Belle Isle Moonshine

Replace your vodka with something better.

Thanksgiving

Friendsgiving: A Step-by-Step Guide to Impressing Your Crew with Five Cocktails

CocktailsStephanie StantonComment

Your turkey deserves a better cocktail.

All photos by Joey Wharton.

Hosting a Friendsgiving bash this year, but don’t know the first thing about cooking a Turkey Day feast? If you’re like us and would rather just hit up the hot bar at Whole Foods than roast a bird for 10 hours, you’ll need another way to impress your friends with some good old-fashioned hosting skills. We highly suggest whipping up these five Belle Isle cocktails–one to complement each perfectly planned part of your shindig. From pre-dinner apertifs to post-dinner ‘tinis and all the stuffing in between, here’s a cocktail menu that will have your buds thinking you’re a cooler, younger version of Martha Stewart.

happy thanksgiving!

Need more Turkey Day tips?

Belle Isle Moonshine is a premium, handcrafted spirit proudly hailing from Richmond, Virginia.

We take the name Belle Isle from a small, 540-acre island located smack dab in the middle of the James River where Civil War soldiers used surplus corn rations to make moonshine in copper kettles.

Belle Isle Moonshine is distilled from 100% organic corn, grown by three family farms and responsibly sourced. Once triple-distilled, we charcoal filter Belle Isle four times over. Then, we cut it with purified water right from the James River. Our infusions are made with 100% real ingredients, never artificial flavors or color. We use real grapefruits sourced from Texas and California, local honey from the Shenandoah Valley, organic habaneros grown an hour away, and freshly roasted coffee beans from the most socially conscious roastery in Richmond, Blanchard's Coffee Roasting Co.

From there, each bottle of Belle Isle Moonshine is filled, corked, labeled, and packed by hand by our Production team, who check each bottle and batch for quality assurance. Since Belle Isle is made in small batches, you can find the batch number handwritten in the bottom right corner of each bottle.

Distilled from good times and 100% organic corn.

Party Prepped: 'Shiny Thanksgiving Feast

'Shine SpotlightStephanie StantonComment

Make your bird a little boozier this Thanksgiving.

All photos by Joey Wharton.

Here at Belle Isle Moonshine, we know how to mix a mean cocktail that’s perfect for any occasion. A little outside of our comfort zone, though? Preparing a full Thanksgiving dinner. That’s why we enlisted the help of our friend Scott Lewis, head chef at Laura Lee’s in Richmond, to help us out with a few recipes sure to satisfy your whole crazy family this Thanksgiving. Just like last year’s Cranberry Saucey Sauce courtesy of Chef Mike Ledesma, Scott’s menu packs a boozy punch. Because who hasn’t been eating Thanksgiving dinner and thought, “This gravy is good, but it would be better with some moonshine?” Grab yourself a bottle Belle Isle Cold Brew Coffee and let’s get cooking!

Cornish game hen

*Serving Size: Recipe for one hen. Serve one for each guest.

Ingredients:

  • 1 Cornish game hen

  • 1 tbsp. salt

  • 1 tbsp. black pepper

  • 1 tbsp. rosemary

Preparation:

  • Preheat oven to 400° F.

  • Mix salt, pepper, and rosemary in a small bowl and season hen with mixture.

  • Put hen in a screaming hot pan skin-side down, then (carefully!) pour in Belle Isle Cold Brew Coffee to deglaze.

  • Place entire pan in oven for 6-8 minutes.

  • Let rest for 10 minutes before eating. Top with freshly chopped parsley.

Buttermilk Biscuit Stuffing

Ingredients:

  • 12 (already baked) biscuits

  • 4 cups chicken stock

  • 2 cups chopped onions

  • 1 cup chopped carrots

  • 1 cup chopped celery

  • 3 tbsp. chopped fresh rosemary

  • 1 tbsp. chopped fresh sage

  • 1 tsp. chopped fresh thyme

  • 2 cups butter

  • 4 tbsp. salt

  • 2 tbsp. pepper

Preparation:

  • Preheat oven to 300° F. Chop biscuits into ¼ in. cubes, then place on a large sheet tray. Pour 1 cup of melted butter over biscuits.

  • Mix 1 tbsp. of pepper and 1 tbsp. salt in a small bowl, then spread evenly on sheet tray. Dehydrate in the oven until the biscuits are hard like croutons.

  • Sauté onion, celery, and carrots in 1 cup of butter until onions are translucent, then add mixture to biscuits.

  • Add chopped herbs, then put the whole mixture in a baking tray. Pour chicken stock on top.

  • Bake at 350° F for 45 minutes.

Red Eye Gravy

Ingredients:

  • ½ stick of butter or 2 oz. bacon fat

  • ½ cup flour

  • ½ cup Belle Isle Cold Brew Coffee

  • 1 cup regular brewed coffee

  • splash of heavy cream

  • salt and pepper to taste

  • ½ cup cooked sausage (optional)

Preparation:

Heat fat or butter in a saucepan over medium heat until starting to brown a little. Add flour until brown, then add Belle Isle and regular coffee. Stir until thick, about 8 minutes. Add a splash of cream, salt and pepper to taste, and sausage if you’d like. If the mixture is too thin, cook down a little longer or add a little extra flour.

Street Corn Pudding

Preparation:

  • Preheat oven to 325° F. Heat cream and corn over medium heat in a sauce pot until corn is thawed.

  • Blend corn and cream until smooth. Add salt, pepper, and sugar as you blend.

  • As slowly as possible, whisk hot corn mixture into egg yolks.

  • Pour mixture into a 6” x 6” baking tray, then put tray into a water bath, then bake in the oven for 45 min. to 1 hour until firm.

  • Top with crumbled Cotija cheese and jalapeños.

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb. frozen corn

  • 4 cups heavy cream

  • 2 tbsp. salt

  • 1 tbsp. pepper

  • 10 egg yolks

  • 1 tbsp. sugar

Happy Thanksgiving from Scott, his adorable daughter Yoomi, and everyone on the Belle Isle team!

Need some cocktails to pair with this meal?

Belle Isle Moonshine is a premium, handcrafted spirit proudly hailing from Richmond, Virginia.

We take the name Belle Isle from a small, 540-acre island located smack dab in the middle of the James River where Civil War soldiers used surplus corn rations to make moonshine in copper kettles.

Belle Isle Moonshine is distilled from 100% organic corn, grown by three family farms and responsibly sourced. Once triple-distilled, we charcoal filter Belle Isle four times over. Then, we cut it with purified water right from the James River. Our infusions are made with 100% real ingredients, never artificial flavors or color. We use real grapefruits sourced from Texas and California, local honey from the Shenandoah Valley, organic habaneros grown an hour away, and freshly roasted coffee beans from the most socially conscious roastery in Richmond, Blanchard's Coffee Roasting Co.

From there, each bottle of Belle Isle Moonshine is filled, corked, labeled, and packed by hand by our Production team, who check each bottle and batch for quality assurance. Since Belle Isle is made in small batches, you can find the batch number handwritten in the bottom right corner of each bottle.

Distilled from good times and 100% organic corn.

Want to learn more about us?

Drinksgiving 2018: Cocktails for Each of Your Annoying Family Members

CocktailsStephanie StantonComment

This Champagne Hunni is the perfect match for your annoyingly fancy cousin.

All photos by Kate Magee. All cocktail garnishes by Dress the Drink.

It’s almost that time again. On one hand, Thanksgiving is the absolute best holiday. It’s the only day of the year during which you’re encouraged to gorge yourself on carbs and desserts, drink wine at 2 p.m., and fall into a tryptophan-induced coma before dusk. But there is something standing in the way of all this pure, unadulterated gluttony: your family. Sure, you love them–but how are you supposed to concentrate on getting the best stuffing-to-turkey ratio while they’re bombarding you with questions about your career, bad habits, or (worst of all) love life?

The bad news: you’ll never beat them. The good news: you can temporarily distract them with cocktails! We here at Belle Isle Moonshine have provided you with a guide to get your nosy relatives happily tipsy and out of your business before the turkey hits the table. You may have to play bartender, but, hey, at least you won’t have to field any political or personal questions!

For Your Mom

who won’t stop asking about your 401k

This sweet (and boozy!) little stunner will make your mom forget all about your finances and realize that just being together makes you rich enough…or whatever. But beware: give her one too many and she might to that weird dance she did back on Christmas 2008.

Pear Necessities

Ingredients:

Preparation:

Add all ingredients to a mixing tin over ice. Shake and double strain into a chilled coupe glass.

For Your Sister

who really thinks you should try pilates and a raw diet

Who wants to talk about intermittent fasting and yoga retreats while you’re stuffing your face with turkey? Your health nut sister, apparently. This antioxidant-packed, juice-based cocktail may quench her appetite for nagging you to come to spin class with her.

24-Carrot magic

Ingredients:

Preparation:

Add all ingredients to a mixing tin over ice. Shake and double strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.

FOR YOUR UNCLE

Who WON’t stop baiting you into political fights

There’s no use arguing over who’s right or wrong (although he’s definitely wrong). Let’s find an easy compromise–like this awesome cocktail! Half cider, half mule, and 100% amazing, this drink doesn’t force anyone to choose sides.

50/50 Mule

Ingredients:

Preparation:

Build in glass or mule mug over ice and enjoy!

For Your Grandma

Who just wants you to watch the damn parade

There’s no trickery involved for this one. Just whip up a few of these blood orange bloodies (I know–it sounds weird, but it works!) and go watch the damn parade with your grandma! Your grandma rules.

Bloody Bloody

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz. Belle Isle Blood Orange

  • 4 oz. bloody mary mix (pick your favorite!)

Preparation:

Mix ingredients in glass over ice, then tumble back and forth in a shaker a few times.

Need more Thanksgiving help?

Belle Isle Moonshine is a premium, handcrafted spirit proudly hailing from Richmond, Virginia.

We take the name Belle Isle from a small, 540-acre island located smack dab in the middle of the James River where Civil War soldiers used surplus corn rations to make moonshine in copper kettles.

Belle Isle Moonshine is distilled from 100% organic corn, grown by three family farms and responsibly sourced. Once triple-distilled, we charcoal filter Belle Isle four times over. Then, we cut it with purified water right from the James River. Our infusions are made with 100% real ingredients, never artificial flavors or color. We use real grapefruits sourced from Texas and California, local honey from the Shenandoah Valley, organic habaneros grown an hour away, and freshly roasted coffee beans from the most socially conscious roastery in Richmond, Blanchard's Coffee Roasting Co.

From there, each bottle of Belle Isle Moonshine is filled, corked, labeled, and packed by hand by our Production team, who check each bottle and batch for quality assurance. Since Belle Isle is made in small batches, you can find the batch number handwritten in the bottom right corner of each bottle.

Distilled from good times and 100% organic corn.

Want to learn more about us?