it's friyay, but admittedly i've been in a pretty funky mood the last few days. i'm guessing my foul mood is due to a lack of yoga or post vacation blues, but regardless of the reason, i've been feeling pretty funky.

we catered our first ever wedding on tuesday, and come wednesday morning i was feeling pretty deflated. so i gave myself a couple days off to sulk around, but it's time to shed these funky feeling and move on to bigger and better things. 

and there is no better way to change a mood than the perfect cocktail. to me, the perfect cocktail is refreshing and vibrant, with just a hint of sweet and tang. this little sparkler nailed it. 

grape & sage sparkler
serves: 2 cocktails
prep time: 5 minutes (unless you have the grape juice on hand, then it takes about a minute)
active time: 5 minutes
total time: 10 minutes (unless you already have the grape juice on hand, then about 5 minutes) ingredients: 1.5 oz vodka. .25 cup grape juice (i don't like my grape juice with all the add ons so i made it myself. i popped 1 cup black grapes into the food processor till pulverized. then i strained the juice and flesh in a strainer pressing out all the juice. it took me less than 5 minutes to do). 1 oz lemon juice. 1 tsp fresh sage, roughly chopped. 1 tsp sugar. .25 cup club soda. lemon wedge for garnish. extra grapes for garnish. muddler. shaker. 3 cups of ice (two for serving, one for the shaker). 2 serving glasses of choice (tumbler or a collins glass would be great). 

in the base of your shaker, combine the lemon juice, sage and sugar.

muddle until the sage is well broken up and the oils have released into the lemon juice and sugar. thirty seconds to a minute. 

then add your grape juice and vodka to the shaker. 

add in one cup of ice and shake well till foamy. about 20-30 seconds. 

fill each glass with half of the remaining ice. pour half the liquid in the shaker into each glass. 

top each half the club soda. 

garnish with grapes and a lemon wedge. enjoy!

xo, a

grape & sage sparkler
serves: 2 cocktails
prep time: 5 minutes (unless you have the grape juice on hand, then it takes about a minute)
active time: 5 minutes
total time: 10 minutes (unless you already have the grape juice on hand, then about 5 minutes) ingredients: 1.5 oz vodka. .25 cup grape juice (i don't like my grape juice with all the add ons so i made it myself. i popped 1 cup black grapes into the food processor till pulverized. then i strained the juice and flesh in a strainer pressing out all the juice. it took me less than 5 minutes to do). 1 oz lemon juice. 1 tsp fresh sage, roughly chopped. 1 tsp sugar. .25 cup club soda. lemon wedge for garnish. extra grapes for garnish. muddler. shaker. 3 cups of ice (two for serving, one for the shaker). 2 serving glasses of choice (tumbler or a collins glass would be great).
in the base of your shaker, combine the lemon juice, sage and sugar.
muddle until the sage is well broken up and the oils have released into the lemon juice and sugar. thirty seconds to a minute.
then add your grape juice and vodka to the shaker.
add in one cup of ice and shake well till foamy. about 20-30 seconds.
fill each glass with half of the remaining ice. pour half the liquid in the shaker into each glass.
top each half the club soda. garnish with grapes and a lemon wedge. enjoy!