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The Game-Changing Drinks I Swear By
As much as I’ve tried to hang with the Tik Tok generation, I’ve gotten to the age where I can no longer drink a vodka cranberry (or worse, a vodka Red Bull) without a three-day hangover.
Now when I drink, I prefer booze that’s lighter on the sugar and alcohol, and made with cleaner ingredients from a farm, not a factory… and Haus is the brand I always find myself reaching for. Seems like I’m in good company too — they’ve been featured by everyone from Food & Wine to The New York Times.
I got hooked on Haus’ abso-freaking-lutely delicious apéritifs almost exactly a year ago, and they’ve changed the way I drink. Luckily my friends are in the same boat I was in. So this year, there’s no better gift in my mind than Haus’ ultra-cool Cocktail Kit.
I’m getting ahead of myself here though… if you’re a Haus newbie, allow me to enlighten you.
A Modern Alcohol Brand For People With Impeccable Taste
There’s a reason vodka (and most hard liquor in general) makes you feel like trash — big liquor companies are mostly unregulated, and they hide behind shady ingredients and unnecessarily high alcohol content. Haus took the opposite approach. They ditched the artificial ingredients and excess sugar, swapping those for naturally-fermented, high-quality fruits, herbs, and botanicals.
But what the heck is Haus? It’s a grape-based, 21st-century spin on an apéritif, which is a lower-proof social tonic popular in Europe that typically marks the transition into leisure time. Haus’ supremely sippable blends are layered with complex flavors like a cocktail, and they actually taste like the real ingredients used to make them.
At about half the alcohol content of a typical spirit — between 15 and 20% ABV — I can have a couple of drinks and still wake up bright-eyed-and-bushy-tailed the next day.
Straight up, I’m a Haus fan for life. It’s probably because they blend, bottle, and ship their “farm-to-bottle” apéritifs straight from their vineyard in Sonoma, CA to my doorstep. Even better, all of their ingredients are either grown on the property or sustainably sourced from trusted farmers who supply Michelin-starred restaurants.
IMO, the Cocktail Kit is a superb gift because it’s kinda like a choose-your-own-adventure set. It comes with four of Haus’ greatest hits in aesthetically-pleasing glass bottles, plus a recipe book with 20+ simple cocktails that are big on flavor, not booze. From light and refreshing to smooth and spiced, there’s a Haus for every mood.
New Fashioned
For the friend who loves a classic, no-frills cocktail, this flavor will be their new best friend. Infused with warming spices like ginger, clove, cinnamon, and a kiss of citrus, the New Fashioned is complex, sophisticated, and sexy. The Rolls Royce of cocktails, if you will. Smooth and easy on the rocks, it also plays well with whiskey. This is Haus’ best-seller for a reason, and it’s often sold out!
Pomegranate Rosemary
I wouldn’t call Pomegranate Rosemary “crunchy-granola” per se, but Haus’ newest flavor is perfect for anyone who likes less-than-traditional cocktails. Tangy pomegranate tangos with woodsy rosemary and juniper berries, and the resulting blend is balanced and herbaceous. I usually kick up the sweetness by mixing it with prosecco, or champagne when I’m feeling bougie.
Citrus Flower
The sleeper hit — Citrus Flower is my weeknight favorite. Call me crazy, but a few ounces of this baby mixed into warm chrysanthemum tea is the perfect way to unwind after a long day *chef’s kiss.* The refreshing blend of lemon, elderflower, and cinnamon is playful, yet elegant when mixed with anything bubbly. It’ll be the go-to for the person in your life who exclusively makes cocktails with St. Germain.
Grapefruit Jalapeño
Grapefruit Jalapeño is THE flavor for the fun friend who always orders tequila shots for the table. But don’t be fooled — even mixed with tequila or mezcal, this apéritif is nothing like a spicy marg. There’s something so special about the way the fresh grapefruit dances with Makrut lime leaves, and the combo of jalapeño and pink peppercorn is a flavor experience I’ve been missing out on my whole life. Bright and refreshing on its own, I usually drink this one chilled, straight-up with a squeeze of lime.
You Caught Me…
Yes, I am buying Haus for my friends as a selfish gesture. I’m trying to convert everyone I know to a Haus-fanatic so that I never have to drink anything else when I go to their houses. It’s more of a gentle nudge though. The drinks speak for themselves, and the Cocktail Kit is a truly special experience. While the cocktail book is packed full of recipes, there are an infinite number of potential combos to try out!
Haus’ Cocktail Kits are on track to sell out quickly, so I’d suggest ordering as soon as humanly possible (although they do have digital gift cards too). While you’re at it, why not snag a few bottles for yourself? I’m stocking up on one of everything.
Your loved ones deserve the best. If you really want to wow them, Haus’ Cocktail Kit is the golden ticket.