Swig's Pet of the Month - Esther and Ethel

Here at Swig, we love our domestic animal buddies (and those of our clients)! Our March Pet(s) of the Month belong to Rachel, one of our amazing servers. Here’s a little about her feathery companions:

What are your friend's name?

Esther and Ethel 

What are some of their nicknames?

Ladies, Girls 

How did you get them (origin story)?

I got them from a hatchery a day old. They flew in from California. When I went to pick them up at the post office the system was down. The lady said sorry we won’t be able to find your package. I said well mine will be chirping. And she said I know right where they are. Haha.

How long have you been friends?

We have been friends for over a year. I got them in August 10 2022

What about your pet makes them unique?

Well they are ducks.  But besides that raising them from that young was a challenge, one I gladly accepted. They are fascinating to watch. 

What's their favorite treat?

Worms, peas and cheerios! 

Espresso Martini Day!

Who doesn’t love an espresso martini? As a quick pick-me-up after work, a post prandial treat in place of dessert, or just for fun with your friends, an espresso cocktail hits the spot, every time. It is the kinder alternative to a Redbull & vodka, or a Four Loco. It won’t sober you up, but it will put a bit of pep in your step!

We love the classic version including espresso, vodka, coffee liqueur, and simple syrup, but there are SOOO many alternatives! Maybe try a Coffee Old Fashion, with bourbon, espresso, chocolate bitters, and simple syrup, or a Caffe Corretto, which is just a shot of espresso with a shot of brandy, grappa, or whiskey. If you’re into the flavored latte thing, you could also include some vanilla extract to the traditional recipe, or add some hazelnut liqueur.

And, let’s not forget about the affogato… Just pour vodka, espresso, coffee liqueur, and salted caramel into a shaker, shake and strain, then top with vanilla gelato, for a dessert that transcends the usual.

Whichever way you go, this style of cocktail is very on trend right now, and it’s inclusion on the menu at your next gathering is sure to please your guests.

International Women's Day

Did you know that Swig is a woman owned and operated company? Sara Moody started Swig almost 16 years ago. She has always gone out of her way to provide opportunities and development for all of her staff, but she takes extra care of her women, and surrounds herself with talented ladies. We are so lucky to work for a company that understands that family is a priority, and how important the work / life balance is. Let’s raise a toast to the strong women doing the big things today!

Swigtender of the Month: Veronica

How long have you been with Swig?

I have been Swigging since October 2022.

Fun fact about you?

I am a first generation Colombian - American. Shout out mom & dad. 

Favorite Restaurant?

My favorite comfort meal currently is Lamb Korma from The Royal Indian Cuisine at 20th & Spruce in Philadelphia. 

Best thing you cook?

Spicy Chicken Sausage Rigatoni if I do say so myself.

Favorite Cocktail (or Mocktail) to make (for yourself or for clients)

I love me a spicy Mezcal margarita with a Tajin rim. Yum!

Biggest Piece of Party Planning Advice:

If you are going to do it yourself - stay organized, plan ahead and always create a detailed day-of timeline!

Most memorable Swig moment:

Hanging with fellow Swigtenders at our Swig Smash in January because it is rare that all of us are able to get together. It was nice to see everyone dressed up, have some craft cocktails (with homemade syrups!) and socialize over some delicious Indian-inspired food.

Why do you love working for Swig?

I love working for Swig because of my amazing coworkers. My fellow Swigtenders are always down to make an event work even with unforeseen circumstances thrown at us, and they'll do it with a smile too!

Swig Pet of the Month - Lucy

Here at Swig, we love our domestic animal buddies (and those of our clients)! Our February Pet of the Month belongs to Janet, one of our amazing bartenders. Here’s a little about her furry companion:

What's your friend's name?

My longhaired dachshunds name is Lucy. We named her that because it was Lucille Ball's 100th day around the time she was born and she has red hair.

What are some of her nicknames?

I mainly call her  Izzababeeboo, or Lucyunderfoot. My husband calls her Lucifer...

What is her origin story?

Long story, but she was actually a reward for my son when he overcame a crippling  medical condition with no cure. It was incentive  to endure lots of very painful therapy. 

We call her our miracle dog!

The day he was able to walk without a brace We went straight to the puppy place and they chose each other.

How long have you been friends?

She's been part of our family for 13 years.

What about your pet makes them unique?

She is sometimes conflicted because we are Penn State fans but my son is at University of Utah. The 2022 bowl game was awkward for her.

What's their favorite treat?

She absolutely requires  a bully stick( or 3) in the evening to chew and chill.

She loves most all fruits and vegetables. In the growing season  she eats anything that comes out of my garden. ( I don't grow any onions or garlic). In the morning she could eat her weight in peas, green beans and berries. 

Thanks, Janet!

We’d love to feature some of our client’s pets in the coming months! If you would like your furry, feathered, or fishy friend featured on our blog and social media, get some photos with them, you, and your Swig staff at your next event!

Mocktails / Low Alcohol Cocktails are TRENDING!

“Dry January” is over, but the trend to moderation is having a moment! It has become very cool to be the Designated Driver, or simply to choose not to imbibe, whatever the reason! As bartenders and servers, it is our responsibility to make sure that our guests who would rather not drink alcohol have a delicious alternative. Begone the days of ordering “club-soda-with-a-lime-in-a-collins-glass” to camouflage your sobriety! We can (and should!) do better, especially considering the myriad low/no alcohol options we have available to us as mixers, these days.

That said, lets discuss… When good bartenders think about what makes a cocktail excellent, we talk a lot about the balance of the drink. Sour, sweet, bitter, citrusy, salty, herbaceous, sparkling, and creamy are a few of the words we use to describe a beverage. So we can apply the same ideas to non alcoholic or low alcoholic drinks. By asking our guests questions regarding their preferences, we can build a mocktail to suit just about anyone! For instance, if someone usually loves gin, but they’re staying sober today, we might build something with the same aromatics one finds in gin, such as juniper, angelica, grains of paradise, etc. The great news is that there are zero proof gins on the market! But if you don’t have that on hand, grab some fresh (or dried) herbs and spices and make a simple syrup. Something like rosemary, lemon peel, coriander, and cardamom, would be delightful. Mix that up with some fresh squeezed grapefruit juice, shake with ice, strain over one big rock, and top with tonic. Add a sprig of rosemary, and a twist of grapefruit or lemon. Voilà! A gin cocktail with no gin! For someone who loves tequila, you might try making a jalapeño / cilantro agave simple syrup. Rub half the rim of a margarita glass with a lime, and roll it in some Tajin. Fill it with crushed ice. Shake some fresh lime juice with the agave simple syrup, then strain it into your prepare glass. Top with tonic, if your guest likes the bitter note that quinine offers; or raspberry lime soda, if they prefer something sweeter. The Tajin rim is pretty enough as a stand alone garnish, but toss a wedge of lime on there if you want!

Presentation is admittedly part of the appeal of anything we consume… “We eat with our eyes, first”. So use beautiful glassware, step up your garnish game, and remember that the quality of the ice you use heavily influences the outcome of the final product! Make that gorgeous clear ice (it’s easier than you think, you can do it at home!), and proudly pour your mocktail over a huge chunk, or whisper thin shavings, or cracked with a mallet! Garnish should compliment the contents of the beverage, and should add to the overall appearance, while also adding an olfactory experience, or allows the guest to adjust the cocktail slightly. Smacking a sprig of tarragon in your hand before plunging it into the glass releases the essential oils in the leaves, and creates an aroma that stays with you, and changes the flavor of the drink (even if there’s no tarragon in the recipe)! A wedge of citrus perched on the edge of the glass means that you can adjust the acidity. Half a salt rim allows you to sip from either side of the glass; two experiences in one!

No matter the reason for your abstinence, you deserve a great drink, and your bartender’s attention and time, just as much as anyone else. Please share your ideas for low/ no alcohol drinks? We’d love to hear all about them!

Spring is Soon!

It sure feels like January has dragged on forever, doesn’t it? The shine from the winter holidays has long since worn off, it’s cold, and wet, and it feels like it will NEVER be Spring again!

But as the season begins to change, and we head into Valentine’s Day, Passover, Easter, Holi, Ramadan, etc., many of us are planning family get-togethers and celebrations with friends. And we are here to help with any of your plans! Swig also begins to gear up for wedding season! We are typically very busy during the warmer months, so if you know you’re planning an event, and you’d like our staff on hand to help you cook, make cocktails, serve, or even just be an extra set of hands, get in touch with us! We can send you a quote, and get staff scheduled for your party in advance. One less thing to worry about!

We would love to hear about your holiday traditions! And we’d love to help you be able to enjoy the time with your friends and family, instead of fretting over the dishes!

Make a cocktail with anything!

If you’re looking for your next cocktail recipe, look no further… There’s a pirate rhyme to remember that will almost always yield something wonderful!

“One part sour, two parts sweet, three parts strong, four parts weak.”

With this in mind, you can freestyle for your guests at will. “Sour” typically refers to lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, etc.; but don’t sleep on shrub, kombucha, or any other tart thing you’ve got on hand. “Sweet” could be simple syrup, sugar of any kind, honey, maple syrup, agave nectar, etc… “Strong” is your liquor of choice, and “Weak” could be juice, iced tea, or even just water. The water can come from the dilution of the ice in your shaker, or you can add it to make a bigger batch than your shaker will hold! Just keep in mind, you’re going for a (roughly) 20% dilution, so if you’re not shaking over ice, you will want to calculate. What’s your favorite simple recipe? Is it very close to these proportions?