It’s no secret around here that I am a huge fan of my alma mater, UVA, and it has been especially exciting to see our football team off to such a great start this year! In college, I loved tailgating all the home games with my friends, and even though we didn’t win as often back then, we rarely missed a game. 

Fast forward six football seasons later, and my friends and I are equally as passionate about gameday—only now, we take our tailgate spread much more seriously. And that’s where America’s #1 cocktail mix brand, Master of Mixes, comes in. Their Big Buckets make game day cocktails easy and delicious—they’re the only cocktail bucket with a patented Dispensa-Rita spout for frozen or on-the-rocks cocktails! And, because of their portability, it’s easy to enjoy refreshing drinks whether you’re tailgating outside the stadium or having friends over for a watch party at home. 

To make my game day cocktails extra festive, I love using the Big Bucket Mango Mixer and the Big Bucket Blue Hawaiian Mixer as a nod to UVA’s colors—blue and orange. Master of Mixes Big Buckets come in a variety of tasty flavors, so it’s likely you can make these easy, festive drinks in honor of your school, too! (You may remember that I love using Big Bucket Margaritas in the summertime!)

To mix up the perfect Big Bucket, all you have to do is add 750ml of your favorite liquor to the bucket and freeze or refrigerate depending on if you want your cocktails frozen or on the rocks. After adding the liquor, I like to freeze my Big Bucket, and then set the bucket out for about an hour or two before my friends arrive so we can use the easy serving spout to enjoy the perfect slushie drink. 

Pair your delicious Master of Mixes drinks with your favorite tailgate snacks—I’m a sucker for fresh salsa and guac with chips!—and you’ve got a winning combination for game day.

Thank you to Master of Mixes for sponsoring this post. As always, opinions are my own. For more great cocktail recipe ideas, head to Mixology Pro.