With today being St. Patrick’s Day there’s no doubt we’ll all be enjoying a libation.  And while some will be drinking Guinness and others Irish Whiskey, I’ll be partaking in my new favorite, The Tupelo Honey.  With a mix of honey bourbon and plenty of lime this beverage is sure to become one of the best southern cocktails around.  So cheers to the South, cheers to the Irish, and cheers to Mondays!  truly, MKR

Photograph Rustic White

Whether you’re enjoying Sunday brunch, tailgating with friends, or relaxing with a happy hour libation, there’s never a bad time for a Bloody Mary. And truth be told, I consider myself somewhat of a Bloody Mary aficionado.  In fact, I’ve been tweaking with my recipe for years!  Borrowing a little inspiration from the River Run Lodge in Sun Valley Idaho, to The Lantern in Lake Forest Illinois.  And after all this time, I finally feel like I’ve perfected it.  So without further ado, the best Bloody Mary recipe ever.  Ever.  Enjoy!  truly, MKR

P.S. if you find yourself lacking the desire to combine all the ingredients below I suggest just buying one of these bloody mary mixers, garnishing it with a celery stick, this and this, and calling it a day. Don’t worry, we won’t tell anybody it’s not homemade!

Photography Rustic White

I know I’m late to the game since yesterday was National Drink Wine Day, but for me you don’t need a national holiday to drink wine.  In my opinion every day should be national drink wine day!  So to honor that opinion I thought I’d roundup a list of my top wine and champagne choices.  And I’d love to hear in the comments section below if you have any wine that’s topping your love list right now?  Cin Cin Loves.  truly, MKR

P.S.  Make sure to check out my top 8 wines for summer!  

1.  Orin Swift The Prisoner.  Truth be told I’ve been drinking The Prisoner  since 2006 when I was introduced to it during a weekend away in Kohler Wisconsin.  Now, it’s become quite the hot commodity and was actually sold in 2009 to The Prisoner Wine Company.  Great for the masses so everyone can enjoy, but annoys the heck out of me when restaurants are charging $21 for a pour!  You can get the bottle at Costco for $35!  Anyway, I love everything Orin Swift does, especially Papillon, Palermo, & the elusive Mercury Head.  Oh and try his newer F, E, & I wines.  Amazing!

2.  Sancerre…all Sancerre.  Sancerre is a French Appalachian region in the eastern Loire Valley.  It’s my go-to warm weather wine.  Easily found, well priced, and there isn’t a Sancerre I don’t enjoy.  

3.  Darioush Cabernet Sauvignon.  On one of our trips to Napa we had the most magical experience at Darioush.  Spending hours in Darioush’s private collection cellar by candlelight, tasting all of the wines and noshing on cheese.  It was one of those magical lifetime memories. 

4.  Round Pond Sauvignon Blanc.  I’ve talked about this wine before, it is one of my absolute forever faves.  Actually we belong to their food and wine club as they also produce amazing olive oils and I highly suggest joining if you can.

5.  Veuve.  Obviously.

6.  Sancerre’s Rose.  I heart them so much they made the list twice.

7.  Silver Oak.  A deep and rich red with subtle hints of dark chocolate and cherries…this is the perfect wine for a steak dinner and my go to for the holiday season.

8.  Honig Sauvignon Blanc.  If you’re looking for me on a Monday night 9 times out of 10 I’m next door at Sushi Nami with the Mr. drinking 1 or 3 glasses of this.

9.  La Crema Pinot Noir.  This would probably be my “house wine” pinot noir.  It’s light, easy, and I can drink glasses of it.

10.  Perrier Jouet Rose Champs.  I can’t can’t get enough of these pink bubbles

11.  Erath Pinot Noir.  My current version of a “$2 buck chuck.”  And by that I mean a great wine, at a GREAT price.

12.  Alpha Omega Chardonnay.  Though I tend to be a light, crisp, sauvignon blanc white wine drinker I can’t get enough of this chardonnay and it’s rich buttery texture.  If there was a cold weather white this would be it.

13.  My other go-to’s not listed, Sunstone Eros, Chapellet (any red), Gamble Heart Block and their Cabernet Franc, Signorello Padrone, Duckhorn Paraduxx and Decoy…and I’m sure I’m forgetting numerous others.