
why do i think that? a couple reasons. first? i had to wait months for my birchbox subscription/membership, but juli accepted me right away. second? i don't think they're 100% buttoned up yet. (they're still figuring out their store situation, and there was a slight problem with one of their mixipes.)
i have no fear that they'll get there. or that others won't follow my tipsy lead and get their own subscription/membership. and in the meantime, i can enjoy my hand-selected drinking adventures regardless.
see, juli curates monthly cocktail deliveries. you get all the spirits and mixers you need to make 4 drinks (2 of each mixipe included). plus, if you need anything else like fresh herbs or fruit, you get an email reminder to grab them before your box arrives. so you can enjoy as soon as the box hits your doorstep (or in my case, the ups at 325 houston where i have to pick mine up).

now, as you know, i don't like gin. but i liked this fine. it reminds me of a cocktail i've had at single brothers. no, not the infamous and beloved "old girl." the champagne and st germain one that's called a french-something-or-other.
which is interesting, because the bramble 75 is based on the french 75.
it's also supposed to be pink in honor of breast cancer month. i'm all for honoring breast cancer. but does that >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
look pink to you? kinda purple, if you ask me. so, perfect for pancreatic cancer month.
this recipe is the one where juli kinda fucked up. i got an email to get lemons, blackberries and cinnamon sticks for this box. and this recipe called for the juice of half a lemon, but never told me what to do with it. so, as i do, i winged it.

3/4 oz* hendrick's gin (included)
3/4 oz* chambored black raspberry liqueur (included)
1/2 bottle** mionetto prosecco (included)
the juice of half a lemon
a lemon twist
blackberries (optional)
ice
shaker
wine or champagne glass (i chose to use a czech crystal tumbler because i never have reason to pull them out)
*3/4 oz is like half an airplane bottle.
**you have eyeballs. eyeball it.
what i actually did was shake the gin and chambored with the lemon juice and poured over ice. then i poured in half the bottle of prosecco. i was kinda hesitant to shake a bubbly — just saying, juli.
i liked it. both glasses of it. despite my gin-dislike. it even came with a cute toast: "may all your joys be pure joys, and all your pain champagne."
there's also supposed to be a video online of how to make each collection. collection #2 must be coming soon, as i've only seen collection #1. the video might clear up what to do with the lemon juice. hell, the lemon juice could have been a typo and i didn't need it at all.

i liked this one better. probably mainly for it's lack of gin. or because it was second and my cheeks were already a little pink. or because i really enjoyed playing with the cinnamon stick — ALSO probably because my cheeks were already a little pink. (i even googled how to harvest cinnamon. cinnamon is a tree. i don't think i ever really thought about that.)
this one: also not pink. but it was seasonally right on. added bonus: as a "sling" it could be served hot OR cold. juli seemed to suggest cold. but i bet it would be pretty good hot. and a hot bevvie would be so clutch in this fledgling cold weather.
the toast: "may your house always be too small to hold all of your friends." (not hard in my new yourk.)

3/4 oz basil hayden's 8 year old bourbon (included)
3/4 oz domain de canton ginger liqueur (included)
1 oz martinelli apple juice (included)
the juice of half a lemon (this time i was told what to do with it)
lemon peel
cinnamon stick (optional)
ice
shaker
rocks glass
so yeah, you dump the spirits and juices in a shaker over ice, shake, and strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice. garnish with lemon peel and optional cinnamon stick.