While Memorial Day weekend serves as the official kick-off for summer, don’t forget to recognize the true meaning of the holiday by taking a moment to salute America’s active military members and veterans. We’ll be raising our glasses in honor of their dedication and sacrifice today.

Whether you are spending time with family and friends on the beach or in the back yard, this weekend provides the perfect opportunity to experiment with your favorite Van Gogh Vodka flavors. Mix up the menu with spiked Jell-O jigglers or vodka-marinated chicken wings - and don’t forget a refreshing cocktail to complete the long weekend.

JELL-O Jiggler Shots
1 1/4 cup of your favorite Van Gogh Vodka flavor
1 large box JELL-O any flavor
2 unflavored gelatin packets
1 1/4 cups boiling water

Mix JELL-O and unflavored gelatin in bowl and stir in 1 1/4 cups of boiling water. Allow gelatin mixture to cool slightly, then add vodka. Pour into pan and refrigerate until solidified. Cut into jigglers with cookie cutter (dip the cookie cutter in warm water to allow for easy cutting). To remove the shapes, simply dip bottom of pan in warm water.

Totally Tantalizing Wings
2 ounces Van Gogh Vodka
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 cup sugar
1 large bottle (15 ounces) soy sauce
1 cup orange juice
Chicken wings

Mix all ingredients together and marinate wings overnight. Bake chicken at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until completely cooked, turning at least once.

Tranquility of the Sea
1 ½ ounces Van Gogh Acai-Blueberry Vodka
½ ounce Blue Curacao
1 ½ ounces Pineapple Juice
1 ounce Lemon-Lime Soda

Orange Pineapple Cosmopolitan
1 ounce Van Gogh Oranje Vodka
1 ounce Van Gogh Pineapple Vodka
1/2 ounce Orange Liqueur
1/2 ounce Cranberry Juice

Garnish with orange and pineapple slices and a cherry.

Espresso Ice Cream Treat
Pour 2 ounces of Van Gogh Double Espresso Vodka over 2 scoops of your favorite ice cream. Top with hot fudge and whipped or your favorite topping.