Mixing it up: Ocean Spray style

Sizzling summer nights have been in full swing, and last Thursday night, specially invited guests were invited to cool down and indulge in a night under the stars, Ocean Spray-style.

The event, dubbed Mixing Amazing, saw Ocean Spray being used in a variety of innovative ways - Sangria and Madras floated through the air at The Courtyard at the Marriott, and all were more than happy to sip and savour.

For our palatable pleasure, we were treated to Ocean Spray's foundation ingredient - cranberry, in a wide variety of delectable dishes - cranberry and callaloo quiche, devilled harvest potatoes, smoked cranberry BBQ chicken sandwich, cherry berry BBQ chicken skewers, and for dessert, snowball clusters.

Ocean Spray's brand ambassador Yendi Phillipps hosted the evening's formal proceedings, in which guests were taken on a journey into the history of cranberry and Ocean Spray. With Jamaica being the largest consumer of Ocean Spray within the Caribbean, there was naturally a lot for us to celebrate.

As for the sipping spirits, the festivities featured five amazing cranberry mixes intent on exciting the taste buds - cranberry light sangria, cranberry

cosmopolitan, madras, cranberry mimosa and the non alcoholic drink of the night, cranberry kiss. All, but the sangria, were made from scratch by fellow Ocean Spray Ambassador Kaci Fennel, and seasoned bartender St. Aublyn 'Captain' Kidd, commentated by Phillips.

From there, it was drinks all around as those in attendance continued to mix and mingle.

Want to try these cranberry cocktails at home? Well, we have the recipe for you.

Cranberry Light Sangria

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients (Makes 24 -36 servings)

1 64-ounce bottle Ocean Spray Light Cranberry Juice Drink, chilled

1 (1.5 litre) bottle red wine, chilled

1/4 cup thawed frozen limeade concentrate

1 (1 litre) bottle club soda, chilled

Lime slices, garnish

Directions

Combine cranberry juice cocktail and red wine in a large pitcher or punch bowl. Add limeade concentrate, gently stir in soda just before serving. Garnish each serving with a lime slice.

To make ONE serving: Pour 1/2 cup Ocean Spray Light Cranberry Juice Cocktail, 1/2 cup red wine and 1 teaspoon limeade concentrate into a large wine glass. Add about 1/4 cup club soda, if desired.

Cranberry Cosmopolitan

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients

1 1/2 oz vodka

1 1/2 oz Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice Drink, any flavour, chilled

1/2 ounce fresh lime juice

Lime twist, garnish

Directions

In a cocktail shaker filled halfway with ice, combine all ingredients and shake well. Strain mixture into a chilled stemmed cocktail glass. Garnish with lime twist.

Makes 1 serving.

Madras

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients

3 oz Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice Cocktail, chilled

1 1/2 oz orange juice, chilled

1 1/2 oz vodka

Directions

Pour into a tall glass filled with ice.

Makes 1 serving.

Cranberry Mimosas

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients

1 oz orange liqueur

4 tsp fresh lemon juice

1 8.4- oz can Ocean Spray Sparkling Juice drink, any flavour, chilled

1 small strawberry, halved, garnish

Directions

Divide liqueur and lemon juice equally between 2 champagne flutes. Fill glasses with Sparkling Juice Drink. Garnish with strawberry, if desired.

Makes 2 servings.

Cranberry Kiss

Ingredients

6 ounces Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice Cocktail

1 oz orange juice

Club soda

Orange wedge, garnish

Directions:

Pour cranberry juice cocktail and orange juice into a glass with ice. Top with club soda. Garnish with orange wedge.

Makes 1 serving.