Be Your Own Bartender: Reno Tahoe Inspired Cocktails

It’s 5:00 somewhere… right? Whether your bartending style is reminiscent of Cocktail’s Brian Flanagan or more like Moe from The Simpsons, these Reno Tahoe distilleries have cocktail recipes you can mix up at home. If you have some of these locally made spirits on-hand that’s great but don’t worry about substituting with liquors you already have at home.

Rosemary’s Hound, featuring 10 Torr’s Vacuum Distilled Vodka

One of 10 Torr’s most popular cocktails… now you can make it at home!

• 1 1/2 ounces 10 Torr Vacuum Distilled Vodka
• 1 ounce rosemary simple syrup
• Juice from half of a grapefruit

Add the ingredients to a shaker (or mason jar with ice – make sure the lid is screwed on tight!), shake, strain over ice and drink up. Visit 10 Torr’s Facebook page for the full recipe for Rosemary’s Hound and the rosemary simple syrup, as well as other cocktails from their Torrot of Cocktails series.

Save yourself time and get straight to the good stuff with their ready-t0-drink bottled cocktails, including their popular Slap’N Basil and Cardamom Coffee. Pour over ice and enjoy!

Medusa’s Confession, featuring Bently Heritage Distillery’s Juniper Grove Gin

We know you’re hanging out in PJs all day (no judgment here!), but you can feel fancy with this cocktail.

• 1 1/2 ounces Juniper Grove American Dry Gin
• 1 ounce raspberry liqueur
• 1 ounce Campari
• 3/4 ounce grapefruit juice

Mix in a shaker and serve over ice. You can find more gin-based cocktail recipes on Juniper Grove Gin’s Instagram, or check out other offerings from Bently Heritage Distillery including vodka, whiskey and liqueurs.

Now that the weather is warming up, a cool glass of iced tea pairs nicely with a day spent outside doing yard work or soaking up the sun. We suggest checking out Tammilee Tip’s recipe for her  Ranch Tea Cocktail, a refreshing and slightly sweet drink perfect for a spring or summer day.

Verdi Mule, featuring Verdi Local Distillery’s Apple Cinnamon Whiskey

An apple cinnamon twist on a classic and easy-to-make cocktail.

• 2 ounces VLD Apple Cinnamon Whiskey
• 2 ounces ginger beer
• Soda/seltzer water
• Lime

Fill a 16-ounce cup with ice, add whiskey and ginger beer, then fill the rest of the cup with soda/seltzer water. Enjoy with a squeeze of lime. Find this and more cocktail recipes from Verdi Local Distillery on Pinterest.

If you’re more of a beer person, we have beer and food pairing suggestions featuring local breweries. Cheers to all those who love and support Reno Tahoe and its distilleries and breweries! Snap a photo of your living room or backyard happy hour and share it with #RenoTahoe for a chance to be featured.