When we relocated from NYC to Middleburg, VA, during the pandemic, we didn’t know anyone in the new town that we would have the privilege to call home. It can be daunting moving to a new place and putting yourself out there to meet new people, especially when we had to at the time stay at least 6 feet away, but over the months we have started to get to know our Middleburg ‘neighbors’, and that has only continued to reinforce our love of our town. While we had hoped that Middleburg would be a vibrant location and melting pot of different cultures and backgrounds, it has been that and so much more. During a lady’s lunch, I met a fabulous new friend who gifted me a box of Colony Cocktails, a fantastic cocktail in a can company based out of our little town founded by husband and wife. I immediately fell in love with the ease of a delicious cocktail sans the mess at our own in-home bar and then fell in love with their story, and passion for giving back to our local community. The pillars of their business rings true for ours, at Recreational Habits, so as many great introductions happen in 2021, we slid into their DM’s to see if they would be interested in chatting with us about Colony Cocktails, their love of travel, hosting parties, their appreciation of jazz, and much more. While we haven’t had the pleasure of meeting our ‘neighbors’ yet, an evening spent sipping cocktails with them during the golden hour are definitely on our summer agenda.

Enjoy our fun conversation with Jessica and Philip Miller below, and be sure to order your box of Colony Cocktails here.

In 2017, you thought up the idea of Colony Cocktails, a beverage in a can that provides the consumer with a perfect cocktail when on the go, or when looking for convenience, what is special to you about a cocktail? What do cocktails represent to you/ what resonates with you about them? 

There is a bit of magic or alchemy in a cocktail that sets it apart from just a glass of wine or a beer. For those who are really into cocktail culture, there is also something deeply personal as well. From the types of bitters you choose, syrup or spirits infusions, all the way down to the garnish, it’s a journey of the tastebuds. We love experimenting and perfecting recipes to share with others but that’s not convenient if you find yourself away from the home bar. We also know there are people who may not want the stress of creating their own cocktails from scratch but want that crafted, mixology experience outside of a bar or restaurant. Colony Cocktails has given us the platform to share the cocktails we love with many more people!

Inspired by your travels to Rome, what are a few can’t miss tastes, attractions, etc. that one must experience when in Rome? 

The most important thing to do when in Rome is to walk everywhere. The places you will stumble upon, tiny shops and restaurants, make every corner of Rome feel like a small village you are exploring. Our best discoveries happened when we simply wandered down side streets and had no clear destination. You see the city as a local would and you don’t get caught up in the heavy tourist areas. We stumbled upon local farmers’ markets, small paper and leather goods stores and the most delightful cafe with only a few tables scattered in an alleyway that left us with the most wonderful memories. You cannot go wrong with food in Rome but the dishes that still haunt me today are Bucatini all’Amatriciana, Spaghetti Carbonara and Torta della Nonna. Grab a gelato after dark and walk over to the Colosseum - it is truly spectacular when it’s lit up. Most importantly, take a moment to experience the Italian “art of doing nothing”, or dolce far niente. As a culture, Americans are in a constant state of movement and rarely stop to simply do nothing. It was this act of slowing down and enjoying the world around us that shapes the core of our brand. 

Your website says, “Wine cocktails for spirited celebrations and vibrant living that give back with every sip,” can you talk to us about Sip to Give, where you have committed 10% of your profits to charities that are working to end hunger, such as FEEDING AMERICA and CITY HARVEST? We love that you have this initiative, what does it mean to you, especially during the pandemic? 

As a brand we believe in living vibrantly and the power of food and drink to draw people together. That was at the heart of our desire to create a line of cocktails. We know many people experience barriers preventing them from living vibrantly and the pandemic amplified this with over 50 million people living with food insecurity today. We were heartbroken to see the lines of people needing food for their families, many who had never experienced hunger before. We wanted to help in a way that would continue long after the pandemic by launching our Sip To Give program. Feeding America and City Harvest have the scale to reach large numbers of people in need but we also want to do more at a local level to help those in our community. 

Prior to starting Colony Cocktails, what were your go-to cocktails to make at home for guests when you were hosting? 

We’re not afraid to make someone’s favorite cocktail when entertaining but you also don’t want to be playing bartender all night. We make a Bourbon take on the Moscow Mule that is very easy to mix up for large groups but you can’t go wrong with the classic Martini! 

In the cocktail world, the art of the glass it is served in seems to be important, do you believe that, and why might that be outdated? 

While there are reasons why different drinks are served in specific glasses from keeping the proper temperature to surface area and ability to project the aroma of a drink, we don’t get precious when we are entertaining. Sometimes it’s just a matter of what’s safest when you have a young child and two large dogs wandering around - a rocks glass is a more practical option than a coupe. That all said, I love to collect different glassware and use it whenever possible, even if it’s just pouring a Colony Cocktail into one at the end of the day!

What are the keys to hosting a wonderful summer party or dinner gathering? 

Let’s start with the guest list! This is the time to bring people together and make new connections. I love my friends but when you keep bringing the same group of people together over and over, you lose a little magic - you want that spark of new energy that happens when people from different orbits collide. 

Now the lighting! Given it’s summer, avoid the mid-day heat and focus on that magic hour where the sky is just starting to give way to night. If you’re indoors, keep the lights low and add lots of little candles. Lower light forces people to lean in a little closer and who doesn’t look good in candlelight? 

Never cook above your comfort level and keep it simple. You don’t want to be stressed over the food while people are arriving. You should be relaxed the minute the first guest arrives so serve anything that can be prepared in advance or just order takeout! Passing foods family style encourages people to engage and mingle. And don’t clear the table too quickly! The best moments can happen as people linger around a table and start their after dinner drinks. You risk disrupting the moment and sending a signal that you’re ready for people to leave. 

A successful party should end with spent candles and a table in complete disarray. 

What is the best party you've ever been too, and why?

I’ve been to some memorable parties that rival Holly Golightly’s in Breakfast at Tiffany’s - one where I was talking to a possible Princess and there was impromptu flamenco dancing in the next room. 

While those parties give us stories we’ll never forget, my favorite gatherings are more intimate dinner parties that have that perfect mix of personalities sharing cheeky stories and half-whispered conversations. 

Do you think you will expand your product line in the future?

Absolutely. I’m consumed daily with what our next cocktails will be but also how we might expand the brand outside of just canned cocktails. 

We love your curated playlists! Will you be creating one for the summer? If not, what are you listening to this summer and what do you think music's role is when hosting or just at home with family? 

Thank you! We have put together some playlists for summer that we love! 

Music plays a huge role in our lives, we almost always have something playing unless we are asleep. Our friend just gave us a huge stack of old records we’ve been working through which has been such a gift. Music is paramount to setting a tone - whether it’s to slow down and decompress at the end of the day or get energized for a night out. For hosting, it’s the easiest way to create the right atmosphere for your guests. I’m a storyteller at heart and I’ll take every opportunity to remove people from the monotony of their daily lives - the right soundtrack is key to setting the scene. More often than not, we have jazz playing in the house - while we cook, when we are relaxing - it’s pretty much the soundtrack of our lives.