We are in the midst of football season and everyone knows that come game day, there’s a lot more to it than throwing on your favorite jersey, inviting friends over and cheering on your home team. A proper football fête requires great drinks and good food. Want a winning game plan but don’t know where to begin? Take a knee – The Bar is here to help.
Easy Sipping with Game Day Cocktail Bundles
Step up your hosting with the Game Day Cocktail Bundles. Choose between the Tequila Touchdown Cocktail Bundle and the Whiskey Kick Cocktail Bundle – or both to offer some variety to your fellow fans. Each bundle serves up to 16 cocktails and comes packed with everything needed to create 3 different cocktails fully curated for you – right down to the coasters.
But what’s football without food? We paired these 6 premium cocktails with classic bites that are all in good taste. Very good taste.
Tequila Touchdown Pairings
Classic Margarita + Sheet Pan Nachos with Shredded Chicken
This sweet and citrusy drink staple meets a spicy and savory snack in the perfect marriage of Mexican flavors. Customize with your favorite toppings – then drink up and dig in.
Classic Margarita Recipe
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz. Tequila
- 1 oz. Lime Juice
- 0.75 oz. Orange Liqueur
- 0.5 oz. Honey Syrup*
- Lime Wedge Garnish
Instructions
- Combine tequila, lime juice, orange liqueur and honey syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Shake vigorously and strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice.
- Garnish with a lime wedge. Serves 1.
*Honey Syrup: Pour 2 tbsp honey and 1 tbsp hot water into a mixing glass. Stir continuously for 60 seconds until the honey is dissolved.
Spicy Paloma + Buffalo Chicken Wings
This fizzy, grapefruit-forward concoction – also the national cocktail of Mexico – gets its kick from the addition of jalapeño. Its citrus sweetness blends well with the tang and spice of this classic game day dish.
Spicy Paloma Recipe
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz. Tequila
- 1 oz. Grapefruit Juice
- 0.5 oz. Lime Juice
- 0.5 oz. Rich Jalapeno Syrup*
- Sparkling Water
- Lime Wedge Garnish
- Grapefruit Slice Garnish
Instructions
- Combine tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice and rich jalapeño syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Shake vigorously and strain into a highball glass with fresh ice.
- Top with sparkling water and garnish with a lime wedge or a grapefruit slice. Serves 1.
*Rich Jalapeno Syrup: Dice 3 jalapeños and place in a quart sized container with 1 ½ cups water. Let the mixture infuse for 15 minutes then strain jalapeños out. Add 2 ½ cups sugar and stir until dissolved. Good for 3 months.
Mole Margarita + Jalapeño Poppers
A riff on a classic, the Mole Margarita has a complex smokey undertone that complements any cheesy Mexican recipe. But our Hail Mary is a platter of satisfying baked cheese-stuffed jalapeño bites.
Mole Margarita Recipe
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz. Tequila
- 0.75 oz. Lime Juice
- 0.25 oz. Spiced Demerara Syrup*
- 2 Dashes Mole Bitters
- Lime Wheel Garnish
- Cinnamon Stick Garnish
Instructions
- Combine tequila, lime juice, rich spiced demerara syrup and 2 dashes mole bitters in a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Shake vigorously and strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice.
- Garnish with a lime wheel and a cinnamon stick. Serves 1.
*Rich Spiced Demerara Syrup: In a medium pot, heat 35 cinnamon sticks, 2 tsp black peppercorn, 1 tsp green cardamom and 1 tsp star anise until toasted, about 5 minutes. Add 3 cups sugar and 1 ½ cups water, allowing the mixture to heat for 10-15 minutes until the sugar is dissolved, stirring occasionally to prevent caking. Remove from heat and let infuse for 90 minutes. Strain spices and transfer syrup to a quart sized container. Good for 3 months.
Whiskey Kick Pairings
Chai Whiskey Sour + Baked Brie
The richness and depth of chai spice captures the flavors of fall in this seasonal riff on the classic whiskey sour. A standout on its own, the cocktail matches easily with the mild, earthy taste of a creamy round of baked brie.
Chai Whiskey Sour Recipe
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz. Whiskey
- 0.5 oz. Pear Juice
- 0.5 oz. Lime Juice
- 0.5 oz. Rich Chai Syrup*
- 2 Dashes Aromatic Bitters
- Pear Slice Garnish
Instructions
- Combine whiskey, pear juice, lime juice, rich chai syrup and aromatic bitters in a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Shake vigorously and strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice.
- Garnish with a pear slice. Serves 1.
*Rich Chai Syrup: In a medium pot, heat 2 ½ cups sugar, 1 ½ cups water and 4 chai tea bags for 15 minutes until the sugar dissolves, stirring occasionally to prevent caking. Remove from heat and let cool for 90 minutes. Remove your tea bags and transfer to a quart sized container. Good for 3 months.
Pear Highball + Bacon-Wrapped Dates
Delicately fruity with a hint of smoke, this cocktail finds its match in irresistibly sweet and salty bacon-wrapped dates. They’re ridiculously simple to make, but a total touchdown for the tastebuds.
Pear Highball Recipe
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz. Whiskey
- 0.5 oz. Lemon Juice
- 0.5 oz. Pear Juice
- 2 oz. Sparkling Water
- 2 Dashes Walnut Bitters
- Pear Slice Garnish
Instructions
- Combine whiskey, lemon juice, pear juice and walnut bitters in a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Shake vigorously and strain into a highball glass with fresh ice.
- Top with sparkling water and garnish with a pear slice. Serves 1.
Maple Old Fashioned + Spiced Pecans
As the weather gets colder, you may be dreaming of roasted chestnuts. But they have nothing on spiced pecans. The native Southern nut draws out bourbon’s complex flavors, while the spicy-sweet seasoning compliments the citrus notes. Not to mention they’re hassle-free – pick up a bag at the store and throw them in a bowl for an easy crowd-pleasing snack.
Maple Old Fashioned Recipe
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz. Whiskey
- 0.5 oz. Maple Syrup
- 2 Dashes Aromatic Bitters
- Orange Twist Garnish
- Cherry Garnish
Instructions
- Combine whiskey, maple syrup and aromatic bitters in a cocktail shaker or mixing glass with ice.
- Stir and strain into a rocks glass with a single large ice cube.
- Garnish with an orange twist and a cherry. Serves 1.
Check out The Bar for even more cocktail kits that will get your party guests cheering from the stands.
This article is sponsored by The Bar.
