If October is pumpkin season is December peppermint season?
When I first saw this peppermint martini mix from Brothers Reserve at Total Wine my first thought was - how is this different than just adding a splash of peppermint schnapps to your cocktail. So obviously I had to buy it to find out.
One thing I love about this new trend of craft cocktail mixes is how versatile they are. Several brands, including Brothers Reserve, give you multiple cocktail recipe ideas right on the bottle. This label included one with peppermint schnapps even. So double peppermint? Here are the two options listed on the bottle:
Peppermint Martini
3 oz vodka + 4 oz mix
Candy Cane Martini
3 oz vanilla vodka + 2 oz peppermint schnapps + 4 oz mix
Shake with ice, garnish glass with crushed candy cane pieces and enjoy
It is super handy to have these recipes right on the bottle so you can pick up extra ingredients while you are still at the store. One thing that I wished this Brothers Reserve cocktail mix did include was big batch recipes. I've seen other cocktail mixes include a recipe that uses the whole bottle of mix plus booze so you can easily serve a crowd. Yes, I know I could do that math and figure out how many ounces of vodka to add for the whole bottle but it's math and I'd rather see it listed on the bottle because I'm lazy.
One thing I'm not lazy about is my cocktail imagination. Here are a couple of my own cocktail recipes using this mix that I dreamed up while still at the store. Doesn't a warm cocktail sound so inviting in the winter?
Peppermint Irish Coffee
Add 3 oz vanilla vodka + 2 oz peppermint schnapps + 4 oz mix to 12 oz of coffee
Boozy Peppermint Hot Chocolate
3 oz vanilla vodka + 2 oz peppermint schnapps + 4 oz mix + 8 oz hot chocolate
Now that I have lots of options in mind for this mix, it's time to try the thing. For research purposes I tried just the mix straight and with vodka added.
Here is my official review of the Brothers Reserve Peppermint Martini mix:
This is a down right tasty cocktail mix! It is super peppermint-y and just the right amount of sweet. I liked the mix alone and can definitely see adding this to coffee or hot chocolate minus the booze for a peppermint kick.
The peppermint martini recipe listed on the bottle is also delicious! This mix makes it super easy to whip up a fancy martini for girls night or a small holiday party. I put the mix, vodka and ice into my cocktail shaker and channeled my inner hipster bartender to gave it a good shake. Sadly, I don't have bartender flair so my pour was nothing special. But the cocktail itself rivaled any fancy bar. I'll be have lots of peppermint martinis this winter!
One shaker = not sweet at all // Five shakers = your teeth may curl
This mix has a great amount of sweetness to it. It is not over the top but it is definitely sweet enough to make you feel like you are indulging in something extra special.
Since this is just a cocktail mix the boozy level is totally up to you - which is great! You do you girl!
Would I buy these again?
Yes, I really liked this cocktail mix. My one concern is that I found it on the clearance section at Total Wine and I haven't been able to find it online. Which is a major bummer because I really want you to be able to try it and I'd like to grab another bottle to get me through the winter. If you happen to find it anywhere please let me know in the comments or DM me on the Gram.
Have you tried this drink? What did you think? I'd love to hear from you in the comments section. The more opinions the better! Let's "drink together" and share our cocktail stories.
