Cocktail Recipes: My Birthday Drink Menu

Must be 21+ or over legal drinking age to consume. Please drink responsibly.

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Exactly one week from today—Wednesday, September 1, 2021—I’ll be celebrating my 26th birthday and Flawless World’s 2nd birthday. It’s crazy to wrap my head around the fact that I’m going to be 26 (it sounds so old to me!) and that it’ll officially be 2 years since I launched my blog to the world. It’s wild to think about how many ups and downs I’ve had over the last 2 years, how much I’ve learned about myself and blogging, and how much I’ve grown. Initially, the blog was a way to exercise my creativity and get it out and into the world to share and [hopefully] help others along the way. Now, it’s my passion and what I want to spend doing every single day for the rest of my life; it’s what drives me when I wake up every single morning and motivates me to do better.

This particular anniversary/birthday feels bigger than last years, when it was my 25th and Flawless World’s 1st. Maybe it’s because I finally grieved for and let go of my wrestling dream once and for all, which has led me to following my true passion for writing and blogging and discovering what I want to turn Flawless World in to. Maybe it’s because I found a small light at the end of the tunnel with my neck injury, or maybe it’s because I’ve been able to come to peace with my grandma’s passing and embrace her spirit and strength. Whatever the case may be, there’s no denying that, in my mind, this year calls for a bigger celebration than last year.

So, in honor of both mine and Flawless World’s birthday, I decided to make a cocktail menu full of drinks that inspired by both my favorite color and one of Flawless World’s main colors: light pink. Don’t let the color fool you—these cocktails are delicious and hand-picked with everyone in mind. I’m going to be sipping on these to celebrate the milestone. Pick out one of your faves below or try all of them, and sip on them to celebrate this milestone along with me in spirit.

*Disclaimer: I learned how to bartend using the free pour method, and that is still how I make drinks today. I’ve included some conversions from counting to oz below. If you don’t have any measuring tools available to use, you can use the free pour counting method. Simply count to that number in your head at a normal speed to get the right amount.

CONVERSION MEASUREMENTS:

• 6 count = 3 oz
• 4 count = 2 oz
• 2 count = 1/2 oz
• 1 count = splash

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My Birthday Drink List:

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Rose Lemon Spritzer

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WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

• Vodka (I use either Tito’s or Ketel One)
• Honey (agave may be substituted)
• Sparkling Water
• Fresh Lemon Juice (made from squeezing juice out of lemons into separate glass)
• Rose Water (optional)
• Blood Orange Juice or Pomegranate Juice (to color, optional)
• Cocktail Shaker + Strainer
• Rocks Glass
• Ice
• Fresh Roses (to garnish, optional)

HOW-TO:

1. Fill cocktail shaker up with ice.
2. Pour in a 4 count of vodka, a 2 count of fresh lemon juice, and a 1 count of honey (agave if substituting).
   1. Optional: add in a 2 count of rose water and a 1 count of blood orange/pomegranate juice.
3. Cover cocktail shaker and shake well! Cocktail shaker should be cold to the touch.
4. Pour contents of cocktail shaker into rocks glass. Add in more ice until filled 3/4 of the way.
5. Top off remainder of glass with sparkling water.
6. Optional: garnish with a fresh rose/roses.

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The Perfect Cosmopolitan

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WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

• Tito’s Vodka
• Triple Sec
• Fresh Lime Juice (made from squeezing juice out of limes into separate glass)
• Cranberry Juice (substitute 5 calorie cranberry-apple juice for a healthier option)
• Cocktail Shaker + Strainer
• Ice
• Chilled Martini Glass
• 1 Slice of Lime (to garnish)

For a more in-depth tutorial on this drink, check out the full article here.

HOW-TO:

1. Place martini glass in freezer to chill.
2. Fill cocktail shaker with lots of ice.
3. Pour in a 6 count of vodka and a 4 count of triple sec.
4. Add in a 2 count of lime juice and a 2 count of cranberry juice (or 5 calorie cranberry-apple juice if using healthier option).
5. Cover cocktail shaker and shake well! Shaker should be cold to the touch.
6. Remove chilled martini glass from freezer and strain in contents of cocktail shaker.
7. Garnish with a slice of lime.

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Moët Rosé

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This one is pretty self explanatory, but I’ve included it because the first time I tried it was in 2019, on my 24th birthday and day I launched Flawless World. Now, it’s become a tradition to have this every year on this day to celebrate.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

• Moët Rosé
• Champagne Flute

HOW-TO:

1. Chill rosé beforehand.
2. Fill champagne flute about 3/4 of the way.
3. When not using, keep rosé chilled.

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Little Flower Cocktail

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WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

• Champagne or Prosecco (personal preference)
• St. Germain Liquer
• Tonic Water
• Rose Water
• Pink Food Coloring (optional)
• Fresh Flowers (to garnish)
• Chilled Martini Glass
• Cocktail Shaker + Strainer
• Ice
• Cocktail Spoon (may substitute straw or butter knife)

HOW-TO:

1. Place martini glass in freezer to chill and fill cocktail shaker up with ice.
2. Pour in a 2 count of St. Germain, a 2 count of tonic water, and a 2 count of rose water.
   1. Optional: add in 1-2 drops of pink food coloring.
3. Cover cocktail shaker and shake well! Cocktail shaker should be cold to the touch.
4. Uncover and add in a 4 count of champagne/prosecco
5. Stir with a cocktail spoon (straw or butter knife if substituting).
6. Strain into chilled martini glass.
7. Garnish with fresh flowers.

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Strawberries and Cream Cocktail

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WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

• Vodka
• Strawberry Simple Syrup
• Sugar* (for strawberry simple syrup)
• 1 Container of Strawberries (for strawberry simple syrup)
• Dairy-Free Cream (I use the brand Silk)
• Grenadine
• 1 Packet of Sugar* (for rim)
• 1-2 Strawberries (to garnish)
• Chilled Martini Glass
• Cocktail Shaker + Strainer
• Ice

*You may substitute 1 packet of Splenda for a healthier option.

STRAWBERRY SIMPLE SYRUP DIRECTIONS:

1. The night before making this cocktail, take about 1/2 of the strawberries out of the container.
2. Remove stem from strawberries and cut into thin slices.
3. In a saucepan, combine sliced strawberries, 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar.
   1. Splenda or any other artificial sweetener may be substituted for sugar.
4. Bring to a boil on stove, stirring frequently, until strawberries have softened and the liquid has turned a deep, dark red.
5. Strain simple syrup into a container or glass through a fine mesh strainer.
   1. Strawberries can either be discarded or stored in fridge to be used for something else, like yogurt.
6. Cover simple syrup and store in fridge overnight.

HOW-TO:

1. Place martini glass in freezer to chill beforehand. Fill up cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Pour in a 4 count of vodka, a 3 count of cream, and a 2 count of strawberry simple syrup.
3. Add in 1 drop of grenadine and shake well! Cocktail shaker should be cold to the touch.
4. Pour packet of sugar (Splenda if substituting) onto a plate, remove martini glass from freezer, wet rim, and dip into sugar.
5. Strain contents of cocktail shaker into glass.
6. Garnish with strawberry on rim.

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Blushing Pink Drink

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WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

• Vodka (I like Tito’s or Ketel One)
• St. Germain Liquer
• Strawberry Simple Syrup*
• Grapefruit Juice
• Seltzer
• 2 Thinly Sliced Strawberries
• Rocks Glass
• Cocktail Shaker + Strainer
• Ice
• Muddler (substitute fork or back of spoon)

*For strawberry simple syrup directions, see above.

HOW-TO:

1. Place 3-5 strawberry slices in cocktail shaker. Pour in a 3 count of vodka, a 2 count of St. Germain, and a 1 count of strawberry simple syrup. Muddle ingredients together, really making sure to press strawberry slices into liquid to infuse flavor.
2. Fill cocktail shaker up with ice.
3. Pour in a 3 count of grapefruit juice and a 3 count of seltzer.
4. Cover cocktail shaker and shake well! Cocktail shaker should be cold to the touch.
5. Pour all contents in shaker into rocks glass.
6. Optional: add in a few more strawberry slices.

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