Get excited, basketball fans. March Madness officially gets underway this weekend with Selection Sunday before tipping off on Tuesday.
Whether you’ve got a dog in the fight or just love to watch the bumpy road to the Final Four, the madness goes down smoother with a drink in hand. So we caught up with the pros at Colonial Wines & Spirits to get a few fun themed cocktail ideas for your next watch party.
Credit: Colonial Wines & Spirits
The Sixth Man
Yield: 6 (make ahead and thoroughly chill)
Ingredients:
- 3 cups tomato juice (fresh tomatoes recommended)
- 3 tbsp. lemon juice
- 3 tbsp. lime juice
- 1 tbsp. horseradish (adjust to taste)
- 1 1/2 tbsp. Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
- 3/4 tsp. celery salt
- 3/4 tsp. Tabasco Sauce
- 1/2 tsp. coarse ground black pepper
- 1/3 cup olive brine
- Tito’s Vodka
Directions:
Blend together tomato juice, lemon juice, lime juice, horseradish, Lea & Perrins, garlic powder, olive juice and hot sauce and process until smooth. Pour into glass pitcher. Add celery salt and black pepper, adjusting to taste. Fill glasses with ice and add vodka (add about an ounce). Top off with your bloody mary mixture, stir and garnish.
Pro tip: Get creative with your garnish. Don’t just add a celery stick. Add pickled green beans and okra, a crispy slice of bacon, a boiled shrimp or crawfish tail and a lemon or lime wedge.
Credit: Colonial Wines & Spirits
The Breakaway
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 oz. Rock Town Grapefruit Vodka
- 2 oz. lemonade
- 2 oz. ginger ale
- 1 oz. cranberry juice
Directions:
Combine Rock Town Grapefruit Vodka, lemonade and cranberry juice in a collins glass. Add ice, stir and finish with ginger ale.
Credit: Colonial Wines & Spirits
Hometown Hero
Ingredients:
- 4 oz. Hornitos Blanco or Reposado Tequila
- 2 oz. Cointreau
- 1 tbsp. coarse salt
- 1 1/2 oz. fresh lime juice from 2 limes
Directions:
Run lime wedge around rims of rocks glasses, then dip the glasses in salt and set aside. In a cocktail shaker, combine lime juice, Cointreau, tequila and ice. Shake ingredients and strain into glasses over fresh ice. Garnish with lime wheels.
Credit: Colonial Wines & Spirits
Bracket Buster Punch
Yield: 12-14
Ingredients:
- 2 cups silver tequila
- 1 cup orange liqueur
- 1/2 gallon orange sherbet
- 2 liters ginger ale
- 6 oz. frozen orange juice concentrate
- orange slices for garnish
Directions:
Place the orange sherbet and frozen orange juice concentrate in a large punch bowl and allow to thaw for about 10-15 minutes. Once thawed, stir in the ginger ale, tequila and orange liqueur. Garnish glass with an orange slice.
Find more recommendations and recipes on the Colonial Wines & Spirits website.