The Secret to Hoppiness

Hot-Buttered Rum Day

Danyelle Dell'olio — Fri, 17 Jan 2020 14:59:32 +0000

January 17th, 2020 Today is Hot-Buttered Rum Day! Hot-Buttered Rum is a warm cocktail containing dark rum, butter, hot water or cider, sweetener and spices. It is the perfect cocktail to warm your soul on this awfully, frigid day! Contrary to hot toddies and mulled wines hailing from Europe, the hot-buttered rum concoction is an American made drink. This warm beverage dates to the 1650s when Jamaica began importing molasses to Colonial America, and New England began opening distilleries. People needed to keep warm somehow! Here’s a recipe of hot-buttered rum to warm you up. There are many different variations of hot-buttered rums, so keep this recipe as a base, and expand on it however you would like! Ingredients: 1 stick unsalted butter ½ C. light brown sugar T tsp. vanilla extract 1 tsp. ground cinnamon 1 tsp. ground cloves 1 tsp. ground nutmeg 1 tsp. ground allspice Pinch of salt 2 oz. dark or aged rum 6 oz. water Cinnamon stick for garnish Directions: Combine the vanilla, butter, sugar, spices, and salt in a mixing bowl and beat well. Add the rum to a mug with 1 ounce of the spiced butter mixture. Top with hot water and stir until all the ingredients are incorporated. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and enjoy! Cheers, Danyelle

The post Hot-Buttered Rum Day appeared first on The Secret to Hoppiness.

On This Day in History

Danyelle Dell'olio — Thu, 16 Jan 2020 14:00:10 +0000

January 16th, 1919 On January 16, 1919 the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, prohibiting the “manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors for beverage purposes” was ratified and officially went into effect on January 17, 1920. Prohibition was now a part of the Constitution, and the stockpiling began. All the production and sale of alcohol was driven underground (bootlegging), tens of thousands of speakeasies were born, there was a rise in gang violence and nationwide crime organizations were formed. Al Capone, a gangster hailing from Chicago made a whopping $60 million annually bootlegging and operating speakeasies. That’s just one person. Think about the amount of money circulating through these bootlegging organizations! So how did winemakers and brewers stay afloat during the Prohibition? Well, they got creative – and if they didn’t, they shut their doors. Yuengling and Anheuser Busch made ice cream, Coors went into the pottery business, and other breweries made “near beers” that contained less than 0.5 percent alcohol. Some genius ideas if I don’t say so myself! On December 5, 1933, prohibition came to an end. The experiment was deemed a failure, and the Twenty-first Amendment became the only Constitutional amendment ever passed to overturn a previous (cough cough Eighteenth) amendment. And on that note, we raise a glass to the Twenty-first Amendment! Cheers, Danyelle

The post On This Day in History appeared first on The Secret to Hoppiness.

Jersey City Whiskey Fest 2020

Danyelle Dell'olio — Fri, 03 Jan 2020 17:06:06 +0000

Friday, January 31, 2020 | Harborside Atrium, Jersey City, NJ On Friday, January 31st, come to Jersey City’s Harborside Atrium on the waterfront to taste over 100 selections of whiskies and spirits. There will be everything ranging from Kentucky style bourbon to Mexican Mezcal. Learn from industry experts while enjoying vodka, gin, tequila, mezcal, whiskies, bourbon, food, live entertainment, and gorgeous views. Your admission ticket will get you a souvenir cup to taste everything your little heart desires. But don’t drink on an empty stomach! Enjoy food from Chavas Empanadas, Mozzarepas, Taste of Poland, Angry Archies, and more! Get your tickets here, and don’t miss out on the fun! See you there! Cheers, Danyelle

The post Jersey City Whiskey Fest 2020 appeared first on The Secret to Hoppiness.

NYC Hangover Recovery Kit Delivered to your Door!

Danyelle Dell'olio — Mon, 30 Dec 2019 16:57:02 +0000

You wake up on New Year’s Day feeling groggy, head pounding, you can’t move, and all you want is greasy delivery food to soak up the large quantities of alcohol you drank last night. Well, Vita Coco and Postmates teamed up to bring you just that. A hangover recovery kit with the following essentials: a made-to-order egg and cheese sandwich from Lenwich, a face mask from the skin care line, Banila, Ibuprofen, and a potassium and magnesium coconut water from Vita Coco. To snag one of these hangover recovery kits, make sure to download the Postmates app on your phone and sign in at 10AM sharp. There is a limited supply of these kits so don’t wait around to order yours. In the event that you have tried as hard as possible to wake up and order one at 10AM but you sign on at 11AM and they’re all gone, don’t fear! There is another way to get your hangover recovery kit – It does require getting out of bed though…Head over to Cleveland Place between Kenmare St. and Spring Street in Soho starting at 10AM. Vita Coco will have a hangover recovery food truck waiting there for you! Enjoy your New Year’s! Cheers and drink responsibly, Danyelle

The post NYC Hangover Recovery Kit Delivered to your Door! appeared first on The Secret to Hoppiness.

5 Stunning Champagne Cocktails

Danyelle Dell'olio — Mon, 30 Dec 2019 14:35:35 +0000

New Year’s Eve is on the horizon which means that it is time to stock up on some bubbly and ring in the new year with a proper glass of champagne, prosecco, or a champagne cocktail! If you choose to just have a straight glass of champagne, there is no harm in that. But why not mix up a beautiful cocktail to be festive? And, to save a buck, you should check out this list for top 5 champagne bottles under $20. Here are 5 stunning cocktail recipes for your New Year’s Eve bash – enjoy! French 75 Ingredients: 1.5 oz. gin .75 oz. lemon juice .75 oz. agave .5 oz. prosecco Lemon twist Directions: Add gin, lemon juice, and agave to shaker and shake well with ice. Strain into coupe or flute glass and top with prosecco. Add a twist of lemon and enjoy! Champagne Margaritas Ingredients (makes 6 cocktails): 1/2 c. fresh lime juice 1 c. silver tequila 1/2 c. orange liquer 1 bottle champagne (about 3 cups) lime wedges, for rim salt, for rim Directions: combine all ingredients in a pitcher and stir well. Moisten rims of glasses with lime wedge and dip in salt. Divide margaritas in between flute glasses and garnish with lime. Cranberry Mimosa Ingredients: 1 1/4 cups orange juice 1 1/4 cups pineapple juice 1/2 cup cranberry juice 1 (25.4-ounce) bottle sparkling white wine, chilled 1/2 cup cranberries 8 sprigs fresh rosemary Directions: In a pitcher, combine orange, pineapple, and cranberry juice. Fill champagne flutes halfway with juice mixture, top with prosecco and garnish with rosemary and cranberries. Lillet Spritz Ingredients: 1 (750-milliliter) bottle chilled Lillet blanc 2 c. chilled fresh orange juice 1 (750-milliliter) bottle chilled prosecco Edible flowers, for serving Directions: Combine Lillet, orange juice, and prosecco in a pitcher. Serve in champagne glasses and garnish with flowers. Blackberry Thyme Champagne Cocktail Ingredients: For the blackberry syrup: 1/3 C. water 1/3 C. blackberries For the cocktail: 1/3 cup sugar 1 bottle of Prosecco or champagne 4 sprigs of thyme and 8 blackberries Directions: Bring the water and blackberries to a boil in a small saucepan. Turn to low to simmer for ten minutes. Strain syrup and set aside. In the bottom of your glass add 2 tbsp. of syrup and top with champagne. Garnish with a sprig of thyme and 2 blackberries. Cheers! Danyelle

The post 5 Stunning Champagne Cocktails appeared first on The Secret to Hoppiness.

Top 5 Bottles of Bubbly Under $20

Danyelle Dell'olio — Fri, 27 Dec 2019 03:20:16 +0000

New Year’s Eve is 5 days away and it is time to stock up on bubbly for your bottle popping festivities. There’s nothing better than ringing in the new year with a nice glass of champagne, or champagne cocktail while toasting to the good life! Buying Champagne or Prosecco can be costly when you’re having a party, so I’m here to give you the scoop on 5 bottles that are cost-effective and delicious! You don’t have to break the bank this New Year’s Eve. So, dive right in and find the Champagne or Prosecco that will be sure to liven up your party and please the palate. Mumm Napa Cuvee M Sparkling Wine – $19.99 Not technically a champagne by origin, this fruity sparkling wine is a nice blend of pinot noir and chardonnay hailing from Napa Valley. Notes of orange blossom, lemon, and pear pair very well with sweet cheeses, desserts, and melon fruits. Freixenet Prosecco DOC – $11.98 Hailing from Italy’s Prossecco region of Veneto, Freixenat Prosecco is a light and crisp bottle of bubbly served up in a beautiful, unique bottle. You can find hints of grapefruit, lemon, and green apple with aromas of fresh flowers. Graham Beck Brut Methode Cap Classique – $18.99 This delicious Brut hailing from South Africa contains hints of tropical fruit and toasty yeast. It has a creamy complexity and pairs well with a nice charcuterie board. Chandon California Brut Classic – $18.99 Aromas of spice with flavors of pear, apple, and citrus fill this California Champagne. This classic Brut has a soft, dry finish that is sure to please the palette. Ruffino Prosecco – $16.00 This Prosecco is filled with intense fruit flavors from juicy peaches and apple. You can enjoy this with a brick-oven pizza, fresh seafood, or a nice cheese platter. Cheers to the new year! Danyelle

The post Top 5 Bottles of Bubbly Under $20 appeared first on The Secret to Hoppiness.

3 Egg Nog Recipes for the Holiday Season

Danyelle Dell'olio — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 02:54:30 +0000

No holiday party is complete without a little egg nog to sip on. This frothy, eggy beverage can be traced all the way back to medieval England where once it was an egg-based wine or ale mixture. But now, a traditional recipe calls for eggs, milk, heavy cream, bourbon or rum, and a little nutmeg garnish. So easy you can make it right at home! Here are a few of my favorite variations – I even through in a recipe for Coquito. Because who doesn’t like a little coconut, Puerto Rican flair! Cheers to the holidays! The Classic Egg Nog Ingredients: 4 egg yolks 1/3 C. sugar, plus 1 Tbsp. 1-pint whole milk 1 C. heavy cream 3 oz. bourbon 1 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg * 4 egg whites Directions: In a standing mixer, beat yolks until they are light in color. Slowly add in the 1/3 cup of sugar and beat until dissolved. Add the milk, cream, bourbon and nutmeg and beat until combined. In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites until they form soft peaks. Add the tablespoon of sugar while continuously beating until stiffer peaks form. Add the egg whites to the egg yolk mixture, chill, and serve. Jeffrey Morgenthaler’s Egg Nog Ingredients (makes one gallon): 12 large eggs 18 oz. granulated sugar 12 oz. anejo tequila 15 oz. amontillado sherry 36 oz. whole milk 24 oz. heavy cream 3 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg Directions: In a blender or standing mixer, beat the eggs until smooth. Slowly incorporate sugar and nutmeg until fully dissolved. Next, add the sherry tequila, milk and cream. Refrigerate and serve in chilled glasses garnished with freshly grated nutmeg. Coquito Ingredients: 2 C. homemade coconut milk 1 can (14-oz.) sweetened condensed milk 2 C. Puerto Rican rum 4 egg yolks, lightly beaten Ground cinnamon Directions for the homemade coconut milk: Blend an 8-oz package of unsweetened shredded coconut with 4 cups of hot filtered water until smooth and creamy. Pour the mixture into a bowl with cheesecloth on top to filter out any coconut particles. Squeeze the cheese cloth to get out any extra liquid. Store in a jar and refrigerate for up to one week. Shake before you use. Directions for Coquito: Blend the milks, rum, and egg yolks until light and frothy. Chill in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, pour in chilled glasses with cinnamon garnish. I hope you enjoy these recipes! Cheers and Happy Holidays! Yours truly, Danyelle

The post 3 Egg Nog Recipes for the Holiday Season appeared first on The Secret to Hoppiness.

The Brewer’s Advent Calendar Sold At Costco!

Danyelle Dell'olio — Fri, 01 Nov 2019 03:13:32 +0000

Costco is at it again! The holiday season has yet to begin and advent calendars are already being sold. This time instead of a chocolate or wine calendar, behind each door is a can of craft German beer! Kalea, the makers of this wonderful advent calendar are trying to promote small craft breweries from all over Germany that you cannot typically find in stores. This gives you a chance to try something new and rave about it to all your friends…in which they probably can’t purchase it in stores. You will find styles of beer ranging from Pils or Helles, Pale and Dark Weizens, Stouts, Bocks, and Weizenbocks. This is a perfect gift for all your beer loving friends, loved ones, and me! Just saying. Don’t forget to pick one up on your next weekend trip to Costco! They sell for $59.99 each. Cheers to the upcoming holiday season and beer! Danyelle

The post The Brewer’s Advent Calendar Sold At Costco! appeared first on The Secret to Hoppiness.

Six Flags Grape Adventure

Danyelle Dell'olio — Fri, 01 Nov 2019 02:08:30 +0000

Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, NJ will be hosting their 10th annual Grape Adventure Wine Festival November 2 and 3. There will be over a dozen local vineyards sampling wine, 25 local artisans and 18 different food stands! Grape Adventure takes place 11:30 AM – 5:00 PM both on Saturday Nov. 2nd and Sunday, November 3rd. Tickets to Grape Adventure do not include theme park admission, but you can purchase an upgrade ticket to enjoy the rides at the park. There is a Safari Package that you can purchase that gives you access to the festival, theme park, and a private safari tour with a special wine tasting at Camp Aventura overlooking the African plains filled with giraffes, zebras, gnu, and more! Here are some of the wineries that will be in attendance: Auburn Road Winery Chestnut Run Farms Tomasello Winery Wagonhouse Winery DiMatteo Vineyards Plagidos Winery Villari Vineyards Valenzano Winery Four Sisters Winery Cedar Rose Vineyards Terra Nonno Winery White Horse Winery Autumn Lake Winery The Vintners Wife Villa Milagro Vineyards I hope to see you there! Cheers, Danyelle

The post Six Flags Grape Adventure appeared first on The Secret to Hoppiness.

5 Spooky Cocktails to Die For

Danyelle Dell'olio — Tue, 29 Oct 2019 17:51:31 +0000

Need some inspiration for ghoulish cocktails? Impress your Halloween party guests with these 5 spooky recipes. Because adults need to have fun too! Enjoy the BOOze! Poisoned Apple Pie Ingredients: 2 oz. dark rum ½ oz. heavy cream ½ oz. cinnamon syrup 1 medium egg white 2 oz. Sparkling Apple Juice Garnish: pinches of activated charcoal and cinnamon Directions: In a shaker with no ice, add the rum, heavy cream, cinnamon syrup, and egg white. Dry shake for 30 seconds, add ice and shake again to chill. Strain into a flute or coupe glass. Slowly add the sparkling apple juice and sprinkle two pinches of the charcoal and cinnamon on top. Serve and enjoy! Dark & Stormy Ingredients: 4 oz. gin 2 oz. pomegranate juice 1 oz. simple syrup Ice Optional: Cubes of dry ice Directions: Combine the gin, pomegranate juice, simple syrup, and ice to a shaker and shake for at least 30 seconds. Serve in martini glass. For a smoky, stormy effect, add a small cube of dry ice to the bottom of each glass. Black Magic Margarita Ingredients: 1/3 c. Black sanding sugar 2 c. ice 4 oz. silver tequilla 2 oz. triple sec 1/2 c. lime juice red food coloring Blue food coloring green food coloring lime slices, for garnish Directions: Rim glasses with a lime slice and dip in the black sanding sugar. Add all ingredients to a shaker and stir to combine, adding the food coloring to the desired black color. Pour liquid into glasses with ice, garnish with lime and serve! Zombie Cocktail Ingredients: 1 oz. light rum 1 oz. dark rum 1 oz. apricot liquor 2 oz. orange juice 1 dash lime Bitters 1 handful ice 1 oz. Bacardi 151 Rum orange slice and cherry, for garnish Directions: In a cocktail shaker combine the light and dark rum, apricot liquor, orange juice, and bitters. Pour into a large glass filled with ice and top with a shot of Bacardi 151. Garnish with an orange slice and a cherry. Purple People Eater Cocktail Ingredients: 1 part Blue Curacao 1 part sweet and sour mix 1 part grenadine 1 part cranberry juice 1 ½ part vodka Purple sugar Simple syrup Directions: Moisten the rim of a glass with simple syrup and dip the rim in the purple sugar. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine the vodka, blue curacao, sweet and sour mix, and cranberry juice. Pour liquid into rimmed glass with ice and enjoy! Stay safe! And Happy Halloween! Cheers, Danyelle

The post 5 Spooky Cocktails to Die For appeared first on The Secret to Hoppiness.