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Raise a glass to pink hour with the Sunset Serenade cocktail

A proper drink to honor another planetary rotation with

By Mark Stock Jan 14, 2026 9:09 AM

Sunset Serenade cocktail. — Middle West Spirits

Fitting that this time of year, in a lot of places, happy hour coincides with the sunset. That’s means for a good drink, whether you’re shuffling through the Dry January recipes or looking for something more traditional. Perhaps it’s cold and gray where you are and you simply want to craft something in a glass that looks like a sunset.

Here’s a drink that catches the eye. It may not be quite as radiant as a Blue Hawaiian cocktail, but it’s a looker and reminds a lot of a setting sun. Best, it’s a balanced drink you’ll want to make several times over.

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Note that this one incorporates a bit of sparkling wine. If you’re looking for a lower-proof option, try an NA bottle of bubbles. Regardless, don’t go with an expensive Champagne bottle. Standard issue, middle-of-the-road sparkling does just fine here.

The following utilizes a great flavored vodka from Middle West Spirits in Ohio. Read on for the full recipe.

Sunset Serenade

Combining vodka, Aperol, tropical fruit, citrus, and sparkling wine, this is a recipe worthy of a beautiful sunset, whether you’re vacationing on the beach or just in your backyard.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 ounces OYO Stone Fruit Vodka
1/4 ounce Aperol
1/2 ounce pineapple juice
1/2 ounce lemon juice
1/4 ounce simple syrup
Sparkling wine
Maraschino cherry and pineapple slice for garnish

Method:

Add all ingredients except sparkling wine to a shaker tin and shake vigorously until well chilled.
Double strain into Champagne flute and top with sparkling wine.
Garnish with maraschino cherry and pineapple slice.

Mark Stock is a writer from Portland, Oregon. He fell into wine during the Recession and has been fixated on the stuff since… Read Full Bio

Tequila vs. vodka: Exploring the key differences between two popular spirits

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I’ve been writing about spirits for almost two decades. I’ve learned the ins and outs of every popular hard alcohol. But if you’re new to the spirits world, you might not know the differences between tequila and vodka. Tequila vs. vodka –this is especially true when both are unaged. In appearance alone, the two spirits look remarkably similar. When made with high-quality ingredients, distilled multiple times, and filtered a handful of times, both tequila and vodka are crystal clear. There aren’t any noticeable differences. The same could be said for a bottle of gin or a glass of tap water.

Once you take a whiff, the differences begin to reveal themselves. Unaged (or blanco) tequila carries aromas like vegetal sweetness, cooked agave, vanilla, and cracked black pepper. Vodka has different aromas based on its main ingredient (wheat, rye, corn, potatoes, or something else), but you can bet you find scents of neutral ethanol, minerality, vanilla, cracked black pepper, and even citrus peels.

The liquor gift guide for the man who has spirit in your life

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The holidays are some of our favorite times of the year. It is all about the parties and the get-togethers that bring everyone in your circle to the same place for celebration, no matter what your background is. That also means you have to spend significantly more time with people. And, if you are like me, most of these parties get a little too peopley for me, causing me to need a bit of liquid social lubricant. Whether you are like me, or you know someone like me, spirits are a great way to show someone in your life you care. So, here are our favorite gifts for the man in your life with spirit.

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Cazcanes’ new 108-proof extra añejo is about as strong as tequila legally gets

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There’s high-proof tequila, and then there’s tequila that’s up against the legal limit.

If you’re a fan of the latter, you’ll be thrilled with the new Extra Añejo No. 10 Tributo Edition from Los Angeles-based Cazcanes, a 108-proof, or 54% ABV, extra añejo celebrating 10 years since the brand’s first batch was distilled.