The Five Best Cocktails You Can Make at Home
The Five Best Cocktails You Can Make at Home
There’s nothing worse than going out to a fancy bar or restaurant with your friends for a fun evening, ordering some cocktails, tasting them, and finding that they are absolute rubbish. From lazy, inexperienced bartenders to harried waitresses who are looking after ten tables as well as mixing their own drinks, the high prices demanded from drinking establishments often are simply not worth it.
There are also a lot of establishments where, as a cost-cutting measure, will pour less alcohol into each drink. Furthermore, while most bartending manuals recommend 1 ½ ounces of alcohol for each cocktail to bring out all the best flavors, the majority of restaurants, bars, and pubs will only use one ounce. Some places will use even less; this is why the drinks taste flat, lifeless, watered-down or overly sweet. Even worse is the fact that some places will use pre-packaged mixes or will use products that have expired. You deserve better.
Your best option if you want to have some great cocktails is to make them at home. This way, you get to select the best and freshest ingredients, and you’ll also be able to follow the classic recipes to the letter in order to get the perfect balance that’s missing from so many outside establishment offerings. You’ll save money, and with the money you save, you’ll be able to afford those the recommended brands of liquor to make your drinks. Bars are notorious for using no-name, obscure, cheap brands and charging far too much.
To make the five best cocktails at home, you’ll need a few things. You’ll need a supply of ice, an ice scoop or tongs, some cocktail glasses or tulip-shaped glasses, tall glasses, and short “old fashioned” glasses. As the saying goes, cocktails just won’t taste as nice if they’re served in the wrong kind of glass.
You’ll also need a blender if you want to make the frozen, slushy type of cocktail.
The Top Five
The Caesar
The perfect drink for those who want something savory, not sweet. This Canadian concoction is wildly popular in its nation of origin, and is quickly becoming a favorite in other countries as well. Most Americans who try the drink for the first time describe it as a Bloody Mary that’s taken to heavenly heights. If you’re outside of Canada, it’s best to make this drink at home because the bartender will most likely get the recipe wrong.
1 tulip or tall glass, rimmed with celery salt (do this by dragging a slice of lime along the rim and dipping the rim into a dish of celery salt)
1 ½ ounces vodka
6 ounces Clamato juice (a proprietary blend of clam broth and tomato juice)
2 dashes Tabasco sauce
4 dashes Worcestershire sauce
Freshly ground black pepper
1 celery stalk
1 lime wedge
If you cannot find Clamato juice in your area, you can improvise by mixing tomato juice with the liquid from tinned clams.
Fill a tulip or tall glass that’s been rimmed with celery salt with ice. Add the vodka, Clamato juice, Tabasco and Worcestershire sauces; stir. Add a pinch of freshly ground black pepper, and place a stalk of celery (leaves included for visual effect) in the drink. Garnish the glass with a wedge of lime; squeeze some into the drink for an added kick.
Margarita
A margarita is quite possibly one of the most sublime cocktails ever invented, but you’d never know it judging by the sickly-sweet, slushy messes that many establishments serve. After making this one at home, you’ll simply be amazed at the layers of intrigue this drink offers in the flavor department. You can make the original version, or you can make the more modern frozen version by placing the ingredients in a blender.
Original Margarita
One cocktail or tulip glass, with a lightly salted rim (done by dragging a wedge of lime around the rim and dipping into a dish of sea salt)
1 ounce Cointreau (Triple Sec also works if budget is a concern)
2 ounces of white/silver (unaged) Tequila
1 ounce of freshly squeezed lime juice
Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with a generous amount of ice. Shake for at least thirty seconds, and pour into glass. Garnish with a slice of lime or a slice of orange.
To make fruit versions of this cocktail, replace the salt rim with a sugar rim, and simply add fruit to the recipe and put all the ingredients in a blender with plenty of ice.
Long Island Ice Tea
This is a classic American drink; strong, flavorful, and perfect on hot summer nights.
One tall glass, full of ice
½ ounce Tequila
½ ounce Gin
½ ounce Rum
½ ounce Cointreau or Triple Sec
½ ounce lemon or lime syrup (sugar dissolved in lime or lemon juice)
Coca cola
Pour all ingredients over ice, top with Coca Cola. Garnish with a slice of lime. If you want to try the original recipe, increase all ingredients to one full ounce. However, do keep in mind your drink will contain 4 ounces of hard liquor!
White Russian
This is a cocktail that has made a huge comeback; while it was hardly ordered 10 years ago, it’s been rediscovered by the under-30 set.
One tall glass, full of ice
1 ounce Kahlua
1 ounce Vodka
Milk
Pour the vodka and Kahlua over ice; top the glass with milk or Half&Half, which is a cream/milk mixture. You can add more Kahlua if you want a sweeter drink, but remember that the more Kahlua you add, your drink will become darker in color.
The Classic Martini
This is a drink that so many places get wrong but will still charge you an arm and a leg. Make it at your own place, and you’ll see why this drink has always been fashionable since its introduction decades and decades ago.
One martini glass, chilled
One cocktail shaker, full of ice
2 ounces of Gin or Vodka
½ ounce of dry Vermouth
1 drop of whisky or spritz of whisky*
Twist of lemon or 3 olives on a tooth pick as garnish
Pour all ingredients into the cocktail shaker, but DO NOT SHAKE, stir gently for at least thirty seconds. Strain into the chilled martini glass, and either add the olives or gently twist a bit of lemon rind above the beverage but do not place it in the drink.
To make an extra dry martini, reduce the amount of vermouth. Some professional bartenders will use a spritz bottle to spray the inside of a martini glass with a bit of whiskey; however this will detract from the classic “crispness” of classic martini.
Tweet It!: #HomeiCoholMixes
Pakistan’s Murree Beer
Pakistan’s Legendary and Elusive Murree Beer
Beer connoisseurs and brew lovers across the globe are always searching for a pilsner or lager beer that represents the highest element of beer-dom: a great refreshing beer that has subtle yet deep flavors, has hints of hops but isn’t too hoppy, has a certain amount of carbonation but doesn’t taste of baking soda, has a clean finish without making one feel as though the beer is watered down. Finding such a beer is considered to be like finding the Holy Grail; because personal preference plays such a huge role in finding the perfect beer, nobody can really say there is such a thing as a “perfect” beer.
However, one such beer does exist, and it’s made in a country where pilsner and lager aficionados would least expect it. The one beer that brewmasters and consumers alike (well, those fortunate enough to get their hands on it) both claim is the world’s best is Murree Beer, which is made in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
While alcohol is forbidden in Islam, one must not forget that Pakistan is home to several religious minorities, all of whom have the right to drink. Furthermore, Pakistani citizens can apply for permits to purchase alcohol; the serving of alcohol to non-Muslim guests in private residences is allowed. However, these permits are not handed out like candy; they are difficult to come by. While the brewery is running at full capacity and can barely keep up with domestic demand, plans to expand are not in the future and due to the nation’s Islamic-based laws concerning alcohol, export of Murree beer was banned until earlier this year, when the brewery finally got a license to export to non-Muslim countries.
Pakistan is home to the Murree Brewery; one of the manufacturing units is in Rawalpindi while the other is in Hattar, in the country’s North West Frontier Province. Established in 1860 to meet the demand of British personnel living in the area around the town of Murree, the brewery also makes a world-class quality single-malt whisky.
Where Can You Get Murree Beer?
So the question is, if you’re one of the few people who will be lucky enough to get to Pakistan in the first place, where do you go to get your hands on what is arguably the best beer in the world?
This is where things can get a little tricky. If you’re visiting Pakistan as a regular tourist, you’ll probably need to go to a fancy hotel where they have a permit to sell alcohol. However, this may not be a great idea due to the political and social upheavals happening in the country. If you’re in Karachi, you might be able to find special liquor outlets which are quasi-legal and cater to foreigners who are working in the city. These can be difficult to find and you may need to enlist the help of a local friend.
Guest houses that cater to overseas and foreign engineers who work on telecommunications projects or other such projects are also legally allowed to sell beer to their residents. Again, most of these guest houses do not advertise and do not have signs posted outside; the only way you can find them is if you are in fact one of the foreign workers who has been sent by your company who has pre-arranged your accommodations or if you happen to be invited in by one of the residents to have a meal in the guest-house cafeteria.
Safety First
Before going into the characteristics of Murree Beer, it must be said that when you do find Murree Beer in Pakistan, drink it discreetly in private; never drink alcohol in a public place. To do so is incredibly fool-hardy and is asking for more trouble than one can ever imagine.
Taste and Characteristics
One of the more popular beers is Murree’s Classic Lager, which is a European Pale Lager and has an alcohol content of 5.5%, which is quite strong considering most lagers in Europe weigh in at 4.9% to 5 %. Described as “premium beer”, it is smooth on the palate and is similar (some say superior) to classic European lagers.
Contributing to the outstanding character of Murree beers is the fact that all of the barley used is from Australia. According to the chief executive Isphanyar Bhandara “we don’t compromise on quality and the Australian barley is first class.”
Murree beers are part of the rare breed of lagers that are fantastic on their own and are also terrific with a wide variety of food. While one might be tempted to say that Murree beer is best with traditional Pakistani food such as seekh kebabs, chicken tikkas, beef curries and karahi chicken, it actually goes equally well with Chinese dishes such as steamed garlic chicken, hot and sour soup, and steamed buns. The old advertising jingle from the days of the Raj “Eat, drink and be Murree” certainly rings true as the beer adds another level of enjoyment to one’s food.
Crisp, smooth, light and subtle yet complex and refreshing, Murree beers are a delight to try, and with some continued good luck, the elusive famous beer of Pakistan’s Himalaya foothills will soon be making an appearance at a fine liquor store near you. As Mr. Bhandara says:
“Murree Brewery’s desire is to show the international community that Pakistan doesn’t have to be known as a country that exports terrorism, that this can be a country that exports beer.”
Tweet It! #MurreeBeer
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.
Tweet It! #CancunsBestBars
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!
Top 10 Champagnes for New Years
The Top Ten Champagnes to Ring in the New Year
New Year’s Eve is quickly approaching and the best drink to serve at your party is the classic wine that is used to celebrate special occasions: Champagne. Whether it’s the “true” Champagne from France or a delightful sparkling white wine from one of the other superior wine producing regions of the country, if you choose one of the bubblies from our list, your selection is likely to be a hit with all of your guests.
There are a few things to keep in mind when serving Champagne: it’s best served at about 460F or 7.50C and should be poured in tall flute shaped glasses so that it keeps as many of its delicious bubbles for as long as possible. Furthermore, it should be opened gently so that it keeps as much of its characteristic fizziness; popping the cork will make the beverage lose its bubbles. Finally, glasses should not be chilled; the subtle flavours will be eliminated if it gets too cold.
So, without any further ado, here are the Top Ten Champagnes for New Year’s Eve; we’ll start our list with sparkling white wines.
Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut
Price: About $10 USD
Type and Country of Origin: Sparkling white wine, Spain
Character: Dry and crisp, with citrus flavors
Serve with: Alone as an apéritif or with appetizers and seafood.
Just because this sparkling wine is inexpensive doesn’t mean it’s cheap or of inferior quality; Freixenet is a real crowd pleaser that will make wine novices and experts alike very happy.
Cordoniu Cava Brut Anna de Cordoniu
Price: About $18 USD
Type and Country of Origin: Sparkling white wine, Spain
Character: Clean, “biscuity” flavor, with a very light sweet note, yet still dry. Fruity notes.
Serve with: Alone as an apéritif or with a sweet dessert.
As far as reviews go, if you’re looking for a nice inexpensive sparkling wine that’s superior in quality to others in the same price range, you cannot go wrong with a bottle of Cava Anna.
Henkell Trocken
Price: About $10 USD
Type and Country of Origin: Sparkling white wine, Germany
Character: Crisp, with light melon and apple notes
Serve with: Alone as an apéritif cocktail or as the toasting wine to be used at midnight
A classic German sparkler that’s popular in restaurants in Canada and the U.S. when milestone events are held, if you’re looking for something affordable yet special, Henkell Trocken is a solid choice.
Hillebrand Trius Brut
Price: About $20 USD
Type and Country of Origin: Sparkling white wine, Canada
Character: Fruity aroma reminiscent of citrus with a nice long finish
Serve with: Appetizers, especially seafood or alone as an apéritif
While most wine connoisseurs may think of Canada as a producer of the heavier, sweeter ice wines, this almost surprising entry in the Top Ten list proves that this northern wine producer can more than hold its own in the sparkling wine industry.
Jansz Premium Cuvee Brut
Price: About $30 USD
Type and Country of Origin: Sparkling white wine, Australia
Character: Dry, clean, with an intriguing complexity consisting of the merest hint of fig.
Serve with: Alone or as the wine to toast the New Year at midnight.
Australia is another country that is making surprisingly good sparkling white wines. Usually known for big reds such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz, this southern hemisphere nation is giving traditional French Champagne some big competition.
And now, the French Champagnes. While they are more expensive, bottles of Champagne from the famous French wine producing region really do make special occasions even more memorable.
Krug Grande Cuvee Champagne Brut
Price: About $200 USD
Type: Champagne (white)
Character: Velvety, with hints of vanilla and exotic touches of ginger and coconut
Serve with: Food that is lighter in texture or as a sipping wine for the entire evening
In this case, price does reflect the quality; Krug Grande Cuvee Brut is perhaps THE all-round classic Champagne that is the preferred choice of wine experts. If you really want to splurge on New Year’s Eve, this is the beverage you want to serve to your guests.
Veuve Clicquot Brut
Price: About $60 USD
Type: Champagne (white)
Character: Nicely balanced and dry, with citrus and fruit notes and a delightfully unexpected soupçon of bread dough.
Serve with: Alone as a beverage before a meal, with seafood or with savory pastries.
While this drink is often served as an apéritif, there are those who claim that pairing Veuve Clicquot Brut with quiche or a pastry-based main course such as Salmon Wellington is simply divine.
Perrier Jouet Grand Brut
Price: About $50 USD
Type: Champagne (white)
Character: Golden straw color with a subtle taste and aroma of freshly cut apples; crisp on the finish.
Serve with: Alone as a sipping wine or as an accompaniment to main courses consisting of seafood or chicken.
If you want to keep your wine list simple for your New Year’s Party, then Perrier Jouet Grand Brut is the Champagne you’re looking for. Incredibly versatile, if can be an apéritif or can be paired with an incredible variety of appetizers and main courses.
Louis Roederer Brut Rose 1998
Price: About $65 USD
Type: Champagne (rosé)
Character: Flavors of plum, strawberries and cherries, very full bodied; deep golden salmon color and “biscuity” texture, lots of fine bubbles
Serve with: Salmon, lamb, veal, game, soft cheeses, and desserts featuring red fruit; can also be served as a crowd-pleasing sipping wine.
If you need a wine that will please a diverse crowd, this rosé Champagne, which is the only one on the Top Ten list, will certainly fit the bill. Like Perrier Jouet Grand Brut, it’s versatile and presents a lovely twist on the classic Champagne.
And the top Champagne to serve on New Year’s Eve…
Moet & Chandon Dom Perignon
Price: About $175 USD
Type: Champagne (white)
Character: Beautiful mineral flavors with hints of citrus; a long finish that connoisseurs describe as “toasty”
Serve with: Seafood, especially oysters or serve alone as an apéritif
If you’re going to go all out this New Year’s Eve with an exquisite meal consisting of the finest oysters and seafood delights, then you simply must have this classic French Champagne. The oldest brand of Champagne on the market, this is truly the beverage you need to drink in order to “taste the stars.”
Ceviche and Cancun’s Top Beers
Ceviche and Cancún’s Top Beers
Everybody goes to Cancún in the Mexican Caribbean to party; nightclubs and bars are the stuff of legend and make the traditional resort and party town of Acapulco seem tame and a little bit fuddy-duddy in comparison. But one thing that takes a lot of visitors by surprise is the fact that this resort on the Yucatán peninsula offers one of the most delicious dishes in the world: ceviche. And not only is the ceviche possibly the best you can find in Mexico, it’s possibly the best you’ll find in all of Latin America.
Ceviche, when it’s made in its most basic yet delicious form, is raw seafood and fish marinated in lime, chopped tomatoes, onion, coriander, green chillies and salt. It is usually eaten with plain saltine crackers or fresh, home-made tortilla chips. Due to health concerns though, it’s very hard to find places that use raw fish and seafood; most bars, restaurants and snack shops and stalls will use cooked shrimp and prawns for their ceviche.
This dish is absolutely fantastic on the beach, it’s great as a snack, and it’s great in the fanciest of restaurants, and the only thing that can make this dish even better is eating it with one of the fabulous beers that are available in Cancún. Here’s a look at the top beers a visitor must try either straight or with a plate full of ceviche to accompany it.
Yucatán Beers
The best part about travelling is sampling locally produced beer; and these two beers crafted in the Yucatan certainly do not disappoint. The two most popular beers among locals and savvy travellers are Leon Negra and Montejo Clara.
Leon Negra
This amber lager pours with a beautiful reddish-orange tinged light brown, and is has such a brilliant clarity that it almost sparkles. With just the right amount of carbonation, a lovely creamy head forms which lasts until the drink is almost totally consumed. Flavor and aroma-wise, it smells lightly of sweet toffee, sweet bread, and sweet malt. There really isn’t a hop aroma, which makes the beer smell clean and inviting. Tasting like a superior quality English brown ale, it is well balanced, lively, yet light. Leon Negra also has a nice, barely-there taste of caramel and is ever so slightly on the sweeter side of beers. This is a must-have beer for all visitors to Cancún.
Montejo Clara
While Leon Negra has been brewed in the Yucatan since the 1900, Montejo Clara is something of a Johnny-come-lately type of beer; although it doesn’t have the long history Leon Negra has, it’s become a traditional beer to order. This pilsner beer will be good for those who aren’t too keen on darker beers, and is also simply amazing with ceviche.
When it comes to appearance, Montejo Clara fans state it is “a golden elixir”, pale yellow in color but still rich-looking. Vigorous carbonation adds to the refreshment factor, and a peppery hop aroma is reminiscent of Dutch pilsners such as Grolsch. It’s floral scent has none of the faint smell of sulphur that some mass-produced beers may have and makes the beer incredibly enticing, especially during hot beach weather. As far as flavor is concerned, it is light, refreshing, but has depth of character that is on the same level as the most superior quality European pilsners.
National Beers
While in some countries national, mass-produced beers can be rather bland, unexciting, uninspired and insipid, Mexico bucks the trend and consistently produces good beer on a grand scale. While Sol and Corona are very good beers that are always enjoyable to drink, here are some internationally lesser-known beers that Cancún locals emphatically state are simply better.
Bohemia
A delightful darker amber beer that is not really known outside of Mexico but is considered to be, by far, the nation’s finest. It has a strong scent of caramel with a hint of chocolate, and has a bitter medium flavor that also tastes of smoky caramel. However, it’s surprisingly dry and has a light to medium body, which makes it perhaps nicer to drink at night-time in Cancún rather than during the day on the beach.
Noche Buena
This is a special amber beer that is only released once a year close to the Christmas holidays; if you’re in Cancún this winter, definitely give this one a try.
Dos Equis XX Special Lager
Along with Sol and Corona, Dos Equis XX Special Lager is perhaps THE beer to be drinking during the daytime on Cancún’s famed crystal-clear water beaches. As with all lager beers from Mexico, a slice of lime pushed into the bottle makes this beer go from regular to great.
And finally…Negra Modelo
This Munich dunkel lager was first brewed in Mexico back in 1926 by Austrian immigrants; the dark lager manages to be totally refreshing and is one of the very few dark beers that can be comfortably consumed on a hot beach and not feel overwhelmingly stuffing. Furthermore, because the beer is so delicately flavored, it is the ideal beer to have with an extra spicy portion of ceviche; the delicate taste will balance out and go well with the strong heat factor of jalapeño, Serrano, or other strong green chillies.
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What is an Alcopop?
Alcopops
“Alcopop” is a term that is used by the general public in many countries but is not, in fact, used in the beverages industry. When people use the word, they usually mean single-serving pre-mixed drinks containing between 4%-12% alcohol by volume and juices, sodas such as Coca-cola, or other flavorings, colorants and additives.
Controversy with alcopop
Alcopops are usually very sweet and are produced in a way that a person can’t taste the alcohol; the alcohol becomes disguised and at times they can really taste like non-alcoholic beverages. Due to their bright colours, many critics of the alcohol industry in various countries feel that these beverages are being directly marketed to underage drinkers. In many cases, up until recently, “alcopops” were relatively inexpensive as well because they did not fall into the traditional categories of alcoholic beverage taxation laws. Because of problems in the 1990’s and 2000’s with underage drinkers consuming vast amounts of cheap alcopops, many national governments decided to dramatically increase taxes, making the cost of an alcopop somewhat more out of the reach of an underage consumer.
Types of alcopop
Despite the controversy over alcopops being marketed towards young adolescents, they have grown more acceptance among the older crowd and many actually prefer the pre-fab mixed drinks to beer, wine, or cocktails. There are several varieties of beverages that fall into the category of “alcopops”:
1. Wine coolers Introduced to the market in the 1980’s, wine coolers are a blend of white or red wine and fruit juices or carbonated soft drinks with other flavours. Some of the top brands of wine coolers were Bartles and James, Bacardi Breezer, and Canada Cooler.
2. Malt-liquor based beverages: In the 1990’s due to taxation laws in places like the United States which caused the price of wine coolers to go up, manufacturers found a way around this by producing sweet alcoholic mixed drinks with a malt beverage base. Technically, because of their malt base they were sold as beer products and enjoyed lower taxation rates. The malt base of these drinks was not hopped and were processed in a way to be almost flavourless, meaning the drink would taste the same as commercial soft drinks. Popular malt-based alcopops are Mike’s Hard Lemonade, Zima, and Smirnoff Ice. Producers of these beverages advertised heavily to young people and portrayed situations that young people would find themselves in.
3. Sprit based alcopops: These drinks are not disguised beer or wine; they are basically the same thing that a person could get at a bar, only served in a 330 ml can or bottle. While industry watchdogs claim that these spirit and soft-drink concoctions will appeal to younger drinkers, others quite rightly claim that the drinks contain far less alcohol than the drinks that would be prepared at home with a bottle of spirits and mixers.
Most spirit brands have their own range of ready-to-drink alcopops; some include Southern Comfort and Lemonade, Midori Melon & Lemonade, and Coruba & Cola. Other specific brands of spirit-based alcopops are Jack Daniel’s Hard Cola, Skyy Blue, and Six Degrees, which is based on absinthe.
Who drinks alcopop?
Because most of the alcopops that are available in the United States are flavored beer and are advertised to young women, alcopop is also called “cheerleader beer” or “chick beer”. The overwhelming majority of consumers are females who are under 21 years of age, which happens to be the legal drinking age in the country. People who are over 21 tend to view alcopops as “kids drinks” and there is a very strong stigma attached to drinking them. Women who are over the age of 21 usually do not like alcopops and claim they are far too sweet. Studies have shown that even the most dedicated of alcopop fans in the United States can only drink about 3 servings of alcopop in an evening; the amounts of sugar in the drinks can easily make a person feel nauseated. For this reason, some say that the media fuss over alcopops contributing to underage drinking is overblown.
However, in countries like Australia, alcopops are growing in popularity with the older crowd who want something different from a beer or a glass of wine. Alcopops are generally served with a glass full of ice and are considered to be refreshing. Making things interesting is the fact that men are also drinking alcopops. Again, due to the sugar content, people rarely have more than two.
In the United Kingdom, alcopops do seem to have contributed significantly to underage drinking and people who are of the legal age to drink do tend to shun them. Recent changes to taxation laws were enabled in order to combat underage alcohol consumption; while alcopops used to be very inexpensive, they are now out of the financial reach of most teenagers.
A northern alternative: the long drink
Europe has seen the same problem but higher taxes seem to have worked for now to prevent younger people from being able to purchase cheap alcohol. It must be noted that in countries such as Estonia and Finland, alcopops are not as popular as the traditional “long drinks” which are carbonated gin-based beverages with fruit flavoring that are also served in single-serve cans or bottles. Many bars and restaurants also have “long drink” on tap. Long drinks are popular with both genders and all ages; interestingly enough, underage drinkers will not drink alcopops at all but will acquire hard liquor, which can cause just as many or even more health and societal problems.
The verdict
If you like sweet drinks, then alcopops may be right for you. When taken in moderation, they can be quite delightful, but if too many are consumed, the sugar may cause nausea. Due to too many youngsters abusing the inexpensive alcoholic beverage, they are now no longer cost-effective, and for a sweet drink, you’re probably better off getting a properly prepared cocktail.
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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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