Sneak Peek: 4 Orange Vodka Fall & Winter Cocktail Recipes

Happy Holidays from Gab!

OK, we're aware that we're smack-dab in the middle of August. But when you're in the PR industry, you always have to think ahead. That's why, yesterday, Gab was on-hand at a 4 Orange Vodka photoshoot at The Omphoy Ocean Resort capturing the signature cocktails for the Fall & Holiday Season. It's never too early for a little holiday 'spirit,' right?

Check out the below recipes, created by Joshua Liberman, Omphoy Property Sommelier and Mixologist, and Ray Foley, Founder of Bartender Magazine. Shot by Alissa Dragun of South Moon Photography.

Palm Beach Cosmopolitan

1.5 oz. 4 Orange Vodka

1 oz. Cointreau.5 oz. Lime Juice

2 oz. White Cranberry

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Pour liquid ingredients into a mixing glass with ice

Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass

Garnish with burnt orange

4 Florida Girls
1.5 oz. 4 Orange Vodka infused into cantaloupe, honey dew and cucumber
.5 oz. Simple Syrup
.5 oz. Lime Juice
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Pour liquid ingredients into mixing glass with ice

Shake and strain into a champagne flute

Top with sparkling wine

Florida Heat
1.5 oz. 4 Orange Vodka
.5 oz. Chile Simple Syrup
.5 oz. Lime Juice
1.5 oz. Ginger Beer
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Pour liquid ingredients into a mixing glass with ice
Shake and strain into a rimmed glass with sea salt
Top with ginger beer
Garnish with lime wedge

Florida Sunset

1.25 oz. 4 Orange Vodka

.5 oz Peach Schnapps

3 oz Orange Juice

Splash Grenadine

Orange Slice

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Build Vodka, Schnapps and OJ in a rocks glass over ice

Top with a splash of Grenadine

Garnish with an Orange Slice

Blood Orange Bubbly

.75 oz 4 Orange Vodka

2 oz Blood Orange Juice

.5 oz Marie Brizard Orange Liqueur

.5 oz Sparkling Wine

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Shake Vodka, Juice and Liqueur in a shaker with ice

Strain into a champagne flute

Top with Sparkling Wine

4 Orange Dreamsicle

2 parts 4 Orange Vodka

4 parts Orange Juice

1 part Vanilla Rum

1 part Coco Lopez

Orange Slice garnish

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Combine ingredients in a blender with ice

Pour into a hurricane glass and garnish with an Orange Slice

Key West Sunset
2 parts 4 Orange Vodka

1 parts Peach Schnapps

2 parts Orange Juice

Splash Grenadine Syrup

Orange Slice garnish

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Combine 4 Orange Vodka, Schnapps and Orange Juice in a shaker with ice. Pour into highball glass and add splash Grenadine

Garnish with an Orange Slice

Blue Sky

1.25 oz 4 Orange Premium Vodka

.5 oz Marie Brizard Blue Curacao Liqueur

2 oz Orange Juice

2 oz Lemon Lime Soda

Orange Slice
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Combine Vodka, Curacao and Orange Juice in a shaker with ice
Pour into a double rocks glass and top off with Lemon Lime Soda
Garnish with an Orange Slice


Grove Holiday
.5 oz 4 Orange Vodka
.5 oz Sobieski Vanilia Vodka
.25 oz Marie Brizard Orange Liqueur
.25 oz Marie Brizard Parfait Amour
1 splash lime juice
Orange Peel
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Pour liquid ingredients into a mixing glass with ice
Stir and strain into a chilled cocktail glass
Garnish with an Orange Peel

Sugar Plum Martini
1.25 oz 4 Orange Vodka
1 oz Sweet and Sour Mix
.5 oz Marie Brizard Raspberry Liqueur
Sugar
Orange Twist
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Rim a cocktail glass with sugar
Shake liquid ingredients with ice and strain into glass
Garnish with an Orange Twist

Smokehouse Grille & Wingery Launches in West Boca

Smokehouse Grille & Wingery, the area’s first and only authentic smokehouse dining concept, launched today with an all-day Grand Opening celebration and (drumroll, please) is now officially open to the public for dine-in, takeout and delivery.

Smokehouse has come a long way. It first launched to the area nearly a year ago with a modest 1,500 square-foot location in East Boca, which has since closed so owners Mark Uffer and Erik Frasco can focus their barbecue expertise on their new flagship.

The new 4,136 square-foot location in West Boca is more than double the size of the original and almost triples its smoking capabilities. That means their smoker can cook 2,000 pounds of meat at one time (think 90 slabs of ribs, 70 pork loins, 50 briskets, 30 turkeys, and 120 chickens), which, incidentally, is probably the best meat you've ever eaten.

To commemorate its Grand Opening, Smokehouse dished out almost 2,000 free barbecue samplers with three smoked chicken wings and two baby back or St. Louis-style ribs, all cooked in its custom smoker from Missouri. Which equaled a lot of happy, albeit saucy, faces.

More than 700 guests stuck around to order off the full menu, choosing from smoked ribs, brisket, chicken, wings, sausages, and pork, as well as homemade sides like Cole Slaw, Poblano Cheddar Smokehouse Bread, and Baked Beans “like Grandma used to make.”

As the sun set over Smokehouse, guests washed down their 'cue complimentary beer, wine and tequila samplings.

Proceeds from the day’s sales benefited The Connor Moran Children’s Cancer Foundation, a 501(c)3 charity celebrating its 20th anniversary supporting the health, healing, and happiness of children and adults facing the uncertainty of cancer or another life changing illness in South Florida.

 

Smokehouse Grille & Wingery

9908 Yamato Road

Boca Raton, FL 33434
(561) 852-7474

http://www.smokehousegw.com/

www.facebook.com/smokehouseboca  

Sssmokin'! Free BBQ Sampler Tomorrow at Smokehouse Grille & Wingery

Ready to meet your new favorite meat?

We’re talking tender, smoky, fall-off-the-bone ‘cue made on thick slabs of hickory the old-fashioned way. And, for one day only, it’s yours... for free.

That’s right – tomorrow, Thursday, July 28, Smokehouse Grille & Wingery is celebrating its West Boca Grand Opening with a generous barbecue sampler, no purchase necessary. That’s three juicy smoked Chicken Wings plus your choice of either two St. Louis-style or Baby Back Ribs, for you, for free.

The folks at Smokehouse are giving away BBQ samplers all day (from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.), so whether you’re craving a finger-licking lunch or dinner, or just a saucy snack, they’ve got you covered.

This isn't just any old barbecue. This is true Southern-style smoked goodness, cooked for hours in a custom smoker from Missouri. You can bet we're going to be posted there all day long, enjoying a ribbon cutting, live music, and beer and wine tastings. Make sure to stop in and say hi to the girls of Gab (excuse us in advance if we've got a little sauce on our face).

Proceeds from Grand Opening sales to benefit the Connor Moran Children's Cancer Foundation.

Location:

Smokehouse Grille & Wingery (West Boca)

9908 Yamato Road

Boca Raton, FL

561.852.7474

http://www.smokehousegw.com/

www.facebook.com/smokehouseboca

M Bar Brings Global Tapas & Fresh Cocktails to East Las Olas

More than 600 guests traveled to East Las Olas for the official Grand Opening of M Bar, the new global tapas eatery and bar by acclaimed Fort Lauderdale restaurateur Jack Mancini.

Mayor John P. "Jack" Seiler officiated the arrival of the 3,500 square-foot global kitchen dining concept with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, after which guests experienced M Bar’s energetic atmosphere, a hot and cold assortment of complimentary globally influenced small plates, and an open bar featuring M Bar’s signature freshly crafted cocktails, craft beers and international wines.

A delectable selection of hot and cold small plates with Mediterranean, Asian, Italian, and Middle Eastern influences were served, including Crispy Pork Belly, Heirloom Tomato Basil Flat Bread, Fried Chicken and Watermelon Salad, Ceviche with Fresh Fruit Salsa and Ginger Vinegar, and Fried Sweetbreads with Hazelnut Waffle and Aged Maple Syrup. While some guests crowded around the bar to enjoy craft beers, cocktails and an international wine list, other sat at tables and admired M Bar’s striking industrial design.

“M Bar offers South Floridians a lively, stylish atmosphere to taste, explore and discover,” says Jack Mancini, owner of M Bar and Mancini’s Restaurant. “We use the freshest farm-to-table ingredients to craft adventurous small and large plates, perfect for sharing with a group of friends to dine and socialize. We look forward to becoming the East Las Olas’s ultimate spot for culinary exploration and quality dining.”

Psst... Mancini also plans to reintroduce a sleek redesigned Mancini’s Restaurant soon, offering a new outdoor patio with an outdoor sidewalk bar and a wood-burning pizza oven, all conveniently located under the same roof as M Bar.

M Bar Global Tapas

1301 East Las Olas Blvd.

Ft Lauderdale, FL 33301

(954) 766-4946

Dance 101 at BRLTA | 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 29

Now that summer's officially arrived, it’s time to reflect on how we're going to spend the season:

A) Weekend getaways, B) Picnics and barbecues, C) Celebrating Independence Day with summery cocktails, and, of course, D) Looking sizzling hot in your new bikini.

So why is it that A, B and C contradict D? We have your fitness fix.

This Wednesday, June 29, Boca Raton Life Time Athletic brings you Dance 101, the newest in the ongoing Life & Learn 101 series. Beginning at 7 p.m., shimmy, step and waltz your way to a toned physique under the instruction of Samantha Melesenka for just $5 (benefiting the Life Time Fitness Foundation).

Dancing is uplifting, sexy, and increases strength and flexibility while torching calories. It’s no wonder that trends like Zumba DVDs and sitcoms like Dancing with the Stars have become such hits. In fact, Dancing with the Stars is a perfect example of how fun and effective dancing can be. While many stars entered the show fit and trim (personal trainers and private chefs can do wonders!), consider the stars, like Kirstie Alley and Kelly Osbourne, who have battled their weight and ended the season looking and feeling phenomenal.

Good news is, you don’t have to be asked on Dancing with the Stars to reap all of these wonderful benefits - just join us at Boca Raton Life Time Athletic for Dance 101! Not only with you become bikini ready, but you’re sure to appreciate all those extra endorphins, as well as a new hobby that you can show off on the dance floor. Now that’s a commitment worth keeping.

Mizner Park Downtown Drive Kicks Into Gear With First Annual Car Show

On Father's Day Sunday, June 19, Boca Raton was taken back in time to an era where automotive craftsmanship went hand in hand with artistry.

Even with rain clouds overhead, the spirit of the first annual Mizner Park Downtown Drive was exciting and full of surprises. With nostalgic tunes flowing through the air, the normally quiet Mizner Park was turned into a chic park where everyone, from the young to those who were around when the rides weren't considered classics, could enjoy themselves.

From 1940s antiques, to 1960s vintage rides, to sexy, exotic motor vehicles provided by Lou la Vie, the cars featured at this year's event made Father's Day as memorable as it was fun.

It's hard to imagine how next year will top this one, but with the enthusiasm and good time had by all, there's no doubt that 2012 will have rarer, even hotter rides making their way to Boca Raton for kids, family and appreciators alike to admire and envy.

HERLIFE Launch Party Connects South Florida Women

More than 400 of South Florida’s most remarkable women (and a few good men) gathered at Il Bacio Restaurant & Lounge Thursday, June 16, to celebrate the launch of HERLIFE Magazine, the only glossy lifestyle magazine in the area created and written by women, for women.

The champagne started flowing promptly at 7 p.m. (Who doesn’t love a little bubbly to begin the evening?) Guests, among them Delray Beach Councilwoman Contance Scott, poured in and were treated to passed hors d’oeuvres by PRIME and a table stacked with gourmet cupcakes from Cupcake Cottage for dessert.  (The Gab Girls can’t say no to cupcakes, so we admit we snuck a few while on duty!) While some mingled with beaming HERLIFE Editor Karen Alleyne-Means, others struck a pose at the portrait stand courtesy of Shelley Arminio from MonkeyFacePhoto.com.

The HERLIFE staff, Il Bacio Owner Steven Pellegrino, local philanthropist Cindi Krost, socialites Michael and Karen Towner, and renowned plastic surgeon Dr. Daniel Man joined Alleyne-Means and her husband, Shawn Means, for the official ribbon cutting and speech, marking the launch of South Florida’s newest women’s magazine.

A magazine launch party wouldn’t be complete without swag bags. Each guest went home with a hot pink bag stuffed with the first four issues of HERLIFE Magazine and luxury gift items from Cenegenics Medical Institute Boca Raton, Dr. Daniel Man Plastic Surgery, Life Time Fitness Boca Raton, Butlers in the Buff Florida, and Il Bacio.

We think the success of the launch party is just the beginning of great things to come from HERLIFE Magazine...