Creative #Cocktails to Celebrate International Women’s Day

2017 made it abundantly clear that as a country, we still have a lot of work to do when it comes to gender equality and inclusivity.

We’ve watched as courageous women found their voice and were finally heard, victims became survivors, and perpetrators were brought to justice. We’ve made progress, undoubtedly. But unfortunately, gender inequality is far from being a thing of the past. Today and every day we need to continue to #PressforProgress.

Gender equality has been at the forefront of our nation’s mind. In fact, ‘feminism’ was the most searched for term on Merriam Webster’s online dictionary last year, up 70% from the previous year.

In my opinion, that’s an excellent sign of growth. Education is the first step towards understanding and advocating for change. Once we understand that feminism is about equal rights for everyone, it’s kind of hard to argue with. The more people we have on board, the easier it will be to #beboldforchange.

On International Women’s Day last year, Iceland announced they would be the first nation in the world to introduce legislation to require equal pay regardless of gender, sexuality, ethnicity, or nationality.

Even though Iceland is ranked number one in the world for gender equality (the United States is #45), as of last year, women in Iceland still reported earning 14-18% less than their male counterparts.

Even in the most progressive (in terms of gender equality) country in the world, women still aren’t making as much as men for the same job. We definitely need to #PressforProgress.

At Saucey, we’re recognizing International Women’s Day (and every day) as an opportunity to acknowledge, honor, and celebrate women everywhere. And what better way to celebrate, than with a drink?

We’ve scoured the web to find creative takes on some classic cocktails, as well as brand new concoctions, that were all designed to celebrate and support women. Because, in the words of Rihanna, “There’s something so special about a woman who dominates in a man’s world. It takes a certain grace, strength, intelligence, fearlessness, and the nerve to never take no for an answer.”.

Ingredients

1 ½ oz Hendrick’s Gin
½ oz Pama pomegranate liqueur
¼ oz honey syrup
3 oz A to Z dry rosé
Lime wheel

Directions: Shake with ice and strain into glass filled with cracked ice. Garnish with lime wheel and straw.

Rosie the Riveter was a female empowerment icon from World War II. First popularized by the release of a song by the same name, Rosie the Riveter eventually became a very real person named Rose Monroe. She worked as a Riveter at the Willow Run Automotive Plant outside of Detroit Michigan during the war.

Looking to capitalize off the popularity of the song and encourage more women to join in the efforts to work and build supplies for the war, an advertising company approached the real life Rosie the Riveter to be a spokeswoman for their campaign.

After the war ended and the men returned to fill the roles in factories, Rosie went on to drive a cab, own a beauty shop, run a construction company, and even pilot her own airplane. Sounds like one hell of a woman. Definitely deserving of her very own craft cocktail. You can check out the original recipe for Rosé the Riveter here. Cheers to the women who aren’t afraid to #beboldforchange!

Ingredients

40ml Tito’s Vodka
15ml Peach Schnapps
50ml Cranberry Juice
50ml Orange Juice

Directions: Combine cold juice with Vodka and Schnapps, stir and enjoy. Little umbrella optional.

I wish I could take credit for this witty drink title, but the creators were actually college students in the UK. The original recipe for ‘Consensual Sex on the Beach’ was printed in a campus magazine at Oxford University.

Although the title will probably make you chuckle, it might also inspire some much needed conversations. Especially in a college environment, where 15% of freshmen women report experiencing unwanted sexual advances while under the influence of alcohol.

Regardless of gender identity, we’re all about making smart, confident, and empowered decisions, which means Consensual Sex (on the Beach) is the only way to go. Cheers to a drink you’ll never forget, and a night you’ll always remember.

Ingredients

45 ml Hendrick’s Gin
15 ml Bundaberg Ginger Beer
15 ml Angostura Orange Bitters
15 ml Lemon Juice
Elderflower Liqueur

Directions: Shake all ingredients apart from Elderflower Liqueur, double strain to glass, top off with elderflower liqueur.

This drink is a less than subtle reminder on International Women’s Day to continue to #PressforProgress and be mindful of the issues that women face every day, like the wage gap.

In case you aren’t familiar, the wage gap refers to the difference in pay women face, based solely on their gender. It’s true, women in the United States only make about $0.79 on the dollar for what a man with the same qualifications in the same position would make. That number drops even lower if you happen to be a woman of color.

Let this drink serve as a delicious reminder, today and everyday, to be mindful of systemic oppression, and to work together to break down the barriers that prevent equality.

Ingredients

2 oz Bulleit Rye Whiskey
1 oz Martini & Rossi Sweet Vermouth
Angostura bitters to taste (2 dashes or so)
Ice
Maraschino cherries, for garnish

Directions: Fill a pint glass with ice. Add the rye, vermouth and bitters and stir well. Strain into a chilled glass and garnish with cherry.

Sure, Moms have a day dedicated to them already, but long before they were ‘Mom’, they were women. And if any woman needs their own craft cocktail, it’s definitely Mom. Whether it’s teething toddlers at 2am or sassy adolescents telling her off; Mom deserves a drink.

Moms/parents have a tough path in front of them right now. We need to raise open-minded and gender-inclusive kids. We don’t want to have to tell our granddaughters, “sure honey, you can be anything you want, as long as you don’t mind working twice as hard to get there and making a fraction of what a man would.”.

Raising conscientious kids is no easy task. Decompress with a custom cocktail, and join us in a toast to you, Mom, because you deserve it.

Ingredients

1 oz Tito’s Vodka
1 oz Hendrick’s Gin
1 oz Bacardi Superior White Rum
1 oz Espolon Blanco
1/2 oz Triple Sec
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 cup cola, or to taste
lemon wedges for Garnish

Directions: Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour the vodka, gin, rum, tequila, Triple Sec, and lemon juice into the shaker. Cover and shake vigorously to combine and chill. Pour the mixture, ice and all, into 2 glasses and top off with the cola. Garnish with lemon wedges.

Did you know that less than 15% of leadership positions at Fortune 500 companies are held by women? For the record, women make up over half of the population. The same inequality and misrepresentation occurs in politics. Despite women in Congress being at an all time high, Congress is still 80% male. A far cry from equal representation. We’ve got a Long (Island Iced) way to go to reach Equali-tea. For now, we #PressforProgress, #BeBoldforChange, and celebrate the little victories along the way with a craft cocktail.

We’ve got a confession to make. This is just a regular Long Island Iced Tea. But, it’ll taste a little sweeter knowing you’re drinking it in an effort to support ‘equali-tea’ for International Women’s Day.

Had a few cocktails and want to know how you can get involved? It’s easy. We can all be advocates for change in our everyday life by challenging stereotypes and beliefs, speaking up when we hear or see discrimination, and maintaining an open mind for everyone we meet. For more ways to get involved, you can check out the International Women’s Day website here.