signature drink

Seattle’s Foodz Catering is preparing to move into its new home, nicknamed the “factory,” in the Georgetown neighborhood this summer. Four times the size of its current headquarters, it will include a new kitchen, offices and a warehouse. Toast the new digs with the company’s Blueberry Mule—the recipe raises the bar on the sober-curious trend.

INGREDIENTS

—3 oz. fresh-pressed blueberry juice

—juice of half a lime

—ginger beer

—shaved ice

—sprig of mint

—lime wedge

Taylor Nissen, Shore Lodge’s sommelier and beverage program assistant manager, suggests using fresh huckleberries macerated in a little sugar when making the hotel’s famed Huckletini. “This tends to ripen the berries and juice them a bit, perfect for making drinks. When it gets a little warmer, you can find them all around Payette Lake [in McCall, Idaho]. Everyone has their little spots. Ponderosa Park is great for this, too,” says Nissen. shorelodge.com

Small Talk? Big Taste!

When life hands you lemons (or lemon juice), make a Northwest Huckleberry Lemon Drop.

> 1.5 oz. Wild Roots Huck Vodka
> .75 oz. Cointreau
> .75 oz. lemon juice

Build like a lemon drop in a shaker. Shake and strain, serve neat in a martini glass with sugar rim.

Courtesy of Semiahmoo Resort, Golf and Spa in Blaine, Washington.

INGREDIENTS
—1.5 oz. Tito’s Handmade Vodka
—1.5 oz. Baileys Salted Caramel
—2 oz. half and half

DIRECTIONS:
Combine ingredients in a Belgian beer glass garnished with soft caramel along the rim, chocolate sauce and a chocolate branch. Looks fancy schmancy and tastes deee-licious!

Courtesy of Shore Lodge in McCall, Idaho

Meet the The Old Vermont, a maple syrup-infused Old-Fashioned created by the folks at Ravishing Radish Catering. If this doesn’t stave off the autumn chill, nothing will. 

INGREDIENTS:
—2 oz. bourbon or rye
—3/4 oz. grade-A maple syrup
—2 dashes bitters 
—1 fresh mint leaf
—orange twist

DIRECTIONS:
Coat the bottom of a rocks glass with maple syrup. Fill the glass with ice and add bitters and bour - bon. Stir well for 30 seconds. Garnish with fresh mint leaf and orange twist.

Next time you’re at Motif hotel in Seattle, stop by Frolik Kitchen + Cocktails and try the Piña Romero cocktail, conjured up by bar manager Chris Blakeslee.

INGREDIENTS
—2 oz. BarSol pisco
—1/2 oz. rosemary syrup
—1/2 oz. lemon juice
—1 oz. pineapple juice
—rosemary sprig for garnish

DIRECTIONS
Combine ingredients, garnish with the rosemary sprig and enjoy!

Courtesy of Frolik Kitchen + Cocktails

Sample this recipe from the 2018 home of TED: the Vancouver Convention Centre.

Invite three of your closest friends over to sample Boise Centre’s tasty cranberry martinis! (Serves 4)

INGREDIENTS
—6 oz. gin
—1 cup cranberry juice
—Sliced fresh ginger
—Ginger ale
—Fresh cranberries, for garnish
—Rosemary sprigs, for garnish

For a refreshing, nonalcoholic drink option, try this lipsmacking Alaskan Lemonade recipe from the Anchorage Marriott Downtown. The drink was served at a recent familiarization trip and had participating planners clamoring for more.

INGREDIENTS
—2 parts lemonade
—1/2 part rose water
—1/2 part hibiscus syrup
—raspberries for garnish

DIRECTIONS
Combine first three ingredients and garnish with fresh raspberries. Enjoy!