Three cheers for long weekends and refreshing cocktails. Happy Fourth of July America - from the Van Gogh Vodka family to yours!

Whether you’re hitting the beach or heading to a back yard barbecue, add fireworks to your Fourth of July with red, white and blue cocktails featuring Van Gogh® Vodka. Party goers can paint the night red with the Pomegranate Sparkler, kick-back and relax while sipping on the Vodka Colada, or cool the summer heat with a Blueberry Citrus Twist.

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Today marks the official start of summer - my favorite season! Growing up a Florida beach bum, there was always one treat that signaled summer and squelched the heat. The snow cone. That sparkling mound of shaved ice soaked with sugary-sweet syrup that stained your tongue and caused brain freeze. It was perfection!

I still love the simplicity of the snow cone, but it deserves something with a bit more zing and a little less food coloring. And that something is VODKA! That’s right, I said vodka. My favorite is Van Gogh Acai-Blueberry Vodka poured over finely crushed ice, which makes a delicious purple “Gogh Cone.” Who knew you could improve on perfection?!

Cheers!
Shelley

Pomegranate Freeze
2 ounces Van Gogh Pomegranate Vodka
2 ounces Pineapple Juice
3-4 drops of Cherry Syrup
Pour over crushed ice

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Dads: this weekend is your opportunity to take a break from your fatherly duties and sit back, relax and enjoy a cocktail designed just for you. So keep the lawn mower in the garage, let the kids take out the trash and put the BlackBerry on mute - kick up your heels in the recliner and pour yourself a cold one - a chilled vodka drink of course. Cheers!

Not Your Momma’s Java
3 ounces Van Gogh Double Espresso® Vodka served chilled, straight

Klassik GoghTini
1 ounce Van Gogh Vodka
1 ounce Van Gogh Gin
1/2 ounce Olive Brine

Masterpiece
2 ounces Van Gogh Dutch Chocolate Vodka
1/2 ounce Half and Half
1/2 ounce Creme de Cacao

Saturday marks the 140th anniversary of the Belmont Stakes and the much-anticipated final race of the Triple Crown championship. Of course everyone wants to know - will Big Brown break the 30-year streak since Affirmed won the three-race series in 1978? With just 10 horses scheduled to start, this final and most demanding leg of the series is sure to bring you to the edge of your seat! Whether celebrating this moment in American racing history at home or at your favorite race-day venue, Van Gogh Vodka will always create a winning cocktail.

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Tonight’s the night! Leave the babysitting to your husband, call a limo and grab your best girlfriends - Sex and the City (the movie, for those living in a time warp) has arrived! Celebrate the evening like the SATC ladies would, with a cocktail! Mix up the Sex and the City Crush, which features a medley of all things sexy: delicious, fresh flavors; beautiful colors; and a splash of sparkle and you’ll be ready for a fabulous evening on the town (or in the theater at least).

Cheers ladies!

Sex and the City Crush

2 ounces Van Gogh Acai-Blueberry Vodka
1/4 cup Mixed Berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and black berries)
1/2 ounce Fresh Lemon Juice
1/2 ounce Simple Syrup (or 1 teaspoon sugar)
1/2 fill with Cranberry Juice
1/2 fill with Club Soda

In a pint glass, muddle berries (mash berries until slightly bruised to release juices), lemon juice and simple syrup. Add ice, vodka and cranberry juice. Cover and shake vigorously for ten seconds. Add club soda and stir. Strain into martini glass or serve in pint glass with muddled fruit. Garnish with skewered berries and a lemon twist and enjoy!

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. (more…)

On Monday the Van Gogh Vodka team paid Ocean City, Maryland a quick visit to kick off the summer season and thank the city for supporting the brand. OC’s top bartenders, wait staff and bar/restaurant owners joined Van Gogh and Red Bull at Seacrets to taste a few of the new cocktails visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy while vacationing.

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May 30 might be a few days away, but the Sex and the City movie celebrations can begin this weekend. Grab your girlfriends, slide on your Manolo Blahniks, pour your favorite “sexy” cocktails and pop in a DVD of your favorite HBO episode(s). Drinks inspired by the women, the relationships and the fashion of this iconic story provide the perfect style as you catch up on the lives of Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte in anticipation of the season’s most-talked about film.

Capture the romantic wit of Carrie with “Bradshaw’s Bridal Party” and honor of the classic Cosmo made famous by the Sex and the City phenomenon. This fruit-infused version gives a nod to Carrie and her “impending” nuptials with Big.

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Toss out the tequila and set aside the beer - this Cinco de Mayo celebrate with flavor! Mix up the party with Latin-inspired cocktails and snacks and a splash of summer sizzle.

Pineapple Vodkarita (serve frozen or on the rocks)
1 1/2 ounces Van Gogh Pineapple Vodka
1/2 ounce Triple Sec
1/2 ounce Pineapple Juice
1/2 ounce Sweet and Sour
Splash of Fresh Lime Juice (more…)