You don’t have to be a bartender to mix these two simple rose cocktails that combine the heady floral taste of soft rose petals, the delicate scent of Elderflowers, citrus and spirits. Note: I received product for this post, but all opinions are and always will be my own. 

“Here’s to alcohol, the rose colored glasses of life.”
― F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Beautiful and Damned

What if there were a pair of rose-colored glasses with the strength of the official solar eclipse glasses? One click on Amazon, and all the good in the world would be delivered to your door (in two days or less if you’re the Prime sort!). Once in place, these glasses would paint the world with that golden hour hue, somehow casting a warm glow on the skin. The experience would induce the best sort of goosebumps, the sort that emerge when watching the most earnest of marriage vows, or staring into a natural wonder. Life would be beautiful, emotions would be evenly keeled, and there’d be a floral fragrance just for extra kicks. If only… 

But alas, lately, tear-stained glasses seem easier to come by. One look at a lonely dog perched on a car amidst the damage of Hurricane Harvey, tail so thoroughly tucked between his legs, and I’m a f$#king MESS (I’m donating through this organization in hopes they save as many fur friends as possible)!  Seeing the elderly looking more helpless than ever… tear-stained glasses. Hearing people deny the effects we have made on our environment… tear-stained glasses. The world is so readily at our fingertips, which is at once beautiful and devastating.  

By no means do I suggest alcohol as a means of escape… that’s a dangerous path to take. However, I offer these rose cocktail variations as a chance to sip from a rose-colored glass and to metaphorically don rose-colored glasses. Let’s take but a moment to skip the thorns and revel in something lovely. 

Rosy Moments for Rose Cocktails

I’m an Aunt again. This big brother and this big sister have a new littler sister, and she’s named for two powerful Grandmas, ladies who spoke their minds and left such strong legacies. 

Regal Collars is live! These “historical” narratives and expressive dog faces offer a much needed break from present day. Plus, Julep makes several cameos, as she is the muse that started it all. 

I went to Superior Motors for a belated celebration of the Urban Farmer’s 32nd year of life, and the food was a divine celebration of the local harvest. Everything Chef Kevin Sousa set out to do is in action and worth the trip. 

When your friend gushes about the work of her significant other, someone who seeks a world where all are loved and accepted as they are… well, that’s pretty rosy! (And that floral ensemble is pretty rosy too for that matter)

When a deserving friend, the most loyal of friends, lands a job at a place she likes, where she excels, and where she happens to discover/sling Rose Vodka, well that, my friends, is pretty damn rosy. 

So let’s toast, and let’s toast two ways!

Rose on Rose Vodka Cocktail

Drizzle local honey around the rim of a coupe glass. Dip the rim in Dried Rose Hips to create a rose rim. Pour 2 oz *Thistle Finch Rose Vodka over ice. Top with a splash of Belvoir Rose & Elderflower Lemonade. Garnish with a lemon slice and a sprig of rosemary.

*Note: For my Pittsburgh friends, you can buy Thistle Finch Rose Vodka at Pennyslvania Libations in the historical Strip District, and Belvoir Fruit Lemonades are sold at most grocery stores, including Whole Foods. Rose Hips are available at one of my favorites- the East End Food Coop. 

Like roses themselves, this cocktail somehow looks even prettier as it withers… 

Next up… Bubbly Rose Cocktails
 

These bubbly rose cocktails are perfect for brunch or served at a cocktail hour paired with a cheeseboard. The brut champagne balances the sweetness of the Rose & Elderflower Lemonade, and the faint pink makes the bubbly feel even fancier. 

The Rose Rosé Mimosa

Combine equal parts chilled Belvoir Rose & Elderflower Lemonade and Brut Rosé Champagne in a fluted glass. Serve and enjoy! 

Cheers, my friends! What positivity are you clinging to these days? Leave some good vibes below, so we can all wear rose-colored glasses for just a little longer.