Our Story
What started in a small Brooklyn apartment in 2019 has grown into a destination for creative cocktails and holiday treats that bring people together.
I’m Marine Ashychy, and I founded this site after years of hosting friends and family for every holiday imaginable. As a professionally trained chef, I spent years in restaurant kitchens perfecting dishes, but my real passion emerged when I started creating signature drinks for our celebrations. There’s something magical about serving a perfectly crafted Thanksgiving spritzer or watching guests’ faces light up when they try homemade Candy Cane Fireball Gummies.
After friends kept asking “Can you share that recipe?”, I realized there was a need for approachable, tested holiday beverage recipes that anyone could recreate at home. So I left my restaurant job and launched this blog to share that joy with a wider community.
Meet Our Team
Marine Ashychy – Founder & Head Recipe Developer
After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America, I spent 7 years working in professional kitchens across New York City, including a stint at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Manhattan. But I found my true calling in beverage creation combining my culinary training with a love for mixology and seasonal celebrations.
I develop and test every recipe that appears on this site, ensuring each one is not only delicious but also achievable in your home kitchen. My goal is simple: help you create drinks and treats that become the highlight of your gatherings.
When I’m not in the kitchen, you’ll find me exploring farmers’ markets in Brooklyn, hunting for unique ingredients to inspire our next seasonal creation.
Mouad Touil – Beverage Specialist & Cocktail Developer
Mouad is our resident mixology expert with 8 years of professional bartending experience across some of New York’s most celebrated cocktail bars. He holds certifications from the BarSmarts program and specializes in creating accessible versions of sophisticated drinks.
Mouad’s philosophy is that great cocktails shouldn’t require a fully stocked bar or professional equipment. He develops recipes that use common ingredients and simple techniques while delivering impressive, bar-quality results. From our Christmas Hot Chocolate Martini to our Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Martini, Mouad ensures every drink balances flavor, presentation, and practicality.
His specialty is transforming classic cocktails into holiday-themed masterpieces and creating innovative non-alcoholic options that never feel like an afterthought.
Emma Levesque – Senior Editor & Recipe Tester
Emma brings precision and clarity to everything we publish. With a journalism degree from Northwestern University and 6 years of experience in food media, she’s worked with major culinary publications ensuring recipes are clear, accurate, and foolproof.
As our senior editor, Emma oversees our testing process—she’s the person who makes sure that when you follow our recipe for Tequila Stardust Gummy Wands, it works perfectly the first time. She tests recipes independently from the developer, edits all our content for clarity, and adds those helpful tips that make the difference between good and great results.
Emma is also our resident troubleshooter. If something can go wrong in a recipe, she’s probably already encountered it and figured out how to prevent it so you don’t have to.
How We Develop Recipes
Every recipe on our site follows a rigorous 5-step process:
1. Concept & Research
We draw inspiration from seasonal celebrations, current beverage trends, and your requests. We research flavor profiles and test ingredient combinations.
2. Initial Development
Marine or Mouad develops the recipe, testing it 2-3 times and refining measurements, techniques, and presentation.
3. Independent Testing
Emma tests the recipe separately using only the written instructions no insider knowledge allowed. This ensures our directions are crystal clear.
4. Refinement
Based on Emma’s feedback, we make final adjustments to ingredients, timing, or instructions.
5. Final Approval & Photography
Marine gives final approval, and we photograph the recipe so you can see exactly what your finished creation should look like.
What Makes Us Different
Tested in Real Kitchens: We test using standard home equipment no professional bar tools required unless we tell you so upfront.
Seasonal & Celebratory Focus: We specialize in drinks and treats that make holidays special, from Thanksgiving to Halloween to Christmas.
Inclusive Options: We always consider non-alcoholic alternatives because everyone deserves to enjoy celebratory drinks.
Clear, Detailed Instructions: We don’t assume you know bartending terms or techniques. We explain everything step-by-step.
Accessible Ingredients: Most of our recipes use ingredients from regular grocery stores. If we call for something specialty, we’ll tell you where to find it or suggest substitutions.
What We Create
- Holiday Cocktails: Seasonal martinis, spritzers, and creative mixed drinks
- Festive Gummy Treats: From Candy Cane Fireball Gummies to Watermelon Jolly Rancher Rum Bites
- Non-Alcoholic Beverages: Sophisticated mocktails and family-friendly drinks
- Cream Sodas & Specialty Drinks: Unique creations like our Thanksgiving Vanilla Pumpkin Cream Soda
- Party-Ready Recipes: Drinks designed to impress guests without stressing the host
Our Promise to You
Every recipe we publish has been tested multiple times in real home kitchens. We use standard equipment, accessible ingredients, and provide clear instructions with helpful tips. Whether you’re making your first cocktail or your hundredth gummy recipe, we’re here to help you create something delicious.
Thank you for being part of our community. Your celebrations inspire us, your feedback makes us better, and your success stories are what keep us creating. Here’s to making every holiday a little more special one drink at a time.
Cheers,
Marine, Mouad & Emma