!
Classic | Club Soda | Fall Cocktails | Gin | Summer Cocktails | Tonic
Gin Sonic
The healthier version of Gin and Tonic that has been up and coming in the US is the Gin and Sonic. Thanks to the great Japanese tradition of the Highball, the gin sonic is a half/half mix of club soda and tonic water as the mixer, with a well selected gin. This makes this a refreshing spin on the classic. It happens to be lower in sugar and therefore a bit more elevated of a cocktail experience.
Here is our recipe!
In a highball glass that is well chilled add;
2 oz high quality Japanese gin (Roku by Suntori is our choice)
Ice
Gently add;
2 oz TNT Club No 1
2 oz TNT Classic Tonic Water
With a bar spoon, stir gently.
Serve with a salty snack before a summer meal!
Classic | Fall Cocktails | Pisco | Summer Cocktails | Tonic
Piston - Pisco Tonic
1.5 oz Catan Pisco
3 oz Top Note Indian Tonic water
Ice
Grapefruit or Lemon Wedge Garnish
Pisco, a brandy (distilled grape wine) from South America, makes an excellent foil for the heat of summer. Instead of a Pisco Sour, try a Pisco Tonic, or Piston to spice up the BBQ. And for the Ginger Beer fans, try this with Ginger Beer instead of Tonic if you prefer!
bourbon | Club Soda | Fall Cocktails | scotch | Summer Cocktails | whiskey
Whiskey Highball
Anyone who is anyone that makes this classic cocktail will tell you it is all in the preparation. That is half the truth. The ingredients really make this happen, or not.....Think of this as one of the most simple, yet complex cocktails in the world. It is whiskey, enhanced. So choose wisely.
First, chill your glassware, some choose a classic beer mug, some a low rocks glass. Whatever really you like to sip out of. Careful, because these can go down fast. Next, have some awesome ice rocks available. We like the silicone ice cube trays that make it simple.
Next - This is all about the assembly.
1.5 - 2 oz Japanese Whiskey
3 - 5 oz Top Note Club No 1
Starting with your chilled glass, pour your whiskey (1.5 oz - 2 oz) into the mug. Add ice. Top the drink with club soda by pouring down the side of the glass, avoiding the ice as much as possible. Add a twist of lemon or squeeze if you like, and stir gently. Garnish with lemon peel.
Enjoy it like a cool cold tall drink! It is refreshing and lighter proof. You can have this on a hot afternoon. Cheers!
Spritz Italiano_Sans Alcohol
How about a Spritz? Bitter and refreshing, the alcohol isn't needed in this version...
4 oz Top Note Indian Tonic
4 oz San Bitter (S Pelligrino)
2 shakes Angostura Bitters (Optional)
Lime and Orange Slices
In a large balloon glass, mix the first two ingredients, bitters and stir. Drop in slices of lime and orange. Add ice. Drink and enjoy!
Photo Credit Sofabfood https://sofabfood.com/aperol-spritz-classic-cocktail/
Dry Stormy - Ginger Beer and Coconut Water
A simple treat for those watching their rum intake. Fake the rum with a splash of coconut water.
4 oz Top Note Ginger Beer
4 oz Coconut Water
1/4 lime squeeze
Combine all ingredients into a tall glass. Stir and add ice. Top with a lime slice.
Image Credit: Michael Appleton for The New York Times
White Port and Tonic
Makes 2 drinks
1/2 cup White Port
6 - 8 oz Top Note Indian Tonic water or Bitter Lemon Soda
1/2 of a lemon squeezed
Mix all ingredients in a pitcher. Squeeze 1/2 lemon into pitcher. Stir gently and serve in rocks glass or collins glass over ice. Garnish with a lemon wedge and sprig of Thyme or Rosemary.
Cider and Cran/Ginger Spritz
4 oz Fresh Pressed Apple Cider
4 oz top Note Ginger Beer
4-5 cranberries gently heated in microwave, 1 ginger slice sliver
Sparkling Water to taste
Optional - 1/2 oz Cranberry Liqueur
Muddle ginger slice and cranberries in a shaker. Pour cider on top. Muddle and shake for 30 seconds. Strain into rocks glass over ice, pour Top Note Ginger Beer over the cider. Taste and dilute with 1 - 2 oz sparkling water to taste (if less sweetness is desired). Garnish with Candied Ginger and cranberry on a spear. This can also be made with Cranberry liqueur if desired. Suggested - Add 1/2 oz great Lakes Distillery Cranberry Liqueur.
Photo Credit: Zenbelly