Buzz 29
Cancun’s Best Bars
Cancún’s Best Bars: Señor Frog’s and Carlos & Charlie’s
Let’s face it; Cancún, Mexico’s largest Caribbean resort area on the eastern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula, isn’t a place to go if you want to have a quiet, meditative holiday; it’s THE place to have fun in the sun during the day and party during the night. And in Cancún, people know how to party and it’s a given that you’ll have more fun than you’ve ever had in your life. But where do you go to the maximum amount of crazy fun in Mexico’s Fun capital? Well, to get started, a visit to the two best bars in town are in order.
Right off the bat, bars in Mexico are like nowhere else in the world; not only do you have a few drinks and maybe a quick meal; you’re encouraged to dance along with the locals and party like it’s 1999. Even if you’re not a dancing type, in Cancún you won’t be able to help yourself; you’ll be a dancing machine. So, this means that no matter what bar you go to in town, chances are, you’re going to have a good time. However, to bring things to legendary levels, there are two bars in Cancún that have been iconic for decades; popular with international tourists and locals alike, Señor Frog’s and Carlos & Charlie’s are another category altogether; these two places are party heaven.
Señor Frog’s Blvd. Kukulcan km 9.5, Zona Hotelera (Across from Playa Chac Mool), 77500 Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico tel: 01 998 883 3454
This restaurant/bar, while it has a wild atmosphere, it’s all in good fun, meaning the waiters and staff will pull you out of your chair to dance to the music being played by one of the best DJ’s in town; “shot girls” will come around and offer shots of alcohol; while you down your shot they blow a whistle and give you a slap on both cheeks, too!
At Señor Frog’s, it’s the staff’s job to ensure that everyone has a good time; but what makes this place especially incredible is that while many patrons will have a lot of alcoholic beverages, they manage to make the place fun for people who don’t drink, too. Even families who go to this establishment for a meal will say they had the time of their lives in Señor Frogs. The staff can get even the most staid of families out of their chairs and dancing on the tables – without alcohol involved.
If you’re looking for a gourmet meal, then this might not be the place for you. However, if you’re with some friends and really want to let your hair down, you will never be disappointed; same thing goes if you’re travelling with your family. This one place has everything for everybody…and did we mention that this place has a flipping waterslide???
For hard-core partiers, this is probably the best bar in town to go to before heading out to resorts famous night-clubs; it will set the tone of absolutely insane fun for the whole night.
Carlos’ n Charlie’s Blvd. Kukulcan Km 8.5, Local 10 y 10C, Forum by the Sea, C.P. 77500, Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico tel: 998 883 4468
Practically an institution since the 1970’s, if a person visits Cancún but doesn’t go to Carlos’ n’ Charlie’s, they’ve missed the point and missed what could almost certainly be the highlight of their trip. Again, like Señor Frog’s, it’s a casual restaurant with a party atmosphere that works for those who want to get a wild night out started, but it is also a great place for families who want to enjoy a fun experience. The staff at this place are also specially selected for their ability to be great waiters and make their patrons have a good time.
Staff interaction with customers is the key here; the philosophy at Carlos’ n’ Charlie’s is “anything goes” and “feel free”. However, unlike Señor Frogs where the sole focus seems to be on customer/staff interaction and partying, Carlos’ n’ Charlie’s’ also has great food, so even fussy patrons who want a gourmet meal are going to be absolutely delighted. When guacamole is ordered, the chef prepares it right at the customer’s table to ensure that only the freshest, high quality ingredients are used. This is not a place that uses pre-made mixes! Also, according to experts, Carlos’ n’ Charlie’s has the best “ceviche” in town, which is saying a lot because Cancún is famous for the marinated fish and shrimp dish.
Carlos n’ Charlie’s is also famed for the offbeat activities it provides; waiters perform a floor show, sometimes local bands play music, and other branches of Carlos’ n’ Charlie’s provide indoor basketball courts, arcade style games, a dance floor, and markers on which to draw on the paper tablecloths.
From the moment you walk in the door at Carlos’ n’ Charlie’s, you’re treated like you’re one of the gang, like you’re a special guest at the best party you’ve ever been invited to, and the party atmosphere is suitable for everyone from children to adults; everyone’s needs are taken care of.
There are other bars and nightclubs in Cancún that are terrific for the over-18 crowd, such as Coco Bongo which is next door to Carlos’n’Charlie’s. In fact, there are so many great places that it would be incredibly difficult to come up with a Top Ten. But Señor Frog’s and Carlos’ n’ Charlie’s cater to party-goers and families alike, and nobody ever walks away disappointed. For these reasons, these two bars/restaurants are always rated as Cancún’s two legendary establishments.
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Yucatan Peninsula’s Best Daiquiris and Pina Coladas
Cancún and the Yucatán Peninsula’s Best Daiquiris and Piña Coladas
There’s absolutely no doubt that when it comes to party resorts, nothing beats Cancún, Mexico’s premier Caribbean resort. The nightclubs are second to none, the beaches are crystal clear, and fabulous restaurants abound. However, while there are a lot of bars that offer unlimited drinks once you pay admission, some travelers say that the drinks might not be that good and in some cases are even watered down. That means the venues are great, no one can deny how amazing the venues are, but where does one go if one really wants to try the city’s famous cocktails the way they are meant to be served?
Well, most hotels and bars that sell drinks a la carte are going to serve up terrific concoctions. But if you’re in the mood for an adventure and a mixed drink that will knock your socks off, a trip outside of the city to the smaller resorts or other tourist attractions is in order. We’ll tell you where you can get the best daiquiris and Piña Coladas in the entire Yucatán Peninsula.
First of all, the best daiquiri in the Cancún area and quite possibly all of the Caribbean can be had in the smaller beach resort of Playa Del Carmen, which is located a short drive south of the bigger holiday area.
A good daiquiri should have the following ingredients: a lot of good quality silver or unaged rum, lots of lime juice, a dash of orange liqueur, some sugar, and some ice. Although it’s a simple drink, it’s a cocktail that far too many bars get wrong because they’ll use pre-packaged mixes instead of fresh ingredients.
One place that gets it right all the time every time is actually a Thai restaurant in Playa del Carmen called Babe’s Noodle House and Bar (10th St. between 5th and 10th Ave, Playa del Carmen, Mexico). The cocktails served are huge, but quality is never sacrificed for quantity. The blueberry daiquiris seem to be a customer favorite; however, they are also known to make a marvelous mojito. So if you’re thinking of exploring the environs of Cancún and tasting just how good mixed drinks can be, a visit to Babe’s Noodle House and Bar is in order.
Surprisingly, some of the best Piña Colada cocktails that are available in Mexico and perhaps all of the Americas are absolutely not where you would expect to find them. Many Cancún resorts offer day trips to visit the famed Mayan Ruins: Tulum, Chichén Itzá, and Uxmal are the major groups and if you want some adventure, it is absolutely worth the trip to go and visit them. It’s very easy to spend a couple of days exploring all of the ancient buildings and learning what they were used for back in the Pre-Columbian days. There are some beautiful hotels near the three locations; Tulum is close to Cancún, Chichén Itzá is about 1 and a half hours away by car, and Uxmal is about 4 and a half hours away by car.
However, the place to find the best Piña Colada isn’t at the fancy hotels by the ruins, and if you are an adventurer at heart, you will love the locales where some of the world’s best mixed drinks are made: the tiny little shacks that dot the roads on the way to the ruins. Some are located in a one-kilometre radius of the ruins, and unlike the big hotel chains that cater to wealthy international tourists, these tiny “mom and pop” bars cater to Mexican tourists, who are known to be very demanding when it comes to a good drink.
Many of these small places don’t even have a name; a simple sign will hang outside the shop, and chances are there might just be a little table and a few chairs outside.
So what is it that makes the Piña Coladas in these tiny places off the beaten path so amazingly good? Well first of all, many places might not have ice, so your drink certainly won’t be watered down. If ice cubes are available, make sure the water used to make them has been purified.
The next thing that makes the cocktails so good is presentation. In these humble little palapas, the drinks come in hollowed-out coconuts, not the standard humdrum bar glassware that is ubiquitous world-wide.
Only fresh ingredients are used. There’s a very good chance that the coconut milk used was extracted that very day, there’s a good chance that the pineapple juice was freshly made from a pineapple specially cut for you, and the lashings of rum in your drink are going to be generous, not the usual one ounce measure that’s used in hotels, restaurants and bars. In some cases, the person making you your drink may even ask you “How many fingers?” meaning how much alcohol you want. One finger means about one ounce, two fingers means two, etc. The author of this article enjoyed two Piña Coladas with “four fingers” of beautiful aged Bacardi rum at a tiny bar near Uxmal and has never had a better cocktail.
Finally, what makes these Piña Coladas the best in the business is the garnish: after the drinks have been shaken or stirred by the bartender, a dash of powdered cinnamon is sprinkled on the top, a large cinnamon stick is thrown into the drink, a huge orange slice is placed on the rim of the coconut, and if the bar is really striving to impress, you’ll even get a nice little cocktail umbrella.
The bad thing though, is that once you’ve had a cocktail at one of these miniature bars far from the international tourism path, you’ll never be able to drink a standard Piña Colada from a run-of-the-mill restaurant again.
Once you’re back in Cancún, a cocktail that’s generating a lot of buzz is the Spiderman; unfortunately, bartenders aren’t too keen on sharing the recipe, but apparently it has tequila and blue curaçao in it, among other things. The trick to getting the best cocktails in Cancún is to make sure you watch the bartender no matter which establishment you find yourself in, and make sure he or she doesn’t water your drink down or skimp on the alcohol!
Cheladas and Micheladas: Cancun’s Best Beach Drinks?
Cheladas and Micheladas: Are These Cancún’s Best Beach Drinks?
When it comes to beer, Mexico absolutely makes some of the world’s best. Almost every single brand, whether it’s from a national mass producer or a regional brewery that caters to local tastes, you can bet you’ll get a beer that’s tasty and refreshing, no matter what style you like, from lagers and pilsners to the darker amber and “black” beers.
Beer drinkers who decide to holiday in Cancún will have an absolutely fabulous time because most of the country’s top brews are available everywhere; if not in the bars or restaurants, they can be found in the city’s grocery stores. World-famous beers such as Corona and Sol are everywhere, and beer aficionados can also easily get “connoisseur beers” such as Bohemia (said to be the best in Mexico) and Negra Modelo.
The beer is great, no doubt about it. But while you’re in Mexico, why don’t you try a couple of the local specialties that will absolutely knock your socks off and make you think of beer in a totally different way? In a way that makes standard beer incredibly versatile? In a way that will make refreshing beer even more refreshing and flavorful on a hot day at the beach? Why don’t you try a Chelada and a Michelada?
Cheladas and Micheladas have been around in Mexico for decades, quite possibly for over a hundred years. If you’re a beer lover but want to try something a little bit different but not too crazy, and if you don’t like sweet, syrupy or thick cocktails, and if you’re not too keen on wine, then these two Mexican specialties are for you. While not technically seen as mixed drinks, there are some who call these two beer-based drinks cocktails. However, most people view the Chelada and Michelada as beer with extra goodness thrown in. And if you’re on the beach and it’s hot, nothing is ever as refreshing as a good cold Chelada or Michelada.
The Chelada
The Chelada is basically a lager beer (use Sol, Corona, Superior, Dos Equis XX or Tecate) poured over ice into a chilled glass that has a salted rim (sea salt is best); between one half ounce to a full ounce of lime juice is added. If the concept seems a little bit strange, think of it this way; a Chelada is like a beer margarita. But unlike a margarita that can get too sickly sweet or can be un refreshing, a Chelada provides just enough tang and salt to be an effective thirst quencher and tasty at the same time.
One thing to keep in mind however, is that for both drinks, it’s almost always best to use lager beers. While a Chelada made with Bohemia or Negra Leon might be interesting, darker beers are almost always better when consumed with no other adornment, garnish, seasonings, or additives. One can say that making a Michelada with Negra Modelo is sort of like making sangria with a vintage Bordeaux; it can be done, but there’s not really any reason to.
If you’re a person who’s a little bit more adventurous at heart, then you may want to try the Michelada, which some beer drinkers claim is a bit more “hardcore”.
The Michelada
The Michelada, when a person is first informed of its ingredients, sounds a bit counter-intuitive. However, the components work together in a way that is incredibly refreshing and can cool you down after a long session in a hammock at the beach. The Michelada, like the Chelada, is served over ice in a chilled glass that has a rim covered in sea salt. The exact same amount of lime juice is added, along with liberal dashes of Tabasco sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and in some cases, slices of Serrano chillies. Some bars and restaurants, to the delight of Canadian patrons who have the custom of pouring a shot of clamato (clam and tomato juice mixed together) or tomato juice in a pint of mass-produced lager beer to “improve” the taste, will even add a little clamato juice to the Michelada, effectively making a beer-based Caesar cocktail that’s more appropriate for Caribbean climes.
The “icy hot” effect is cooling
As mentioned, at first this drink may not appear to be particularly refreshing, but Mexicans emphatically state that the spiciness of the drink, along with the saltiness, tang, beer flavor and coldness all help you feel like you’re cooling down. At first the effect of a spicy cold drink is a little disconcerting, but after you try it a few times, it becomes very delicious and plain lager beer seems a little boring afterwards.
The best daytime drinks for Cancún’s beaches
In temperate climates, plain beer is really great, and in the Canadian situation, adding a little clamato juice to uninspired factory beer can make a cold winter evening go by in a pleasant fashion. However, when it comes to Cancún, beer needs to perform; beer needs to be refreshing, beer must cool you down, and it has to do the job in hot and humid conditions.
This is why the best drinks in Cancún during the daytime aren’t your typical frilly cocktails; although delicious, they might only be effective in getting you drunk, but even then they may be too heavy, syrupy, and thick to drink during the full heat of the mid-day sun on the beach. Cancún’s best drinks for daylight hours consumption are the Chelada and Michelada.
If you’re planning a trip to Cancún and you’re a little afraid of trying a Michelada or Chelada, you can always ease your way into it by first trying some lime juice in your beer without any salt or ice, and ask the bartender to gradually add more ingredients in successive rounds. In no time at all you’ll be a beer drinks expert, staying cool and refreshed in Mexico’s beautiful Caribbean.
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What Your Drink Reveals About You
What Your Drink Reveals About You
Like body language, the clothes you wear and the products you use will say a lot about you. The types of drinks you order while at the pub, bar or nightclub will also reveal some of your subconscious characteristics to others. What you drink speaks volumes about you. Here is what your drink says about you to other patrons.
Domestic draft beer: You’re a hardworking person, possibly in the trades and blue collar. You don’t want anything fancy, just a plain’ old beer at the end of a hard day’s work. You tend to be easy to get along with. You are suspicious of “weird beer” whose names you don’t recognize.
Imported European beers: You might be well educated, and you like the more intense flavour of a German, Dutch or Belgian beer. Or you might want people to think you’re foreign or you want to show off your knowledge of beer. Or maybe you just want to appear more sophisticated than you actually are.
Craft or microbrewery beer: You’re a person who wants more than what a mass-produced beer can offer; you want to adventure a little bit without going overboard. However, by constantly yakking about how awesome microbeers are and criticizing other people’s tastes in domestic draft, your drinking companions will get fed up of your windbaggery. Craft beers are great, so spread the word in a good way, not by disparaging other’s choices.
Guinness beer: In a North American context, drinking a Guinness means you’re a serious beer drinker; not many can take the thick consistency, black color and heavy flavors. By ordering a Guinness or any other stout beer, you’re basically telling the bartender: “I know exactly what I’m doing and I appreciate a good drink.”
Long Island Iced Tea: “I want to get drunk in the least painful way possible!” This is usually a favorite with those who have just reached the legal drinking age; it’s a drink that is strong and goes down easily. It’s not particularly popular with the over-30 crowd; a 40-year old ordering one might raise a few eyebrows.
Grand Marnier or any other fine liqueur: This shows that you know about the finer things in life and that “trendy” cocktails don’t really matter to you. By ordering one of these, the bartender or waiter will know that you’re a true connoisseur of alcoholic beverages.
Red wine: You’re over thirty, probably highly educated, and like to read. You probably prefer settings like a pub over a nightclub as you like to have a conversation with your friends and companions.
White wine: You’re probably female, over 40 years old, and blond. You don’t like beer or sugary cocktails, and you don’t like to stick out too much. However, if you order a glass of white wine to pair with food that you’re ordering, you’re probably a wine connoisseur of either gender.
Gin or vodka Martini: You’re probably a well-off white collar office worker who’s had a very bad day and is in need of a good stiff drink. Or you’re a kid who’s trying to look sophisticated by ordering one. If this is the case, as soon as you take a sip, you’re probably going to make a face and you’ll get called out on your “sophistication”.
Bloody Mary or Caesar: If you’re drinking a Bloody Mary, you’re probably nursing a hangover. If you’re drinking a Caesar, you’re probably just Canadian.
Gin and Tonic: You’ve probably got lots of money, but you’re discreet about it. Or you might be an archaeologist/social anthropologist.
Single malt Scotch: You’re probably rather wealthy, or you’re highly educated, or quite possibly both. You’re accomplished but don’t like to brag about your achievements, and you’re also contemplative. And you’re probably over 30. If you’re younger than 30, you tend to be a bit pretentious.
RedBull and Vodka: A popular drink amongst the hard-partying university students who want energy yet still want a buzz from alcohol. If this is your drink of choice, you probably don’t mind that you don’t remember much from the night before.
Fruit Margaritas: You’re a lady who’s ready to P-A-R-T-Y. If you’re male, you’re comfortable in your own skin and don’t give a flying flip what people think of you. You like what you like.
White Russian: If you’re a man and you order this, you’re probably a fan of The Big Lebowski, talk about The Big Lebowski, and maybe even dream of a Big Lebowski remake. And you’ve probably got an “ironic” moustache or a tattoo of chopsticks on your forearm. Or both.
And finally….
Tequila shots: If taken at the start of the evening, you’re probably in your mid-twenties, a person who’s fun-loving and wants to get the party started; you’re crazy in a good way. If tequila shots are your drink of choice at the end of the night when the clubs are closing, you might be the type who’ll get into fights in the parking lot or have no idea how on earth you ended up in a stranger’s bathroom. You’re crazy in a bad way.
Fine Tequila, slowly sipped with either a beer or sangrita chaser: You’re a person who’s either been to Mexico or knows that good tequila is best enjoyed when sipped over a period of time. You are understated charm and sophistication, probably educated and enjoy a great night out without letting things spin out of control.
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Top 10 Wine & Spirit Christmas Gift Ideas
Our Top Ten Selection of Wine & Spirits Gift Baskets
Getting the perfect gift for that special someone, co-worker, friend, or relative is always a difficult task and when one needs to purchase the gift in a hurry (due to forgetting a certain date or special occasion until it’s almost too late); it can be downright panic-inducing. Not only does one need to get the gift, one needs to get a gift the recipient will like, and furthermore the peripheral gift-giving duties such as wrapping and presentation must also be done.
At 1-877-Spirits.com, a wonderful solution is offered to those who simply must present a substantial and thoughtful gift but need a lot of help; 1-877-Spirits.com offers specially made gift baskets in beautiful storage containers and lots of extra goodies that will be sure to thrill the recipient to bits. Not only do they attractively arrange and wrap their gift baskets; they will also have the gift baskets promptly delivered by Standard Delivery with a personalized gift card so that the recipient will receive the unexpected and delightful gift in their mail.
Here are our Top Ten Spirits Gift Baskets that 1-877-Spirits.com currently has on offer.
The Godiva Liqueur Gift Basket Godiva chocolate liqueurs are described as heavenly, smooth and rich, which make them perfect for any chocolate lover. The $159 USD price tag includes a beautiful bottle of the liqueur and high-end assortment of Godiva chocolates, all packaged in a re-usable trunk. The price also includes Standard Delivery anywhere in the Continental U.S. Order It Now!
An absolute must-have for those who enjoy whiskey liqueurs, this gift assortment includes a bottle of Drambuie whiskey liqueur, chocolate, cheese, crackers and an assortment of dried fruit and comes in a beautiful gold wire basket. The all-inclusive price which covers Standard Delivery in the Continental U. S. is $161. Order It Now!
The Montgras Quatro Three Bottle Wine Set Although not technically a gift basket, this gift set of three high quality wines will be sure to please the person who enjoys a great glass of dry red. Included are Faustino I Gran Reserva Rioja from Spain, Santa Rita Medalla Real Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile and Montgras Carmenere Wines, also from South America. $155 includes the cost of Standard Delivery anywhere in the Continental U.S. Order It Now!
#4 Crown Jewel –Crown Royal Canadian Whiskey Gift Basket The ideal gift for an outdoorsman or anyone who enjoys a good rye whiskey, this gift basket comes in a gorgeous wooden bottle carrier filled with Godiva chocolates, cookies, and cheese spread along with a bottle of Crown Royal Reserve Whiskey. $176 includes delivery in the Continental United States. Order It Now!
#5 Chocolate Wine Gift Basket
This is also a very good gift to consider for the chocoholic on your list, especially if that person is not too keen on liqueurs and prefers the lighter texture of a wine. At $85 including delivery, this bottle of chocolate wine with its accompanying selection of gourmet chocolates is sure to be a hit with the recipient. Order It Now!
#6 Wine Gift Basket
Shimmering Cheers If you need to get a nice gift for an employee or for a wedding, the Shimmering Cheers basket is the best solution: not only does it come with a bottle of red wine and a bottle of white wine, it comes with a shimmering , attractive two-bottle wine holder and an easy-to-use corkscrew. $95 includes Standard Delivery to all places in the Continental U.S. Order It Now!
#7 Champagne Gift Basket
Bucket Of Bubbly This is the gift for very big occasions; a friend or relative’s wedding, celebrating a big promotion, or a milestone birthday or an anniversary. For $275 which includes delivery, the beautiful champagne bucket is filled with three high quality bubblies, gourmet chocolates, cheese spreads, crackers, salmon spread and biscotti. Order It Now!
#8 Bombay Sapphire Gin Gift Basket
Sapphire Blue If one needs to get a gift for a person who loves good, flavourful and fragrant martinis done the right way, The Bombay Gin Gift Basket is by far the best choice. Featuring one of the best and most iconic gins available on the market, the gift basket also comes with gourmet chocolates and cookies in a rustic-looking wicker basket. Delivery is included for $125. Order It Now!
#9 Patrón Tequila Gift Basket
Shake It Up For the aspiring bartender who wishes to whip up his or her own personalized margaritas,, nothing could be better than this gift basket, which at $149 includes delivery anywhere in the Continental U.S. Featuring the well-reputed Patrón Silver Tequila, fresh limes, a drink shaker, margarita mix and nuts are added to the gift, which is all packaged in a faux leather container. Order It Now!
#10 Ultimate Collection Gift Basket
Not everybody drinks alcohol, and the people at 1-877-Spirits.com have kept them in mind too, offering a fabulous selection of non-alcoholic gift baskets. The best of these gift baskets is the Ultimate Collection, which includes fudge, cheeses, crackers, dried fruit and gourmet chocolate in a beautifully built wood-hinged box for $99. As with all the other gifts on offer, delivery is included in the price to anywhere in the Continental U.S. Order It Now!
Gift giving doesn’t have to be hard; a quick call to the people at 1-877-Spirits.com can help one find the perfect gift in a short amount of time. And while many will find the perfect present for someone else, they will probably also find a little something that they might want to get for themselves.
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How to Setup a Home Bar
How to Set Up A Bar At Home
In some parts of the world, going out to the bar for a drink or two with a few good friends can end up being an incredibly costly endeavour. For whatever reason – taxes, high cost of living, high cost of ingredients, etc., etc., – it’s always a downer to pay a lot for a nice cocktail that you can easily make at home for much less money. Here is how to set up a bar or bar area at home where professional, tasty drinks can be made, and it won’t send you to the cleaners financially, either.
Find the best place to work
Right off the bat, you don’t need a fancy “wet bar” built-in to your home in order to make nice alcoholic beverages. While these areas are quite nice to have, they aren’t necessary. What you will need however, is an area that has a sink and counter space or a table close by for your tools. A double sink will be the most ideal sort of sink to have, and one side can be used for washing glasses on the go and re-using them and the other side can be for storing ice; if ice is bought from the store, take it out of the plastic bag it comes in; the idea is for water to drain out of the ice as it melts so that drinks won’t get watered down. However, before placing any ice in the sink, make sure the sink is spotlessly clean by sanitizing it with a bleach/water solution, giving it a scrub, and thoroughly rinsing. If a double sink isn’t available, a single sink will be just fine, but keep ice in a separate bucket on the countertop and drain water out periodically if necessary.
Glassware
The next thing you’ll want to make fancy cocktails is proper glassware. Cocktails come in a variety of glasses, so make sure you’ve got the basics. If buying new stuff at the department store is too expensive, have a look at the second-hand shops in the area; there are great deals on decent quality glasses. Here are the types and minimum quantities of glasses you’ll need.
• 2 old-fashioned or “rocks” glasses. These are the short glasses that are sometimes used to serve water.
• 2 highball or “Collins” glasses. These are the tall water glasses and have an 8 oz capacity.
• 2 martini or cocktail glasses. These are the ones that look like an inverted triangle on a stem
• 4 white wine glasses.
• 4 red wine glasses. These will be bigger than white wine glasses with a larger bowl. Some red wine glasses that are popular are stemless, like glass cups.
• 2 champagne flutes. The tall and very narrow wine glasses; good for champagne and champagne-based cocktails.
• 6 shot glasses.
• 4 beer glasses. A classic “pilsner” glass will hold one regular sized bottle of beer.
With these glasses, you’ll be able to properly present most cocktails that are popular in bars, pubs, and nightclubs.
Tools
Once the glasses have been sorted, in order to make proper cocktails and open wine bottles correctly, you’ll need proper tools. You will need:
• A waiter’s corkscrew.
This sort of corkscrew is the best to have. Others that have double handles or rely on an air pump are next to useless. Take a few minutes to learn how to use one, and it will be your best friend forever in a bartending sense.
• A bottle opener. Even if one is included on your waiter’s corkscrew, it’s always good to have an extra one so that guests don’t try to open beer bottles by banging them on your table or using (and breaking) their teeth.
• A cocktail shaker with lid and strainer. Usually, these are made of stainless steel or glass and are widely available; however a cocktail shaker can be improvised with a Tupperware jug, lid, and regular tea strainer.
• A measuring glass that measures out 1 ounce or 1.5 ounces. Shot glasses can be used for this purpose is special measuring glasses can’t be found.
• An ice scoop or tongs and an ice bucket if a double sink is not available. Never use a service glass or any glass to scoop ice; the glass can easily break and can cause a whole host of problems.
• A blender. This will be necessary if one wants to make frozen, slushy-style drinks like margaritas and daiquiris.
• A long, slender spoon for stirring.
• A cutting board for preparing garnishes and slicing limes, lemons and oranges
• A small, sharp knife for garnish preparation. Never use a dull knife; dull knives are likely to slip and cut your fingers.
• Dish soap and a dish towel for washing, drying and polishing glasses as you go.
• Optional kettle/coffee maker. If you are preparing beverages like Hot Toddies, Polar Bears, Hot Buttered Rum, or Spanish Coffees, have a kettle close by for hot water and have coffee made ahead of time.
Basic Bar Ingredients
If you’re setting up a bar for a party where lots of different cocktails such as fruit margaritas and piña coladas will be made, you’ll also need:
Non-alcoholic
• Lime-flavoured syrup
• Lemon-flavoured syrup
• Strawberry-flavoured syrup
• Coconut syrup or coconut milk
• Grenadine
• Pineapple juice
• Orange juice
• Cranberry juice
• Milk
• Variety of sodas (Coca-cola, Sprite, Canada Dry Ginger Ale, etc.)
Alcoholic
Because cocktails will be made with the liquor, you can get away with buying the cheapest brands, which are referred to in the business as “bar brands”.
• Bar vodka
• Bar rum
• Bar tequila
• Bar gin
• Bar whiskey
• Bar rye
• Bar coffee liqueur
• Bar orange liqueur (triple sec)
• Bar irish crème liqueur
There are many more types of liqueurs that one can get in order to make more cocktails, but the liquors mentioned above will enable you to make at least 25 different cocktails with ease.
Bartending at home for a party is a lot of fun if you’re prepared for it, have the right ingredients, correct tools and a good place to work. With a little practice you’ll find tending bar feels quite natural and chances are you’ll be making the best cocktails in town.
Tweet it! #HomeBars
Halloween Drinking Games
Halloween Drinking Games
Halloween isn’t just for little kids; it’s also time for the grown-ups to relax and let their hair down a little bit. Although fun costumes do set the tone for a good party, kick things up a few notches by organizing a few of these fun drinking parties.
Bobbing for Booze
This is a magnificent game based on the traditional bobbing for apples. While those who are wearing face paint or elaborate, spooky-themed make-up may not appreciate getting their faces and heads dunked into a tub of liquid, it’s still good fun. For those who don’t know, the traditional game is played like this: A bunch of apples are placed in a tub full of water, and participants need to pick up an apple using only their teeth: no hands are allowed. While this game is great for the little ones, for adults it needs to be spiced up a bit.
T o make the game more interesting for those who are of drinking age, there are three variations. The first variation is replacing the apples with miniature bottles of alcohol which are available at liquor shops. When the “booze bobber” manages to catch a bottle in his or her mouth, he or she must immediately down the contents.
The next variation is also fun, and can end up costing a bit less as no miniature bottles are needed; alcohol from regular sized containers will be more appropriate. In this version, apples are used, but before being placed in the giant tub of water, a number from one to four is carved into the side. When a participant picks up the apple in his or her teeth, if the apple has a “3” carved into it, he or she must take three shots of alcohol. If the number on the apple says 2, then two shots must be consumed. By the time the round is over, if make-up or special costume details are ruined by water, everybody will be having so much fun that nobody will care!
To make the game even more “interesting”, instead of floating the apples or miniature liquor bottles in water, put them in a tub full of jungle juice, which is a mix of hard liquor, fruit juices, beverages such as Kool-Aid or Tang, and chunks of fresh fruit.
The Movie Drinking Game
This is a very easy game, but everybody enjoys it because it’s just plain silly and adds another dimension of fun. Basically, the rules need to be agreed upon beforehand; a shot of alcohol must be consumed every time a certain event or cue happens in scary movie. For example, the rule might be to take a shot every time there is heavy breathing in a horror movie. At some parties, the cue to have a shot might be a scream. No matter what the cue is, one should make sure that it is something that will occur with enough frequency so that people can get a bit tipsy; the game will be a failure if the agreed-upon cue never takes place!
Halloween Centurion
While this isn’t a typical Halloween drinking game, it will be a very appropriate game to play if there are people dressed up in Roman Centurion costumes. This is a game that should be played with beer due to the vast amount of shots that are consumed in a relatively short amount of time.
Centurion is played like this: participants usually sit at a table and have a shot glass placed in front of them. The shot glass is filled with beer, and a shot of beer is taken once a minute for one hundred minutes. While this may seem like a very tame amusement, one must keep in mind that 100 ounces of beer will be consumed in one hour and forty minutes; that’s the equivalent of 3 litres of beer, or roughly 6 pints. When was the last time you drank 6 pints of beer in under two hours?
A word of caution must be used here. Never, under any circumstances, attempt to play centurion with hard liquor; this can lead to alcohol poisoning at worst and one heck of a mess to clean up at best.
Halloween Beer Pong
Beer Pong is a familiar drinking game to students the world over: a team will bounce ping-pong balls on a table and get them to land in one of the cups of beer which are arranged in a triangle on the other side. If the ball does land in one of the beer cups, the opposing team must drink the beer. If the ball misses, the team bouncing the ball must drink one of their own beers. The team who finishes their beer first loses (or wins, depending on how you see the situation.) For a Halloween twist, instead of beer, use jungle juice or a punch recipe featuring a blood-red juice such as cranberry or raspberry juice and lots of vodka.
Halloween parties are fun, and these drinking games are guaranteed to make them even more fun. However, always remember to appoint designated drivers and never, under any circumstances, allow a person who’s been drinking to get behind the wheel of a car. Even one alcoholic beverage is enough to impair one’s judgement, so make driving arrangements beforehand, ensure there’s enough cash on hand to pay for a taxi, and have some space reserved for guests who may need to spend the night. Have a fun Halloween, and drink responsibly!
Top 10 Drinks for Halloween
Devilishly Delightful Drinks for Halloween
Halloween is the spookiest time of the year, with ghosts, goblins and all sorts of evil creatures wandering about, but it is also one of the most fun occasions, giving most people the opportunity to blow off some steam, wear a silly costume and have a good time. Make the night even more entertaining by treating yourself or your Halloween party guest to some of these delicious yet devilish cocktails and shots.
Cocktails
The Vampire Martini
For guests who like a little sophistication with a spooky twist.
1 martini glass, chilled
1 oz Chambord raspberry liqueur
1 oz Vodka
1 oz Cranberry juice
Mix all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with plenty of ice, stir for about 30 seconds, then strain and pour into the chilled martini glass.
The Vampire Bite
This is for those who want something a little more substantial in the fear department.
1 tall glass, filled with ice cubes
1 oz Vodka
½ oz Gin
½ oz Dry Vermouth
1 dash of Tequila
1 dash of salt
2 oz of clamato juice or tomato juice if clamato is not available.
Shake everything in a cocktail shaker with plenty of ice. Strain and pour over ice cubes.
The Thriller Zombie
This is for people who want a drink that will make them dance like the monsters in the famous “Thriller” video by Michael Jackson.
1 tall glass, filled with ice cubes
1 oz Rum
1 oz Almond liqueur
½ oz Triple sec
1 ½ oz Sweet and sour
2 oz orange juice
½ oz 151-proof rum
Shake all ingredients except the 151-proof rum in a shaker with ice. Strain and pour over the ice cubes, and float the 151-proof rum on top. Garnish with a maraschino cherry if desired.
The Ghostbuster
After one of these, you won’t be “fraid of no ghosts”, guaranteed!
1 Pint glass
1 shot glass
1/3 oz Kahlua
1/3 oz Grand Marnier
1/3 oz Bailey’s Irish Cream
1 oz Rye Whiskey
8 oz Coca Cola
Layer the Kahlua, Bailey’s, and Grand Marnier in the shot glass, effectively making a classic B-52 shot. In the pint glass, mix the rye whiskey and coke. Drop the shot, glass and all, into the pint glass, and drink all in one go. This drink doesn’t contain any ice as it is made to be consumed quickly.
The Gothic Martini
Apparently this was Frankenstein’s favorite, and the Keeper of the Crypt is said to have one every night as a frightful constitutional.
1 martini glass, chilled
3 ½ oz Blavod vodka
½ oz Blackberry brandy or a black raspberry liqueur
Lemon twist
Shake all ingredients except for the lemon twist in a cocktail shaker with lots of ice. Strain and pour into a chilled martini glass, and garnish with a twist of lemon.
Shots
Here are some delicious-tasting yet terrifying-looking shots that are sure to frighten yet delight those who drink them.
The Brain Hemorrhage
1 shot glass
1 oz Peach schnapps
1 tsp Bailey’s Irish Cream
½ tsp Grenadine
To give this drink its fiendish appearance, pour the peach schnapps into the shot glass first, then slowly pour in the Bailey’s Irish cream, making sure not to mix it. The Bailey’s will clump together, looking like a brain, and once the grenadine is poured into the drink, it will look exactly like a brain hemorrhage!
The Jack o’Lantern
A nice-looking but not so scary looking shot more appropriate for the faint-hearted.
1 shot glass
1/3 oz Kahlua
1/3 oz Bailey’s Irish Cream
1/3 oz Goldschlager
Mix all of the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with plenty of ice and strain into the shot glass.
The Flaming Jack o’Lantern
This is a drink that must be made with a tremendous amount of care because it is lit on fire; the drinker must remember to extinguish it before drinking.
1 shot glass
½ oz Kahlua
½ oz Bailey’s Irish Cream
¼ oz 151-proof rum
Cinnamon sprinkles
Mix the Kahlua and Bailey’s Irish Cream together in a shaker with some ice, strain and pour into the shot glass. Add the cinnamon sprinkles, and float the 151-proof rum on top. Light on fire, but again remember to extinguish the flame before drinking.
The Hound of Hell
A spicy drink that can bring a tear to a glass eye; especially devilish on Halloween. A word of caution however; if this drink is too spicy and a person is in pain after drinking it, immediately serve the person a small glass of full-fat milk or a spoonful of cold yoghurt; this will alleviate the pain better than a glass of water.
1 shot glass
¾ oz Whisky
¼ Tabasco sauce
Pour the Tabasco sauce in the shot glass first, followed by the whiskey. “Enjoy”.
The Stake Through the Heart
The perfect drink for going and slaying vampires.
1 shot glass
½ oz Drambuie
½ oz Scotch whisky
Dash of grenadine
Shake the Drambuie and scotch whiskey in a drink shaker with plenty of ice. Strain and pour into the shot glass, and gently pour grenadine down the inner side of the shot glass. The resulting drink will look appropriately terrifying.
With this fine selection of Halloween-themed cocktails and shots, all guests at your party or spooky event are sure to have a great time and enjoy the ghoul and goblin-filled night. However, do remember to drink responsibly and never drive after having an alcoholic beverage; you want to be around to enjoy the Halloween drinks again every year for a long time to come!
Top 5 Pre-gaming Essentials
Top 10 Drinking Pre-game Essentials
What is pre-game? According to Urban Dictionary: To drink alcoholic beverages prior to a social engagement to make it more enjoyable.
We think that describes it pretty well. Also in these tough economical times, pre-gaming can go a long way in saving you money at the bar/club later on in the night. Whether you’re social engagement is a night on the town, wedding, or some other random event. The pre-game will almost always consist of standard essentials. We’re going to list our favorite essentials, and hope this essential list contributes to making any pre-game you attend more enjoyable.
1. Music – Build a Playlist
Every pre-game should include a solid list of tunes. The genre of music and playlist is up to you, but these tools can help:
2. Beer/Liquor – Plan accordingly
No one wants to slam down crappy beer, or take shots of bottom shelf liquor. Plan accordingly and include refreshments that will make the pre-game a success. Success can be defined by the attendees having a good time and smiling, not cringing at the thought of your refreshments.
3. Drinkware – Obvious?
This isn’t as obvious as you would think. If you plan on having ten people over, then make sure you have ten shot glasses on hand.
4. Drinking Games – These include supplies.
Drinking games and pre-game should be synonymous. Whether you’re doing a power hour or partaking in beer pong. Drinking games are the heart of every pre-game. You will need supplies to play them. Some of our favorite Drinking games:
5. The right crowd – Shun creepy people
So you we’re brilliant enough to invite over the woman you’ve had your eye on for months. What you didn’t account for is you invited your buddy and he brought along creepy dave and now he’s made her entire group of friends uncomfortable, which has resulted in them leaving your pregame.
Did we leave any out? Let us know!
#Pre-game
Top 10 Drinking Holidays
Top 10 Drinking Holidays and Best Drinking Holiday
People have been drinking alcoholic beverages since before history began, and there is archeology to prove it! Alcohol and many holidays are synonymous with each other, and no your uncle Larry getting housed on Thanksgiving doesn’t count. Here are some of the better-known drinking holidays as we have them now.
1. Oktoberfest
(observed in Germany)
Oktoberfest officially dates from October 12, 1810. On that date in Munich, Germany, the citizens celebrated the marriage of Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. In reality, a similar festival had already been celebrated at least as far back as the 15th and 16th centuries. The idea was to drink up last year’s beer stocks to make way for new beer to be brewed from the harvest.
Another harvest celebration held at around the same time was the traditional thanksgiving festival of Erntedankefest in the first half of October.
It’s reported that the locals liked the wedding festival so much that they decided to have another festival (minus the wedding) every year thereafter! Oktoberfest has since migrated into late September because it’s warmer and more enjoyable then. It’s the biggest folk festival in the world. And of course it’s all about drinking!
2. Carnival
(observed in Brazil, the rest of Latin America, the US, the Caribbean, Western Europe, and Quebec, among other places)
Lent is a 40-day fast leading up to Easter. Right before it starts, people have always tended to pack in the food. Over the years, they packed in other things, too.
Now it’s a huge celebration right before Lent – the last party for 40 days. A big part of the celebrations in Brazil, aside from (nearly?) nude Carnival Queens and wild parades shutting down everything else in town, is drinking the delicious national drink caipirinha. It contains lime, sugar, and a traditional liquor called cachaca.
There has been some controversy recently over whether it’s okay to use vodka or sake in place of the native cachaca. There are voices on both sides. But however they make it, millions of Brazilians will drink it down just the same!
3. Mardi Gras
(Fat Tuesday)
Mardi Gras literally means “Fat Tuesday”. It’s really just another name for the Carnival celebration. The name refers to the indulgence in food and drink we mentioned that happens right before Lent.
Mardi Gras/Carnival is observed (and indulged) throughout countries with a historical Catholic background. Observances in some locales can begin as early as November and all of them run right up to Lent. It’s really more of a season than a holiday.
Wherever it’s celebrated, you’ll find parades, general cutting loose, and it almost goes without saying, drinking.
4. St. Patrick’s Day
(observed in the United States and Ireland)
On March 17, people here and in Ireland put on green clothes and drink a lot. This is St. Patrick’s Day, in honor of the monk who converted the Irish way back when.
People wear green thinking that it’s because of Patrick, but actually his color used to be blue. The green more likely comes from ideas like the “Emerald Isle”, green shamrocks, and the need to wear green to make yourself invisible to leprechauns so they won’t pinch you. They can’t see anything green. It’s like camouflage. Anti-leprechaun camouflage.
So, back to drinking. There’s a story that explains why people drink a lot on this day. It seems that a certain innkeeper once served St. Patrick a miserly portion of whiskey. Patrick pointed out that this was ungenerous of the innkeeper, and told him that there was a huge devil in the innkeeper’s cellar that was feeding on his dishonesty, and would eventually devour the innkeeper too!
This made such an impression on the innkeeper that forever after that, he gave lavish amounts to everyone. St. Patrick approved and in return, proclaimed that all the people should partake of spirits in celebration. The idea caught on, and here we are.
Now, you may the Irish drinking tradition as a stereotype or as a fact. Either way, it’s undeniably on the list!
5. New Year’s Eve
(observed in many, many countries)
Marking the end of the old year and the start of the new, this holiday may be descended from the Roman Saturnalia, when everybody could temporarily forget about the normal rules of society and go crazy for a little while. Need we mention that going crazy has virtually always included drinking?
All over the world, people either keep the ancient tradition going, or else they have adopted it, even when they already had their own New Year holiday! (The Chinese, for example.) Ranging from family get-togethers in some countries to national celebrations in capital cities of others, this may well be the most universal drinking holiday of all.
6. Cinco de Mayo
(observed more in the US than in Mexico)
In 1862, after years of turbulence, a smaller, poorly-equipped Mexican army faced a superior invading force at the Battle of Puebla, and prevailed against great odds. The celebration of that victory continues today, especially in Puebla and north of the border in the US.
Just to be clear, Cinco de Mayo is NOT Mexican Independence Day. It’s more of a Victorious Underdog Day.
Nowadays in the US the holiday has morphed into more of a “culture day” like St. Patrick’s Day or Chinese New Year. It’s a chance to celebrate our neighbors’ heritage and have a good time together.
So why drink on Cinco de Mayo? Because that’s what people do! Just remember – the Margarita is NOT an official drink of Cinco de Mayo. But don’t let that stop you – if you like it, go for it!
7. Full moon party
(observed in Thailand)
Raging Thai parties on the full moon of every month. Do I need to say more? This tradition started in the 1980 and is known to bring in over 20,000 + people each month. The pictures, videos, and stories produced from Full Moon festivals are legend status. The only reason we decided to rank them so low on this list is because it’s not really a holiday and is celebrated every month and in Thailand.
We won’t argue with anyone claiming this could be #1 on this list, because you might be right.
8. Fourth of July
(mostly in United States)
Yet another opportunity to get together and party, this holiday owes its existence to certain ill-advised policies of a British administration some time ago regarding English interests in America, and the American people’s (yes, they really did already think of themselves that way) response.
These days, the two countries are good friends, but the holiday is still going strong.
One thing to watch out for on this quintessential American holiday is the driving. This is the deadliest drinking holiday in America due to its position in the middle of summer when people want to get away, take road trips, and drink.
Just be careful out there!
9. Super Bowl Sunday
(a football holiday in the United States)
Beer. Wings. Big Screen TVs. Football. Does it get any better than this? Super Sunday is a huge day in America not only for football fans, but also for fans to get their drink on. Only two teams play in the super bowl, so it’s safe to say the majority of the fans watching don’t have a horse in the race. They watch the game for entertainment, parties, and of course the commercials.
10. Thanksgiving Eve
(mostly in the United States)
Some people think that Thanksgiving is a uniquely American holiday. In fact people all over the world have a similar holiday. That’s how Oktoberfest started out.
For Americans it’s a time to give thanks and eat truly harmful amounts of food, and where there’s indulgence in food, you know what comes with it.
The only reason Thanksgiving doesn’t beat out Fourth of July as the deadliest drinking holiday in America is because Thanksgiving is three days before everybody drives back home on Sunday. That allows people enough time to recover, unlike the Fourth.
All we can say about that is have a good time, but be safe too!
Honorable Mentions:
– Labor Day (celebrating labor unions and their contributions)
– Easter (United States style)
– La Tomatina (Spain)
– Purim (Israel, others)
– Queens Day (Netherlands)
– Australia Day (Australia)
– Christmas (sinners!)
– Halloween (U.S.)
– and Derby Day (a horseracing holiday in the United States)
Each holiday has its qualifying points.
Labor Day gives us a three-day weekend and the opportunity to party. And we do.
Easter is a holiday rivaling Christmas in the Christian calendar, although not as much is made of it in days off or commercialization. We still enjoy it fully.
Derby Day is sports-related and not as deeply traditional as the other holidays touched on here.
As for the Kentucky Derby, the race itself only lasts two minutes, but it’s an all-day affair. Therefore something else must be going on besides watching the actual race.
The official drink of the Derby is mint juleps, which are delicious and consumed to the tune of over 120,000 per year. Since the race is annual, that means that all those drinks are drunk on or near the day.
In conclusion, let us just say that holidays are part of what makes us human, and a big part of what make life enjoyable. Drinking is usually part of any enjoyable occasion. So get out there and have fun!