BEYOND THE OVEN: PINNACLE COCKTAIL CLUB EVENT
Hey guys! I don’t have a recipe for you today but I wanted to share with you some exciting news! I’ve teamed up with Pinnacle Vodka over the next three months to showcase the use of Pinnacle Vodka in hosting parties for your summer celebrations, soirées and much more! I am not sure if it’s my clear love for cocktails or my illusion of fabulousness (yes that’s a word), but I was so psyched to be included among the wonderful group of bloggers in the Pinnacle Cocktail Club!
I am a fruity cocktail kind of gal when I drink, which is not really often. You won’t find me drinking beer (yuck!) or taking shots (double yuck), but I’ll be enjoying one or two fruity cocktails on social celebrations. Don’t hate, I am a SATC generation addict! Pass me a cosmo or mojito and my night is set. So imagine how excited I was when just last week, I was whisked away by the wonderful folks of Glam and Pinnacle Vodka to an exclusive member-only kickoff event in NYC where we learned everything about vodka and cocktails. I mean from how to elegantly taste and sniff fine vodka to the tricks of making the perfect cocktail. You know I had to share this with you!!
At the event, we had the opportunity to learn from a master mixologist (Brian Van Flandern) who shared with us the secrets behind the perfect cocktail. We tasted 5 of the 42 flavors that Pinnacle Vodka makes. Each flavor was displayed around a themed dessert table (Guess which one was my favorites? Of course the one with the macarons!).
As an amateur in mixing drinks, I was very excited to dabble in making my own cocktails. Throughout the night, we were paired in groups and went around different tables with ingredients set out for us to make our own cocktails. We made several cocktails from the Pinnacle Vodka recipe collection. One of my favorites from the night was the “Paris Escape” cocktail which is a fruity raspberry and pineapple mix cocktail. One cool thing I learned about mixing cocktails is that the key to the perfect cocktail is a balance between acid, sugar and alcohol. You want to make sure you know what is the source of acid in your recipe. Where is the sugar coming from? Of course the alcohol part is easy. I felt like I was in Organic Chemistry lab all over again especially when I lit an orange peel on fire for added flavor over a cocktail.
The best part of the event, other than all the cocktail sampling, was meeting and interacting with other bloggers. Being a small intimate group, I was able to meet and get to know a few wonderful ladies. I paired up with Sayeh, the Office Stylist, and her friend for our cocktail making escapades. They were amazing girls to spend the evening with.
Over the next few months, I’ll be featuring a Summer Cocktail series and ways you can host your own party with some of my favorite cocktails. I am so excited for this series. I have so many creative ideas, thanks to this event for kick-starting that. If you don’t already follow me on Instagram, I would love for you to as I will be sharing my #PinnacleCocktailClub moments over there!
Event pictures by Gary Santana of GDS Arts
Pinnacle Vodka shakes things up with unexpected experiences and delightful discoveries. Explore with other fun flavors at https://www.pinnaclevodka.com. Check us out at www.facebook.com/pinnaclevodkas or find more fun entertaining and drink ideas on our Pinterest page at https://www.pinterest.com/pinnaclevodka
Wow congrats! Sounds like a fun time! Can’t wait to see what you bring us over the next few months!
Thanks Nancy!! It was really fun 🙂
A summer cocktail series sounds right up my alley, Zainab! I can’t wait to try all your delicious, creative flavor combinations. 🙂 Looks like the event was a blast!
Thank you Georgia!!
This sounds so fun and I cannot wait to see what you come up with!
This is so cool, Zainab! I would love to be in a cocktail club, haha! Can’t wait to see the things you come up with. 🙂
Thanks Beth!! You can definitely join my club 🙂
Can’t wait to follow you with this series, I need some inspiration when it comes to drinks. I don’t drink much but I am the same way, never too much, love them sweet, especially for summer. Looking forward to reading more! Have a great weekend!
What a wonderful experience for you! You look just beautiful, and you look like you’re having such a great time. Can’t wait to see what the mixologist in you brings us! 🙂
Turn down for what, Zainab! LOL (Ok I’m laughing way too hard right now!)
I’m with you, fruity drinks all the way. I really don’t drink much at all, despite being in a family pretty much obsessed with craft cocktails. However, I’ve been known to throw back a cucumber gin gimlet or fresh fruit martini every once in a while. Then the pants come flying off and I’m running around a party in my underwear screaming Lady Gaga lyrics at the top of my lungs…. but hey, that’s another story.
I’m so excited to see what this partnership brings!
Looks like you had a great time! I am looking forward to the posts!
Awesome photos – it looks like it was a blast 🙂 Yay, can’t wait to see all the cocktails! Happy Friday and hope you have a great weekend Zainab 🙂
I’m still stuck on the fact that you were in NYC and I didn’t even know!!
Also, vodka. So excited to see what you whip up with it!
I know… I wish I wasn’t there for 6hrs only. I promise next time 🙂 I can’t wait to meet you!
Cool! I wouldn’t have a clue how to make any cocktail (I probably shouldn’t admit that … oh well!) so I’ll be looking forward to your tips! 😉
What a fabulous night!! Very glamorous! I cannot wait to hear about your creations.
This is awesome news! So proud and excited for you! Can’t wait to see what you do with them!
Thanks girl!!
I love making cocktails- looks like you had an amazing time! Looking forward to your amazing cocktail creations now- perfect timing for the Summer! 🙂
Thanks Jessica!
Congratulations on this amazing partnership, Zainab! Booze is the best! I can’t wait to see what delicious cocktails you whip up for us.
How fun!!! I can’t wait to see what delicious cocktails you’ll be whipping up with Pinnacle Vodka! 😀
Thanks Allie!! PS; I feel like it’s been ages since we talked. I need to fix that ASAP!
I know- I feel that way too, and I miss you! But don’t feel bad, I know how busy you are and it’s ok. I’ll still be here when things settle down for you 😉
That’s so great, Zainab! What a fun event!
Thanks Rachel!
This looked like a lot of fun! I wasn’t surprised to see that you liked the macaron-flavored vodka. You and those macs… One of these days I’m gonna drag you to my place to show me how, lol. Looking forward to seeing more of these Beyond the Oven type posts. Love knowing real-life events!
I would love that!! Baking with you will be fun. Why not get our June dates solidified?? Maybe we can have a baking afternoon on that weekend. #bloggingbffNYCtrip (just putting that out there lol!)
What a fun night, Zainab! That pink cocktail in one of the collages above looks GREAT!
JULIE, you called my next cocktail!!It’s coming up a week or so!
Super exciting! Congrats!!! I love seeing all these photos. 🙂
Zainab, I loved how you shared with us about being here on IG… looked like it was such a blast! What a fun post… and party!
Zainab! how fun!!! I love a good cocktail. . and hey, I love SATC too. . I’m sure that show drove up the demand for cosmos for sure! Can’t wait to read more over the next few months! Cheers!
Fun post Zainab! I’ll be looking forward to some tasty drinks – wink wink I love Cosmos!