Category: Drinks

Seabreeze: The Backyard Cocktail That Thinks It's on Vacation

8/7/2025

A little sweet. A little tart. A little tipsy. Perfect.
You ever sip something so refreshing it makes your lawn chair feel like a beach lounger? That’s the Seabreeze—a juicy, boozy blast of cherry, citrus, and pineapple that turns any backyard cookout into a coastal escape. No sunscreen required.

This fruity firecracker is perfect with Awesome grilled shrimp, pineapple-glazed brats, or just sipping between burger flips while your neighbor says things like “You always do something weird, but it works.”

What You’ll Need:

1 cup cherry juice
¼ cup cherry pie filling (yes, the gooey kind—trust us)
Juice of ½ a grapefruit, freshly squeezed
1 pineapple ring
¼ cup vodka (or more, if it’s been that kind of week)

Directions:

Start with a jar or shaker – mason jars are classy and chaotic.
Pour in the cherry juice and vodka.
Add the pie filling (chunky cherries and all), squeeze in that grapefruit juice, and toss in the pineapple ring like you’re spiking the punch at a PTA meeting.
Shake or blend until smooth-ish. You want chunks, not chaos.
Pour over ice. Garnish with extra pineapple or cherries. Drink while laughing loudly at your own jokes.

Optional Add-Ons:

Add sparkling water for a fizzy twist
Rim your glass with sugar and lime zest for extra flair
Serve with a side of grilled shrimp from Awesome Shrimp—the official seafood MVP of Mad Dog & Merrill®

Grillin’ Pairing:
The Seabreeze goes great with any sweet-heat combo, especially something with cherry salsa, pineapple, or a little grill char. Honestly, it pairs well with an inflatable pool, too.

Alternate Twists for Seabreeze Shenanigans
Want to mix it up? Try one of these wild-yet-wonderful variations:

The Sun Drop Seabreeze
Skip the grapefruit juice and splash in a healthy pour of Sun Drop® instead!
It adds a citrusy sparkle that’s part soda, part sunshine, and fully Midwest.
Perfect if you want a lighter, fizzier version that pairs great with grilled brats, lawn chairs, and unapologetic dance moves.

Cranberry Cherry Breeze
Swap the cherry juice for 100% cranberry juice and the pie filling for a scoop of cranberry chutney or whole berry cranberry sauce (homemade or from your favorite Wisconsin grower).

This one’s for the tart-lovers who like a cocktail with a little bite and a lot of bold. A tribute to the mighty cranberry--grown with pride in Wisconsin, supported by our pals at the Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association!

Tropical Trouble
Add a little coconut cream or swap vodka for rum for an extra island twist. Garnish with grilled pineapple (because of course you’re grilling your garnish).

Responsible-ish Drinking Reminder:
One Seabreeze = relaxation.
Two Seabreezes = karaoke.
Three Seabreezes = impromptu limbo tournament.
Plan accordingly.

Final Cocktail Thoughts:
This isn’t just a drink—it’s a grill-side lifestyle. Whether you're team cherry, cranberry, Sun Drop, or all of the above in one glass like a fruity mad scientist, this Seabreeze is your ticket to cookout cool.
For more ways to stir, shake, and sizzle, check out www.maddogandmerrill.com.
We'll keep the flavor coming. You just bring the ice.

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Krupnik: The Spiced Honey Elixir of Midwest Legends

7/4/2025

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Whether you’re grilling in the cold, toasting at the cabin, or just looking to feel warm from the inside out, Krupnik is your new best friend. This traditional Polish honey liqueur is sweet, spicy, and strong enough to make your great-grandpa nod in approval.
It’s the kind of drink that makes your toes tingle and your grill tongs glow with mystical energy. And thanks to the cast iron Dutch oven method, we’re taking it from stovetop tradition to grill-side masterpiece.

🍯 Ingredients:

3 cups water
2 cups raw honey, gently heated (don’t boil it—this isn’t honey warfare)
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
1 whole nutmeg seed, smashed like your holiday stress
3 cinnamon sticks
5 cloves
20 peppercorns (whole, not ground—this ain’t soup)
A pinch of allspice
1 star anise or a small sprinkle of whole anise seeds
1 lemon, cut into quarters
1–3 cups potato vodka, depending on how “festive” you want to get

🔥 Directions:

In your trusty cast iron Dutch oven, combine everything except the vodka.
Heat slowly over the grill or fire pit—this isn’t a race. Let those flavors mingle like cousins at a fish fry.
Simmer (not boil!) for about 30–40 minutes until it smells like the holidays slapped you with a cinnamon stick.
Remove from heat. Let it cool for 5–10 minutes, then slowly stir in your potato vodka. Start with 1 cup and go up from there. You’re in charge of the party.

Optional: Strain out the solids, or leave them in for maximum rustic chaos.

🧊 How to Serve:

Hot or chilled, depending on the mood.
In a shot glass, a mug, or a tiny hand-carved wooden cup from your uncle’s garage.
Garnish with a lemon twist or cinnamon stick if you're feeling fancy.

🎯 Tips from the Grill Masters:

Use high-quality potato vodka—you want smooth, not sharp.
Don’t rush the simmer. The longer it warms, the richer the flavor.
Store in a glass jar or bottle and refrigerate. It'll keep for weeks (if you don’t drink it all at your next bonfire).
Pairs beautifully with smoked meats, sharp cheeses, and that second helping of dessert you said you wouldn't have.

🧪 Why It Works
Krupnik is bold. It’s old-school. It’s comfort in a cup. And when you make it outdoors in a Dutch oven, it becomes more than a drink—it becomes a ritual. The crackle of the fire, the smell of the spices, the glug-glug of the vodka... that’s the good stuff, folks.
This ain’t your average hot toddy—it’s a bracing, beautiful throwback that brings warmth to your body and your soul.

Mad Dog & Merrill® Midwest Grill’n: Where we don’t just grill meat—we stir up tradition, one spicy sip at a time.
📺 Watch us for more wild recipes
🔥 Join the Grill’n Club for exclusive content and member perks
🧂 Shop sauces, seasonings, and gear at maddogandmerrill.com
🎁 Add a Krupnik recipe card to your next holiday gift basket. You’ll be a legend.

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Sun Drop Paloma Recipe

4/3/2025

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Spice Up Your Sip: The Ultimate Paloma Cocktail with a Sun Drop Twist!
Looking for a refreshing cocktail that packs a citrusy punch with just the right amount of heat? The Paloma is a classic tequila-based drink that blends the tartness of grapefruit with the zing of fresh lime and a spicy kick of jalapeños. But what if we took it up a notch?

Imagine swapping out traditional club soda for the bold, citrusy fizz of Sun Drop Soda—now that’s a game-changer! This Sun Drop Paloma adds a sweet and zesty boost that takes this cocktail from delicious to next-level refreshing.

Sun Drop Paloma Recipe
Ingredients:
🍊 1 Grapefruit, squeezed
🍋 1 Lime, squeezed
🥃 2 Oz Tequila
🌶 2 Tbsp Sliced Jalapeños
🥤 1 Cup Club Soda (or better yet, Sun Drop Soda for an extra citrus kick!)

Instructions:

Mix grapefruit juice, lime juice, tequila, and sliced jalapeños in a shaker.
Shake well to blend the flavors.
Pour over ice in a tall glass.
Top with club soda—or better yet, Sun Drop Soda—to taste.
Garnish with a lime wedge and a jalapeño slice for that extra flair.

Why Sun Drop Soda is the Perfect Twist
Sun Drop’s bold, citrusy flavor naturally complements the tartness of grapefruit and lime while balancing out the heat from the jalapeños. Plus, its slight sweetness means you get a perfectly smooth finish without needing extra sugar or sweeteners.

Whether you’re grilling with friends or just kicking back on the patio, this Sun Drop Paloma is the ultimate refreshment to keep things cool and flavorful.

Try It & Tell Us What You Think!
Give this Sun Drop-infused Paloma a try, and let us know—do you prefer the classic club soda version, or does the Sun Drop upgrade win your taste buds over?

Cheers! 🍹🔥 #SunDropPaloma #TequilaTime #CitrusKick #MadDogandMerrill

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Red Snapper Drink

3/6/2025

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Ingredients

2 oz Gin
2 C Lutz Bloody Mary Mix
Lemon Squeeze
6 Cooked Awesome Shrimp
6 Stuffed Green Olives
Skewers
Lemon Wedges

Directions

Put ice in two glasses.
Add gin, Bloody Mary Mix and a squeeze of lemon.
Alternate cooked shrimp and stuffed green olives on a skewer.
Garnish each drink with a skewer and lemon wedge.

Red Snapper Drink is a Mad Dog & Merrill® Original Recipe from Episode Twenty One of the 2021 Season of the Midwest Grill'n Show. Watch "West Allis" for this great recipe from America's Favorite Grill'n Show and More! Episode recipes include Kobe Beef, Bloody Mary Shrimp, Lemon Pork, Apricot Sausage, and Red Snapper Drink. Download the E-Book by visiting the Mad Dog & Merrill Online Store and become a Lifetime Member of the Mad Dog & Merrill® Grill'n Club to gain FREE access to all episode E-Books.

Mad Dog & Merrill® only endorse the highest quality of products and services.
What kind of grills do Mad Dog & Merrill® use? Our favorite grills include Pit Boss Pellet Grills and Louisiana Grills.
Where can the products used on the Midwest Grill'n show be found? Sun Drop Soda, Awesome Shrimp, and Wisconsin Potatoes.
Help us thank our sponsors by patronizing their local business, such as Shooting Star Casino.
Produced by Lashbro Visual Communications.

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Bloody Mary

8/8/2024

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Ingredients

1 Tbsp Da Works Brat Sauce
1 oz Vodka
1 tsp Gramma Hazels
1 C Tomato Juice or V8
Ice

Directions

Place all ingredients in a glass.
Stir well.

Bloody Mary is a Mad Dog & Merrill® Original Recipe from Episode Thirteen of the 2021 Season of the Midwest Grill'n Show. Watch "Green Lake" for this great recipe from America's Favorite Grill'n Show and More! Episode recipes include Sugar Salmon, Swiss N Shroom Brats, Bacon Blue Gill, Up Nort Pike, Grilled Cucumbers and Bloody Mary. Download the E-Book by visiting the Mad Dog & Merrill Online Store and become a Lifetime Member of the Mad Dog & Merrill® Grill'n Club to gain FREE access to all episode E-Books.

Mad Dog & Merrill® only endorse the highest quality of products and services.
What kind of grills do Mad Dog & Merrill® use? Our favorite grills include Pit Boss Pellet Grills and Louisiana Grills.
Where can the products used on the Midwest Grill'n show be found? Cherry De-Lite from Country Ovens, Sun Drop Soda, Awesome Shrimp, and Wisconsin Potatoes.
Help us thank our sponsors by patronizing their local business, such as Shooting Star Casino.
Produced by Lashbro Visual Communications.

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Seabreeze: The Backyard Cocktail That Thinks It's on Vacation

Krupnik: The Spiced Honey Elixir of Midwest Legends

Sun Drop Paloma Recipe

Red Snapper Drink

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