We talk a lot about sexy FOOD here at Swigs and Grinds, but today we raise a glass to the almighty SEXY BEVERAGE.

It’s a strange time where you are either quarantining at home and working in your pajamas or perhaps still leaving home every day to do essential jobs for which we are all so grateful. Either way, whether it’s a cocktail or a mocktail, you deserve a damn sexy beverage.

We love dining out at a restaurant or getting a beverage from our favorite watering hole because of those little extra sexy touches. A chilled beer mug, a sugared rim, a beautiful garnish, creativity, a proper glass: it’s not like I haven't had a Wonder Woman coffee cup full of a lovely cabernet recently, but now more than ever, I realize it’s important to treat myself the way I would treat one of my customers and make it sexy sometimes, even when it’s just a happy hour for 1.

I have a lovely little tree in my yard that produces very ugly citrus and two things are currently happening: It’s going off, and vitamin C also happens to be all the rage right now. Also, my rosemary bush is flowering. Tiny light lavender rosemary scented blossoms. Also, I was recently gifted a bottle of Fee Brothers Toasted Almond Bitters, so…. when life gives you ugly citrus, almond bitters and flowering rosemary, make yourself a Quarantini.

When life gives you Fee Brothers Toasted Almond Bitters, Ugly Citrus & Rosemary Flowers….

First of all, this bitters. It tastes like an intense almond extract and brings a floral, nutty sweetness to whatever you add it to. A family business since 1864, Fee Brothers has been creating boozy sidekicks for almost 150 years. They obviously know their shit. After doing a little research on what other concoctions they might carry, I discovered that Ellen and Joe Fee are fourth generation operators of this family business, are now up to nearly 100 different products, and I can’t wait to try more.

One of those extra touches we often forgo at home is the simple touch of a sugared or salted rim and a quick but beautiful garnish. For this one, some finely chopped rosemary mixed with sugar, a swipe of the rim with an orange wedge, a dip in the sugar and a blossoming sprig of rosemary turns this cocktail up a notch.

For this Toasted Almond Rosemary Quarantini:

Shake together 2 oz. spiced rum
Fresh squeezed orange juice
Iced Jasmine Tea
4-6 shakes of Almond Bitters
1 Tablespoon local honey
Pour into rosemary-sugar rimmed glass filled with ice and garnish with orange slice and fresh rosemary
Next, congratulate yourself on making it through another day of quarantine, put your feet up and enjoy.

Cheers to you wherever you are during this brave new world. May you stay safe, healthy, and well fed.