As summer nears its end and school starts up, one may be thinking it is also time to put away the cocktail glasses and prepare for the winter months ahead.  Not so.  Moët Hennessy strives to keep the spirit of summer alive. 

Earlier this summer 10 Cane Rum released a limited edition premium Mojito Kit in conjunction with Stirrings, the makers of Cocktail Mixers and Rimmers.  The 10 Cane Mojito Kit has been such a smash hit since its release, it disappears from shelves almost as soon as it is stocked.  The reasons are obvious. 

10 Cane Rum is a sensational find.  This premium rum is a cut above the rest and unlike traditional rums.  As Moët Hennessy defined it upon release; 10 Cane Rum is “rum’s redemption”.  This redemption goes back to the strict standards 10 Cane places upon itself from harvest to bottling the product.  10 Cane harvests in small batches (ten bunches of sugar cane stalks at a time), hence the name; 10 Cane.  This particular rum is distinctive in that it is made from the first pressings of the sugar cane stalks immediately after harvest.  Typical rums are made from the byproduct of sugar which we know as molasses.  10 Cane also uses imported pot stills for small batch, slow distillation.  Lastly, Limousin oak barrels age the rum to 10 Cane perfection.

Stirrings is a company started by two former bartenders living the dream of “great food and drinks, enjoyed with friends is an absolute.”  Sometimes one idea (a margarita rimmer using mint, cilantro, lime and sea salt) becomes a company; Stirrings.  Stirrings strives to lead people to think about their cocktails the same as they do their food: quality ingredients pave the way to exceptional experiences in the way of taste and in the memories we share with friends.  This is exactly what the pairing of 10 Cane Rum and Stirrings does with the premium Mojito Kit.

The Mojito’s popularity is clearly seen in its resurgence on cocktail menus across the nation.  In some cases the Mojito is completely crowding out the ever popular pink Cosmopolitan.  And forget about staying true to the traditional Havana Club Mojito of muddling mint, sugar cane and limes as the only way to go.  No.  Now the flavors of Mojitos are endless and no muddling is necessary.  With the pairing of 10 Cane Rum and Stirrings you may have your premium rum, flavor and ease of preparation, too!

I sampled this Mojito Kit and found it to be rather good for a bottled kit.  The 10 Cane Rum of course is one of my favorite rums for cocktails.  The flavor profile is excellent for Daiquiris and Mojitos particularly.  I wrote it up before in the Ultimate Mojito.  The Stirrings recipe on the bottle is a little sweet for my taste, but possibly not yours.  I always lean more towards the tart than sweet.  I definitely recommend squeezing the lime garnish into the cocktail.  The mint is not as defined as a muddled Mojito, but that is to be expected.  If you want a little more mint flavor, just bruise a mint leaf in your hand and drop it in.  The natural oils will disperse within the drink itself.  The point of this kit is ease.  It makes an excellent quick Mojito for friends, parties or sitting out on the deck relaxing without having to go through all the motions of making individual Mojitos the old-fashioned way.  The beauty of the bottle is you can work with the ratio to get exactly the taste you want for your cocktail.  In addition, Stirrings has a wide variety of other cocktail mixers that are equally as tasty with rimmers to add an additional punch of flavor.  Be sure to check them out.  You’ll be glad you did.  Stirrings is not your typical shelf mixer.  They are quality in a bottle.  10 Cane Rum choosing Stirrings as a pairing partner is testimony to that.

While the 10 Cane Rum Mojito Kit may not still be available on shelves near you, 10 Cane Rum is always available on a top shelf.  Stirrings may be found year round as well at a few retail locations and always online.  Below is the recipe from the bottle as well as a multitude of recipe ideas found at Stirrings using the Mojito Mixer and some of their other flavors to create more flavored Mojitos.  Cheers!

Simple Mojito

The Mojito is a cooling effervescent cocktail inspired by Havana’s blithe lifestyle in the 1920’s. While Hemingway’s Cuba is long gone, its spirit lives on in this sparkling blend of sugar, mint, and lime.

2 parts Stirrings Mojito Mixer
1 part 10 Cane Rum
2 parts Stirrings Club Soda

In a cocktail shaker, combine 1 part Rum, 2 parts Mojito Mixer and plenty of ice. Cover and shake vigorously. Add 2 parts soda water, mix gently. Pour contents into a cocktail glass and garnish with a wedge of lime and a sprig of mint.

Breezy Mojito - Submitted by: Jennifer Harris

A cool refreshing drink to enjoy with friends while sitting back on your deck enjoying the sounds of summer. This Mojito tastes like a minty treasure!

3 ounces of Stirrings Mojito Mixer
2 ounces 10 Cane Rum
dash of Stirrings Club Soda
3 mint leaves
1 cardamom pod

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add Mojito mixer, rum, and pour into a glass. Dash in Club Soda, and garnish with mint leaves, and a cardamom pod.

Grenada Mojito - Submitted by: Brian Powell

Super summer refresher for large groups

Stirrings Mojito Mixer
Pernod Liquor
Stirrings Authentic Grenadine
Stirrings Club Soda
10 Cane Rum
Stirrings Mojito Rimmer

Add one cap full of Pernod Liquor to and ice-filled tumbler. Shake and discard the Pernod. Add one shot (1.5 oz.) of 10 Cane Rum to the tumbler, 1-2 oz. of Stirrings Mojito Mixer, a jigger of Stirrings Genadine and shake. Add contents of the shaker into a (rimmed) tumbler, top-off with Stirrings Club Soda and garnish with a few sprigs of mint and a fresh lime.

Jade Mojito

The Jade Mojito is an even more tropical tasting version of this refreshing cocktail, with melon, mint and lime.

1 part Stirrings Mojito Mixer
1 part Midori
1 part 10 Cane Rum
2 parts Stirrings Club Soda

Combine all ingredients, except soda water, in a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour into highball glass filled with ice, top with soda water and stir.

Mango Mojito

Havana, meet the mango. This cocktail is made to beat the summer heat.

2 ounces 10 Cane Rum
1-1/2 ounces Stirrings Mojito Mixer

3/4 ounce Stirrings Mango Margarita Mixer
Mint Leaves

In a cocktail shaker, combine all ingredients and plenty of ice. Give it a serious shake and serve in your favorite highball glasses. Garnish each glass with 1 mint leaf.

Peach Mojito

A peachy twist on an already refreshing drink.

1 part Stirrings Peach Bellini Mixer
1 part Stirrings Mojito Mixer
1 part 10 Cane Rum
2 parts Stirrings Club Soda

Combine the first three ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour into a tall glass. Add Club Soda and stir gently.

Pear Mojito

2 parts 10 Cane Rum
2 parts Stirrings Pear Martini
1 part Stirrings Mojito
Splash of Stirrings Club Soda
Stirrings Pear Martini Rimmer Garnish
Fresh mint leaves

Serve over ice in a rocks glass with Stirrings Pear Rimmer® Garnish and fresh mint leaves.

Pomegranate Mojito

A refreshing pomegranate twist on summer's latest cocktail!

2 ounces 10 Cane Rum
1-1/2 ounce Stirrings Pomegranate Mixer
3/4 ounce Stirrings Mojito Mixer
Stirrings Mojito Rimmer

Rim highball glasses with Stirrings Mojito Rimmer. In a cocktail shaker, combine all ingredients and plenty of ice. Shake vigorously and pour into the rimmed glasses.

Raspberry Mojito - Submitted by: Laurie Nardone

Raspberry is sure to dazzle in this delicious take on the Mojito

2 parts Stirrings Mojito Mixer
1 part 10 Cane Rum
2 parts Raspberry-Flavored Seltzer
Raspberries

In a cocktail shaker, combine 1 part rum, 2 parts Mojito Mixer and plenty of ice. Cover and shake vigorously. Add 2 parts raspberry seltzer, mix gently. Pour contents into a cocktail glass and garnish with raspberries.

Teenie Weenie Bikini

Only 125 calories per drink

2 parts Stirrings Mojito Mixer
2 parts 10 Cane Rum
1-1/2 parts Stirrings Tonic Water
A squeeze of lemon

Combine ingredients in a highball glass with plenty of ice

In researching other reviews for 10 Cane Rum, I came across a fascinating and thorough review by Jack Bettridge on the Cigar Aficionado website.  This review was posted April 14, 2005 before 10 Cane Rum released nationwide.  He had quotes from the creator of 10 Cane Rum, distiller Jean Pineau.  One such quote I found especially interesting was Pineau’s inspiration behind 10 Cane: 

"I sucked on a cut cane in a field and decided that taste of raw sugar juice was what I ultimately wanted to bring to the spirit." 

After all, some semblance of the sugar cane in its freshest state is what we want out of our rum isn’t it?  If you have the time, read Jack Bettridge’s review, Rum’s Salvation? in its entirety.

Dirty Martini

The 70’s brings back memories of wood paneled station wagons, mood rings, platform shoes, discos, the Beatles, Star Wars, the Fonz and being a football fan, who could forget quarter back Joe Namath appearing in a Beautymist hosiery commercial wearing panty hose.  Since this is a liquor site however, I would be remiss if I excluded the cocktails of the 70’s. 

Cocktails from the 70’s have played as big a part in memory as bellbottom pants and the leisure suit.  Visions of Harvey Wallbangers complete with the tall bottle of Galliano hitting the back bar and surf boards come to mind.  Or how about freshly grated nutmeg atop a frothy Brandy Alexander?  But really, I would be negligent to leave out the Tequila Sunrise, Pina Colada, Grasshopper, Pink Lady, Stinger, Manhattan, Rob Roy, Pink Squirrel, Martini, Bacardi Cocktail, Old Fashioned, Merry Widow, Rusty Nail, Daiquiri, Paradise Cocktail, Bronx, and Side Car.  Then again there were also Cuba Libres, Salty Dogs and Grey Hounds, Screwdrivers, Gin and Tonics, and Tom Collins.  Let’s not forget the Slow Comfortable Screw that had a most descriptive and unique twist in the 1991 Michael J. Fox movie, Doc Hollywood.  While these cocktails were around sometimes decades before the 70’s they were all quite popular in the 70’s. 

Why do they come to mind at this moment?  Rhonda from California wrote in:

“Hey there!  You are a wealth of information!  I stumbled across your articles and I have a feeling I will be spending free moments…reading more.”

Rhonda goes on to tell me she is hosting a dinner party for her martini and margarita loving gourmet cooking club and wants to set the mood for a 70’s Cocktail Party theme.  She has already thought out a clever scheme of vintage cocktail glasses.  These have been collected for some time through yard and estate sales and thrift stores.  Ingenious!  People have been doing this mismatched place setting thing for ages with tea settings.  Why not try this with martini glasses?!  Stemware is gorgeous.  There is no rule that says it all has to match.  What an excellent way to keep everyone’s glasses distinctive without the need for stem markers and tags. 

When planning a party the quick thought is always party punch.  Punch leaves a hostess free to mingle with guests.  However, Rhonda’s idea leans toward the presentational.  She wants cocktails; trendy yet a throw back to the 70’s.  This does not bring to mind party punch.  My suggestion for Rhonda is the same as I do at my own parties.  I plan four or five cocktails and print them on a menu for my guest to browse.  Before the party I prepare the cocktail ingredients without ice in pitchers and refrigerate.  I also prepare all garnishes ahead of time.  That way when my guests arrive and make their cocktail choices, I am not measuring from three or four individual bottles and ingredients.  I make one pour from a pitcher and then shake and strain.  Their cocktail is perfectly measured and complete within seconds rather than being a time consuming chore.  As the hostess, I am free to enjoy my time with guests and still make fabulous cocktails.  I do not have to choose between the two.  I never have a punch bowl with dipper filled with a fruity red sugary punch.  My guests are treated to genuine glassware with unique garnishes and shaken cocktails.  With a little leg work and preparation your next cocktail party will be a memorable event rather than just another party that seems like everyone else’s. 

We cannot forget the recipes which is really what Rhonda wanted most.  A great cocktail stands tall or falls short with the recipe and the quality of ingredients you choose.  My article 21 Must Try Drinks covers recipes for the Bacardi Cocktail, Harvey Wallbanger, Manhattan, Martini, Old Fashioned, Rob Roy and Salty Dog.  Back to the Basics has a Paradise Cocktail recipe among others you may have never heard of.  There is a truly excellent Pina Colada recipe in Pina Colada with Punch, but this is served in a tall glass.  Nailing the Screwdriver covers just that along with the Slow Comfortable Screw.  To find variations on a Daiquiri look in Classic Cocktails Updated: Auntie Mame Style???  That one was particularly fun and may have something your guests have never tried before. 

What about the rest?  The list is vast… 

Merry Widow

Dash of Absente

2 ounces Gin

1/2 ounce Dry Vermouth

Dash of Angostura Bitters

Dash of Benedictine

Flamed Lemon Peel

Season a chilled martini glass with the Absente.  Toss once.  Set aside.  Combine remaining ingredients in cocktail shaker filled one-third with ice.  Shake gently.  Strain into the seasoned martini glass.  Garnish with the flamed lemon peel.

Alexander (Brandy)

1 ounce Gin or Brandy

1 ounce Dark Crème de Cacao

2 ounces Heavy Cream

Pinch of Freshly Grated Nutmeg for Garnish

Combine first three ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled one-third full of ice.  Shake well.  Strain into a martini glass.  Garnish with nutmeg.

Grasshopper

1 ounce Green Crème de Menthe

1 ounce White Crème de Cacao

2 ounces Heavy Cream

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled one-third full of ice.  Shake well.  Strain into a martini glass.

Greyhound

1-1/2 ounces Smirnoff Vodka

4 ounces Grapefruit Juice

Pour ingredients together in a highball glass filled with ice. 

Tequila Sunrise

1-1/2 ounces Plata Tequila

4 – 5 ounces Fresh Orange Juice

Grenadine

Fill a highball glass with ice.  Pour in tequila and then orange juice, leaving room to top off with a float (approximately 1/2 ounce) of grenadine.

Stinger

2 ounces Cognac or Brandy

1 ounce White Crème de Menthe

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled one-third full of ice.  Shake well.  Strain into an old-fashioned glass filled with crushed ice.

Sidecar

1 ounce Brandy

1 ounce Cointreau

3/4 ounce Fresh Lemon Juice

Flamed Orange Peel for Garnish

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled one-third full of ice.  Shake well.  Strain into an old-fashioned glass filled with crushed ice.  Garnish with the flamed orange peel.  * If served ‘up’ – strain into a small cocktail glass with a sugared rim.

Rusty Nail

2 ounces Scotch

3/4 ounce Drambuie

Fill an old-fashioned glass with ice.  Pour in scotch.  Float Drambuie on top.

Bronx Cocktail

1-1/2 ounces Gin

1/4 ounce Sweet Vermouth

1/4 ounce Dry Vermouth

1-1/2 ounce Fresh Orange Juice

Orange Peel for Garnish

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled one-third full of ice.  Shake well.  Strain into a martini glass.  Garnish with the orange peel. 

Tom Collins

1-1/2 ounces Gin

3/4 ounce Fresh Lemon Juice

1 ounce Simple Syrup / Bar Syrup

4 ounces Club Soda

Orange slice for Garnish

Cherry for Garnish

Shake the first three ingredients with ice and strain into a Collins glass.  Add the soda and stir.  Garnish with the orange slice and cherry.

Pink Lady

1-1/2 ounces Gin

1/4 ounce Grenadine

3/4 ounce Simple Syrup / Bar Syrup

1 ounce Heavy Cream

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled one-third full of ice.  Shake well.  Strain into a martini glass. 

Pink Squirrel

3/4 ounce Crème de Noyaux

3/4 ounce White Crème de Cacao

1-1/2 ounce Heavy Cream

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled one-third full of ice.  Shake well.  Strain into a martini glass. 

An excellent source guide for stories from behind the bar and back stories of the recipes is Dale DeGroff’s book The Craft of the Cocktail.  The recipes on this page are from his book.  A few recipes use a particular garnishing technique of ‘flaming’ lemon and orange peels.  Dale’s book describes step by step how to do this.  His website is found in my blogroll under King Cocktail.  I urge you to take a look. 

NOTES: passion fruit, orange, peach granita, champagne mimosa, star jasmine, tiare flower, ylang-ylang, honeysuckle, dewberry blossom, grenadine, violet leaf, vetiver, tonka, blonde woods

All celebrity jokes aside, the original Paris Hilton fragrance is one of my favorite perfumes, ever. I took it upon myself to sample her collection, and Heiress was the second fragrance I purchased in her line. While I was not nearly as impressed with Heiress, I wasn't terribly disappointed, either.

CLASSIFICATION: Flirty, fruity, floral, sweet

AGE GROUP: Teen / College

SIMILAR SCENT(s): N/A

FORM: Eau de Toilette

I highly don't recommend sampling this product straight from the bottle, as I originally did. It was too sweet, too girlie, and too synthetic... even for me, a lover of all things fruity and girlie. In fact, I had a strong urge to wrap up this purchase as best as I could, and run to the hills with it (aka TJ Maxx, to take it back).

I decided to be more open-minded, and sprayed Heiress on my wrist, with my eyes tightly closed. After the immediate opening, Heiress wasn't nearly as sweet as I had first sampled. In fact, it wasn't bad at all.

The scent is very girlie, flirty, and "pink" (as the color is now a very descriptive adjective, in case you were unaware). It is both fruity and floral, but there is no flower or fruit I can even come close to identifying, hence the synthetic smell. I do smell bubblegum in this fragrance, which is the only note I can truly identify.

The staying power isn't bad - I was expecting to be disappointed from the other reviews I have read, but it lasted quite a long time on my skin. It was also consistent, in that I smelled like bubble gum all day.

REPORT CARD

(We highly recommend reading our guide to understanding our grading system if you haven’t already)

First sniff (bottle): C-

First sniff (skin): B

Worn scent: B

Staying power: A

Scent as compared to note(s): B-

Bottle: C

Overall: B-

Although definitely not one of my favorite fragrances by any means, it is not bad for what it is, which is a summery fragrance aimed at girls 13-20.

• Take a tall hurricane glass. Fill it with ice.
• Then pour 2 shots (4 oz.) of Raspberry Vodka
• Add half a shot (1 oz.) of lemon juice
• Add 1 tbsp of regular sugar
• Fill the glass with tonic water
• Top with some grenadine syrup (to give some color to the drink)
• Stir, garnish with some fresh raspberries if you happen to have, and serve.

Enjoy!

Things you might try with this drink:

• Substitute regular sugar for fine sugar
• Use fresh squeezed lemons instead of bottled one
• Use 7up instead of Tonic Water.
• Use a raspberry juice and regular vodka instead of Raspberry Vodka

Pomegranate Birthday Puncheon

• 3 L - Sparkling Wine (We used J. Roget which is "methode moderne" or gas injected. Please use better wine.)
• 1 L - Rum (Bacardi works, but something like 10 Cane or a good gold would work better.)
• 1 L - Pomegranate Juice (Bottled is, of course fine, but fresh is always better.)
• 1/3 L (1.5 c.) - Simple or invert syrup
• 1/4 L (1 c.) - Fresh lime juice
• 1/8 L (1/2 c.) - Fresh orange juice
• 25 dashes - Peychoud's bitters

Mix together in a large punch bowl. Chill with very large ice cubes (freeze water in a bowl) and garnish with cut up fruit from the juice, and pomegranate seeds if available.

While this punch was entirely drinkable, and masks a pretty massive kick behind a somewhat sweet fruit taste, it wasn't wonderful. For a start, the sparkling wine being cheap American stuff (even worse than Andre), not only failed to add to the taste but, indeed, subtracted from it. In addition, since sparkling wine that gets its bubbles from gas injection holds its bubbles much worse than either the methode tradicionale or the metodo Italiano, the hoped for bubbly effect was not present. My reworking of the recipe was:

Scrivenal Sparkling Pomegranate Puncheon

• 8 pt (1.5 L) - Sparkling Wine (Cava or prosecco would probably be better than Champagne.)
• 4 pt (750 mL) - Gold Rum (Mount Gay works well.)
• 2 pt. (1.5 c.) - Lime juice
• 1 pt. (3/4 c.)- Grenadine (Use the real stuff from pomegranate juice. If you find this a bit sweet, cut the grenadine with pomegranate juice reduced by half.)
• 1 pt. (3/4 c.)- Pomegranate liqueur (Pama works, but so would DeKuyper.)
• 1 dash/oz. rum (25 dashes) - Peychoud's bitters

Stir together with a generous pinch each of cinnamon, allspice, and salt in a punch bowl. Garnish with lime wedges, spent fruit shells, pomegranate seeds if available, and fruits of the season.

This, to my mind, is a much better punch, and at 27% alcohol packs an even stronger punch, while still tasting even better. In addition, by using the grenadine, or reduced juice, the taste of the juice comes through much stronger. The sweetness can be easily adjusted by mixing all of the ingredients together except the grenadine, then add the grenadine slowly, tasting as you go. Once you reach the ideal sweetness, make up the difference with pomegranate juice reduced by half. I find pomegranate juice only a bit on the sweet side, so it gives flavour without affecting the balance of the drink quite as much as grenadine does.

May good drinks and merriness follow you all the days of your life,
The Scribe

vous souhaitez en savoir plus et, car vous vous êtes un bon boursicoteur, gagner plus..

il faut ecouter les conseils de Jérôme Kerviel, le trader de la société générale : "boursicoteur : Tu n’as rien fait d’illégal, au sens de la loi".

En réalité, les enquêteurs s’étonnaient du tout petit nombre de mails (une cinquantaine en tout) échangés entre Jérôme Kerviel et son courtier correspondant, du nom de Moussa Bakir, gardé à vue pendant près de 48 heures et dont la langue se serait déliée samedi matin 9 février.

Les policiers ont cherché les autres moyens de communication. Les factures mensuelles de téléphone de Kerviel, dépassant souvent les 100 euros, étaient une piste. Mais les enquêteurs de la brigade financière ont fini par découvrir le pot aux roses : Kerviel et son ami Bakir correspondaient par la messagerie interne de la base Reuter. Ils ont alors récupéré la totalité des messages échangés entre les deux hommes, soit 2.000 pages à raison d’une vingtaine de messages par page (> lire aussi la dépêche AFP).

voici un article abordant le m^me sujet : http://slecercle.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?action=edit&post=3

Boursicoteur ; c'est ma profession..

boursicoteur depuis plus de 10 ans, j'ai gagné beaucoup en peu de temps et aujourd'hui je me repose dans l'ile grenadine.

vous avez joué et avez gagnez de l'argent .. vous êtes un bon boursicoteur mais vous souhaitez gagner encore plus alors suivez mes conseils

A friend of mine made a trip to Hawaii a month or so ago and brought back a bottle of Mango Rico Liqueur as a gift for my birthday.  I had been searching for real mango liqueur locally and online, but had been coming up empty handed.  The Mango Rico was not only a perfect gift, it is completely wonderful!  It is so light and delicate; it barely breezes by the taste buds.  Although this is a liqueur, the sweetness is extremely low key.  I have had a difficult time playing with it in cocktails due to the delicate flavor.  The mango seems to disappear in every cocktail no matter the ratio. 

Then I began thinking of Van Gogh Vodka.  Van Gogh makes a rich line of super premium flavored vodkas that are extra special.  I have not tried every flavor Van Gogh creates, but the ones I have are spectacular.  Van Gogh appears to have seventeen flavored vodkas, three of which contain special Van Gogh color; Acai-Blueberry (which I am eager to try), Double Espresso Vodka (my favorite) and Pomegranate (a holiday must).    The Classic 80-proof Van Gogh Vodka and Van Gogh Gin can not be forgotten. 

I picked up a bottle of Van Gogh Pineapple Vodka not too long ago.  My taste buds can not handle too much bottled pineapple juice due to the acidity.  However, there are an astounding number of cocktails with pineapple in them.  I am always on the lookout for something to tweak a cocktail or take the place of something else.  The Van Gogh Pineapple Vodka has been just the pineapple flavor I have needed in place of pineapple juice on occasion.  It is subtle and light, yet the flavor is carried throughout this super premium vodka.  The Van Gogh Pineapple Vodka is definitely one anyone could sip neat, straight up or on the rocks, but my delight is in dreaming up new cocktails.  This is exactly what I did with the Mango Rico Liqueur and Van Gogh Pineapple Vodka.

Man-Gogh Rico

1/2 ounce Mango Rico Liqueur

6 One Inch Chunks Fresh Pineapple

2 ounces Van Gogh Pineapple Vodka

Garnish:  Speared piece of dried mango or small cubes of alternating pineapple and mango on a skewer

Muddle six pieces of fresh pineapple and Mango Rico Liqueur in the bottom of cocktail shaker.  Add in Van Gogh Pineapple Vodka and cracked ice.  Shake ten to fifteen seconds or until cold and frothy.  Strain into a well chilled martini glass.  Garnish with desired garnish. 

Van Gogh Vodka has a wealth of Pineapple Vodka recipes on their site.  The two below appear on the main page for the Pineapple Vodka.  With further search eight more pages of Pineapple Vodka recipes appear.  I have added those recipes to my pages section under Van Gogh Pineapple Vodka Recipes.  I will endeavor to add more recipes for their other flavored vodkas as well.  Until then, be sure to have a look around the Van Gogh Vodka site.  There is so much to see and learn on their site. 

Slippery Banana Pineapple Martini

1 1/2 oz Van Gogh Banana Vodka

3/4 oz. Van Gogh Pineapple Vodka

1/4 oz. Cointreau

2 oz. Orange Juice

Pour ingredients into a cocktail shaker with crushed ice.  Shake vigorously.  Strain into a martini glass. 

The QueenTini

2 oz. Van Gogh Pineapple Vodka

2 oz. lemonade

splash grenadine

Pour ingredients into a cocktail shaker with crushed ice.  Shake vigorously.  Strain into a martini glass. 

Ingrediente:

• 3/10 tequila
• 6/10 suc de portocale
• 1/10 sirop de rodii [grenadine]

Mo de preparare: direct in tumblerul plin de gheata sfaramata, se toarna tequila si sucul proaspat obtinut de portocale (pentru acest cocktail trebuie sa se foloseasca portocale cu pulpa galbena si nu rosie). Se amesteca usor cu stirul. Se toarna siropul de rodii avand grija sa nu se amestece cu restul, astfel incat sa creeze efectul cromatic dorit. Se orneaza cu o felie de ananas pe marginea paharului, cu o cireasa rosie si cu paie.

Grenadine

Goya (Teenbeat/Shimmy Disc 1992)

http://www.mediafire.com/?oma0m1n3kdm

I know I keep saying that each album is one of my favorites, but each album posted occupies a special place in my heart. Grenadine is no exception. The cover and artwork of the album is pure schtick. Its imagery predates the lounge revival which brought Martin Denny, Les Baxter and Esquivel back into circulation and the liner notes falsely claim the songs are Sinatra and Cole Porter tunes. Thankfully, the band only gives passing nods to the easy listening of the 50s and 60s and reminds me more of Robinson's angelic harmonies of the title track of his Imperial fffr album.

Consisting of Jenny Toomey of Tsunami, Mark Robinson of Unrest and Rob Christiansen of Eggs, Grenadine was a supergroup in a shaggy dog sort of way. At least, my lonesome sould thought so. Outside of moments on Unrest's last albums, Goya contains the best performances any of these talented, but inconsistent artists ever recorded. Tsunami had a few great songs, but relied too heavily of Toomey's husky, moody voice to carry lackluster tunes. Mark Robinson always had too many ideas and genres to explore. Eggs fell victim to the same miscues as well. Goya's strength lies in the fact that the source material is already classic and their quirky sensibilities elevate instead of dilute the finished product.

It doesn't hurt that Toomey and Robinson possessed two of the most more interesting voices in 90s indie rock. Their voices never sounded so good as when covering "I Only Have Eyes For You" as Toomey belts it out in such a manner that it makes you take a second look at the song and realize the beauty of its lyrics.

My love must be a kind of blind love
I cant see anyone but you
And dear, I wonder if you find love
An optical illusion, too?

Are the stars out tonight?
I dont know if its cloudy or bright
cause I only have eyes for you, dear
The moon may be high
But I cant see a thing in the sky
cause I only have eyes for you.

I dont know if were in a garden
Or on a crowded avenue
You are here, so am i
Maybe millions of people go by
But they all disappear from view
And I only have eyes for you

She transforms it into a moody meditation instead of blind-eyed devotion. I forgot how wonderful their cover was until reevaluating it for this review. It jangles like indie-pop, it sounds like indie-pop, but it transcends its littler corner and becomes something much more lasting.

Mark Robinson follows up with a one-two punch as he sings "In a World Without Heroes" A good friend who was interested in astrology found this song to be romantic as the lyrics relate his ability to discern the meaning of her star signs and horoscope to find a common bond between them. He seems worries that he doesn't truly know her, but shows confidence that love can be derived from this celestial moment. It is sweet and tender in the nerdiest way possible. It still arouses a bit of mist in the ol' eyeballs.

Various Artists

Working Holiday (Simple Machines 1994)

http://www.divshare.com/download/4815543-061

If the Dischord label was the role model for indie labels in the 90s, Simple Machines was the smaller, but equally idealistic sister to its more established role model. Established by Tsunami members Jenny Toomey and Kristin Thompson in 1990, Simple Machines were a welcome addition to the DIY ethos that propelled indie-rock until the Nirvana induced hangover and resultant major label feeding frenzy that neutered it. However, they helped the careers of such bands as Grenadine, Scrawl, Monorchid, Franklin Bruno, Ida and others along the way. They walked the walk and talked the talk as they even puiblished a handbook for aspiring label owners to guide them along the way.

The Working Holiday comp is the result of a series of split 7-inches that were released each month in 1993. The roster of contributors provides a snapshot of the musical scenes as it compiled tracks from Scrawl, Versus, Lungfish, Codeine, The Coctails, Eggs, My Dad is Dead, veronica Lake, Nothing painted Blue, Lois, Small Factory, Jawbox, Crackerbash, Grifters, Crain, Pitchblende, Superchunk and a few others. It was the crowning achievement for the label which slowly shrunk due to sales and the eventual dissolution of Tsunami.

Even if all of these band names sound like gobbledygook to you, you should check this out for the opening track by Scrawl entitled "11:59 It's january" which sums up all that is depressing about New Year's Eve, regret and misguided love in a single song. This may be indulgent, but I love the lyrics to this that I'm posting them here.

january came too soon/some alcoholic holdays without you/if you are you/you are anyone I wish I knew/and tonighti wish i knew everyone of you/tonight first champagne means old acquaintances are far apart/Tonight auld lang syne means leave before the kissing starts/Last year went down the drain/they all do really so why complain/drink a cup of kindness yet/drink a cup to our regrets/Ooh, it's Januaryx3

11:59/87654321 midnight/was it a good year/do i really know because it is behind me forever/it was a good year because year because it was a bad year/this year could only be better/repeat chorus of It's January/Who are you or anyone I wish I knew/Tonight i wish I knew every single one of you/Tonight I wish I knew/ chorus of It's January, then tasteful guitar solo.

Sorry for my jumbled effort at transcribing the lyrics from the cd, but it is one of the most heartbreaking songs I had heard at the time. It delves deeply into one of those moments where a perfect storm of location, time and hard luck coalesce into a second where you reevaluate your life and hope for the best. Your moment may not have been on New Year's Eve, but we've all had them. This is why Scrawl hold a dear place in my heart.

I'm off on a tangent again, but 70% of this holds up 15 years later and it embodies an ethos that is as worthwhile today as it was then.

This summer treat is featured in Food and Wine's 2008 Cocktail guide and comes to us from El Vaquero restaurant in (from all places!) Eugene, Oregon. The story goes that when a Brazilian soccer team visited the restaurant for caipirinhas one night bartender Jeffery Morgenthaler invented this to steer them away from his dwindling lime supply. The result is delicious and perfect for these stifling summer days!

The Batida Rose

2 ounces cachaca

1 ounce pineapple juice

1 ounce lemon juice

3/4 ounce homemade grenadine

1/2 ounce simple syrup

club soda

pineapple spear

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the cachaca, pineapple juice, lemon juice, grenadine and simple syrup. Shake well and strain into a large, ice filled red wine glass. Stir in the club soda and garnish with a pineapple spear.

CARRIBEAN ISLAND
2 oz papaya juice
2 oz pineapple juice
2 tablespoon(tsp) coconut milk('santan')
1 oz grenadine syrup

Method :
Shake and pour
Glass    :
Hurricane glass (to make it more fun, serve it in unusually shaped glass of your creativity)
Garnish :
Pineapple half moon or other colorful decorations of your creativity

*Mocktail's wilder sister:
 To turn this into a cocktail, add a splash of dark rum 

Now, there are some fancy pants bartenders who aren't from the Big Easy who get stingy with the booze. I've seen recipes for Hurricanes that only include one ounce of liquor in a big glass of juice. Sorry, that's not how you make 'em.

When you order your Hurricane from one of the open, walk-up bars on Bourbon street , the drink is strong. Like "knock-you-on-your-a$$-strong". I mean, it's called a Hurricane, not a "drizzle". Hurricanes destroy things, so it follows that if you drink one, you should be likewise destroyed, right?

But you don't have to go to Louisiana to get a good Hurricane because you're a Drunk and you can make your own. Here's how to do it:

• 1 oz Vodka
• 1 oz Amaretto
• 1 oz Gin
• 1 oz Light Rum
• 1 oz Triple Sec
• 1/2 oz 151 Rum
• 1/4 oz Grenadine Syrup
• Pineapple Juice
• Grapefruit Juice 

Directions: Pour the liquors into a Hurricane glass (or pint glass, or collins glass, or whatever big glass you have) 3/4 filled with ice and stir. Fill the rest of the way with equal parts of the juices. Enjoy.

Remember there are Thousands of Cocktail Recipes at the Drunk Man's Guide!

However, I began thinking on the whole idea of people going out to drink when they turn twenty-one.  They are dipping into the waters of drinking, assuming that is that they have never imbibed before coming of age.  These newbie drinkers will try anything their buddies will put before them and dare them to throw down the hatch.  Not a quality drinking experience to be sure.  But it gave me pause to think.  There certainly are a fair amount of partakers out there who drink whatever is on the cocktail menu or never veer from their tried and true standard. 

Why not be like the twenty-one year old newbie and dabble in cocktails that revolutionized the cocktail as we know it?   Instead of trying them all in one day, take the time to savor the flavor. 

Americano

2 ounces Campari

2 ounces Sweet Vermouth

Club Soda

Orange Slice for Garnish

Fill a Collins glass two-thirds full of ice.  Pour in Campari and Sweet Vermouth.  Top off with club soda.  Garnish with orange slice. 

Bacardi Cocktail

2 ounces Bacardi Silver

1 ounce Freshly Squeezed Lime Juice

1/2 ounce Grenadine

Maraschino Cherry for Garnish

Combine all ingredients in cocktail shaker filled one-third full of ice.  Shake for 10 to 15 seconds.  Strain into a well chilled cocktail glass.  Garnish with maraschino cherry dropped to the center.  Bacardi Rum must be used in this cocktail for it to be a true Bacardi Cocktail.

Bellini

1 ounce Pureed White Peaches

1/4 teaspoon Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice

Prosecco Sparkling Wine

Peach Slice for Garnish

Pour pureed white peaches and lemon juice in bottom of a champagne flute.  Carefully top off with Prosecco.  Stir gently.  Garnish with peach slice.  A 1/4 ounce of peach schnapps may be added to the pureed white peaches to give this cocktail added punch.

Black Russian / White Russian

2 ounces Van Gogh Double Espresso Vodka

1 ounce Kahlua Especial

Fill a rocks glass two-thirds full of ice.  Build drink in glass beginning with vodka and then Kahlua.  Insert stir straw.  To turn this into a White Russian:  1 ounce Vodka, 1 ounce Kahlua, 1 ounce half and half.  Build in a rocks glass in the same manner.

Bloody Mary

2 ounces Pepper Infused Vodka

1/2 Freshly Squeezed Lime Juice

6-8 Dashes Worcestershire Sauce

4-6 Dashes Tabasco Sauce

2-3 Dashes Peychaud's Bitters

3 Dashes Celery Salt

2 Dashes White Pepper

2 Dashes Garlic Powder

2 Dashes Onion Powder

Clamato Juice

Coarse salt for rimming

Garnishes:  Celery stalk is standard.  Try a dill pickle spear or jalapeño stuff olives on a skewer for something off the beaten track.

Rim a Collins glass with salt.  Fill glass half full with ice.  Season ice with sauces, bitters, powders, peppers and salts.  Pour in vodka.  Top off with Clamato Juice leaving a half inch at the rim of the glass.  Squeeze in lime and drop into glass.  Garnish.  For a fantastic Bloody Mary Vodka infusion recipe click on my recipe here http://intoxicologist.wordpress.com/2008/04/10/bloody-mary-sunday/

Buck’s Fizz

2 ounces Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice

Brut Champagne

Pour freshly squeezed orange juice into the bottom of a champagne flute.  Carefully top off with Brut Champagne.

Caipirinha

2 ounces Cachaca

1 lime cut into wedges

1/2 ounce bar syrup

Place lime wedges in cocktail shaker, reserving one for garnish.  Muddle.  Pour Cachaca and bar syrup into cocktail shaker and fill two-thirds with ice.  Shake to combine well.  Place ice into old-fashioned glass.  Do not overfill.  Strain contents of shaker into glass.  Garnish with one reserved lime wedge.

Champagne Cosmopolitan

The Cosmo has been done so many times, so here is one with a twist from a friend of mine, Dan Crowell.  You can find more about Dan and the Libation Association at http://libationassociation.blogspot.com/

1 ounce Belvedere Cytrus Vodka

1 dash Grand Marnier

1-1/2 ounce Cranberry Juice

1/2 ounce Fresh Lime Juice

1 Twist Orange

1 ounce Moet & Chandon White Star Champagne

Shake Vodka, Grand Marnier, cranberry juice and lime juice over ice in a cocktail shaker.  Strain into a chilled champagne flute.  Top off with champagne.  Garnish with orange twist.

Harvey Wallbanger

2 ounces Vodka

Orange Juice

1/2 ounce Galliano

Build in a Collins glass filled two-thirds full of ice.  Pour in the vodka.  Add orange juice leaving room for the Galliano to float on top.  A simple drink yes, but how often do you find Galliano in a cocktail?

Horse’s Neck with a Kick

This recipe is credited to Difford’s Guide Cocktail’s #7.  It makes the list for the garnish alone. 

2-1/2 ounces Buffalo Trace Bourbon Whiskey

3 dashes Angostura Bitters

Ginger Ale

Garnish: Peel entire rind of a large lemon in a spiral and place in glass with end hanging over rim

Pour ingredients into an ice filled Collins glass.  Stir.  Add garnish.

Irish Coffee - Unsweetened

1-1/4 ounce Irish Whiskey

Hot Strong Coffee

Whipped Cream (optional)

Three Whole Coffee Beans for Garnish

Place a metal spoon in hot toddy glass.  Measure in whiskey.  Top off with hot coffee.  Optional whipped cream may be added to the top with three coffee beans sprinkled on top. 

Irish Coffee – Sweetened

1/2 ounce Irish Whiskey

3/4 ounce Bailey’s Irish Cream

Hot Strong Coffee

Whipped Cream (optional)

Three Whole Coffee Beans or three chocolate covered espresso beans for Garnish

Place metal spoon in hot toddy glass.  Measure in whiskey and Bailey’s Irish Cream.  Top off with coffee.  Optional whipped cream may be added to the top with coffee bean garnish sprinkled atop.

Kamikaze Cocktail

While most twenty-one year olds are throwing back shots, this Kamikaze is a cocktail instead.  An easy way to remember this one; throwing back too many will make for a Very Tough Landing. 

1-1/2 ounce Vodka

1 ounce Triple Sec

3/4 ounce Lemon Juice

Lime Wedge for Garnish

Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled two-thirds full of ice.  Shake for ten to fifteen seconds.  Strain into a well chilled cocktail shaker.  Garnish with a lime wedge.

Mai Tai - Original

This is an adaptation of the original formula as interpreted in The Joy of Mixology by Gary Regan. 

2 ounces 17 year old J. Wray Nephew Jamaican Rum

1/2 ounce French Garnier Orgeat

1/2 Holland DeKuyper Orange Curacao

1/4 ounce Rock Candy Syrup

1 ounce Fresh Lime Juice

1 Sprig Fresh Mint for Garnish

Combine all liquid ingredients in a cocktail shaker.  Shake for 10 to 15 seconds.  Strain into an old-fashioned glass filled half with crushed ice.  Add mint sprig garnish. 

Mai Tai – Variation

These ingredients are much easier to find and this makes a fantastic Mai Tai.  Credited again to my friend Dan Crowell at Libation Association. http://libationassociation.blogspot.com/

2 ounces 10 Cane Rum (or 1 ounce each 10 Cane and Captain Morgan Private Stock)

3/4 ounce Orange Curacao

3/4 ounce Fresh Lime Juice

1/4 ounce Orgeat Syrup

2 Mint Springs & Lime Wedge for Garnish

Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled one-third with ice.  Shake well.  Strain into an old-fashioned glass filled with ice.  Garnish with mint springs and wedge of lime.

Manhattan – Dry, Perfect, Sweet

Manhattan Dry

2-1/2 ounces Bourbon

1 ounce Dry Vermouth

3 Dashes Peychaud’s Bitters

Orange Twist for Garnish

Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker.  Shake well.  Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.  Garnish with orange twist. 

Manhattan Perfect

2-1/2 ounce Bourbon

1/2 ounce Sweet Vermouth

1/2 ounce Dry Vermouth

3 Dashes Peychaud’s Bitters

Orange Peel & Maraschino Cherry for Garnish

Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker.  Shake well.  Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.  Garnish with a skewered maraschino cherry wrapped with an orange peel creating a flag.

Manhattan Sweet

2-1/2 ounces Bourbon

1 ounce Sweet Vermouth

Bar Spoon of Syrup from Maraschino Cherry Jar

3 Dashes Peychaud’s Bitters

Maraschino Cherry for Garnish

Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker.  Shake well.  Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.  Garnish with maraschino cherry. 

Margarita

Everyone has their version of the perfect Margarita and their favorite tequila to add to the equation.  Here is a basic recipe to build upon so you won’t have to pick up a mix from the corner grocery. 

2 ounces Tequila

1 ounce Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice

1/2 ounce Triple Sec

Lime Wedge for Garnish

Salt for Rimming

Rim edge of margarita glass with salt.  Combine liquid ingredients in cocktail shaker filled two-thirds with ice.  Shake for 10 to 15 seconds.  Place ice in margarita glass.  Strain contents of shaker into margarita glass.  Garnish with lime wedge.  To upgrade this margarita use quality tequilas such as Patron Silver or Reposado and Cointreau or Grand Marnier in place of the Triple Sec. 

Martini

A “real” martini doesn’t have to be difficult, yet there are so many ways to mess it up.  Stirred, shaken, up with a twist (is that a lemon or lime?), with an olive (stuffed with blue cheese, almonds, jalapeño, or pimento?) gin or vodka and did you say dirty or dry or extra dry?  Oh, so many questions.  This martini is pretty straight forward.  When you saddle up at the bar all you have to say is, “Tanqueray 10 Martini dry, up with a twist, please” and then sit back and watch an inexperienced bartender squirm and an experienced bartender do their job.  Make sure you get that “please” and “thank you” in there with a nice tip. 

2-1/2 ounces Tanqueray 10 Gin

Noilly Pratt Dry Vermouth

Lemon Twist

Place ice in a martini glass.  Drizzle approximately 1/4 to 1/2 ounce of dry vermouth in the ice and set aside.  Measure out Tanqueray 10 Gin into a cocktail shaker filled one-third full of ice.  Shake or swirl the gin (depending on your theory of “bruising” the gin) for at least fifteen seconds.  Your goal is to chill the gin thoroughly.  Take the martini glass with vermouth in hand.  Swirl the glass so the vermouth coats the inside and pour out.  Do not shake the glass until every drop is gone.  Strain the contents of the cocktail shaker into the vermouth coated martini glass.  Take your lemon twist and circle it around the rim of the martini glass before placing it halfway on the edge and partially inside the gin as garnish.  Serve and drink while still chilled. 

Negroni

1 ounce Gin

1 ounce Campari

1 ounce Sweet Vermouth

Orange Twist for Garnish

Fill an old-fashioned glass half to two-thirds full of ice.  Add liquid ingredients in the order given.  Garnish with orange twist. 

Old Fashioned

There is much debate over what is “real” Old Fashioned and what is just a fruity version of one. 

2 ounces Bourbon

2 Dashes Peychaud’s Bitters

3 Maraschino Cherries (save one for garnish)

2 orange slices (save one for garnish)

Bar Spoon of Maraschino Cherry Juice from Jar

Place all ingredients (save one cherry and one orange slice) into a cocktail shaker.  Muddle.  Fill one-third full of ice.  Shake for ten to fifteen seconds.  Fill an old-fashioned glass half full with ice.  Strain contents of shaker into old-fashioned glass.  Garnish with cherry and orange slice skewered.

Orgasm Cocktail

1-1/2 ounce Cointreau

1-1/2 ounce Bailey’s Irish Cream

1 ounce Grand Marnier

Maraschino Cherry for Garnish

Fill an old-fashioned glass half full with ice.  Place ingredients in glass in the order given.  Garnish with cherry.  Insert cocktail stirrer.

Rob Roy

2 ounces Scotch

1 ounce Sweet Vermouth

2 Dashes Peychaud’s Bitters

Maraschino Cherry for Garnish

Place liquid ingredients in a cocktail shaker.  Shake for ten to fifteen seconds.  Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.  Garnish with the maraschino cherry.  This drink can also be built in an old-fashioned glass on the rocks.

Salty Dog

This twist on an old favorite is proof that an old dog can be taught new tricks. 

2 ounces Charbay Grapefruit Vodka

2-1/4 ounces Freshly Squeezed Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice

Bar Spoon of Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur

Salt for rimming

Rim a chilled cocktail glass with salt and set aside.  Combine liquid ingredients in a cocktail shaker.  Shake for ten to fifteen seconds until well mixed.  Strain into salt rimmed cocktail glass. 

That is it for the “21 Must Try Cocktails” on this list.  Of course these are only a few of the basics.  Some you may have tried or thought you would get around to one day.  Why not today? 

This posting will be kept in the archives for tag referencing, but will be placed in page format in the column on the right for easy access.

The Loco Lemonade is an easy and fun drink you