Wilks & Wilson’s hand-crafted, organic infused and all natural elixirs, are the perfect choice when mixing that classic, pre-prohibition era cocktail.

A key ingredient of cocktails during that “golden age” of cocktails was gum syrup. Also known by the French name of gomme syrup, it is not to be confused with what is commonly called simple syrup.  While you may certainly substitute simple syrup for gum syrup, doing so will sabotage and “mute” the overall experience intended with such a classic drink.

Gum syrup, in reality, doesn’t have any flavor at all.  Other than the sweetness and nuances of flavor from whatever sugar you use, it’s flavorless.

So, you may be thinking about now…

“What is the big deal about making sure a classic cocktail uses real gomme syrup if it’s actually flavorless?”

The answer is…gum syrup isn’t about how it tastes, it’s about how it feels!

You see, gum syrup consists of a 2:1 ratio of simple syrup mixed with gum Arabic.  Also called gum acacia, this natural substance was originally intended to prevent the sugar syrup from crystallizing, but it also gave the syrup a silky-mouth feel.

So, remember this…all syrups are not created the same.

At Wilks & Wilson, you will find gum syrup is our Penelope’s Pineapple Gomme, Gertrude’s Gomme, and Rosabelle’s Raspberry Gomme. And, like all our elixirs, they are ideal for pre-prohibition drinks and craft cocktails.

From the Wilks & Wilson Blog Team

We at Wilks & Wilson know the holiday season is a time to enjoy family dinners, office parties, and get-togethers with friends. And, as purveyors of fine elixirs and mixes that allow absolutely anyone to produce a superior craft-cocktail with the spirit of their choice, we plan to be a big part of those festivities.

As always, we want everyone to drink sensibly throughout the year. And, you want your parties to be both entertaining AND also safe. So, we thought this would be a great time to pass along some tips on how to avoid holiday-related “excess” when it comes to alcohol.

As guests confirm their plans to attend, ask them if they have a plan for a safe way home via a non-drinking designated driver (rideshare service, public transportation, taxi, etc.).  Remember, If taxi service is “slim pickin’s” in your area, use your smartphone app and connect with Uber or Lyft to line up a safe ride home should the need arise.

Think about the party games you offer that will engage people that do not involve alcohol.  Some of your guests will not be drinking anyway, so this is certainly a good idea. This will also help keep the overall alcohol consumption down.

Don’t push drinks!  While we think Wilks & Wilson’s Shake2Make All Natural Bloody Mary made with Vodka is the perfect alcoholic drink for any festivity, we’re the first to say drinking at a party is not mandatory for having a good time.  Check out our regular Bloody Mary Mix as a non-alcohol alternative

Remember the food!  Providing plenty of food and snacks will keep guests from drinking on an empty stomach. Related to this, go easy on salted snacks, as these tend to make people thirstier and promote drinking.

Ensure your drink selection includes lots of choices in the non-alcoholic realm. Provide some mocktail choices for those designated drivers. And, keep a big selection of favorite sodas and bottled water on hand.  Having fresh brewed coffee available is also a thoughtful idea.

At Wilks & Wilson, we think the bottom line is this.. Have fun – but not too much fun.  Be a good host, but stay within your limits in order to make sure your guests stay within theirs.

Cheers!

From The Wilks & Wilson Blog Team

We at Wilks & Wilson know this is prime season for tailgating. And, we can’t think of a better way to celebrate “THE GAME” than gathering before, during, and after the big event to root your team to victory.  http://wilksandwilson.com

With that thought in mind, we’ve recently introduced a fantastic ready-to-drink version of our famous All Natural Bloody Mary mix. Packaged in plastic, disposable bottles, it has all the great taste of our original Bloody Mary mix with the Vodka already added!

Now that’s convenient!

Perfect for any tailgate PAR-TEE.  With the Vodka already added, our four-packs are ready when you are. We’ve made it simple to enjoy Bloody Mary’s anywhere.  With no mixing required, we like to say, “To make it, just shake it!”

Now that we’ve got the drinks covered, let’s discuss the snacks. There are only a couple basic requirements for the snacks: they must be delicious, and they should be no-fuss.

With that in mind, here’s some mouthwatering tailgating dips you can make in a crockpot. These warm dips are a must for your spread. Just throw all of the ingredients together in the pot, and let the slow cooker do all the cooking for you. Plus, it will keep your favorite dips nice and warm throughout the whole game!

Gooey Slow Cooker Jack & Cheddar Nacho Cheese Sauce

INGREDIENTS:

32 ounces of finely grated Jack and Cheddar cheese

15 ounces of traditional refined beans

1-2 cups of heavy whipping cream*

1 cup of finely diced canned green chilies

Salt and Pepper

* Add the extra cream as needed to create a thinner sauce.

DIRECTIONS:

In a large saucepan, add the 1-cup of cream and allow it to slowly warm. Then begin adding handfuls of cheese to pan, stirring constantly. Continue this process until all the cheese is melted, adding more cream as needed for a thinner sauce.

Place your slow cooker on low heat and add the chilies and beans, stirring until they are combined.

Add the cheese sauce to the slow cooker, stirring until the beans have melted into the cheese sauce and then reduce the heat to warm.

Either serve immediately, or allow to rest in your slow cooker throughout the game.

Crockpot Cream Cheese Artichoke Dip Tailgating Recipe

Cream cheese is a wonderful base for crockpot dips, and that’s what I used here, along with mozzarella cheese and artichokes. The cheeses melt together with the artichokes to create a creamy and flavorful topper for chips or crackers!

INGREDIENTS:

16 ounces cream cheese

8 ounces mozzarella cheese

1 14-ounce can of artichoke hearts, diced

4 garlic cloves, minced

1-cup milk

1-teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons pepper

Tortilla chips or crackers, for Serving

DIRECTIONS:

Place all ingredients (except the chips) in the crockpot. Turn the crockpot to high and let cook for about 3 hours, stirring occasionally.

Once 3 hours has lapsed, remove the top from the crockpot and check the dip. The dip should be completely melted together. Taste the dip and see if you need to add any more salt or pepper. You can also add more artichoke hearts at this point if you wish. If the dip is ready, turn the crockpot to low and leave the top on until ready to serve. (If you do not need the dip for a few more hours, be sure to leave the crockpot on low with the top on.)

To serve at your tailgate, leave the dip in the crockpot and serve with tortilla chips or crackers.

Note: If you are serving the dip where you have no electricity, be sure to cook the dip at home and then leave the top on until ready to serve. The dip will stay warm inside the crockpot for about 1 hour. You can also make this dip ahead of time and warm right before it’s time to serve.

Serves:

About 10 people

Crockpot Tailgate Recipe: Creamy Chili Bean Dip

Looking for a good dip recipe to serve with tortilla chips at your next tailgate party? This chili bean dip is a crowd pleaser – I’ve never had anyone tell me that they don’t love it!

Place all of the ingredients (except the tortilla chips and cheddar cheese) in the crockpot – so the chili, hot chili beans, kidney beans, cream cheese, and pepper. Turn the crockpot to high and leave it to sit cooking for about 3 hours, removing the lid to stir occasionally.

Plus, the best part is, it’s incredibly simple. All you do is throw canned chili, a couple of different types of canned beans, and cream cheese into a crockpot. Let it cook for a few hours – and you’re done! You have an amazing dip that couldn’t be easier.

INGREDIENTS:

2 cans chili with beans

2 cans hot chili beans (if you can’t find them, then just use white beans, or any type of beans in a red sauce)

2 cans red kidney beans, drained

2 cups W&W Bloody Mary Mix

16 ounces cream cheese

2 teaspoons pepper

Tortilla Chips (for serving)

Shredded cheddar cheese (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

Once 3 hours have lapsed, remove the top from the crockpot and check the dip. The dip should be completely melted together. Taste it and see if it needs more pepper. (I don’t add salt because there is enough salt in the beans). If the dip is ready, turn the crockpot to low and leave the top on until ready to serve.

To serve, leave the dip in the crockpot and set out with tortilla chips. You can also place some shredded cheese next to the chips and dip so people can sprinkle it on top. Enjoy!

Note: If you are serving the dip where you have no electricity, be sure to cook the dip at home and then leave the top on until ready to serve. The dip will stay warm inside the crockpot for about 1 hour. You can also make this dip ahead of time and warm it right before it’s time to serve.

Serves:

About 10 people