Spiked Iced Passion Tea

As an incurable introvert, I quite enjoy the prospect of a Sunday at home with no obligations. I use the time to sleep in a little, linger in bed with a cup of coffee while I read and catch up on Postsecret, tend to the things I’ve been putting off all week like laundry and calling my mother—and of course, partake in an afternoon cocktail. Today I took inventory of my bar and pantry and came up with what I call a Spiked Iced Passion Tea. Indeed, as Dorothy Parker suggested, with a little ingenuity, you can bring the party to you.

Muddled Raspberry Vodka Gimlet

My go-to cocktail is a vodka gimlet. It’s simple, classic, and yes, I most definitely nabbed it from Mad Men‘s Betty Draper. Now, this may offend purists, but last night I decided to shake things up and add a little more flavor to my poison. I had raspberries on hand, and the result—I call it a Muddled Raspberry Vodka Gimlet—was pretty sensational, and perfect for these breezy early summer evenings we’ve been having.

Cranberry Margaritas

Normally I’m a classic margarita kind of gal. On the rocks, salt on the rim. But every now and then I get in the mood for a splash of something different.

I must confess, I only recently started making my margaritas with fresh lime juice instead of that sickly, syrupy, pre-made mix stuff, but now that I’ve mastered the art of making them from scratch, I’ll never go back. A basic margarita is pretty simple: tequila, triple sec, and lime juice.

Derby Day Cocktail: Black-Eyed Susan

Shopping for a colossal hat and jetting off to Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby has long been on my bucket list. I don’t follow horse racing in any capacity, but I do watch the Derby on TV every year, if for no other reason than to soak up the culture and ambiance à la distance.

But there’s no reason why those of us not fortunate enough to attend the race in person can’t celebrate on our own. This year I decided to get in the spirit by stirring up a couple of cocktails.