Exclusive: “Southern Charm” Star Austen Kroll Shares His Go-To Holiday Drinks
When you’re counting down the days until the start of the holiday season, there’s a pretty good chance that you’re also eagerly awaiting the first sip of your fave festive libation. Mine is absolutely boozy eggnog (with dark rum please!). So when I had the chance to chat it up with Southern Charm alum Austen Kroll at Raising Cane’s Holiday Bike Giveaway in Times Square, I knew I had to ask about his favorites.
As the kiddos from the Harlem Boys & Girls Club jetted around in their shiny new bikes, I questioned Austen about his top NYC bars, his new THC seltzer line and his holiday drink go-tos. And I have to say that his favorite seasonal sips are pretty solid. Check ‘em out below and be sure to chime in with your own faves!
The Best Amazon Cyber Monday Deals On Frozen Cocktail Makers
If you live for a frozen margarita or an icey daiquiri, now is absolutely the time to take advantage of Amazon’s Cyber Monday deals on the best frozen cocktail makers. We’re talking steals from Ninja SLUSHi, Margaritaville and more. Whether you’re upgrading your home bar or finally treating yourself to that blender you’ve been eyeing, these deals make it easy to mix up bar-quality frozen cocktails at home. Plus, with Cyber Monday prices, you can stock up on accessories like margarita glasses, reusable straws and cocktail kits without breaking the bank.
This Wine-Scented Candle Smells Just Like Your Favorite Glass Of Prosecco
For me, candles and wine have gone hand-in-hand for quite some time. There’s nothing quite like cozying up to a good book or TV show with your favorite glass of wine, and a fragrant candle burning in the background. (My pumpkin spice candles are still holding strong.) And to further elevate the connection between candles and vino, Josh Cellars has partnered with Hotel Lobby Candle to release a limited-edition candle inspired by a glass of Prosecco.
Born from Hotel Lobby Candle founder Lindsay Silberman’s trip to the heart of Italy’s Prosecco region, the vibrant candle is described as “bright, airy, and quietly luxurious” with “notes of lemon zest, ripe plum, and soft florals.”
Gorgeous Glassware Picks To Dress Up Your Bar Cart—And Your Holiday Cocktails
If the holiday season finds you mixing up stunning cocktails, then you 100% need glassware that’s just as dramatic. But if you’re busy planning holiday dinners and shopping for gifts for your friends and fam, you might find it hard to dedicate time to finding some fresh glassware to add to your bar cart. And trust me, there are an infinite number of glassware options online. So, to make things a bit easier for you, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite picks. And the best thing is they’re perfect for the holidays and beyond.
I Tried Applebee’s New Holiday Menu—And Their Take On The Espresso Martini Is A Game-Changer
Holiday cocktails are hands-down one of my favorite ways to celebrate this time of year. They’re a fun pick-me-up, and a great way to enjoy some downtime between holiday shopping and party hopping. And they seem to be everywhere this year, from chain restaurants to more upscale digs, you’d be hard-pressed to find a restaurant that doesn’t have a handful of festival cocktails on its menu.
Applebee’s happens to be one of those restaurants rolling out new sips during “the most wonderful time of the year.” In total, they have five new cocktails. And I was lucky enough to try all of them.
I Tried The Parkside Flask—And I’m Convinced It’s The Must-Have Gift For Your Wine Crew
In case you haven’t wandered into a TJMaxx, Macy’s or any other retail store lately, let me be the first to tell you that holiday shopping season is already in full swing. I can shop for myself all day, but there’s a certain level of anxiety that comes with shopping for other people. And if you’ve got a particularly picky friend circle, you might be dealing with some added shopping pressure.
With those expectations, you’ve probably fallen down at least one rabbit hole trying to find a gift that feels thoughtful without sending you into a full-on holiday spiral. Along the way recently, the Parkside Flask landed on my radar. It’s a sleek, practical little gem that holds an entire bottle of wine and includes two tumblers that are attached to the bottle.
Guinness Drops A Decadent New Beer-And-Cookie Collab With Last Crumb Bakery—Here's How To Find It
Santa is about to have the time of his life on Christmas Eve because boozy cookies are already all the rave this holiday season. Shortly after Baileys announced that it was partnering with NYC’s Funny Face Bakery to release a pack of sugar cookies infused with the flavor of Irish cream liqueur, Guinness has shared similar news. Move over milk and cookies, it’s time for beer and cookies to make its boozy debut.
To make your holiday season extra cheery, Guinness has linked with fan-fave bakery Last Crumb on a collection of limited-edition cookies. The collection of sweet treats is comprised of cookies that are baked with the flavor of Guinness along with cookies that pair perfectly with a pint of Guinness.
Baileys Is Partnering With A Popular Bakery To Release Boozy Cookies Infused With The Flavor Of Real Irish Cream
Want to really spoil Santa this year? Swap your usual milk and cookies for Baileys’ boozy holiday cookies. That’s right, Baileys Original Irish Cream has partnered with New York City's Funny Face Bakery on a pack of holiday cookies that are infused with the flavor of the popular cream liqueur. Only available to those 21+, the Baileys Swap the Small Talk Pack features seven decadent cookies perfect for snacking. And they’re described as being ultra-dunkable when paired with one of Baileys holiday cocktails.
In the pack, you’ll find iced sugar cookies adorned with cheeky sayings like “ILY Grandma but don’t f**king touch my Baileys” and “All I want for the holidays is dual income, no kids, & a glass of Baileys.”
This Popular Chef's Restaurant Is Serving A Toasted S’mortini That’s The Coziest Drink You’ll Sip All Season
It’s not often that I get to talk about my favorite restaurants here in Atlanta on LUSHWORTHY, so I’m super excited to highlight one of my faves: Marcus Bar & Grille. Although the Marcus Samuelsson-owned restaurant is known for a drink menu filled with fruit-forward cocktails inspired by the Southeast and the Caribbean, they’re getting a little cozy with a new sip. Just in time for the holiday season, Marcus Bar & Grille has introduced its new Toasted S’mortini, a cocktail that’s incredibly dessert-forward.
Described as a “decadent, fireside-ready sip that tastes like grown-up s’mores in a glass,” the Toasted S’mortini is an inviting combination of New Amsterdam Vodka, chocolate liqueur, Kahlúa and cream.
Aperol’s New Winter Merch Collection Is The Perfect Companion For Spritz-Fueled Après-Ski Weekends
If you’re stumped on what to get your Aperol Spritz-loving friend for the holidays, you’re in luck because Aperol just dropped a winter merch collection that’s loaded with cold-weather crowd-pleasers. Seriously, there are at least four things I know I want (hello, thermal leggings). The winter merch drop is just one component of the first-ever Aperolidays, a modern celebration that brings Aperol's signature Italian aperitivo culture to year-end celebrations.
Among the standouts in the colorful merch collection are a cozy navy crewneck ($60), an adorable Aperol Spritz keychain coin pouch ($35) and a knit scarf that’s guaranteed to take your après-ski ‘fit to next levels ($30).