The final cocktail from Flamingle 2026 is one that perfectly captures the spirit of a summer evening...bright, refreshing, colorful, and made for sipping with friends. Introducing the Sapphire Spritz, a vibrant blueberry-forward cocktail that brings together botanical gin, floral notes, refreshing tea, and a sparkling finish. Inspired by the beautiful blue hues of a tropical evening sky, this spritz combines the sweetness of blueberries with the elegant floral flavors of St-G

Some cocktails are made to be savored as the sun dips below the horizon. ✨🌇 That was the inspiration behind Sunset Soirée, one of three signature cocktails created exclusively for Flamingle 2026 at Charlotte's historic McNinch House Restaurant. Elegant, citrus-forward, and beautifully balanced, this cocktail captures the warmth and beauty of a summer sunset in every sip. 🦩 🍊 Bright Citrus Meets Sweet Peach Sunset Soirée begins with SUP Crush Orange Vodka, delivering vibran

Some cocktails transport you to another place with the very first sip. 🌴☀️ That was the inspiration behind The Flamingo Breeze, one of three signature cocktails created exclusively for Flamingle 2026 at Charlotte's historic McNinch House Restaurant. While the evening celebrated creativity, community, and handcrafted cocktails, this drink was designed to capture the feeling of relaxing on a tropical beach with friends. 🦩 🌺 Tropical Flavor in Every Sip The Flamingo Breeze co

There are cocktail events, and then there is Flamingle. On June 18, 2026, guests gathered at the historic McNinch House Restaurant in Charlotte, North Carolina, for the 4th Annual Flamingle…a one-of-a-kind experience that combined handcrafted drinks, local spirits, culinary excellence, and plenty of flamingo-inspired fun. This year's event embraced a new theme: showcasing the incredible distilleries and spirits being produced right here in North Carolina. Featuring a sele

Recently, while traveling from Palm Springs to San Diego, we decided to take the scenic route through Temecula and spend the day exploring a couple of wineries. It turned out to be one of the highlights of the trip! To kick off the morning, we stopped at Lindo’s Diner in Banning for breakfast. We had a fantastic meal, and I highly recommend the West Coast Omelet with bacon, avocado, tomato, and cheddar cheese. The food was delicious, the portions were generous, and the staff

Some drinks just feel like sunshine the second they hit your lips, and Lychee del Sol is exactly that. This one started as a simple idea: take the bold, earthy backbone of tequila, brighten it up with fresh lime, soften it with that smooth, floral lychee vibe, and finish it with a little sparkle. What came out of the shaker? Something dangerously easy to drink...the kind of cocktail that turns one round into three before you realize what happened. It’s light, it’s crisp, it’s

This drink started as a simple spring cocktail experiment and somehow turned into a full-on tropical optical illusion. Bright watermelon vodka meets pineapple juice and cranberry-watermelon juice for a fruity, refreshing base, then everything gets topped with crisp seltzer and a slow pour of Midori that creates a glowing green gradient effect that looks almost too cool to drink. Almost... The result is juicy, lightly bubbly, dangerously smooth, and built for warm weather, roo

While recently traveling to New York City, I made it a mission to explore a mix of tried-and-true favorites and new happy hour spots. The lineup included some repeat visits and a few first-timers...some good, a couple great, and all worth sharing. I’ll also sprinkle in a few standout dining experiences from the trip. 🍸Happy Hour #1: Paris Bar This was easily one of the highlights. From the moment we walked in, the hospitality stood out...friendly staff, comfortable seating,

Light, bubbly, and made for slow, sun-soaked sips There’s something about watermelon and bubbles that just feels like a vibe. The Sparkling Watermelon Daydream is exactly what it sounds like...bright, refreshing, slightly floral, and effortlessly elegant. It’s the kind of cocktail you pour when brunch turns into afternoon lounging, when the music is just right, and nobody’s in a hurry to leave. This one leans into juicy watermelon notes, a crisp cranberry twist, and a delica

There are two kinds of Easter people: the ones hunting eggs...and the ones hunting cocktails. This year, we’re doing both, but with a glass in hand. The Peep Show Martini: Easter Edition is exactly what spring should taste like. Bright, playful, a little nostalgic, and just indulgent enough to feel like you’re sneaking candy before brunch. It’s inspired by those colorful Easter baskets...juicy strawberries, soft citrus, a hint of peach sweetness, and finished with a refreshi

Sometimes the best cocktails aren’t planned...they just happen. The Mile High Mixer is exactly that: a simple, refreshing in-flight creation that proves you don’t need a full bar to make something worth sipping. After a little time away on vacation, inspiration decided to show up somewhere unexpected...mid-flight, 35,000 feet in the air. With limited options from the drink cart, it became a fun challenge to turn a few basic ingredients into something elevated. This cocktail i

Sometimes the best cocktails taste like a celebration in a glass. The Orchard Party Spritz is exactly that...a refreshing, fruit-forward drink that combines vibrant citrus, juicy peach, tart cranberry, and sparkling bubbles. It’s colorful, easy to make, and perfect for casual sipping or entertaining friends. This cocktail is built around Cathead Distillery Satsuma Mandarin Vodka , which longtime fans may recognize by its former name: Bitter Orange Vodka. The spirit hasn’t cha

Bright, Floral, and Just a Little Dangerous Spring is right around the corner, and you can feel it in the air...longer days, golden sunsets, and that subtle shift from heavy winter pours to something lighter, fresher, and a bit more playful. Enter: The Mandarin Mischief Martini. This cocktail is sunshine with a wink. It’s vibrant citrus layered with tart cranberry, softened by delicate elderflower, and finished with a crisp squeeze of lemon. It looks flirty, drinks smooth, an

The Valentine’s Cocktail That’s Sweet, Sophisticated, and a Little Flirty If Flirtini Blush is the classic pink flirt, then Love You Lychee is the sophisticated wink. 🍸💘 This Valentine’s Day, I wanted a cocktail that felt connected to Flirtini Blush...same pink, same flirty energy...but with a twist: exotic lychee, bright raspberry, and a little citrus zing. The result? A cocktail that’s romantic, refreshing, and impossible not to adore. Start with a shaker full of ice 2o

A Valentine’s Cocktail That Knows How to Flirt Some cocktails whisper. Flirtini Blush winks. This gorgeous pink stunner was created for Valentine’s Day, but honestly? It’s too good to be limited to just one holiday. With soft berry notes, a touch of peachy-cranberry brightness, and a bubbly finish, this martini-style cocktail is sweet, flirty, and dangerously easy to fall in love with. Whether you’re celebrating with a special someone, hosting a Galentine’s party, or just tr

(Serve it Hot or Cold) Some cocktails are born from careful planning.Others come together because it’s cold outside, the juice aisle delivers a surprise, and the rum shelf is calling your name. This one is the latter, and honestly, that’s where the best drinks live. Cayman Carolinas Apple Rum Punch brings together the warming spice of BetterGoods Cinnamon Apple & Ginger Juice with two standout rums from very different places: a rich dark rum from Grand Cayman and a spiced ru

When winter storms roll into the Southeast, we all know the drill: panic grocery runs, dramatic forecasts, and a collective realization that bread and milk alone won’t get us through it. Enter the Cold Front Refresher ...a fruity, aromatic cocktail designed to take the edge off the cold while keeping things bright, balanced, and dangerously sippable. This is not a heavy, fireplace-only winter drink. Instead, it’s a reminder that even during freezing temps and icy forecasts, y

There’s a very specific kind of weekend energy that lives at the intersection of Canadian cottage country, unresolved tension, and Heated Rivalry ’s most infamous turning point. If you know, you know. Episode six energy. The kind where the chirping softens, the air goes quiet, and suddenly their hand lands on your inner thigh. Cottage Puck Weekend is the drink you pour when the bags are dropped by the door, skates are metaphorically hung up, and the lake is glassy enough to

A Light, Citrus Spritz for a New Day, New Sip The confetti has settled, the countdown has passed, and the calendar has officially turned. New Year’s Day calls for something different...less loud, more refreshing. Enter The Reset Refresher , a bright, easygoing cocktail designed for slow mornings, fresh starts, and a gentle return to sipping. This isn’t a drink for staying up late. It’s a drink for easing back in. With crisp orange vodka as the base, a splash of cranberry juic

There’s something magical about that moment when the season slows just enough to savor it, twinkling lights, cozy gatherings, and a cocktail that feels like a warm holiday hug with a bright, festive twist. The Mulled Berry Sleigh Ride is exactly that kind of drink: fruit-forward, gently spiced, and unapologetically merry. This cocktail blends juicy raspberry vodka with warming ginger liqueur, mulled blackberry pear juice, and fresh lemon for balance. The result is rich yet...