posted by Hilary on Mar 16

So to go with the fab St Patrick cocktail I thought I’d get some little interesting facts in to go with.

Did you know the St Patrick got rid of all the snakes in Ireland by ringing bell…… I think thats where Ray Meers is going wrong all he needs is a bloody bell!!

Did you know that St. Patrick had a bit of a potty month and didn’t always have a have a saintly temper? He liked to put curses on things. When a farmer said he could not let his ox graze in his field Paddy curse the on him and what do you know the land flooded.

The ultimate Irish coffee
Stuff:-
25ml/1fl oz Irish whiskey
1 tbsp Irish whiskey liqueur
1 tsp sugar syrup
1 double espresso
1 tbsp Irish cream liqueur
crushed ice
4 fresh mint leaves, to garnish

What to do:-
1. Pour the Irish whiskey, whiskey liqueur, sugar syrup, espresso and Irish cream liqueur into a cocktail shaker.
2. Add ice and shake well.
3. Strain put into a champagne flute.
4. To serve, twist the four mint leaves together to form a mint leaf clover. Garnish the glass with the mint leaf clover.

Joke : How far is it to the next village? asked the American tourist to ther Irish Farmer.

It’s about seven miles, guessed the farmer. But it’s only five if you run!

posted by JD on Mar 10

Can you believe its 25 years since the Film Cocktail?
I thought I would just re live my memories of the film and dedicate a drink to our Tom
Whilst Brian Flanagan (Tom) was trying to get money for his degree, he took a little part time job working for boss job Douglas Coughlin (Brian Brown).
Both Brian & Doug Coughlin rocked the scene together and were soon the characters that everyone went to see at the bar ‘Cocktails & Dreams’.
The boys decide they wanted to open there own pad and to get the cash Tom travels to Jamaica to work as a bartender at the resort Tiki Bar to raise the squids…..in walks the lady of the film Jordan Mooney (Elisabeth Shue)!!!!! Love blossoms …………
However here’s the twist - naughty Tom can’t keep his pants on and takes a dare to sleep with an older women, Jordan leaves (QUITE RIGHT) on a plane straight back to New York… will they ever get the love back??? …………………. Stupid boy!
Cocktail Tom (Collins!)
Tom Collins

• 2 oz Gin
• 1 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
• 1/2 oz Simple Syrup
• 3 oz chilled Club Soda
• Lemon Slice
• Maraschino Cherry

Add the first three ingredients to a mixing glass and stir with ice.
Strain add the soda and garnish with the lemon slice and the cherry

posted by JD on Mar 9

As it is now 25 year since Tom Cruise shook his but in Cocktail the movie I thought I’d go back to a few favorites .

Blue Lagoon (no not some dodgy movie!)

What you need
25ml/1fl oz vodka
25ml/1fl oz blue curaçao
20ml/¾fl oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
Crushed ice
Lemonade
Twist of lemon peel

What to do

1. Pour the vodka, blue curaçao and lemon juice into shaker.
2. Add the crushed ice and shake well.
3. Strain the mixture into a small wine glass and add a splash of lemonade to fill the glass to the brim.
4. To serve, with a twist of lemon peel.

Long Island Ice tee

Oh may this takes me back to when I thought I was really grown up but god the hangover after I’m was and still am such a light weight

What you need ……deep breath as there is rather a lot here we go……….

2 tsp vodka
2 tsp gin
2 tsp gold rum
2 tsp gold tequila
2 tsp triple sec
20ml/¾fl oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
20ml/¾fl oz freshly squeezed orange juice
1 tsp sugar syrup
20ml/¾fl oz egg white
Crushed ice
Coca cola
Lemon wedge, to garnish

What to do don’t stress quite simple

1. Pour the vodka, gin, gold rum, gold tequila, triple sec, lemon juice, orange juice, sugar syrup and egg white into a cocktail shaker.
2. Add the crushed ice and shake well.
3. Fill glass half full with crushed ice. Strain over the mixture and then top up with the cola.
4. Garnish the glass with a wedge of lemon.

posted by Hilary on Mar 9

Well I’m going all retro on us today and looking at the Good Old Mia Tai
Fact of the day: Mai Tai actually means ‘Out of this World’ and dates back to the 1944 Oakland’s trader Vic’s.
Mr. Victor Bergron, one of the big boy manager’s from the bar Tiki, created this concoction. The secret to this success of this drink is down to the quality of the rum. Yes I know this may be stating the obvious however over the years the original recipe has deviated from so much. The taste of the rum has been diluted by too much fruit and flavoring that what is left resembles nothing like the original drink. So bring back the Mia Tai and you will be ‘Out of this World’ – literately!!!!

Bergron’s original recipe:-
The Original Mai Tai
• 1 oz light rum
• 1/2 oz lime juice
• 1/2 oz orange curacao
• 1/2 oz orgeat syrup (or just sugar and water)
• 1 oz dark rum

• maraschino cherry for garnish should be the only fruit in it!
1. Pour all the ingredients except the dark rum into a shaker with ice cubes.
2. Shake well.
3. Strain into glass half filled with ice.
4. Top with the dark rum.
5. Garnish with the cherry.

posted by JD on Feb 19

SSSShhhhhh don’t tell anyone but I have two exclusives on the Cocktails that will be served up at the Oscars on Sunday… how glamorous.

The first Oscar goes to…..

The Ultimate Blueberry Martini

• 1 1/2 oz Tequila
• 1/2 oz Orange Liqueur
• 2 oz blackberry juice
• 1 oz orange juice
• fresh blackberry garnish

1. Pour into a shaker filled with ice.
2. Shake well.
3. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
4. Garnish with fresh blackberries skewered on a cocktail pick.

The second Oscar goes to…..

The Patron Gold Cosmopolitan

This is going to be dished up at the pre-show party and at the Governors Ball.

• 1 1/2 oz Vodka
• 1/2 oz Orange Liqueur
• 2 oz fresh blueberry juice
• 1 oz fresh mango juice
• blueberries for garnish

1. Pour into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
2. Shake well.
3. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
4. Garnish with fresh blueberries skewered on a cocktail pick.

posted by Hilary on Feb 17

Classic Pina Colada

So many would think the origin was down to Del Boy in Only fools and Horses but believe it or not it actually dates back as far as 1914. Despite the drink being seen as the official drink of Puerto Rico, it is said to have been created in Barcelona, Spain by Ricardo Gracia.
So how’s it done?

• 1 shot of white/golden rum
• 2 shots of coconut cream
• 2 shots of pineapple juice
• A slice of pineapple and/or a maraschino cherry or a slice of orange

Add all the ingredients into a blender along with a scoop of crushed ice and blend. Pour into a sours or Collins glass and decorate with the desired garnish.

Lovely Jubbly……..

posted by Hilary on Feb 16

Mango Margaritta
This little ray of sunshine shown on this week’s show made me dream of the summer weather… despite it being cold and dark outside this Monday morning. Mmmmmm long warm nights by the pool… see I’m off dreaming again!

35ml/1¼fl oz tequila
15ml/½fl oz orange liqueur (cointreau will do if nothing else)
½ lime, juice only
2 tsp mango syrup
25ml/1fl oz mango purée
ice cubes, to taste
1 slice fresh mango, to garnish

What to do?
1. Pour the tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice, mango syrup and mango purée into cocktail shaker.
2. Add tons of the ice, get your hula skirt on and shake it baby!
3. Strain the mixture into a glass and for fancy finish garnish with the mango slice.

Can you feel the warmth already?

posted by JD on Feb 13

Just a few little numbers to help Valentines go with a swing and rumour has it they are aphrodesiacts!!!!!!

This one is a little different but i like it as it’s made in bulk!

Champagne Punch Drink Recipe
750 ml bottle sparkling wine

325 ml bottle white
3whole cloves
2cinnamon sticks
1/2 lemon
1/4 cup sugar (or to taste)
1 cups orange juice
1/2 cup pineapple juice
Ice block

Put white wine, cloves, cinnamon. Squeeze in lemon juice, and then add the rest of the lemon into a pan and bring to the boil. simmer for 10 minutes, strain and cool.
Put ice i bowl, then pour in valentines spice concoction , sparkling wine, and juice.

Simple and sweet lovvvvvvveeeely liqueur

Love Potion Drink
1 oz. vodka
1 oz. amaretto
1 oz. peach liqueur
1 oz. fresh orange
1 oz. cranberry juice
Orange Wedge

Mix vodka, amaretto, peach liqueur, orange juice and cranberry in cocktail shaker with ice, and shake  and pour into a glass Garnish with an orange wedge.

posted by Arty on Feb 11

Martini Theory no.2
Back in 1870 at Julio Richelieu’s saloon in Martinez, California, a drink was mixed for a miner. Julio put an olive in the glass before handing over Martinez, California continues to claim Martini creation as its own

Martini Theory no.3
This one I find the funniest, very childish, because it has knickers in the description! In 1911 at the Knickerbocker Hotel (sorry but I bet your smiling!) in New York the head bartender, called Martini di Arma di Taggia, mixed half and half London Gin, Vermouth and orange bitters. He chilled on ice and strained it a glass. Many visitors to the Knickerbocker asked for variations of the drink and added the olive.

posted by Arty on Feb 10

The History of the Martini
There is many a claim as to who did what and when, as there is to what makes a true Martini. However, the one thing that is clear the recipe created in the 19th Century does not resemble the Martini knocking around today. Even thought there does not seem to be one definitive story, I do find it interesting all the different takes on it… and there does seem a little familiarly in all.
Just to clarify today has recognized taste of a Dry Martini consists of Gin and a varying amount of dry white Vermouth (season to taste). In addition, either an olive, a twist of lime/lemon, or… wait for it a cocktail onion!
Ingredients:

2 1/2 oz gin
1/2 oz dry vermouth
1 green olive or lemon twist for garnish
orange bitters (optional)

What to do:

Pour the ingredients into glass filled with ice cubes.
Stir for 30 seconds.
Strain into glass.
Add a dash of orange bitters if desired
Garnish with the olive or lemon twist.

Martini Theory no.1
The serious HQ boffin’s state it started as a cocktail named the ‘Martinez’ in 1862. Made up of four parts red, sweet Vermouth to 1 part Gin and a little cherry to top it off! Old Tom Gin, very sweet tasting, was the first gin to be used however, this was over time submitted for London Dry giving it the dry taste recognized today.

More Theories to follow………………..