Showing posts with label beverages. Show all posts
Showing posts with label beverages. Show all posts

Starbucks Gold my not be so Golden

Received my new Starbucks Gold card (gold) a week and half prior to my old one expiring.  The new one started on the 6th of January.  Here I am finally 15 stars into my new Starbucks Gold card and can compare the two.  You get a star for every visit you use your gold card, with money on it, to make a purchase.  You read that right you have to have money on the card and use it to get a star towards your rewards.  Here are the benefits of the new gold card by Starbucks:

  • Free birthday drink
  • 2 continuous hours of free Wi-Fi daily
  • Free refills on brewed coffee, iced coffee and tea
  • Free flavored syrups
  • Free tall (12 fl oz) beverage with every pound of coffee purchased
  • Exclusive offers & coupons
  • FREE DRINK EVERY 15 STARS

My Starbucks Gold Card

 

My old Gold card (black) benefits were as follows:

  • 10% off most purchases in participating U.S. Starbucks stores
  • A free beverage on your birthday
  • Exclusive offers & coupons
  • 2 continuous hours of free Wi-Fi daily

Old Starbucks Gold Card Program

I received the black gold card for free for all the purchases I made so no $25 fee.  If I did pay the $25 for the year that equals to $1.05 for the 15 visits.  I saved on average $0.68 a visit during these first 15 visits.  That same 15 visits saving on average $0.68 means the free drink would have cost me $10.20.  Wow, so far the new gold card does not save me anything and is costing me money.

Let’s break this down a little further.  If I stay to drink my Iced Coffee with sugar-free caramel and light breve and then take advantage of the free refill then the loss shrinks.  I order iced coffee and Frappuccino so there were no additional syrup charges.  I used the Wi-Fi maybe three hours last year.  That benefit did not help me and perhaps this year I will try to use it more so that I can see the benefit of the new gold card.

At least three of the benefits are the same but that 10% discount compared to needing 15 stars is a huge difference.  A lot of times the discount is what gave the Starbucks partners there tip. 

Early indications are the new Starbucks Gold card is NOT so Golden :(

What is your take on the new Starbucks Gold card?

Taphandle-TV Mixes it up with Cabo Wabo Tequila

My Ustream favorite has returned to Friday nights.  Taphandle-tv had to switch to Monday's for awhile and I was unable to attend during that time.  I was disappointed but Greg "Lordo" Lord (facebook profile) did us all a favor and returned to Friday nights at 9:30 PM ET (6:30 PM PT).  If you have never visited Ustream.tv stop by and check it out and then click on Taphandle-tv for some real action. 

Lordo serves up drinks at Taphandle-tv.  I have blogged about this show before but tonight Lordo took a shot of Cabo Wabo.  I know your think so what, well Lordo put Cabo Wabo Blanco Tequila in a custom mini oak barrel and aged it for 5 months.   White tequila in and a golden brown smoky flavor stronger flavor but equally smooth tequila out.  Check this barrel out:

Cabo Wabo Oak Barrel

Lordo on Taphandle-tv about to take a shot of that aged Cabo Wabo Blanco.  Such a sweet taste you can see Lordo's excitement.  Goes down as smooth as it looks.  If your not farmiliar with Cabo Wabo Tequila check out there site.  Sammy Hagar brought Cabo Wabo mainstream and such a hidden gem.

Cabo Wabo shot on Taphandle-tv 

Stick with the show on occasions it starts off slow but as you can see below the show gets hot sometimes on fire.  The show is interactive with polls and a live chat room great times had by all.

 fireshot on Taphandle-tv

Just when you think the show could not drink any more beverages he whips out the big daddy drink the Sloe Comfortable Screw.  Check these ingredients out.

Southern Comfort
Sloe Gin
White Rum
Brandy
Vodka
Triple Sec
Sour Mix
Orange Juice

Shaken not stirred.  Oh yes Lordo enjoying that beverage that over 40 people voted on.

sloecomfscrew

I can tell you from a bar manager from days of old.  I would hire Greg "Lordo" Lord to bartend at BB's lounge in the Holiday Inn Chico, CA (no longer BB's).  He has a personality that would bring the customers back night after night.  While watching the show Zane Savage stopped by to say hi.  Zane Savage streams 24x7 and is crazy and worth a bookmark.  The Yeti made a grand appearance tonight and had a couple of beverage with Lordo.  Say hi,

yeti

Check it out and have some fun Ustream.tv.

Check Admiral out on these fine social sites:

Taphandle TV serves up great drinks live

Friday June 27, 2008 @ 1800 PST I had the pleasure of stumbling upon a Ustream live cast called Taphandle-tv.  Instantly I was personally greeted by Greg Lordo, call him Lordo.  He was pouring a concoction of rum and fruit juice.  He has a home bar setup in his basement (built by Curt I found out).  The bar is not very big but I must say as an ole bartender and manager he was well stocked.  Here is a picture of Lordo at his bar hard at work.

taphandletv

Later we found that the concoction was actually Passion Fruit Mojito made with

Malibu Passion Fruit Rum
Passion fruit puree
Sour mix
Mint
Limes
Sugar
Club soda

He switched over to the close up cam (ingredients cam (see pic below)) and he added the mint, limes, and sugar in a mixer and muddled  the ingredients together then added ice to top.  Added 1 1/2oz of Malibu Passion Fruit Rum, puree and 1oz sour mix.  Then shake, shake, shake then poured into a Collins glass.  Topped off with club soda.

ingredients cam

He went on to taste two beers and gave a rating of them.  One was Mickey's Big Mouth and the other was Goose Island Summertime IPA. He pointed to the lower left corner of the window and had us vote on the beers.  Yes it was a poll a live interactive poll while the show was going on. 

Every time he would post his website address on the screen he would call a social.  That means bottoms up and have a drink.  If that were not enough every time someone would enter his web address in the chat he would call a social again, cheers. A hand with a beer would extend on screen as though he was personally handing me a beer, thank you Lordo for the many beers last night.  If I were trying to keep up with all the socials I would have been passed out on the floor or praying to the porcelain gods.

He threw up a poll to see what shot of tequila he would be doing.  There was Cabo Wabo, Pepe Lopez or Americana Vodka.  The votes came in as Pepe Lopez so he poured a shot and switched over to the shot cam and here he is getting ready to have one on us.  Bottoms up Lordo and Cheers!

taphandle-tv shot cam

If your wondering what this Ustream TV is let me give you the run down direct from Ustream itself.

Ustream.TV is the live interactive video broadcast platform that enables anyone with a camera and an Internet connection to quickly and easily broadcast to a global audience of unlimited size. In less than two minutes, anyone can become a broadcaster by creating their own channel on Ustream or by broadcasting through their own site, empowering them to engage with their audience and further build their brand. Click here to start a broadcast now or learn more about broadcasting.

Ustream's one-to-many live interactive video encourages broadcast-to-viewer and viewer-to-viewer interaction, empowering a much more engaging experience for everyone involved.

I have been hooked on Ustream for a few weeks and must say if you have never seen it or heard about it stop by and surf the various channels.  There are some great shows and some not so great shows.

Lordo, D, Bob, and Curt thank you for making me part of the Taphandle-tv bar I feel like Norm of Cheers.  Let me leave you with the live feed of Taphandle-tv on Ustream TV.  There may or may not be video all the time but highly recommend checking out Taphandle-tv.com.  Cheers!

 

Cheers bar maybe gone but taphandle tv rules the roost!

Friday June 27, 2008 @ 1800 PST I had the pleasure of stumbling upon a Ustream live cast called Taphandle-tv.  Instantly I was personally greeted by Greg Lordo, call him Lordo.  He was pouring a concoction of rum and fruit juice.  He has a home bar setup in his basement (built by Curt I found out).  The bar is not very big but I must say as an ole bartender and manager he was well stocked.  Here is a picture of Lordo at his bar hard at work.

taphandletv

Later we found that the concoction was actually Passion Fruit Mojito made with

Malibu Passion Fruit Rum
Passion fruit puree
Sour mix
Mint
Limes
Sugar
Club soda

He switched over to the close up cam (ingredients cam (see pic below)) and he added the mint, limes, and sugar in a mixer and muddled  the ingredients together then added ice to top.  Added 1 1/2oz of Malibu Passion Fruit Rum, puree and 1oz sour mix.  Then shake, shake, shake then poured into a Collins glass.  Topped off with club soda.

ingredients cam

He went on to taste two beers and gave a rating of them.  One was Mickey's Big Mouth and the other was Goose Island Summertime IPA. He pointed to the lower left corner of the window and had us vote on the beers.  Yes it was a poll a live interactive poll while the show was going on.

Every time he would post his website address on the screen he would call a social.  That means bottoms up and have a drink.  If that were not enough every time someone would enter his web address in the chat he would call a social again, cheers. A hand with a beer would extend on screen as though he was personally handing me a beer, thank you Lordo for the many beers last night.  If I were trying to keep up with all the socials I would have been passed out on the floor or praying to the porcelain gods.

He threw up a poll to see what shot of tequila he would be doing.  There was Cabo Wabo, Pepe Lopez or Americana Vodka.  The votes came in as Pepe Lopez so he poured a shot and switched over to the shot cam and here he is getting ready to have one on us.  Bottoms up Lordo and Cheers!

taphandle-tv shot cam

If your wondering what this Ustream TV is let me give you the run down direct from Ustream itself.
Ustream.TV is the live interactive video broadcast platform that enables anyone with a camera and an Internet connection to quickly and easily broadcast to a global audience of unlimited size. In less than two minutes, anyone can become a broadcaster by creating their own channel on Ustream or by broadcasting through their own site, empowering them to engage with their audience and further build their brand. Click here to start a broadcast now or learn more about broadcasting.

Ustream's one-to-many live interactive video encourages broadcast-to-viewer and viewer-to-viewer interaction, empowering a much more engaging experience for everyone involved.

I have been hooked on Ustream for a few weeks and must say if you have never seen it or heard about it stop by and surf the various channels.  There are some great shows and some not so great shows.

Lordo, D, Bob, and Curt thank you for making me part of the Taphandle-tv bar I feel like Norm of Cheers.  Let me leave you with the live feed of Taphandle-tv on Ustream TV.  There may or may not be video all the time but highly recommend checking out Taphandle-tv.com.  Cheers!

Flair Bartending is Extreme Sport.

As an old bartender/bar manger I get all worked up when I watch the movie Cocktail.  Makes me want to get back into the bar business.  It was nothing to do a 12 hour shift at BB's lounge in the Holiday Inn Chico, CA go home get 3-4 hours of sleep and get back at again.  I have always said that bartending is a great way to make money for college.  That is if your of age to bartend.  Once you become good at bartending you can pretty much right your ticket for where you work.  It's a hard industry to break into but well worth it if you get in.  To help you a little  be sure to read 73 FREE cocktail recipes bartending schools want you to pay hundreds of dollars to learn.  Once you study up stop by to test your your booze knowledge and see if you learned anything.

As much as I enjoy Cocktail you can't get this kind of action from the movie.  This is Rodrigo Delpech world-class flair bartender and winner of many awards.

Test Your Booze Knowledge Before The New Years Eve Party

I can not believe I only got a 95%.  Not that I am an alcoholic but was once a bartender and enjoy reading everything related to the bar industry.  Click the picture below to test your booze knowledge.

95%ALCOHOLIC

Here are a few of my must read bar blogs and visited website's.

CocktailDB - They differ from other cocktail web sites in numerous ways, but mainly, all of the recipes in CocktailDB have been authenticated in print. This cuts out all the sophomoric, never-once-ordered recipes clogging many other drink sites. They already have the largest collection of verified drink recipes on the Internet or in any book, and this collection will continue to grow.

Bartender.com - Bartender magazine online, your number one trade magazine.

Two Drink Minimum; The After 5 Cocktail Blog - At After 5 our motto, "Celebrating the art of celebrating," is just a politically correct way of saying we really like to party. As such, you'll find here a rip-roaring collection of drink and cocktail-related wares...

Cabo Wabo Tequila - The Red Rocker himself promotes this tequila.  What does he like to drink?

Red Rocker

1 1/2 oz Cabo Wabo Reposado Tequila
1/2 oz Amaretto
3 oz Cranberry Juice
Splash Lime Juice

Shake in a shaker half-filled with ice.  Strain into a chilled martini glass

Let's end this with a little Flair Bartending from one of the legends Christian Delpech.

Incase I don't write to you before New Years Eve.  Have a safe night and remember to buckle up and Designate a Driver.

73 FREE Cocktail Recipes Bartending Schools Want you to pay hundreds of dollars to learn.

There are recipes that bartending schools charge hundreds of dollars to give you.  When you pay hundreds of dollars for bartending school 90% of the week to two week training is teaching you these 73 classic recipes.  Sit back and and enjoy this comprehensive FREE bartending guide.

Slow Comfortable Screw with a Pillow

Collins glass – with Ice
1 oz – Sloe Gin
½ oz – Southern Comfort
Fill with O.J.
Add a splash of Cream

Cream Sickle

3 oz Stem Glass – Chilled
Mixing glass – ¼ Ice
½ oz - Vodka
½ oz - Triple Sec
½ oz - O.J.
1 ½ oz - Cream
Blend and strain

Clue: Ice cream man from New Jersey named V.T.O

Pink Squirrel

3 oz Stem Glass – Chilled
Mixing glass – ¼ Ice
½ oz - White Cream de Cacao
½ oz - Crème de Almond (Noyaux)
2 oz - Cream
Blend and strain

Clue: Annoying Critters

Banshee

3oz Stem glass – chilled
Mixing cup – ¼ Ice
½ oz - White crème de Cacao
½ oz - Crème de banana
2 oz - Cream
Blend and stain

Clue: Banshee

Red Devil

½ oz - Vodka
½ oz - Triple Sec
½ oz - Lime Juice
½ oz - Amaretto
½ oz - Southern Comfort
½ oz - Sloe Gin
Fill with O.J.

Clue: Very Tough Landing on you’re A.S.S.O

Toasted Almond

Collins glass
1 oz - Kahlua
1 oz - Amaretto
Fill with Cream
Shake and Strain 

Clue: Toast in the A.M. with Coffee

White Wine Spritzer

Collins glass with Ice
½ Filled with White Wine
Fill with White Wine
Stir
Garnish: Lemon Twist

Clue: Spritzer think soda

Mellon Ball

Collins glass
1 oz - Vodka
Fill with O.J.
Float ½ oz - Midori

Clue: Very Odd Mellon

Scotch & Soda

1 oz - Scotch
Fill with Soda
Whiskey & Water
1 oz - Whiskey
Fill with Water

Scotch Manhattan/Rob Roy

Rocks (rocks) or Stem (up)
¼ oz - Sweet Vermouth
1 ¾ oz - Scotch
Garnish: Cherry

Vodka Gimlet

Rocks glass with Ice
1 ½ oz - Vodka
½ oz - Rose Lime Juice
Garnish: Lime squeeze

Gin Gimlet

Rocks glass with Ice
1 ½ oz - Gin
½ oz - Rose Lime Juice
Garnish: Lime squeeze

Screw Driver

Highball glass with Ice
1 oz - Vodka
Fill with O.J.

Whiskey Sour

Sour glass or Highball glass
Mixing cup, ¼ Filled with Ice
1 oz - Whiskey
2 oz - Sweet & Sour
Blend and strain
Garnish: Cherry

7 & 7

Highball glass
1 oz - 7 Crown Whiskey
Fill with 7-up

Vodka Collins

Collins glass, Filled with Ice
1 oz - Vodka
2 oz - Sweet & Sour
Fill with Soda
Stir
Garnish: Cherry

Brandy Separator

Highball glass
1 oz - Brandy
½ oz - Kahlua
Fill with Cream

Chi Chi

1 oz - Vodka
1 oz - Cream of Coconut syrup
2 oz - Pineapple syrup or 3 oz - Pina colada mix
Blend and strain
Garnish: Pineapple and Cherry

Kioki Coffee

Coffee mug
1 oz - Brandy
½ oz - Kahlua
Fill with Coffee
Top with whipped cream

Clue: Big Kids

Electric Margarita

½ oz - Blue Curcao
1 ½ oz - Sweet & Sour
1 oz - Tequila
Garnish: Lime

Woo Woo

Collins glass
1 oz - Vodka
1 oz - Peach Schnapps
Fill with Cranberry Juice

Clue: Very Pretty Car

Irish Coffee

Coffee mug
1 sugar cube
1 oz - Irish Whiskey
Fill with Coffee
Top with whipped cream

Madras

Highball glass
1 oz - Vodka
½ Filled with O.J.
½ Filled with Cranberry Juice

Champagne Cocktail

Champagne glass
1 Sugar cube
1 Drop of Bitters
Fill with Champagne
Garnish: Lemon Twist

Clue: B.S.

Gibson

Dash 1/8 oz Dry Vermouth
1 ¾ oz - Gin
Garnish: Onion

Clue: Gibsonion

Godfather

Rocks glass
1 oz Scotch
½ oz Amaretto

Clue: Shoots Assholes

Stinger

Rocks glass withIce
1 ½ oz Brandy
½ oz White Crème de Menthe
Stir

Clue: Bees & Wasps

Gin & Tonic

Highball glass with Ice
1 oz Gin
Fill with Tonic
Garnish: Lime squeeze

Clue: tonic drinks get lime squeeze

Cape Cod

Highball glass
1 oz Vodka
Filled with Cranberry Juice

Dry Scotch Manhatten/Dry Rob Roy

¼ oz Dry Vermouth
1 ¾ oz Scotch
Garnish: Lemon twist

Seabreeze

Highball glass
1 oz vodka
½ Filled with Cranberry Juice
½ Filled with Grapefruit Juice

Wine Cooler

Collins glass
½ Filled with Red wine or White wine
Filled with 7-up
Garnish: Cherry

After 8

Shot
1/3 oz Baileys
1/3 oz Kahlua
1/3 oz White Crème de Menth

Clue: Bitch in the Kitchen drinking crème de menth

Rum & Coke

Highball glass with Ice
1 oz Light Rum
Fill with Coke

White Russian

Rocks glass
1 oz Vodka
½ oz Kahlua
Float Cream

Rusty Nail

Rocks glass
1 oz Scotch
½ oz Drambuie

Clue: Step Down on a rusty nail

Baybreeze

Highball glass
1 oz Vodka
½ Filled with Cranberry Juice
½ Filled with Pineapple Juice

Cadillac Margarita

1 oz Cuervo 1800
½ oz Grand Marnie
1 ½ oz Sweet & Sour
Garnish: extra shot of Grand Marnie
Use best liquors for this drink

Orgasm

Shot glass
1/3 oz Baileys
½ oz Amaretto
1/3 oz Kahlua

Clue: Best on the B.A.K.

Mud Slide

Shot glass
1/3 oz Vodka
1/3 oz Baileys
1/3 oz Kahlua

Clue: Screaming Bitch in the Kitchen

Southern Comfort Manhattan

Rocks or Stem
¼ oz Dry Vermouth
1 ¾ oz Southern Comfort
Garnish: Cherry

Clue: Sweet (So Co) Dry (Vermouth) Sweet (Cherry)

Mai Tai

Collins glass with Ice
1 oz Rum
½ oz Crème de Almond
1 ½ oz Sweet –n- sour
Float Meyers Rum
Garnish: Cherry

Sex on the Beach

Collins glass
1 oz Peach Schnapps
½ oz Vodka
½ Filled with Cranberry Juice
½ Filled with Pineapple Juice

Clue: Very Pretty Chicks Pregnant

Blow Job

Shot glass
½ oz Kahlua
½ oz Baileys
Topped with whipped cream

Clue: Bitch in the Kitchen

Alabama Slammer

Collins glass
½ oz Amaretto
1 oz Southern Comfort
½ oz Sloe Gin
Fill with O.J.

Clue: A.S.S.O.

Collins Mix

Sweet –n- sour
Soda

Pink Lady

Stemmed glass, chilled
Mixing cup, ¼ filled with Ice
1 oz Gin
½ oz Grenadine
1 ½ oz Cream
Blend and Strain

Clue: pink lady named G.G.

Grasshopper

Stemmed glass, chilled
Mixing cup, ¼ filled with Ice
½ oz - White crème de cacao
½ oz - Green crème de Menthe
2 oz - Cream
Blend and strain

Clue: green grasshopper drinking cacao

Cuba Libre

Highball glass with Ice
1 oz Light Rum
Fill with Coke
Garnish: Lime

Clue: same as rum and coke except add lime

Old Fashion

In Rocks glass, place
Orange Wedge
Cherry
1 sugar cube or tsp sugar
2 dashes Bitters
Dash Soda
Mash together
Fill glass with Ice
Add 1 oz - Bourbon

Clue: old fashions are B.S. B.S. that eat Oranges & Cherry’s

Bloody Mary

Collins glass filled with Ice
1 oz Vodka
2 dashes Pepper
2 dashes Salt
2 dashes Celery salt
4 drops Worcestershire sauce
1 drop Tabasco (optional)
Fill with Tomato Juice or Fill with Bloody Mary mix instead of spices and tomato juice.
Stir Well
Garnish: Celery stick and/or lime

Grayhound

Highball glass filled with Ice
1 oz - Vodka
Fill with Grapefruit Juice
Stir Well

Salty Dog

Highball glass filled with Ice
Salt frosting on rim
1 oz - Vodka
Fill with Grapefruit Juice
Stir well

Tequila Sunrise

Collins glass filled with Ice
1 oz Tequila
Fill with O.J.
Stir well
Top with ½ oz Grenadine
Stir lightly
Garnish: Cherry

Martini

Rock glass filled with Ice
Dash (1/8 oz) - Dry Vermouth
1 ¾ oz – Gin
Garnish: Olive

Perfect Scotch Manhattan or Perfect Rob Roy

Rock glass filled with Ice
1/8 oz – Dry Vermouth
1/8 oz – Sweet Vermouth
1 ¾ oz – Scotch
Garnish: Lemon twist

Godmother

Rock glass filled with Ice
1 ½ oz – Vodka
½ oz – Amaretto
Stir

Black Russian

Rock glass filled with Ice
1 ½ oz - Vodka
½ oz – Kahlua
Stir

Clue: Black (think Kahlua) Vodka (think Russian)

Sombrero

Rock glass filled with Ice
1 ½ oz – Kahlua
½ oz – Cream
Stir well

Clue: sombrero is white (cream)

Long Island Ice Tea

Collins glass filled with ice
½ oz – Vodka
½ oz – Gin
½ oz – Tequila
½ oz – Triple Sec
½ oz – Rum
2 oz – Sweet & Sour
Splash of Coke
Stir
Garnish: Lemon twist

Singapore Sling

Collins glass filled with Ice
½ oz Grenadine
1 oz – Gin
2 oz – Sweet & Sour
Stir Well
Fill with Soda
Top with ½ oz Cherry Flavored Brandy
Garnish: Cherry

Clue: Tom Collins wearing Red Shoes & Red Hat

Pina Colada

Collins glass filled with Ice
Mixing cup, ¼ filled with Ice
1 oz - Light Rum
1 oz – cream of Coconut syrup
2 oz – Pineapple syrup or 3 oz Pina Colada mix
Blend & strain
Garnish: Pineapple stalk and/or cherry

Sloe Gin Fizz

Collins glass
Mixing cup, ¼ filled with Ice
1 oz - Sloe Gin
2 oz – Sweet & Sour
Fill with Soda
Garnish: Cherry

Vodka Collins

Collins glass filled with Ice
1 oz – Vodka
2 oz – Sweet & Sour
Stir well
Fill with Soda
Stir Slightly
Garnish: Cherry

Tom Collins

Same as Vodka Collins except use Gin

Clue: Tom & Gerry

John Collins

Same as Vodka Collins except use Whiskey

Clue: John Wayne (whiskey drinker)

Joe Collins

Same as Vodka Collins except use Scotch

Clue: Joe Shmo

Mexican Coffee

Coffee mug
½ oz - Tequila
½ oz – Kahlua
Fill with hot Coffee
Top with whipped cream

Jamaican Coffee

Coffee mug
½ oz – Rum
½ oz – Tia Maria
Fill with hot Coffee
Top with whipped cream

Mimosa

Collins glass filled with Ice
½ – fill with Champagne
½ fill with O.J.
Stir gently

Tequila Sunset

Collins glass filled with Ice
1 oz – Tequila
Fill with O.J.
Stir well
Float ½ oz Blackberry Brandy
Garnish: Cherry

Zombie

Collins glass filled with Ice
Mixing cup ¼ filled with Ice
1 oz – Dark Rum
1 oz – Light Rum
½ oz – crème de almond
½ oz – Triple Sec
1 oz – O.J.
1 oz – Sweet & Sour
Blend & strain
Float ½ oz – 151 proof Rum
Garnish: cherry

Dirty Mother

Rock glass filled with Ice
1 ½ oz – Brandy
½ oz – Kahlua

20 Must Know Mixology Terms

bartenderI thought I would post 20 must know mixology/bartender terms.

Brandy - by definition is any spirit made from distilled grape wine.   Brandy is made all over the world, the most famous coming from the Cognac Region of France.  Brandies are also made from other fruits such as apples or cherries. 75% of Brandy sold in the US comes from California, while 75% is consumed in Wisconsin.

Build - To pour ingredients directly into the serving glass on top of the previous ingredient. When Building you usually want to add the ingredients in the order they are given in the recipe.

Call Drink - A liquor and mixer, of which the liquor is a defined brand. (ie. Tanqueray and Tonic, Bacardi and Coke)

Chaser - a mild drink, such as beer, taken after a hard liquor

Cocktail - Any of various alcoholic beverages consisting usually of brandy, whiskey, vodka, or gin combined with fruit juices or other liquors and often served chilled.

Collins - A drink akin to a sour which is served in a tall glass with soda water or seltzer water.

Grenadine - a thick, red syrup used in cocktails, traditionally made from pomegranate juice

Gin - A spirit made from grain and flavored with a mixture of botanicals and juniper berries. It is the berries that give gin its distinctive aroma. Although first made in Holland, Gin was popularized by the English.

Highball - Any spirit served with ice and soda water in a medium to tall glass (often a highball glass).

Lowball - A short drink made of spirits served with ice, water or soda in a small glass.

Muddle - To muddle is to combine ingredients, usually in the bottom of a mixing glass, by pressing them with a muddler before adding the majority of the liquid ingredients.

Muddler - Small wooden pestle shaped like a baseball bat. One end is large and rounded and it used to mash the ingredients. While the other end is skinnier and flat and is used to mix ingredients.

Neat - The consumption of a spirit as a straight, unaccompanied shot.

On the Rocks - Serving a drink over ice. Often the term is used when referring to a straight shot of liquor poured in a short glass filled with ice, i.e. "I'll have a Scotch on the rocks."

Rum - Once so important that the British Navy gave every sailor a half-pint a day ration, Rum is made of fermented sugar cane or molasses (also from sugar cane).

Shooter - A straight shot of whiskey or other kind of spirit taken neat.

Tequila - made from the fermented juice of the agave plant, is the national drink of Mexico. It is double distilled and then aged in wood casks.  Just like a fine cognac tequila gets better with aging.

Toddy - A sweetened drink of liquor and hot water, often with spices and served in a tall glass.

Vodka - a clear spirit that is generally made from grain, but can be distilled from other starches such as potatoes, corn and beets. Vodkas are commonly flavored with essences of citrus or other fruits, or spices such as pepper.

Whiskey (Whisky) - Made principally in five countries:
Scotland, Ireland, Canada, The USA, and Japan. These varieties can be extremely varied as they are similar.  A Kentucky Bourbon and a Single Malt Scotch are both whiskey, but very, very different.

 

Blue Hawaiian

Shot:

3/4 oz Rum
1/4 oz Blue Curacao
1/4 oz Creme de Coconut
Splash of Pineapple Juice

Build in a shaker over ice, shake well and strain into a lowball glass.

Cocktail:

1oz Light Rum
2 oz Pineapple Juice
1 oz Blue Curacao
1 oz Creme de Coconut
1 slice of Pineapple
1 Cherry

Blended: Blend rum, blue curacao, pineapple juice and cream de coconut with one cup of ice in a blender on high. Pour into a hurricane glass and garnish/decorate with a slice of pineapple and cherry.

Straight up: Build in a shaker filled with ice. Shake well and pour into a highball glass and garnish.

Blue Hawaiian Cocktail

Blue Curacao:

Blue Curacao is a sweet blue liqueur, distilled and flavored from the dried peel of bitter oranges. It can also contain distillates of lemons and curacao fruit, sugar and wine. The Caribbean island of Cura硯 is host to much of the fruit used in these liqueurs. Blue Curacao is often used to induce color into cocktails and other mixed drinks.

Purple Cadillac and Chambord

Shot:
3/4 oz Cabo Wabo Tequila Anejo
1/2 oz Cointreau
1 1/2 oz Sweet and Sour
Splash of Chambord

In a shaker half full of ice. Mix tequila, cointreau, and sweet and sour. Shake and strain into low ball glass then float chambord on top. Cheers!

Cocktail:

1 oz Cabo Wabo Tequila Anejo
1/2 oz Chambord
1/2 oz Cointreau
2 oz sweet and sour

Blended: Combine ingredients in a blender with a glass full of ice and blend. Garnish: Some like salt on rim others like sugar. A raspberry on the straw is a nice touch. Serve in a hurricane or margarita glass.

On the rocks: In a shaker half filled with ice combine tequila, cointreau, and sweet and sour and shake three good times. Strain into a hurricane glass filled with ice. Float Chambord on top for curb appeal. You can salt or sugar the rim if you wish. Garnish with a raspberry for good measures.

Chambord

Chambord Its full name is Chambord Liqueur Royale De France, and it is produced by Charles Jacquin Et Cie.

Chambord is inspired by a unique raspberry liqueur produced in the Laire Valley of France during the late 17th Century. The liqueur was said to have been introduced to King Louis XIV during one of his visits to the Chateau de Chambord during his reign. It was common during that time for liqueurs and cognacs to be consumed with elegant meals.

Today, Chambord is enjoyed throughout the world. Embraced for its velvety rich taste and versatility, it is delicious neat, on the rocks, as a flavorful ingredient in cocktails or with champagne. Chambord is crafted from the world's finest raspberries and blackberries, authentic Madagascar vanilla, Moroccan citrus peel, honey and cognac to create a delicious all-natural raspberry liqueur.

Alabama Slammer

Non-Alcoholic:
Half full of Orange Juice
Half full of Pineapple
Float Grenadine on top
Garnish with a Pineapple wedge

Fill Collins glass with ice and pour ingredients in. Float grenadine on top garnish and serve.

Shot:
1/4 oz - Kettle One Vodka
1/4 oz - Amaretto
1/4 oz - Southern Comfort
splash - Orange Juice
dash - Grenadine

Shake with ice and strain into shot glass. 1-2-3 bottoms up.

Cocktail:
1 oz - Amaretto
1oz - Grenadine
6 oz - Orange Juice
6 oz - Pineapple Juice
1 oz - Southern Comfort

Add ingredients in a shaker. Shake well, and drain into a large glass.
Garnish with a sliver of Pineapple with a cherry on top.

Southern Comfort is a peach flavored bourbon liqueur. It is a traditional American spirit made from an infusion of peach and other flavorings (i.e. citrus and orange) into a bourbon base. It is available as both 100 proof (50 percent alcohol) and 76 proof (38 percent alcohol). Although nowadays produced in St. Louis, Missouri the history and secret formula of Southern Comfort stretches back to 1874 where M.W. Heron created it in his bar in New Orleans.

Southern Comfort

Enjoy and have a great weekend.
JB

Protein Blended Mocha Beverage

Wanted to list my protein drink that I make every morning. I loved mocha frapps from that big retailer but they are loaded with sugar. Here is my alternative.

Jeff Protein Blended Mocha Beverage

1/4 cup (2oz) - Half caffein coffee
2 scoops - Protein Powder (EAS Premium Protein)
1/4 cup - Half & Half
2 Tbsp - Sugar Free Chocalote syurp (Torani)
Ice
Blend well
Makes about 16 oz mug of cool refreshing protein beverage.

Here are the specs on this drink.
300 calories
110g Cholestrol
4g Sugars
30g Protein
65g Sodium
200g Potassium
9.5g Fat
0 Fiber
7 pts for Weight Watchers

Lower in sugar and high in Protein is what I look out for due to my WLS. Just wanted to share this since I finally figured it all out. I some times substitue half caff with decaf.

Later

JB