Buzz 29
Kentucky Derby Drink & Cocktail Guide 2015
The Kentucky Derby is one of the longest running sporting traditions in America. While some watch the Derby for the horse racing, others celebrate the cultural event by drinking Kentucky Bourbon based cocktails and spirits.
Horse racing and Kentucky Bourbon go hand in hand. In this article, we’ll highlight the top cocktails you can serve at your 2015 Kentucky Derby party.
The Kentucky Derby Mint Julep
The official drink of the Kentucky Derby is the Mint Julep. Although the original Mint Julep was originally concocted using brandy, today’s Mint Julep is typically made with Kentucky Bourbon.
The most popular Kentucky Bourbon used in Derby Mint Juleps is undoubtedly Old Forrester. Although you may use your favorite Kentucky Bourbon when making your Mint Juleps, try our suggested Kentucky Derby Mint Julep recipe below:
You’ll Need:
- Mint leaves
- Crushed ice
- Sugar (For Simple Mint Syrup)
- A Bottle of Bourbon, preferably Old Forrester
- Fresh Mint Sprigs
- Simple Mint Syrup
Optional:
- Stirring Straws – Allows your guests to stir and sip
- Powdered Sugar – To compliment the mint garnish
Yields (1) 8 ounce serving.
Directions:
You will need to prepare the Simple Syrup for your Mint Juleps first. Simply bring 1 cup of water combined with 1 cup of sugar to a boil in a saucepan for 3 minutes. Let the solution cool to room temperature, then preserve the Simple Syrup in a glass jar.
Take a chilled bar glass and pour 1/2 an ounce of the Simple Syrup into the glass. Take a spoon and mix 3-5 mint sprigs into the bottom of the cup. Try to mash the mint sprigs against the side of the cup to release the flavor of the mint into the Simple Syrup. Take your spoon and remove the mint from the syrup and discard as needed.
Next, fill the cup full of crushed ice and proceed to mix 2 ounces (roughly two shots) of your favorite Bourbon into the glass. Stir the drink with a straw and garnish the drink with mint leaves. Top the drink off with additional ice as needed. Left over simple syrup can be refrigerated and used later in sweet tea.
Kentucky Bourbon Tailgate Sipper
Some Kentucky Derby partiers treat the Run for the Roses as a tailgating party that helps kick off Summer. The Kentucky Bourbon Tailgate Sipper is the perfect addition for your 2015 Kentucky Derby party.
You’ll Need:
- 4 cups of cubed fresh pineapple
- 1 cup of Kentucky Bourbon (Woodfords, Old Forrester, Etc)
- 1 cup of Cold Perrier Lemon Sparkling Water
- 1/2 cup Southern Comfort
- 1 TBSP of Fresh Lemon Juice
- 1 TSP of Vanilla Extract
Directions:
Using a food processor or blender, drop the pineapple chunks into the device allowing the chunks to smooth out. This roughly takes 30 seconds.
Strain the pineapple mixture using a wire mesh strainer and pour the pineapple juice into a 2 quart container. Be sure to remove any pineapple pulp from the juice and discard the pulp in the trash. Use a spoon to mash all of juice out of the pineapple against the strainer.
Using the 2 quart container, add 1 cup of your favorite Kentucky Bourbon, a cup of Perrier Lemon Flavored Sparking Water, 1/2 a cup of Southern Comfort, 1 TBSP of fresh lemon juice along with 1 TSP of vanilla extract. Stir up your concoction and serve over ice. Add garnishes if necessary.
Spiked Sweet Tea & Lemonade
This super simple concoction is sure to be a hit at your 2015 Kentucky Derby party. To make Spiked Sweet Tea & Lemonade, follow these directions below.
You’ll Need:
- 3 Cups of Water
- 2 Family Sized Lipton Tea Bags
- 1 Cup of Mint Leaves (Loosely Packed)
- 1/2 Cup of Sugar
- 4 Cups of Cold Water
- 1/2 of a 12-oz. can of frozen lemonade concentrate (thawed)
- 1 cup Kentucky Bourbon (Old Forrester, Knob Creek or Woodford)
Optional:
You can garnish the Spiked Sweet Tea & Lemonade with fresh sugarcane and fresh pineapple slices.
Directions:
First, take your 3 cups of water and bring it to a boil. Add tea bags and fresh mint to your boiling water. Remove from the heat and leave covered for 10 minutes.
Next, remove the tea bags and mint leaves. Mix the sugar into the minty, sweet tea mix and stir until the sugar has completely dissolved. Once this is complete, mix in your 4 cups of cold water, your Kentucky Bourbon along with the lemonade concentrate. Serve over the Spiked Sweet Tea & Lemonade over ice and use the garnishes suggested above.
The most popular alcohol-related terms according to Google, and what they can teach us
Perhaps it’s quite apropos that I’ve had a homemade margarita in preparation to compose this article. It’s a standard and popular tequila-containing drink that’s a common unwinding tool after a long and productive day’s work.
Speaking of popular and common, it is quite an interesting undertaking to turn to Google to discover what’s hot and happening with people these days – especially in the realm of potent potables.
Alcohol, beer, wine – and Prosecco?
At the top of the list of popular liquor search terms appear those things you’d expect. Standard alcohol queries get nearly 500,000 monthly hits per month, but gaining on Champagne’s 100,000 searches is a foreign dark horse that might not be familiar to some.
That bubbly drink is Prosecco, an Italian variety and French sparkling wine rival that finds itself actually outselling Champagne for the first time in history. Expect the trend to continue into 2015, and if you want to appear cultured and smart, order a bottle the next time you’re dining out.
Moscato, of course
Why is Moscato so popular?
That’s a question that has been typed into the search-engine giant so often that Google offers it as its second suggestion. With more than 100,000 searches surrounding the sweet and sparking wine, the rise of Moscato has been attributed to its affinity with the hip-hop crowd. The pink and Bartenura versions of the wine receive the most seekers.
Cheap, dangerous and ordinary
Rounding out the majority of phrases of alcohol statistics are those extreme words that run the gamut between troublesome terms and everyday occurrences. Information about alcohol poisoning, binge drinking, withdrawal symptoms and alcoholism are mixed in with the more ordinary searches for data about wine and spirits.
Pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon, pinot grigio, Bordeaux and Chianti are the famous types of wines topping the list, with the latter harkening back to that unforgettable scene in the movie Silence of the Lambs, wherein Anthony Hopkins’ character mentioned it as being a lovely pairing with fava beans and sinister offerings. At the very least, the creepy mention taught us all that it is a wine produced within the Chianti region of Tuscany.
Wine is fine, liquor is quicker – and gets more attention
While beer and wine run neck and neck for attention from Googlers – especially once you factor in specific queries for brands like Marsala wine, Riesling or Cristal Champagne – or categories like merlot and ale (which is also surging in trendiness) – we can’t negate the attention given to the harder stuff.
Gin, vodka and rum get nearly a quarter of a million monthly searches, especially when brand names like Grey Goose are factored into the mix. Kraken rum is no slouch, neither is Yuengling beer – a brewski that gets the same 74,000 monthly searches as the uber-popular Ciroc brand of vodka brought to the public by Sean “P Diddy” Combs, a man who built that brand into a $100 million franchise.
It’s amazing what you can learn about the desires of folks who turn to search engines to discover. Don’t you feel smarter just by reading the above results?
Best Unknown Drinking Games
Everyone has a pre-drinking ritual before they go out. Whether it’s blasting their favourite song before hitting the bars or downing their favourite shot everyone preps differently. Drinking Games are a popular choice and have been a mainstay at parties for decades. You may know about King’s Cup and Flip Cup but here are some “alternative” drinking games sure to impress your friends at the next party.
1) Bottle Blow – All you need for this game is an empty bottle, which shouldn’t be hard to find, and a deck of cards. Put the deck of cards on the top of the bottle. Each of your friends take turns blowing cards off of the deck. The last person to blow a card drinks a beer. There are additional rules you can add to increase the fun. For example if you blow a Queen card off you drink a beer or if you blow two off, two beers and so on. The flexibility adding rules adds to the madness.
2) Quarters – If you’re short on ideas and game pieces, this one is great because it requires no additional pieces other than a quarter. The game starts by spinning a quarter to see who goes first. Whomever the antlers are pointed at is the first player. The object is to bounce a quarter off the table and into the glass. If the coin goes in the shooter picks who must drink. If the quarter doesn’t land in the glass, the next player starts their turn.
3) Edward 40 Hands – Not only is this game not for the faint of heart, it’s not recommended if you have somewhere to be in a few hours. The rules are simple. A 40 is duct-taped to each of your hands and you cannot remove them for any reason. You’re forced to drink both 40s, before even going to the bathroom.
4) Clown – Another game that requires only a deck of cards. Everyone flips over their card and if anyone has the same numbered card they must turn to the person and yell “Clown”. Speed is important for this game, because whoever doesn’t say it fast enough has to drink whatever the number on the card says.
5) Celebrity – This game is a little more social. It’s a great way to loosen up and break the ice if not everyone knows each other all that well just yet. Everyone writes down a celebrity’s name on a post it note and puts it in a bowl. Without looking, everyone reaches in and puts one of the names on their forehead. Once on, everyone takes turns asking yes or no questions to figure out who is written on their post-it note. Any time you get “No” as an answer you drink. If you get a “Yes” you hand out a drink to someone of your choosing. The first person to figure out their celebrity now has the ability to hand-out drinks to anyone they choose until the end of the game.
Tweet It! #BestDrinkingGames!
Top 10 Drinks for St. Patricks Day
St.Patrick’s Day is the only day of the year when you can be as Irish as you want, regardless of your heritage. March 18th is the perfect day to try something new so here are ten cocktails to make your Irish eyes smile.
iCohol Presents..The Top 10 Drinks for St. Patricks Day!
1) Irish Car Bomb – A classic for a reason.
Ingredients: ½ pint Guinness Stout
½ oz. Irish Cream
½ oz. Irish whiskey
Instructions: Fill the beer glass with the Guinness. Fill a shot glass with the Irish whiskey and Irish Cream. Drop the shot glass into the stout and enjoy the coffee flavoured surprise.
2) Irish Highball – A taste of Ireland.
Ingredients: 2 oz Irish Whiskey (preferably Jamesons)
4 oz Canada Dry Ginger Ale
Ice chunks
Instructions: Simply pour the whiskey over ice and fill the glass with Ginger Ale.
3) Shamrock
Ingredients: 1 ½ oz of Irish Whiskey
1 tsp of green crème de menthe
½ oz of dry vermouth
1 olive
Instructions: Stir all the ingredients with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Serve with the olive.
4) Irish Old Fashioned – A sweet treat
Ingredients: 1 teaspoon of sugar
Angostura bitters
1.5 oz of Irish whiskey
1 lemon peel twist
1 Maraschino Cherry
1 slice of orange
Instructions: Pour of the ingredients, minus the fruit, into a highball glass. Stir the liquids together. Garnish with the fruit and serve cold.
5) Irish Shillelagh – A fruity twist
Ingredients: 1.5 oz of Irish whiskey
Half ounce of gin
1 teaspoon of sugar syrup
1 teaspoon of lemon juice
1 teaspoon of Peach Shnapps
1 teaspoon of White Rum
Instructions: Pour all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker as well as some chipped ice. Shake. Pour the drink into an old fashioned glass without straining it.
6) Irish Rose – A light cocktail
Ingredients: 1 ounce of lime juice
1 ounce of Irish whiskey
6 ounces of Ginger Ale
1 ounce of pomegranate syrup
Instructions: Mix the ingredients together and serve over ice.
7) Hot Irish Whiskey – Perfect for a cold night
Ingredients: 1 ounce Jameson Whiskey
2 cups boiled water
Cloves
¼ slice of Lemon
2 teaspoons sugar
Instructions: Pour whiskey into glass. Add sugar and fill glass with boiling water and stir. Place 4/5 cloves into the lemon slice and add it to the drink. Serve hot.
8) Irish Coffee – What a way to wake up in the morning
Ingredients: 1 ounce Irish Whiskey
3 ounces hot coffee
Sugar (to taste)
Whipped Cream
Instructions: Pour coffee into a warmed mug. Add desired amount of sugar. Stir until sugar dissolves. Add whiskey and top with whipped cream.
9) Fuzzy Irishman – Unforgettably sweet
Ingredients: 1 ounce Butterscotch Shnapps
1 ounce Irish Cream
1 ounce Raspberry Liqueur
Instructions: Mix all with crushed ice in a glass. Add mint leaves to taste.
10) Irish Hammer – Refreshing
Ingredients: 1 ounce Irish Cream
1 ounce Jack Daniels
1 ounce Irish Mist
Instructions: Mix with crushed ice in a glass and add mint leaves to taste.
Tweet It!: #StPatricksDayDrinks
The Health Benefits of Whisky, Red Wine & Beer
Whisky, Red Wine, Beer and Health Benefits
It’s true that alcohol, when consumed in excess, is bad for you and can cause a massive range of health and social problems, from cirrhosis of the liver to families breaking up among other things. However, when alcohol is enjoyed responsibly, in moderation, it can actually benefit your health. Here’s a look at some of the surprising ways whisky, red wine, and beer can make you a healthier person.
Whisky
One of life’s little luxuries is a bit of good, single-malt Scotch whisky. Along with being fat free and extremely low in carbohydrates, two drams or servings of whisky or any other type of alcohol will lower your chances of developing dementia or having a stroke by 50 percent. Furthermore, the risk of developing diabetes can be reduced up to 40%; this is due to alcohol’s ability to increase your body’s “good” cholesterol levels and decrease blood clots.
Another thing that alcohol is good for is fighting cancer; it contains ellagic acid, a chemical that destroys cells that are cancerous. Scotch whisky is the type of alcohol that contains the highest amount of ellagic acid, so don’t be afraid to have one or two ounces per day. You’ll be decreasing your risk of developing cancer.
If you’re watching your weight, whisky is probably better for you than drinking wine or other types of alcohol: whisky only has 55 calories per serving. To compare, red wine has about 90 calories, and a serving of light beer contains around 100.
Red Wine
Drinking a moderate amount of red wine is also very good for your health. It contains a staggering number of antioxidants and is claimed to have an anti-aging effect. The rejuvenating properties were so well publicized that there were even spas that began offering red-wine facials and baths; however, it appears as though the wine needs to actually be consumed in order for a benefit to occur. Facials and baths have the annoying tendency of staining your skin, so they are best avoided.
The main benefit of drinking red wine appears to be a healthy heart. Thanks to resveratrol and other antioxidants, red wine reduces the risk of developing heart and cardiovascular disease. Resveratrol has also been shown to be effective in reducing the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease; other studies have shown that it can also contribute towards a longer lifespan.
Having a glass of red wine that’s rich in melatonin may also help you get a good night’s sleep. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chianti are varietals that contain the substance which regulates the body clock, so a glad before bedtime might be a good idea if you want better rest. Melatonin is also an antioxidant, which means it has anti-aging properties and can help prevent cancer.
As mentioned above, red wine can help prevent cancer. Researchers from Spain’s Santiago de Compostela University found that a glass of red wine per day reduces the risk of developing lung cancer by 13 percent. The overall risk for men developing prostate cancer is cut by 50% by drinking four or more glasses of red wine every seven days, and moderate red wine consumption can cut women’s risk of breast cancer. However, women must be very careful not to overindulge; too much red wine can actually increase the risk of breast cancer, so it’s best to keep to only one or two servings of red wine per day.
Interestingly, researchers also found that people who drink more than two glasses of red wine per day don’t catch colds as often as people who don’t drink wine at all.
Finally, red wine, because of the presence of the already-mentioned resveratrol and saponins, has anti-inflammatory properties and can lower LDL cholesterol.
Beer
When it comes to health and fitness, beer usually isn’t the first substance that comes to mind. Beer is associated with the infamous “beer belly”, weight gain, and Homer Simpson. While beer does have negative effects when too much is consumed, when it’s taken in moderation, it has some truly stunning health benefits.
Most surprising is the fact that drinking one beer a day for women and two beers a day for men can make your bones stronger. Because beer is high in silicon, moderate drinking gives your bones a boost. However, drinking more than the recommended amount can put you at a higher risk for suffering a fracture. Again, moderation is the key!
A pint of beer a day also appears to be good for your heart by reducing the risk of heart disease by about 30 percent. Having one or two beers also appears to contribute to an increase in your body’s levels of HDL or “good” cholesterol.
One or two beers a day can reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 25%. However, once again researchers showed that consuming more than 2 beers had absolutely no benefit in this department.
Beer drinking seems to be particularly good for women; along with the other health benefits of a pint a day, women 25-40 years of age are less likely to develop high blood pressure.
Whisky, Red Wine and Beer
All three types of alcohol contribute towards longevity and a better quality of life if and only if consumed in moderation. In fact, some researchers boldly state that if Europeans stopped drinking their one or two beers a day, life expectancy on the continent would decrease by two years. Happiness, it is suspected, would also decrease drastically.
Tweet It!: #AlcoholHealthBenefits
What exactly is One Serving or Unit of Alcohol?
What exactly is One Serving or Unit of Alcohol?
Alcoholic beverages are kind of funny when it comes to serving sizes and measurements, and there does seem to be a persisting belief that all drinks containing alcohol contain the exact same amount of inebriant. To many, a glass of wine, a glass of scotch, a glass of alcopop, and a glass of beer will all have the same effect, and this can and does quite often lead to disastrous results.
After downing a glass of hard liquor, a person might claim “I’m not drunk, I’ve only had one drink”, but their behaviour and blood alcohol levels will beg to differ. Likewise, a person who is naive about alcohol may emphatically state “I’m so wasted, I’ve had an entire glass of beer” and may delude themselves into thinking that they are indeed drunk.
There is a lot of confusion in the media and in the general public about what constitutes “one serving” of alcohol, and the confusion gets even worse when some official organizations start talking about “units” of alcohol. Here we will define exactly what one “serving” and one “unit” mean so that you can make wiser choices when going out with friends or staying at home and enjoying a few drinks in good company.
Alcohol by Volume (ABV) versus Proof
First of all, while it may be common sense to some, one glass of beer does not equal one glass of wine or a glass of hard liquor; each type of drink contains different alcohol content. This is why you won’t feel much if you have a glass of beer but will feel very drunk if you have a glass of undiluted, straight gin or vodka. Beer usually has 4.7 percent alcohol by volume, or ABV. Wine contains anywhere from 11 percent to 14 percent alcohol by volume, and hard liquor such as vodka, gin, rum, and tequila will contain 35 to 40 percent ABV. Some hard liquor and liqueurs will contain even more, with some being up to 54 percent ABV. This means that a glass of rum will contain far more alcohol than a glass of beer or wine.
In the United States, along with the ABV measurement, they will sometimes use the term “proof”, which is defines as being twice the ABV. Hence, a rum that has a 40 percent ABV may also be called “80 proof”. The famous Bacardi 151 is 151 proof and contains 75.5 percent ABV. The high concentration of alcohol is what makes it flammable.
One Serving Measure
One serving or one standard drink of alcohol will contain 0.6 fluid ounces or 17.8 millilitres of pure alcohol. This translates to:
• 12 ounces or 355 mlof standard 4.5 percent ABV beer or wine cooler
• 8 ounces or 237 ml of malt liquor
• 5 ounces or 178 ml of table wine
• 3.5 ounces or 103 ml of fortified wine such as sherry or port wine with a 17 percent ABV
• 2.5 ounces or 74 ml of cordial, liqueur, aperitif or digestif with a 24% ABV
• 1.5 ounces or 44 ml of “hard liquor” with 40 percent ABV such as most commercially available rum, gin, vodka, brandy, and tequila.
One Unit Measure – United Kingdom and Australia
In the United Kingdom and Australia, a unit of alcohol is defined as a measure of the volume of pure alcohol in an alcoholic beverage. In the U.K., one unit is equal to 10 millilitres of pure alcohol, while in Australia one unit is defined as 10 grams (12.7 ml) of alcohol. In Great Britain, the number of alcohol units will be published on the container’s label.
For a healthy adult, 75% of an Australian unit can be metabolized in an hour, and 95% of a U.K. unit can be metabolized in the same amount of time.
If you’re in the United Kingdom, and find yourself in a pub, you can do a quick calculation of the number of alcohol units. For example, a pint of beer contains 568 millilitres. Multiply the volume of the drink by the ABV percent, which, in this case, is 4 % (but keep in mind ABV varies from beer to beer). Then divide the number by 1000.
(568 X4) / 1000 = 2.3 units
Because most beers in the U.K. have an ABV of more than 4 percent, a pint will have almost 3 units of alcohol.
Here are the units of alcohol that typical popular beverages will contain:
• A large glass of wine will contain about 3 units, while a smaller glass (175 ml) will only have two.
• A small glass (50 ml) of sherry will contain approximately one unit of alcohol.
• A 25 ml measure of hard liquor such as vodka or rum will contain one unit.
• A 35 ml measure of hard liquor (common in pubs) will contain 1.4 units.
• Alcopops, which are pre-mixed cocktails consisting of hard liquor/grain alcohol and juice or pop, usually contain 1.4 to 1.5 units of alcohol per bottle.
Recommended limits
The government of the U.K. recommends that men drink no more than four units of alcohol per day, while women should drink no more than three.
In Canada, the recommended maximum is two standard drinks per day for men, and two standard drinks per day for women with a weekly total of nine.
In the United States, for both men and women, it is recommended that no more than one standard drink per day is consumed.
In Australia, the government recommends no more than two Australian units per day for both men and women.
Tweet It!: #UnitofAlcohol
Top 10 Non-Alcoholic Cocktails
Top Ten Non-Alcoholic Cocktails for Designated Drivers
Is it your turn to be the designated driver for your group’s next big night out? Don’t worry, just because you can’t drink alcohol doesn’t mean you can’t have fun. You also won’t be stuck sipping plain soda and lime or soft drinks; here are some of the best non-alcoholic cocktails you’ll be able to enjoy while assuring your party that everyone will get home safe and sound.
Sweet Drinks
10. Orange-Lime Mocktail
1 highball glass, chilled
2.5 ounces orange juice
1 ounce lime juice
5 ounces Sprite or 7-up
1 wedge of lime for garnish
Pour the sprite into a chilled cocktail shaker, add the orange and lime juices, and shake well. Pour into the chilled highball glass, and garnish with a wedge of lime or an orange slice.
9. Shirley Temple
1 Highball glass, full of ice cubes
Orange juice
Pineapple juice
Dash of lime syrup
Sprite or 7 up
Grenadine
Fill glass 1/3 with orange juice. Add some pineapple juice and a dash of lime syrup. Fill the glass with sprite or 7up. Top with grenadine. Garnish with an orange slice and a maraschino cherry.
8. Roy Rogers
1 Highball glass, full of ice cubes
Orange juice
Pineapple juice
Dash of lime syrup
Coca cola
Grenadine
Fill glass 1/3 with orange juice. Add some pineapple juice and a dash of lime syrup. Fill the glass with Coca-cola. Top with grenadine. Garnish with an orange slice and a maraschino cherry.
7. Strawberry Piña Colada Mocktail
1 Cocktail or wine glass or Highball glass
1 cup crushed ice
2 ounces coconut milk
3 ounces pineapple juice
2 tablespoons strawberry syrup
1 tablespoon sugar syrup
Handful fresh strawberries
Cinnamon stick and orange slice for garnish.
Put ice, coconut milk, pineapple juice, sugar syrup, strawberry syrup and strawberries into blender or shaker. Shake well, do not strain. Pour into glass. Garnish with orange slice and cinnamon stick.
6. Mock Margarita
Do not make the mistake of thinking that simply throwing some pre-made margarita mix into a blender with some ice will make a great non-alcoholic drink. Many of these mixes have strange aftertastes and are simply too sweet. The best solution is to make your own mock margarita from scratch.
1 cocktail glass, rimmed with coarse sea salt
1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice (use more for a more tart drink)
2 ounces of freshly squeezed orange juice (adjust to your liking)
1 teaspoon or sugar (again adjust to your liking)
About 3.4 cup ice
Place all ingredients into a blender, and blend well. Adjust the amount of lime juice or orange juice according to your personal preference. Pour into the cocktail glass, and garnish with a slice of lime.
To make this a fruit margarita, simply add a handful of fresh or frozen fruit, and use a sugared rim instead of a salted one.
5. Karachi Lemonade
1 tall glass
1 ounce of lime or lemon juice, freshly squeezed
Sugar to taste
Pinch of salt
Carbonated mineral water
Ice cubes
Place the lime juice, sugar, and salt in the glass and stir until the sugar and salt are dissolved. Add the carbonated mineral water and ice cubes, stir and serve. An excellent drink when it’s hot outside.
4. Rail Splitter
1 tall glass
1 ounce lemon juice, freshly squeezed
2 teaspoons sugar syrup or plain sugar
Ginger ale
Mix the lemon juice and sugar together in a tall glass. Once the sugar has dissolved, fill glass with ginger ale and add ice cubes if desired.
Savory Drinks
3. Spicy Mock Salty Dog
1 cocktail glass, rimmed with coarse sea salt
3 ounces grapefruit juice
1 dash Tabasco sauce
1 small pinch cayenne pepper
Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with plenty of ice. Shake well, at least 30 seconds, strain and pour into a salt-rimmed cocktail glass.
2. Tamarind Mocktail
1 tall glass
1 teaspoon of tamarind paste with seeds removed (see method below)
1 teaspoon sugar
1 generous pinch of salt
1 generous pinch of cayenne pepper
Water or soda water
Mix the tamarind paste with sugar, salt, and cayenne pepper in the bottom of a tall glass. Fill the glass with water or soda water, and add ice cubes if desired.
There are many tamarind pastes available on the market that do not contain seeds; however if the paste is hard are there are seeds, you’ll just need to follow a few short steps. Take about a tablespoon of the paste, place it in a bowl, and pour some hot water over it. Stir, and a few minutes later, you’ll be able to remove the seeds and the paste will be ready to use.
And our number one non-alcoholic cocktail is…
The Mock Caesar
This classic Canadian cocktail is the perfect non-alcoholic drink; it’s tasty without being too thick, it’s spicy without being overpowering, and it is excellent for those who want something other than the run-of-the-mill sugary non-boozy offerings. It’s also much more flavorful than the world-renowned Bloody Mary due to the use of clamato juice instead of plain tomato juice. If clamato juice is not available in your area, please see the note below.
1 Highball glass or tulip glass, rimmed with celery salt and filled with ice cubes.
2 teaspoons fresh lime juice, not syrup
Clamato juice
3-4 dashes Worcestershire sauce
2-3 drops Tabasco sauce
Celery stick for garnish
Pour the lime juice, Worcestershire and Tabasco sauces and Clamato juice over the ice cubes, and stir. Add a dash of salt and pepper if you like, and garnish with a wedge of lime and a celery stick. For better visual effect, use a stalk that still has leaves on it.
If you cannot get clamato juice in your area, you can make your own by mixing tomato juice and the juice from a tin of prepared clams.
Tweet It!: #Non-AlcoholicCocktails
Top 5 Hot Alcoholic Drinks
The Top 5 Hot Drinks for Cold Weather
When it’s snowing outside and the temperatures dip below the freezing point, there’s nothing nicer than coming back indoors and enjoying a nice hot beverage. Instead of having a regular cup of tea, coffee or hot chocolate, why not jazz things up a bit with one of our top five hot cocktails?
5. Blueberry Tea
This drink is an old-fashioned, sophisticated classic; while present-day bartenders may not be familiar with it, the recipe is easy enough to describe and it can be made at home in a jiffy.
1 brandy snifter (a footed glass with a large bowl), with a sugared rim
1 ounce Grand Marnier
1 ounce Amaretto
Hot black tea, unsweetened (orange pekoe or Assam black tea work best)
Slice of orange for garnish
For maximum aroma and flavor, first warm the glass by pouring in hot (not boiling) water, and let it sit for a minute or two, then empty out the water and sugar the rim. Pour in the Grand Marnier, Amaretto, and fill the glass with the hot brewed tea. Garnish with a slice of orange. Perfect for those who want a winter warmer that isn’t heavy with cream or other thick liquids. The caffeine from the tea will also work as a pick-me-up to help you recover from the cold.
For an extra special treat, use Earl Grey tea instead of a plain black version. Herbal tea may also be used.
4. Spanish Coffee
This timeless after-dinner dessert drink also is perfect after an evening walk in the snow or cold weather. To get the best flavors, only use freshly brewed drip coffee because instant coffee will taste somewhat metallic.
1 coffee mug or pousse-cafe glass, with a sugared rim
1 ounce Kahlua or other coffee liqueur
1 ounce white or silver unaged rum (Bacardi works best)
Black, freshly brewed coffee
Whipped cream
Orange slice for garnish
Warm the coffee mug first by pouring some hot water in it and leaving it for about 30 seconds. Remove the water, sugar the rim, and add the Kahlua and Bacardi rum. Fill the mug with hot black coffee, and top with whipped cream. Garnish with an orange.
To make the Spanish Coffee a bit more elaborate, drizzle some Kahlua over top of the whipped cream and add a maraschino cherry.
3. Hot Toddy
A favorite with the older generation, this is a beautiful hot drink that should not be ignored by the younger crowd. The combination of spices and hard liquor will warm you up, and anecdotal evidence exists that a hot toddy can help alleviate some of the symptoms of a common cold.
1 coffee mug or pousse-cafe glass
1 ounce blended whisky
2 teaspoons honey (add more to taste)
2 cloves
1 star anise
1 cinnamon stick
1 slice of lemon
Hot water
In a pot, boil the water with the spices and slice of lemon, let simmer for a few minutes so that the spices infuse the water. In the coffee mug, add the whiskey and honey, stir. Add the spiced water, serve, and enjoy.
2. Hot Buttered Rum
Another old-time favorite hot drink, hot buttered rum is an absolute delight to drink on cold, wet, and windy days. White unaged rum can be used, but if you want a cocktail that will delight your taste buds and knock your socks off, try the dark, spiced rum that comes from the West Indies.
1 coffee mug
1 or two ounces of dark spiced rum
1 teaspoon butter
1 or 2 teaspoons brown sugar
Hot water
1 cinnamon stick
2 cloves
1 slice of lemon
1 star anise
Boil the water in a pot with the spices and lemon slice. While everything is simmering, place the butter and brown sugar in the coffee mug, and muddle the two together. Add the spiced hot water, and add the rum. Give everything a stir and enjoy.
And our choice for the best hot drink for cold weather is…
Polar Bear Hot Chocolate
This is the grown up version of a drink we all grew up with; hot chocolate. Nothing in the world beats a creamy smooth hot chocolate topped with a spoonful of whipped cream; here’s how to make it with a delightful adult twist. The Polar Bear is more than likely to become your new favorite winter-time beverage. It can be made with a pre-packaged instant hot chocolate powder, but it is simply phenomenal when made from scratch.
1 coffee mug
1 ounce white crème de menthe liqueur or Koskenkorva Minttu if available
1 ounce chocolate liqueur
5 or six ounces of milk
2 or 3 pieces of semi-sweet chocolate
Whipping cream
Orange slice and maraschino cherry for garnish
Warm the milk in a pan, and add the pieces of chocolate, stirring often until the chocolate is melted and you have basic hot chocolate. Add the Koskenkorva Minttu and chocolate liqueur to the mug, then pour in the hot chocolate. Stir briefly, then top with whipping cream, and garnish with an orange slice and maraschino cherry.
To add to this drink’s wow factor, drizzle a small amount of green crème de menthe liqueur on top of the whipped cream and top with the maraschino cherry; the combination of white, green and red will make the drink look like a gorgeous liquid peppermint candy.
Tweet It: #HotAlcoholicDrinks
Maple Syrup Liqueur
A Canadian Delight: Home-made Maple Syrup Liqueur
When most people think about Canada, their thoughts will usually run to some of the country’s most famous (or infamous) culinary and cultural exports; Canadian back bacon, Celine Dion and Justin Bieber (who do tend to act like hams during live shows), ice hockey, butter tarts, Nanaimo bars and William Shatner.
Fortunately, there are some other things that Canadians are good for that can compliment or make up for the other exports, and one of the most important things is maple syrup. Sweet and uniquely flavoured, for centuries it was the only sweetener available in North America and was used to make maple butter, candies, sweets, cakes, and deliciously enough, cocktails and liqueurs.
Maple syrup liqueur isn’t exactly a huge industry in Canada; this is probably because good home-made liqueur can be made at home. Quite soon though, as international demand for all things maple syrup increases, we can be sure to see our liquor store shelves festooned with bottles of commercially produced maple syrup liqueur.
Although quite rare, there are some commercially available specimens: N.V. Maison des Futailles Sortilège Maple Syrup and Canadian Whiskey Liqueur from Quebec is one that is building a good reputation for itself. If you can’t find the deliciousness that is a maple syrup liqueur in your area, there’s no need to despair; you can easily make it at home yourself.
Making Maple Syrup Liqueur at Home
The recipe itself is easy: Just get a clean jar with a lid that seals properly, or a bottle that can be corked, and pour in one cup of Canadian rye whiskey and one cup of maple syrup. Close the jar, and give everything a good shake, then put it in the refrigerator for about two weeks. It will then be ready to serve.
Sounds simple enough, doesn’t it? Well, before you run out and buy a bottle of Aunt Jemima pancake syrup and a bottle of generic Canadian rye whiskey, you have to keep in mind that the liqueur making process will only work if you use proper ingredients. The syrup that you usually put on pancakes at a breakfast restaurant usually doesn’t contain maple syrup at all; it just contains hi-fructose corn syrup and some maple flavoring. If you use this in your recipe, you’ll end up with something that will taste overpoweringly sweet with not much flavor.
Real maple syrup must be used. This is the stuff that’s usually three or four or even five times the price of Mrs. Butterworth’s Pancake Syrup, and it’s pricier for good reason. Maple syrup is a pure ingredient; no additives or preservatives are added to it. Real maple syrup comes from Eastern Canada – namely Quebec and Vermont in the north-eastern United States. Maple syrup is also produced in Ontario, Canada and in the American state of Maine. It comes in various grades and has a very strong flavor that almost all find incredibly tasty. The highest grade of maple syrup is Grade A Light Amber, which is delicate, sweet and floral; however, if you want a liqueur with a strong maple note, then you might want to go for a grade B syrup: in general terms, the darker the syrup, the stronger the maple taste.
As far as rye whiskey is concerned, get a good one. Crown Royal is almost always a winner and can be enjoyed on its own, and Canadian Club is also a good
Canadian whiskey.
By mixing top quality maple syrup and rye whiskey, you’ll get a terrific tasting and uniquely Canadian liqueur.
But How do you Drink Maple Liqueur?
There are several ways to drink maple liqueur. Because it is a very warm flavor, it’s probably a drink to consume during the winter time or on wet, rainy days. The best way to drink it is neat, served in a nice port wine glass or footed shot glass. It can also be served on the rocks.
Maple Coffee
A traditional favorite way to drink the homemade liqueur is to make a fancy coffee with it. If you’ve got maple sugar, use it to rim a coffee mug. Simply pour in some freshly brewed coffee, add one or two ounces of the liqueur, and top with some whipped cream.
Quebec Paralyzer
Maple liqueur also makes an interesting substitute for Kahlua in the cocktail known as a Paralyzer. In a glass full of ice cubes, simply pour in ½ ounce of vodka, 1.5 ounces of maple liqueur, and pour in some Coca-cola until almost the top of the glass. Float some Half&Half or whole-fat milk on top, and garnish with a slice of lime.
Maple Ginger & Rye
A hiball drink that’s very common is rye and ginger ale. The two flavours go together perfectly, making a drink that’s smooth with just a hint of sweetness, making it perfect for people who find rum and coke to be too sugary. Maple liqueur would be a great addition; however to make the most of the flavors and avoid too much of a sugar flavor, it should be made in a tall glass.
Simply fill a very tall glass with ice cubes, pour one or two ounces of maple liqueur, ½ ounce of rye, and ginger ale over the ice cubes. Give a stir and serve.
Quebec Russian
Just like the famous Black Russian cocktail, this one will also be dark, sweet, and strong. When you’re asked if you’d like a second one, you’ll surely shout “oui”! In a short glass with a few ice cubes, pour 1.5 ounces of maple liqueur and ½ ounce of vodka. Stir and drink.
Tweet It! #MapleSyrupLiqueur
The Best Hangover Remedies
The Best Hangover Remedies
We’ve all had those nights where we’ve had far too much to drink and we pay the heavy price the next morning. Nausea, headache, weakness, and general malaise are only some of the symptoms that we must put up with. Some home remedies to treat a hangover can actually make you feel worse; a heavy, greasy breakfast can aggravate your nausea and the famous “hair of the dog”, which is basically an alcoholic beverage, will simply get you drunk again and will only put off a hangover until later.
What we are listing here are a few tried-and-true home remedies that will ease your suffering somewhat; however we must emphatically state that this does not constitute medical advice or medical treatment and we are not doctors. If you are suffering from a violent reaction to alcohol or are worried about the severity of your hangover, get professional medical help immediately.
Now, with that out of the way, here are some of the best hangover remedies.
Bananas
Eating a banana might seem like a strange remedy, but it’s the best way to replace all the potassium that was lost the night before. Drinking copious amounts of alcohol makes you urinate much more than usual; when you urinate, you also happen to eliminate potassium. Having a banana will give you a bit of energy to face the day.
Ginger
Ginger has been used to fight nausea for millennia; it’s great to combat seasickness as well. The easiest way to consume ginger is in the form of ginger ale or ginger beer, which are both non-alcoholic soft drinks.
What some experts claim is more effective in alleviating a hangover is fresh ginger tea; if you are feeling all right enough to stand up for a few minutes, peel some ginger root and cut about 10 slices of it. Place the slices in a pot with about four cups of water and boil for ten minutes. Strain it, and add the juice of half a lemon and the juice of one orange. Sweeten with about one half a cup of honey, and sip as much as needed.
Water
Overindulging in alcohol dehydrates you, and it’s the dehydration that can leave you feeling weak with a pounding headache. It’s necessary to replenish your body’s fluids, so have at least eight glasses of water. Water also works well to prevent a hangover; have a couple of glasses of it before going to bed or make sure that while you’re drinking alcohol you have a few rounds of plain water as well.
Lemon and Honey Tea
While this sounds too simple to work, it’s actually very effective. It will replenish fluids and sugars that get lost to a hangover. The honey, which contains fructose, competes for the metabolism of alcohol and will prevent the headache which occurs when there is a rapid change in alcohol level. Plain sugar will not be absorbed as quickly as honey and will therefore not work as well.
To make lemon and honey tea, boil about one cup of water, and add as much freshly squeezed lemon juice and honey as you like. The more you drink, the better.
Plain food
While food might be the last thing you want to think about due to your topsy-turvy stomach, you will need to eat something to regain your strength. The best things you can ingest are plain, dry toast, clear soup, or plain rice.
If you don’t think you can tolerate solids, start off with a plain chicken or beef broth, and later work your way up to toast or rice. Leave the heavy, spicy food until much later, when you’re feeling more like your normal self.
Ice
If your head is pounding, one of the quickest ways to get relief is to put some ice cubes or crushed ice in a plastic bag, wrap it in a towel, and place it on your head. A washcloth dipped in cold water will also work. For this treatment to be effective, you’ll also need to lie down and rest while applying the ice pack or cool cloth.
Sport Drinks
Sport drinks will replace electrolytes, fluids, and glucose. They are great to combat dehydration. If you don’t have sport drinks at home, you can make one yourself. Simply squeeze the juice of one lemon into a tall glass of water, add sugar along with a pinch of salt, and give it a stir.
Juice
Fruit juices are a good way to replace the vitamins, minerals and sugars that were lost during the night of cocktails. Freshly squeezed juice will raise your blood sugar levels back to normal. If you think that orange juice will be too acidic for your already upset stomach, apple juice will also do the trick.
Multivitamins and Antacids
Taking a multivitamin that contains B vitamins will be a good idea as well, and you can always take an antacid such as Pepto-Bismol to calm a “funny tummy”. However, before taking a medication such as an antacid, it will be best to check with your doctor to see if it is appropriate for you.
Time
Research has shown over and over again that the best remedy for a hangover is time. If possible, stay in bed with the curtains closed and sleep for as long as you can. And remember, chances are that by tomorrow, you’ll be good as new.
Tweet It!: #HangoverRemedies