Sage Lime Tequila Smash

August is finally over, but you wouldn’t know it by the weather around here. So we’re going to make the transition to fall drinks very gradually, working our way through some Smashes. The Smash is a pretty loosey-goosey family of drinks that involve spirits shaken with herbs, and maybe fruit, and a bit of sweetener, and those are pretty much the only rules. Which means you can tailor one to match pretty much any weather or mood or anything else you want it to. A great transition drink. We’re starting this month with a Sage Lime Tequila Smash. – Andrew

Tequila Lime Sage Smash Cocktail Recipe / Liquorary for Oh So Beautiful Paper

Sage Lime Tequila Smash

2 oz Blanco Tequila
1 tsp Agave Syrup
1/2 Lime, Quartered
3-4 Sage Leaves

Muddle the lime, sage, and agave syrup in the bottom of a cocktail shaker. Add ice and the tequila, then shake well. Strain into a lowball glass filled with fresh ice and garnish with lime and more sage leaves.

Straining might be a bit tricky, since the lime shells can block up the strainer in your shaker. Be patient. And don’t worry if bits of lime and sage leaves make their way into your drink; they won’t hurt, and they’ll make the drink look fantastic.

Tequila Lime Sage Smash Cocktail Recipe / Liquorary for Oh So Beautiful Paper

This is a really light, cheerful drink, with lots of flavors that pop. The tequila and lime are bright and clear, with a subtle savory backbone from the sage. Fresh is important here; you can always cheat and throw in bottled lime juice or dried sage leaves but you’d be doing yourself a major disservice. Cold and refreshing, too, and easy to knock back. The Smash, unlike its cousin the Julep with its languid style, is meant to be consumed quickly.

Tequila Lime Sage Smash Cocktail Recipe / Liquorary for Oh So Beautiful Paper

Sage is a tricky herb to work with in cocktails and too much can easily overwhelm a drink with sharp savoriness. So it’s better to err on the side of too little, and add more, than too add too much at the start.

We’ll be back next week with another Smash with some bourbon, a perfect ingredient as our weather (hopefully) gets cooler.

(Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, where we’ve been posting our experiments before they make their way onto this column!)

Glassware by Liquorary

Photo Credits: Nole Garey for Oh So Beautiful Paper

Happy Long Weekend!

Happy Friday everyone! This was a quiet week on the interwebs – which was good, since things were a bit of a doozy on the personal side. It was Sophie’s first full week of preschool, and it’s always tough adjusting to a new schedule. I’m looking forward to a long weekend! But in the meantime…

Ralph Waldo Emerson Quote by Sycamore Street Press / Instagram

Hand Lettered Quote by Sycamore Street Press via Instagram

…a few links for your weekend!

This week on Oh So Beautiful Paper:

And Oh So Beautiful Paper on eBay:

That’s it for me this week! Check back later for this week’s cocktail recipe – I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, and I’ll see you back here on Tuesday! xoxo

How to Shop for Vintage Glasses

Whether you’re having a few friends over for pre-dinner drinks or hosting a full scale party, the perfect drink deserves the perfect glass. And if you really want to impress your guests, try serving them a drink in a beautiful vintage glass! They really just don’t make them like they used to anymore. Here are a few tips for how to shop for vintage glasses for your home collection in partnership with eBay!

How to Shop for Vintage Glassware / Oh So Beautiful Paper for eBay

Quintessential Shapes

It seems like cocktail glasses come in all shapes and sizes. But there are really only five key shapes that you need in your glassware cabinet: highball, lowball, cocktail,coupe, and flute.

A highball glass is tall and straight and perfect for summer drinks filled with lots of ice – like the classic Mojito. A lowball glass is your everyman glass and works for everything from the classic Old Fashioned to party-friendly Tiki recipes. Lowball glasses (also called rocks glasses) can be rounded or have straight sides. A cocktail glass (pictured above) is what you might think of as a classic Martini glass: a wide rim and angled sides that narrow to a slender stem. The coupe is a close cousin of the cocktail glass with a wide rim and rounded bowl. And a flute is the perfect way to enjoy champagne (and champagne cocktails) for special occasions!

How to Shop for Vintage Glassware: The Cocktail Glass

The classic cocktail glass / Photo Credit: Sweet Root Village for Oh So Beautiful Paper

Build Your Collection

The size of your glassware collection will depend on how often you entertain and your kitchen storage capacity. But I recommend trying to have at least 6-8 glasses in each of the main shape categories. Cocktail glasses and coupes are best for smaller gatherings, while highball and lowball glasses are perfect for backyard parties and larger get- togethers.

How to Shop for Vintage Glassware: The Highball

A colorful Highball

Color and Pattern

One of the best things about vintage glassware is the sheer variety of colors and patterns! Everything from floral motifs to fruit, silver rims to all-over gold, iridescent glass to frosted pastels. Don’t be afraid to pick something fun that reflects your personality – but stick to a consistent color palette so your collection looks cohesive.

How to Shop for Vintage Glassware: The Coupe

The Coupe

Crystal vs Glass

Leaded glass (aka crystal) was commonly used in glassware until the mid-twentieth century to both make the glass stronger (so they could make it thinner) and make it sparkle. But, despite what collectors might want you to think, when it boils down to it crystal isn’t any more special than non-leaded glass. Buy glassware because you love it, not because someone else tells you it’s fancy.

How to Shop for Vintage Glassware: The Flute

The Flute

Alternative Shapes

In addition to the five quintessential glass shapes, there are a few alternatives that you might consider for your collection. If you love beer, invest in a set of vintage Pilsner glasses. If you like to try different liqueurs, a set of small (1-2 ounce) cordial glasses might be right up your alley. Punch bowl and glass sets are great for large parties – you can make an entire bowl of punch and let your guests serve themselves all night! And when it comes to punch glasses, the smaller the better. The whole idea is that guests would drink from a small glass (3-4 ounces), making frequent trips back to the punch bowl where they could meet and mingle with other party guests. So fun!

How to Shop for Vintage Glassware: The Lowball

A rounded midcentury modern Lowball

I also pulled a few favorite vintage glassware selections from eBay in my Bottoms Up collection! So many gorgeous glasses!

This post was created in partnership with eBay. All content and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make Oh So Beautiful Paper possible!

Party Paper: Technicolor Party

As we say farewell to summer, let’s say it in technicolor!!! I’ve been feeling all things bold and vibrant lately and would love to throw an all-technicolor party, wouldn’t you? Bright marbled paper to wrap gifts, saturated watercolor cards for dessert bar signs, and some confetti to sprinkle in any and every corner that needs a little more of a POP! The real question is: How much color can you handle!? — Kelly

Party Paper: Technicolor Party Ideas / StudioDIY for Oh So Beautiful Paper

1. DIY Marbled Paper from PROPER

2. Triangle Party Cups from Oh Happy Day Shop

3. DIY Rainbow Triangle Bunting from Oh Happy Day

4. Confetti from Oh Happy Day Shop

5. Unicorn Card from Ashkahn

6. Watercolor Stationery Set from Violet Tinder