It’s almost that time of year again, football season! The SEC, a conference flush with a culture of great eats and cocktails, can make its own mark on the college football experience by offering unique, indigenous beverage options at its games. After all, the SEC is a football conference with a drinking problem.
Celebrate the new season with a cocktail inspired by the SEC.
Remember, please drink responsibly.
Auburn University
Blue & Orangeade
Muddle 1/4 cup fresh blueberries, 2 Tbsp. turbinado sugar, 2 Tbsp. fresh orange juice, and 2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice in a 10-oz. glass. Fill glass with crushed ice, and top with seltzer water or club soda. Gently stir. Garnish with an orange wedge.
War Eagle Rum Punch
Mix 4 oz. rum and 6 oz. orange juice in a cocktail shaker. Pour into a large glass filled with ice. Top with 4 oz. Sprite before serving.
Louisiana State University
The Sazerac
Rinse a chilled rocks glass with absinthe, discarding any excess, and set aside. In a mixing glass, muddle 1 sugar cube, 3 dashes Peychaud’s bitters and 2 dashes Angostura bitters. Add 2 oz. Russell’s Reserve rye whiskey, fill with ice and stir. Strain into the prepared glass. Twist a slice of lemon peel over the surface to extract the oils and then discard.
LSU Lemonade
Add 2 oz. Vodka, 1 handful of blueberries and 1 pinch of sugar to the bottom of the glass and use a spoon to muddle (or mash) everything, just until the sugar has dissolved and the blueberries are broken up.Add ice and 12 oz. of lemonade, and stir to mix in the vodka-soaked blueberries.
Mississippi State University
Bloody Mary
Muddle 2 lemon wedges, 1 tsp. refrigerated horseradish, 1/2 tsp. hot sauce, and 1/4 tsp. freshly ground pepper in a 10-oz. glass. Add 1 (5.5-oz.) can spicy vegetable juice. Fill glass with crushed ice, and top with seltzer water or club soda. Gently stir. Garnish with celery leaved and pickled okra.
Texas A&M University
“Howdy”
Muddle 3 lime wedges and 2 Tbsp. turbinado sugar in a 10-oz. glass. Add 1/2 cup ginger beer. Fill glass with crushed ice, and top with seltzer water or club soda. Gently stir. Garnish with a lime rind strip.
University of Alabama
The Yellowhammer
Mix 2 oz. vodka, 2 oz. rum, 1 oz. amaretto, 4 oz. orange juice, and 7 oz. pineapple juice. Serve in a 20-ounce cup over ice. Garnish with a maraschino cherry.
Alabama Slammer
Add 1 oz. Southern Comfort, 1 oz. Sloe gin, 1 oz. Amaretto, and 2 oz. Orange juice to a shaker and fill with ice. Shake, and strain into a highball glass filled with fresh ice. Garnish with an orange wheel and a cherry.
University of Arkansas
Arkansas Razorback
Add .75 oz. rum, .75 oz. vodka, .75 oz. amaretto, .75 oz. Kahlúa to a shaker with ice. Shake to a froth, and strain off the ice into the glass.
The ice is just to get it cold and the shaking is to make it froth. Don’t worry if it doesn’t stay frothy.
Razorback Red
Muddle 1/2 cup fresh raspberries, 1/4 cup fruit punch, and 2 Tbsp. turbinado sugar in a 10-oz. glass. Fill glass with crushed ice, and top with seltzer water or club soda. Gently stir. Garnish with a fresh orange slice.
University of Florida
Gatorade Margaritas
Dampen the rim of the glass and roll it in salt (if you want). Fill glass with ice. Mix 3 oz. tequila, 3 oz. lime juice and 8 oz. Blue or Orange Gatorade. Pour into glass.
Rum Runner
Add 3/4 oz. Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum, 1/4 oz. blackberry liqueur, 1/4 oz. crème de banana liqueur, 2 oz. orange juice, 1/2 oz. grenadine, and 8 oz. crushed ice in a blender. Blend until slushy and pour into glass.
University of Georgia
Scarlet O’Hara
Pour 2 oz. Southern Comfort, a dash of lime juice, and 6 oz. cranberry juice into a shaker with ice, and shake well. Strain into a sour or Collins glass. Garnish with a lime wedge.
Bulldogs Spiked Sweet Tea
Mix 2 oz. vodka and 12 oz. sweet tea. Pour into a large glass filled with ice. Garnish with orange.
University of Kentucky
Mint Julep
Place 10 mint leaves in the bottom of an old-fashioned glass and top with 1 1/2 tsp. superfine sugar. Muddle these together until the leaves begin to break down. Add a splash of seltzer water, fill the glass 3/4 full with crushed ice, and add 2 1/2 oz. bourbon. Top with another splash of seltzer, stir, and garnish with a sprig of mint. Serve immediately.
Kentucky Colonel
Muddle 5 mint leaves, 3 lemon slices, 2 Tbsp. turbinado sugar, and 1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice in a 10-oz. glass. Fill glass with crushed ice, and top with seltzer water or club soda. Gently stir. Garnish with a lemon slice.
University of Mississippi
Mississippi Punch
Shake 2 oz. cognac, 1 oz. bourbon, 1/2 oz. lemon juice, and 1/2 oz. sugar syrup with crushed ice and pour into a Collins glass, unstrained. Top the glass with more crushed ice, gently pour over 1 oz. dark rum and garnish with an orange slice and a cherry.
“Ole” Fashioned
Muddle 2 orange slices, 2 Tbsp. turbinado sugar, 2 Tbsp. fresh orange juice, and 3 dashes bitters in a 10-oz. glass. Fill glass with crushed ice, and top with seltzer water or club soda. Gently stir. Garnish with an orange rind strip and a maraschino cherry.
University of Missouri
Missouri Mule
Combine 3/4 oz. of Bourbon, 3/4 oz. of Applejack, 3/4 oz. of Lemon Juice, 1/2 oz. of campari, and 1/2 oz. of Triple Sec with ice, shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
“Old Missouri” Spiked Root Beer
Pour 12 oz. root beer into a large glass. Add ice and 2 oz. rum. Top with whipped cream if you’re feeling extra festive.
University of South Carolina
Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka & Lemonade
Mix 1 part Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka and 1 part lemonade in a tall glass with ice. Garnish with a lemon twist.
Foghorn Leghorn
Muddle 1/4 cup fresh raspberries; 3 medium strawberries, quartered; 2 Tbsp. turbinado sugar; and 2 Tbsp. fresh orange juice in a 10-oz. glass. Fill glass with crushed ice, and top with seltzer water or club soda. Gently stir. Garnish with a fresh strawberry.
University of Tennessee
Lynchburg Lemonade
Fill a tall glass with ice cubes and pour in 1 1/2 oz. Tennessee whiskey, 1 1/2 oz. sweet and sour mix, 1 1/2 oz. triple sec and 3/4 cup lemon-lime soda. Stir with a straw and enjoy!
Smoky Sipper
Stir together 1/4 cup grapefruit juice, 2 Tbsp. honey, and 1 Tbsp. fresh lime juice in a 10-oz. glass. Fill glass with crushed ice, and top with seltzer water or club soda. Gently stir. Garnish with fresh lime and grapefruit slices.
Vanderbilt University
Commodore
Add 1 1/2 oz. bourbon, 1 oz. creme de cacao, 1 oz. lemon juice, and 1/2 to 1 tsp. grenadine ingredients to a shaker. Shake and then double strain into a chilled glass. Garnish with a Maraschino cherry or lemon twist.
You can also put all ingredients into a blender and blend until slushy.
