Melon Cooler: Quench your thirst, smack your lips and splendor over the summer flavor of this colorful libation that has a sublime, sweet flavor to it.
Ingredients: 4 cups fresh cantelope-cubed, 1/4 cup white sugar, 1 cup cold water, 8oz. vodka,ice cubes, q small orange sliced into wheels (rounds).
Preparation: cut up the cantelope into cubes of equal size, place in food processor or blender. Add the sugar, and pulse until the two ingredients are smooth and blended. You may need to scrape down the sides of the blender jar while processing. Pour the mixture into a 2 qt. pitcher. Add the water, vodka and ice cubes to the pitcher, making sure to stir the contents to blend.
Pour into a collins glass, garnish with orange wheel.
Sweet Texas Heat: (courtesy of Texas Monthly Magazine). I read the recipe for this libation, and knew Ihad to share it with you. It's definately a manly-man libation well suited for Father's Day.
Ingredients: 3-large jalepeno peppers-seeded, 2oz. jalepeno infused Silver Tequila, 1/3 kiwi-peeled and sliced, 6 fresh mint leaves, 3/4oz. ginger syrup, 3/4oz. fresh squeezed lime juice, 1oz. 7-Up.
Preparation: 4 hours prior to mixing-add two of the seeded jalepenos to the tequila. In a 16oz. mixing glass muddle the mint, kiwi, lime juice and ginger syrup, Add the 2oz of peppered tequila and shake vigorously. Strain into a Collins glass filled with ice and add the 7-UP.
Herbal Iced Tea: June is Iced Tea Month. Tea provides a wonderful base for additional flavoring-be it fruit, or flower. One of our favorite ways to increase the refreshment value of iced tea is to add fresh mint to the tea, or fresh rosemary.
Ingredients: approx 6 teabags per half gallon of tea. 6 fresh mint sprigs about 5 inches long,  or 3 six inch sprigs of Rosemary. Add herbs and tea bags to the water, bring water to a boil for approximately 5 minutes, let cool. Strain tea into a pitcher filled with ice. You can substitute sweet basil for the mint or rosemary.
The Belmont Stakes—in celebration of the 141st running of the Belmont—libation named after this famous horse race!
Ingredients: 1.5oz premium vodka, 1/2oz. gold rum, ½ oz.strawberry liqueur, 1/2oz. fresh lime juice, dash of grenedine. Orange wheel.
Preparation: Pour liquid ingredients-except grenedine into a shaker filled with ice, shake, pour into a cocktail glass and add a very small splash of grenedine. Garnish with orange wheel.
Artic Blast: here’s a whistle wetter as cold as Alaska in winter. I am sure you vodka fans will enjoy. Ingredients: 1.5 oz. vodka, ½-1 oz. lemon vodka. ½ oz. Crème de Menthe!
Preparation: In a mixing glass filled with ice, pour in the liquid ingredients, stir well, stain and pour into a cocktail glass filled with ice!
Mango Morning: A great way to celebrate the warmer weather-with a family friendly, healthful libation sure to have you smacking your lips!
Ingredients: 2 cups ripe mango, peeled, pitted and chopped, 1 cup passion fruit syrup, 1/2 cup whole milk, 8 ice cubes.Â
Preparation: In a blender, add all ingredients, blend for approximately 20-30 seconds (or until smooth) and pour into 8 oz. tumblers. Makes approx. 3--8oz. servings.Â
The Buck Fizz: Â Â A toast to mothers everywhere! Here's a twist on the Mimosa cocktail, known as Buck's Fizz!
Ingredients: 2oz. fresh squeezed orange juice, 4-6 oz. of good champagne.
Preparation: In a chilled flute, add the orange juice, then gently pour in the champagne. Toast mom and make her proud you’re her kid!
The Cocktail That Landed T.R. In Court!
It’s the run for the roses today—134th Kentucky Derby—the traditional libation is the mint julep. Easy to make, and smooth to drink. Here’s a great way to toast your pick from this year’s line-up.
Ingredients: 4oz.kentucky bourbon or whiskey. 1tsp. Simple syrup (1cup water,2 cups sugar—bring water to a boil, remove from burner-stir in sugar til it dissolves—let cool, then use). 4-6 mint leaves.
Preparation: In a julep glass or collins glass filled with crushed ice-add liquid ingredients, stir until the glass becomes frosty, then add mint leaves—allowing them to hang over the rim of the glass. Option: add a splash of soda water.
Don’t forget the straw!
The Classic Hot Toddy:ÂDid some research about Hot Toddy’s and discovered that they originally were used in the 18th century as a way of making Scotch Wiskey more palatable to women. Since then, used as a medicinal remedy for colds and flu, as well as a relaxing hot adult beverage. The classic toddys feature a base of hot water, coffee, lemonade, married with a spirit of some sort, some spices and citrus juice. Here’s the classic recipe:
Ingredients: 3-oz. hot liquid (water, coffee,lemonade), 1.5 oz. spirit-rum, brandy, whiskey, scotch. ½ teaspoon of lemon juice, 1 teaspoon honey, a pinch of either clove or cinnamon.
Preparation: Heat the base liquid to steaming hot. In a heated mug, add the base liquid, the liquor or brandy, lemon juice, stir in the honey so that it melts, then add the clove or cinnamon. Drink it while it’s still as hot as you can stand it. And feel better soon!
The Tropicale: With all of the sunshine in the forecast this weekend-thought it only right to celebrate with something lively, tropical and tasty! This is the Tropicale!
Ingredients: 1/2oz. creme de cassis (black currant flavored liqueur), 1/2oz. peach schanapps, 2oz.cranberry juice, 2oz.freshly squeezed orange juice,1/2 oz. lemon or lime juice.
Preparation: Fill a collins glass with ice, add all the ingredients, gently stir.
Easter Punch:ÂA recipe the entire family can enjoy!
Ingredients: 12 cups pineapple juice, 1 cup lime juice,1.5 cups lemon juice,7 cups ginger ale
3 cups club soda,3 cups orange juice,Up to 2 cups of sugar,1 big block of Ice or bag of Ice Cubes
Preparation: Pour liquid ingredients into a punch bowl or beverage cooler filled either with a block of ice or ice cubes, stir mixture gently and enjoy. Adults might want to add something else into their cups of punch.
Makes 35-8oz servings
The Jack Rabbit: Easter is on the way, here's an unusual Libation incorporating, of all things, maple syrup! Ingredients: 1.5oz. applejack, 1/4oz. fresh squeezed orange juice,1/4oz. fresh squeezed lemon juice
1/4oz.maple syrup,ice cubes,orange peel twist.
Preparation: In a shaker filled with ice,Add liquid ingredients,Shake and pour into a chilled cocktail glass
Rainy Sunday---a libation we could get used to here in the NW. Seeing how tomorrow is expected to be a sloppy, wet Sunday
Ingredients—2oz. vodka, 2oz.gin, 3oz. orange juice, 3oz. grapefruit juice, 1tsp. Simple sugar, dash of orange flower water. Grapefruit and orange sections.
Preparation: In a shaker filled with cracked ice, add all liquid ingredients, shake, pour into a double old fashioned glass filled with ice. Add orange and grapefruit sections for garnish. The Red Face:ÂTo hearld the advent of Spring, here's a sprightly concoction that combines the tartness of Tequila and cranberries!
Ingredients: 1.5oz. Silver Tequila, 1tsp. cranberry liqueur, 4oz. cranberry juice, lime wedge, ice.
Preparation:Â In a highball glass filled with ice, add the tequila, liqueur, cranberry juice and stir. Add the lime wedge for garnish.
Paddy O' Cocktail: Just in time for the "wearin' o' the green", is a sprightly libation for the day when we're all Irish!
Ingredients; 1.5oz. Irish whisky,1.5 oz Italian vermouth, 1 dash of bitters,ice, lime peel twist.
Preparation:In a shaker filled with ice, add the liquid ingredients, shake and strain into a rocks glass. Add the lime peel twist-unless you WANT to get pinched!
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Jamaica Glow:Â The beautiful sunrises we're experiencing right now inspired me to find a drink that mirrored the early morning sky colors. This is a cocktail that does that.
Ingredients: 1.5oz. gin, 1/2oz. dry red wine, 1/2oz. dark rum, 1/2oz. fresh orange juice, orange peel twist.
Preparation: In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add the liquid ingredients, shake vigorously, strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with an orange peel twist.
Mandy's Cure: Still in the midst of cold-flu season. Here's a family friendly concoction that packs a whollup of Vitamin C, and tastes great too. If you want to make it "all adult", just add 1oz. of gin.
Ingredients: 4oz.cranberry juice, 4oz. pink grapefruit juice, 1oz. freshly squeezed lime juice, lime wheel.
Preparation: In a collins glass or tumbler, add ice, all liquid ingredients, stir and garnish with the lime wheel.
Cherry Fizz-February is National Cherry month, and Oregon is one of the leading states in the production of the marischino cherry. Here's a libation that combines both of these sweet ingredients for a delightful repast.
Ingredients: 4oz. of NON-diet cola, 1oz.cherry brandy, 1/2oz. maraschino liqueur, ice cubes,marischino cherry for garnish.
Preparation: Pour each of the liquid ingredients into a highball glass, stir well and add the marischino cherry for garnish.
Mr.Barbecue's Smokin' Love Potion!ÂAn annual Valentine's Day tradition, is to trot out this romance inducing elixar. It's sure to knock her socks off, the rest of the clothing is your responsibility.
Ingredients: 2oz. Citron vodka, 1oz. Cointreau, 2oz. cranberry juice, ½ oz. fresh squeezed lime juice and a lemon peel twist.
Preparation: In a shaker filled with ice-add all liquid ingredients, shake, strain into a cocktail glass and add the lemon peel twist. OPTIONAL! Before you pour in the libation, take a little red food coloring, mix into some table sugar, and lightly rim the glass with the red sugar! Love Potion#2 should knock her socks off! The rest of the clothing is up to you!
Grapefruit Sparkle: February is National Grapefruit month. Here's a family friendly libation that's sure to add some sparkle to your taste buds!Â
Ingredients: 2oz. fresh squeezed grapefruit juice,2oz.fresh squeezed orange juice
1oz.cranberry juice,4oz.ginger ale,1 orange wheel
Preparation: Pour fruit juices into a shaker filled with ice.
Shake, pour into an ice-filled collins glass, add ginger ale, stir and garnish with the orange wheel.
Super Bowl Cocktails:Â Here are cocktails to provide some spirit for watching the "Big Game" no matter what side you're rooting for. (courtesy of the Portland Examiner)
Red Cardinal Colada
Ingredients:Â1 oz. Raspberry Vodka,1 oz. Triple Sec,1 oz. raspberry liqueur,2 oz. cranberry juice, 6ice cubes.
Preparation: In a blender, add ice cubes, and liquid ingredients. Blend until ice becomes a slush. Pour into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a frozen raspberry.
Stripped Steeler Martini
Ingredients: 1 ½ oz. Triple Shot Espresso Vodka,1 oz. coconut rum,½ oz. amaretto liqueur
Preparation: In a shaker filled with ice, add rum and amaretto, shake and pour into a martini glass. Then rinse out shaker, add vodka and ice, shake and gently pour into martini glass to add a new layer of liquid.
The Double Standard Sour:ÂWith all of the political scandals going on, I thought this cocktail represented how many of us felt about the current situation.
Ingredients: 1.5oz blended whisky, 1.5oz.gin, 1oz fresh lemon juice, 1tsp. grenadine, 1/2tsp.simple syrup, maraschino cherry and orange wheel.
Preparation: In a shaker filled with cracked ice, add all liquid ingredients and sugar. Shake, pour into a sour
glass. Garnish with the cherry and orange wheel.
Jamaican Coffee: All this damp, foggy weather has me Jonesan for a hot libation to ward off the cold. A little coffee, a little rum are the foundations to this fabulous warmer-upper. Jamaican rum which are darker and more aromatic than Puerto Rican rums. Use a brand like Meyer's Dark Rum in this libation.
Ingredients: 1oz. dark Jamaican rum, 6oz. hot coffee, 1oz Tia Maria, whipped cream, allspice.
Preparation: In a heated mug, add the Rum, Tia Maria and coffee. Stir. Float the whipped cream on top-about 1 teaspoon, add a light sprinkle of allspice as garnish. Sip n savor!Â
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Smith & Kerns (real name is Smith & Curran) This sultry cocktail found it's origins in the oil fields of North Dakota in the 1950s. Originated in the Blue Blazer Bar in Bismark. Two business partners-one an oil man, the other a geologist (Smith & Curran) challenged their favorite Blue Blazer bartender to come up with a sweet, but manly libation. The result is the S&K.
Ingredients: 2oz. creme de cacao (Kahlua may be substituted) 1oz sweet cream (or half and half), a splash of soda water.
Preparation: In a highball glass filled with ice, add the creme de cacao, the sweet cream and then the soda. Briefly stir to mix the ingredients, but not enough to dissapate the soda.
Tennessee Hottie: The cold, wet weather calls for a "warmer upper", and this one hits the spot. You can whip it up in a jiffy and thaw out. Better yet, make a bigger batch and pour into an insulated carafe or thermos to keep refills hot.
Ingredients: 2oz.Jack Daniels, 6oz.boiling hot water, 1/2 tsp.freshly squeezed lemon juice, 1tsp.honey, 1 cinnamon stick per serving.
Preparation: Boil the hot water, in a heated mug, add the Jack, lemon juice, honey. Slowly pour in the boiling water. Use the cinnamon stick to stir all ingredients. Leave cinnamon stick in mug for garnish.
Mulled Grape Cider: New Year's celebrations don't have to be entirely alcohol focused. Here's a wonderfully tasty non-alcohol, family friendly concoction that everyone can ring in the New Year with.
Ingredients: 12oz. grape juice concentrate-thawed, 4 cups water, 1 cup pineapple juice,1 cup apple juice,8 whole cloves, 2 cinnamon sticks.
Preparation: In a saucepan, combine all the ingredients and simmer on low heat for 15 minutes. Remove cloves and cinnamon sticks from saucepan. Pour into heated mugs or Irish coffee glasses. Toast in the New Year!
Tom & Jerry-A Holiday Classic! Dating back to the 1850s, mixology history confirms that Jerry Thomas, head bartender of the Planter's House Hotel in St.Louis is responsible for the creation of this now classic libation. Remember-making it fresh is better than using preservative laden pre-made batter.
Ingredients: (per 2 servings) 1 egg,seperated, 2oz.dark rum, 2oz.brandy, 12oz. hot milk, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, pinch of cinnamon, pinch of nutmeg, pinch of cloves,pinch of ground allspice.
Preparation:in a bowl, whisk the egg yolk with the rum and brandy. In a seperate bowl, whisk the egg white with the sugar and spices until stiff. Fold the egg white mixture in with the rum and brandy mixture
and divide in half. Pour mixture into 2 mugs, and add 6 oz. of the hot milk to each mug. Stir until foamy.
Mr.Barbecue's Hazelnut Anti-Freeze--In preparation for the bitterly cold weather expected this weekend and beyond-here's a Mr BBQ classic cocktail-The Hazelnut Anti-freeze, an Oregon inspired warmer-upper with a nutty little twist!
Ingredients: 6oz. hot gourmet coffee, 2oz.dark rum, 1oz. Frangelico (Hazelnut liqueur),1tsp. brown sugar, whipped cream.
Preparation: brew the coffee. In a heated mug or Irish Coffee glass, add the rum and Frangelico, stir in the brown sugar, top with the whipped cream.
Hot Cranberry Orange Cider—one of my favorite holiday flavors-cranberries and orange. Love em for muffins, pancakes, waffles, bread loaves! Here's a family friendly warmer-uppe, or for an adults only version-add Spiced Rum or Vodka.  However, don't add the booze, until you're ready to serve this drink.
Ingredients: 4 whole cloves,3 cups cranberry juice cocktail,4 allspice berries,1/4 cup packed light brown sugar,4 star anise pods,1 small orange, sliced into rounds,1 cinnamon stick,5 cups fresh apple cider.
PREPEARATION:Â Place cloves, allspice, anise pods and the cinnamon stick into a cheesecloth bag and tie closed. Combine cider, cranberry juice, brown sugar, most of the sliced orange and spice bag in a large, non-reactive saucepan. Bring to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally. Simmer partially covered for 10 minutes, remove from heat and allow to cool. Let mixture stand for 30 minutes, remove the orange slices and spice bag. At this point you can add either Rum or Vodka if you so desire. Makes 8 to 10 servings. Or chill it down with ice! Cranberry-Rum Punch: Sweet and tart are the wonderful flavor profiles of this holiday themed punch. This recipe is enough to make 10-6oz. servings.
Ingredients: 2 cups red wine, 1 cup spiced rum, 1 cup vodka,1 cup cran-raspberry juice, 1/2 cup red and green grapes-sliced in half, 3/4 cup fresh-thawed cranberries, 1 orange sliced into rounds, 1 lemon sliced into rounds, 1 lime sliced into rounds, 1 block of ice to fit punch bowl.
Preparation: In a large punch bowl, add the wine, rum, vodka, cran-raspberry juice and gently stir. Add the block of ice, gently pour in the grapes and fresh cranberries, then float the citrus slices on top.Â
Cheer the most wonderful time of the year!
The James Bond--in honor of the new 007 flick (I miss Sean Connery!), here's a libation named for the famed sauve spy!
Ingredients: 3/4 oz. vodka, 1/4 oz. Lillet (an apratif wine made from wine,brandy and quinine). 1 sugar cube,5oz champagne, lemon twist.Â
Preparation: in a champagne flute, place sugar cube at bottom. Add the vodka and lillet. Slowly pour in the champagne and add the lemon twist.
Apple-Cinnamon Slurp. This is very much a fall classic cocktail, utilizing two very autumnal-like ingredients-apple schnapps and cinnamon.
Ingredients: 1.5oz. vodka, 1/4oz. apple schnapps,2oz.apple cider, 2oz.guava juice, cinnamon, 1 egg white, sugar and Angostrura bitters.
Preparation: In a tall collins glass filled with ice, add the vodka, schnapps, apple cider and guava juice. In a separate glass: add the egg white, 3 tsp. each of Cinnamon, sugar and bitters. Froth up with a swizzle stick, then gently pour into the Collins glass. You’ll be slurpping these up for sure!
The Bourbon Fix : Helping to commemorate this auspicious day in 1789 when Elijah Craig distilled the first bourbon made from corn in Bourbon county, KY. Craig, by the way, was a minister-talk about dual spirits!
Ingredients: 2 oz. Kentucky Bourbon, 2 tsp. water, 1 tsp. superfine sugar, 1 tsp. fresh lemon juice, crushed ice, ice cubes, marischino cherry, lemon slice.
Preparation: In a shaker half filled with ice-add the water, sugar, lemon juice. Shake and strain into an old fashion glass filled with ice. Add the bourbon and gently stir. Garnish with cherry and lemon slice and toast Elijah Craig's wonderful product.
The Eighth Ward: Legend has it that this cocktail was inspired by Boston's political machine in the 8th ward. Whatever. Let's at least toast the fact that we have a right to vote in this country. I DO HOPE you have exercised your right and privilage this election year.
Ingredients:2oz. bourbon or rye whisky, 1oz. fresh squeezed orange juice, 1oz. fresh squeezed lemon juice, dash of  grenedine, orange and lemon slice, ice.
Preparation: In a shaker filled with ice, add all of the liquid ingredients, shake, strain and pour into an old fashion glass filled with ice. Garnish with lemon and orange slice.Â
Tennessee Toddy: In honor of the 20th Annual Jack Daniel's Invitational World Championship BBQ contest, here's a sweet libation that a tummy warmer too! Great for a cool fall afternoon or evening.
Ingredients: 1.5oz. Jack Daniels or Gentleman Jack, 1 tsp. honey, 1/2 tsp. fresh squeezed lemon juice, 6oz. boiling water, cinnamon stick.
Preparation: Get the water a boilin', in a heated mug, add the Jack Daniels, honey and lemon juice. Pour in the boiling water and stir. Add the cinnamon stick, stir and sip.
Spiced Orange Refresher----courtesy of Imbibe Magazine—Sweet n Spicy. A delightful blend that is great for the holidays.
Ingredients---1.5oz gin, 1oz. spice syrup, 1oz. blood orange juice-fresh squeezed,(Spiced syrup ingredients) peel of 1/2 orange, peel of 1/2 lemon, 1 tablespoon fresh ginger-minces, 1/2 cinnamon stick, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 clove, 6 black peppercorns-cracked.
Preparation: In a sauce pan, add the spiced syrup ingredients-and bring to a boil over high heat. Simmer for 5 minutes-uncovered, allow to cool and refridgerate.
In a highball glass filled with ice, add 1 oz. of spiced syrup, 1 oz. of gin and 1 oz of freshly squeezed blood orange juice,
Black Stripe: We're getting into the cooler time of the year-when a hot libation hits the spot. Warms our tummies and our spirits. Here's a sweet sipper with a little spirit to it!
Ingredients: 2oz. dark rum, 1 tablespoon molassas, 1 teaspoon honey, 2-4oz. boiling water (or you can substitute black coffee), 1 lemon twist.
Preparation: Get water boiling or make the coffee. In to an Irish Coffee glass add the rum, molassas, honey. Pour in hot water or coffee, gently stir. Add a lemon twist for garnish!.
The Apple Sauce:Â Â Â ÂOctober is Applejack month, (apple brandy made from apple cider aged in wooden casks for up to 5 years-smoother and more well rounded than French Calvados.) This libation uses an very unusual canned good from your pantry!
Ingredients: (per drink) 4oz. sweet and sour mix, 3 oz. apple sauce (allow to drain in a strainer), 1oz. applejack, 1/4oz. triple sec, 12oz. ice cubes, small Braeburn apple wedge.
Preparation: Put ingredients into a blender, blend until the ice is broken up and slushy. Pour into a tall glass. Garnish with small apple wegde.Â
Apple Brandy Sour:Â Celebrating the birth of John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed today, with a tasty, pucker-up libation.
Ingredients: 2 oz. Calvados or apple jack, 3/4oz. orange juice, 1/2oz. simple syrup. apple peel twist.
Preparation: In a shaker filled with ice, add the liquid ingredients, shake virgorously and strain into a sour glass filled with ice. Add the apple peel twist.Â
Apple Splendor: Coolness in the air. Here's a great HOT libation to enjoy and toast the fall apple harvest.Â
Ingredients: 5 oz. cider, 2 oz. dark rum, 1 oz. maple syrup, ½ tsp. Lemon juice. Cinnamon sticks.
Preparation: In a saucepan, pour in all liquid ingredients. Heat to boiling point, but DO NOT BOIL! Pour into warmed mugs, add cinnamon stick.
Moscow Mule: Believe it or not, vodka didn't become a popular cocktail ingredient until after Prohibition
This concoction was created in Hollywood-and first served to actor Brodrick Crawford-of Highway Patrol fame.
What's interesting-is that the cocktail came about when a bartender was trying to get rid of excess merchandise that lay dormant in his bar basement-hence the combining of the 2 major ingredients for this cocktail.
Ingredients:Â1.5oz. premium vodka, juice of 1/2 lime, 5oz. ginger beer, lime wedge, ice, mint sprig.
Preparation:ÂIn a highball glass-filled with ice, add the vodka, lime juice and then ginger beer. Gently stir and garnish with a lime wedge and/or mint sprig.
Lemon-Berry Refresher: New research indicates that raspberries-either frozen or fresh--are rich in antioxidents-vitamin C and of course that wonderful, tart raspberry flavor. Here's a melding of lemonade and raspberries-great for the whole family.
Ingredients: 1.5 cups softened lemon sorbet or sherbert, 1/2 cup fresh or frozen raspberries, 2oz. cranberry juice, 6oz. chilled sparkling or carbonated orange beverage.
Preparation: Place the sorbet/sherbert, raspberries and cranberry juice into a blender. Blend until smooth. Add the carbonated orange beverage to the blender and run a few more seconds to mix. Pour into a ice filled beverage glass. Garnish with small orange wheel or a couple of whole raspberries.
The Hurricane: They dominate the news this week-here's a whistle wetter that brings a force five of flavor!
Ingredients:Â1.5 oz. dark rum, 1.5 oz. light rum, 1oz passion fruit syrup, 1tsp. fresh lime juice,orange peel twist.
Preparation: Fill a shaker with ice, add liquid ingredients. Shake three times, pour into a chilled cocktail glass, toss in orange peel twist.
Rum Collins: It's National Rum Day! Do a little historical research, and you'll find that rum, is one of the beverage foundations of America. Even George Washington distilled his own rum at Mt. Vernon. Here's a tasty rum based cocktail sure to help cool you down!
Ingredients: 1.5 oz of light or gold rum, juice of one lime (fresh squeezed), 1 tsp. simple syrup, 6oz. club soda, ice, lime twist for garnish.
Preparation: In a collins glass, add the ice, rum, simple syrup, squeeze the lime juice into the glass, stir, add the club soda and then add the lime twist for garnish.
Tequilla Mockingbird: Get it? A play on words! Tequilla, mint and lime all combine to provide a great cooler for a hot August day or night. Be sure to use premium Tequilla for the best flavor.
Ingredients: 2oz. silver tequilla, 1/2oz. white creme de menthe, 1oz fresh squeezed lime juice, lime wheel
Preparation: In a shaker filled with ice, add the tequilla, creme de menthe and lime juice. Shake vigorously, strain into a chilled cocktail glass, garnish with the lime wheel.Â
Spicy Bog: In honor of National Mustard day, here's what is sure to be a spicy, flavorful concoction using, of all things, mustard as an ingredient! No, I have not yet tried this one. You first!
Ingredients: 4oz. champagne, 3oz. cranberry juice, 1oz. triple sec, 1tsp. cranberry mustard
Preparation:Âmix mustard, juice and triple sec together. Pour into a chilled champagne flute. Add the champagne and let this bog-gle your taste-buds.
Beachcomber: We continue our romp at the water this week with a "family friendly" libation-that uses an ingredient we're celebrating all during August-peaches.
Ingredients: 2oz. guava nectar, 2oz. peach nectar, 2oz. fresh lime juice, 1oz. raspberry syrup, 1/2 cup of ice cubes.
Preparation:Â Â In a Collins glass, add the ice, nectars and juice. Gently stir and savor the magnificant Pacific surf!
Shark Bite:Â It's almost a rite of Summer-the airing of JAWS. It's one of Mrs. BBQ's favorite flicks-she's seen it hundreds of times now. During this time of year-lots of folks enjoy the sun-sand and surf. Here's a lil' concoction to celebrate getting sand in your shorts and everywhere else!
Ingredients: 2oz. dark rum, 3oz. orange juice, 1oz. freshly squeezed lemon juice, 1oz. grenadine
Preparation: Fill a blender with crushed ice, add all the liquid ingredients, blend until smooth, pour into a chilled old fashioned glass. Watch out for sharks!
Banana-Berry Cooler: It's July and berries are at their peak! Here's a family friendly treat packed with flavor and nutrition. It's a cooler you'll feel good serving to your family and friends.
Ingredients:
4oz. chilled orange juice
2oz. chilled milk
1 ripe banana-peeled and quartered
1/4 cup fresh blueberries
1/4 cup fresh raspberriesÂ
Preparation:
Add all ingredients into a blender. Blend until smooth
Pour into a collins glass
Toast the bounty of summer and the benefit of berries!
Bourbon Milkshake: So the other nite, I'm sitting out on the patio with my Bar-B-Cutie and I get this hankering for a bourbon flavored milkshake. "Should be lots of recipes on the net," she says. Not! So we devised our own. Gotta admit I'm hooked! What a treat! But remember...for folks 21 and older please.
Ingredients:
6 ice cubes
2.5 cups premium vanilla ice cream
2 cups milk
1/4 cup bourbon (a sweeter tasting brand is best)
Preparation:
Put all ingredients into a blender and blend for about
20 seconds-to break up ice cubes and make a thick, smooth shake.
Pour into glass. Makes 3-6 oz. servings. Ohhh it's so yummy!
The Shingle Stain: Rum is actually related to the "Father of our country", George Washington, who distilled rum at Mt.Vernon. Here's a lively rum concoction that is sure to please!
Ingredients:
2oz.dark rum
1.5 cups ice cubes
1.5oz. cranberry juice
1/2oz. fresh squeezed lime juice
1/2oz. unsweetened pineapple juice
1/4oz. grenedine
2 dashes of bitters
1 mint sprig-garnish
Preparation:
Put everything except mint sprig into a cocktail shaker. Shake and pour (don't strain!) into a double old fashion glass. Add mint sprig for garnish.
The Heat Wave! Whoee! It's hot. What we need is a drink that will cool us down and refresh us too. Time to pop on Martha & The Vandella's and mix one of these bad boys up!
Ingredients:
1oz. gin
1/2oz. Campri
3oz. pineapple juice
1/4oz. fresh squeezed lime juice
Preparation:
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, add all the liquid ingredients. Shake 10 times.
Strain into a martini glass or small tumbler.
PB2Y2----Giving a nod to the famous Navy fliers who often frequented Trader Vic's in Oakland,CA, near the Alameda Naval Air Station. Vic came up with a slue of cocktails named after military aircraft. The PB2Y2 was
better known as the "Flying Boat"
Ingredients:
1.5 oz. light rum
1 oz. dark rum
1.5oz. orange juice
1/2 oz. orange curacao
1/4 oz. lime juice
3 cups crushed ice
Preparation:
Combine all liquid ingredients and ice into your blender. Pulse until all ingredients are uniformily combined.
Pour into a double old fashioned glass and garnish with pineapple wedge or orange slice. Classic Manhattan:
Ingredients:
2oz. rye whisky
1oz. sweet vermouth
1-2 shakes Angostura bitters
marischino cherry
Preparation:
In a shaker filled with ice, add the liquid ingredients. Shake to fox-trot time and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with the cherry.
The Hurricane:ÂHere's a libation that ought to stir things up! It's a whirwind of tropical flavors with a BIG kick!
The original concoction called for doubling the amount of rum. Do so at your own risk!
Ingredients:
1.5 oz. dark rum
1 oz. light rum
1.5 oz. fresh squeezed orange juice
1 oz. fresh lime juice
1 oz. fresh pineapple juice
1/2 oz. passion fruit juice
dash of bitters
lime wedge
pineapple wedge
Preparation:
Pour all liquid ingredients into a shaker filled with ice, shake vigorously, strain into an ice filled wine glass.
Garnish with lime and pineapple wedges.
The Classic White Russian:Â A little change of pace, this is a sweet cocktail with a kick! Nevertheless, this is an absolute classic on the cocktail scene.
Ingredients:
1.5 oz. premium vodka
1 oz. Kahlua
1 oz. cream (light cream works best)
Preparation:
In a shaker half filled with ice cubes, add all liquid ingredients and shake. Pour into a collins glass half filled with ice. Das vadonia!
Pacific Breeze. Pull out those loud Hawaiian shirts, pull on your shorts and enjoy this ocean inspired rum-based drink!
Ingredients: .5oz.light rum, ½ oz.apricot liqueur, 2.5oz.pineapple juice,1/2oz.fresh lime juice, 1/4oz. galliano. Lime wheel.
Preparation: In a highball glass filled with ice, add all of the liquid ingredients-except galliano. Gently stir. Float galliano on top, add lime wheel for garnish.
Turn up the music, fire up the grill and toast the good life!
The Bourbon Slushie!
On this date 1808-Elijah Craig-considered to be the "Granddaddy of bourbon" passed away. To honor Elijah, his contribution to the world of spirits AND help cool us down during these record breaking temperatures, here's a cooler especially for the 21 and older crowd.
Ingredients:
1.5 oz. premium bourbon
1 tsp. sugar
1 cup ice cubes
lemon wedge
marischino cherry
OPTIONAL!
Make a bourbon milkshake--substitute 1 cup of vanilla ice cream, and increase the
amount of bourbon to 2oz. Blend until thorougly smooth. Can it get any better than
that?!
Preparation:
In a blender, add ice, bourbon, sugar
Blend until smooth and frosty
Pour into a chilled tall glass
Garnish with lemon wedge and cherry
The Gin Rickey
This one dates all the way back to just after the Civil War--concocted by a notorious fellow by the name of Joe Rickey-who used to hole up in a dive in St.Louis. However, much to his credit, his legacy still stands at the bar today, with a libation that carries his last name, Rickey!
Ingredients:
1.5oz premium gin
1/2 lime, cut
1/4 oz. simple syrup-or-apricot brandy
6oz. soda water
ice
Preparation:
Fill a highball glass with ice
Squeeze lime juice into glass from 1/2 lime
Drop lime half into glass
Add gin and simple syrup or apricot brandy
Stir
Add soda water
The Bourbon Sling
Bourbon provides a wonderful foundation for many libations. Straight,mixed, blended, it's so versatile.
Here's a wonderful concoction sure to please.
Ingredients:
2.5oz bourbon
1/2oz. Southern Comfort
1/2 oz. fresh lemon juice
6oz. club soda
Preparation:
Place all ingredients, except club soda into a shaker filled with ice. Shake and pour into a highball glass
filled with ice. Top with club soda and garnish with a small lemon wedge.
The Apple Swizzle
Today marks the anniversary of the apple cider mill, invented in 1806 by Issac Quintard. Here's an apple inspired libation that's a little bit of a sweet treat.
Ingredients:
1/2 oz. apple brandy
1 oz. light rum
1/2 oz. fresh lime juice
2-4 dashes of bitters
1 teaspoon sugar
Preparation:
In an ice filled cocktail glass, add all liquid ingredients, stir and add either a lime peel twist or apple peel twist for garnish.
The Leperchaun Soda
The ultimate "Green" Libation! Family friendly, this one is a wonderful thirst quencher you can enjoy any time of year.
Ingredients:
1.5 oz. Rose's Lime Juice
6 oz. Club soda or soda water
1 lime wedge or peel twist
ice cubes
Preparation:
In a collins glass, add ice cubes, lime juice and top with club soda. Mix and add garnish. Yummy!
Paddy O' Cocktail Say Erin Begorah! The luck o’ the Irish to ye all!
Ingredients: 1.5 oz Irish Whiskey,1.5 oz. Italian Vermouth,1 dash bitters
Preparation: Put ingredients into a shaker filled with cracked ice,mix, stain and pour into a cocktail glass
add a twist of lime for color if you like
The Fog HornÂCenter around gin, derived from juniper berries and have been distilled since the 11th century. Gin’s origins go back to monks in Italy, which began using it for medicinal purposes! But it’s the Dutch who refined this elixer and give us the name gin from the Dutch word genever. Notice how foggy it’s been on the way to work many mornings, and believe it or not, this type of weather has inspired this weeks Libation! The Fog horn!
Ingredients: 2oz. gin, ½ oz.fresh squeezed lime juice,5oz.ginger ale or ginger beer.
Preparation: Pour gin and lime juice into an old fashioned glass filled with ice
Gently stir in the ginger ale or ginger beer and garnish with a lime wedge.
Variation—can substitute lemon juice for the lime juice.
The Leap Year
2008 is one of those rare years, calendar-wise, where February gains an extra day, and a special cocktail to celebrate it. The Leap Year!
Ingredients:
2oz. gin
1/2 oz. Sweet Vermouth
1/2oz. Gran Marnier
dash of fresh lemon juice
Preparation:
In a shaker filled with ice, add all liquid ingredients, shake, strain into a cocktail glass, garnish with a lemon peel twist, and propose a toast! .
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