Make Mine a Double

posted by Hilary on Mar 16

St Patrick day’s facts

• St. Patrick was kidnapped from Britain 16 taken to Ireland. After 6 years working as a slave he returned to blitty. After 14 years of hard college graft, Patrick returned to Ireland, where he built churches and spread the Christian faith for some 30 years.
• St Patrick died on March 17 in the year 461 AD
• Leprechaun means “a kind of aqueous sprite” or “shoemaker.”
• Irish flag green symbolizes the south, and the orange, north and the white represents is the peace that joins them together

This is a bit minty I must admit to a required taste!!
Green Isle
• 1 oz gin
• 1 tsp crème de menthe, green
• 2 dashes bitters
Preparation:
1. Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice cubes.
2. Shake well.
3. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

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 Hilary on Mar 13

Well as it’s Comic Relief red nose day I thought it would only be appropriate that I wrote about some red cocktails that may make you nose tingle as well as your head!!!

Fallen Red Cedar

This is made with my favorite things of all time Champagne and Strawberries Yummy yummy
Ingredients

* 1 1/2 ounces Absolut citron vodka
* 1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice
* 1 splash champagne
* 3 large ripe strawberries

What to do
Squish the strawberries in crushed ice.
Mix in the berries, lemon juice and vodka in shaker, and shake it babie
Pour into tumbler over ice cubes.
Pour in champagne

Garnish with a slice of strawberry

Rose Sangria

Now I know there is rather a lot of fruit in this one but believe me it is worth it not only will you nose tingle it will make you glow inside too ideal effect for Comic Relief!!!!
* 1 (750 ml) bottle rose wine
* 1/4 cup brandy
* 1/4 cup triple sec
* 1 cup fresh orange juice
* 1/4 cup simple syrup (or more)
* orange slices
* lemon slice
* lime slice
* apple, slices
* blackberry

This is soo easy put all in a large jug and leave in fridge for as long as possible i.e. 24 hours 8 hour min, strain the fruit and serve. Fruit is only for effect if serve straight away!

posted by Hilary on Mar 12

How to Make Absinthe
Look I’ll be realistic with you this will do what it says on the tin but you do need some knowledge and the right ingredients to make sure you tick all the boxes correctly.

Have a go… any way in this economic ‘crisis’ can we afford to be snobs!!

• One ounce dried chopped wormwood
• One tablespoon angelica root
• One teaspoon hyssop
• One half teaspoon coriander seeds
• One quarter teaspoon caraway seeds
• One pinch cardamom pods
• One pinch fennel or anise seeds
• One liter vodka

Mix the Vodka and Wormwood together and leave to stand for 10 days.
If you want extra special blow your head off stuff use 151 rum instead of Vodka. This will make the drink Green. You could use 100% proof too say no more…………!!!
Strain off the wormwood and add all the rest of the remaining herbs and stuff. Wait another 4 days and Bobs your Uncle, Fanny’s your Aunt!!!…… well they will be after you’ve had a taste this little Special Brew.

posted by Hilary on Mar 11

Whenever you look at the recipes there always fancy glasses and spoon. I will try to make this as unflashy as possible.
For the first recipe you will need a spoon with holes in it or failing this a metal tea strainer.
The old traditional way is the best place to start this is with the well strong stuff.
1. Pour one shot (approx 1oz) Absinthe into a glass.

• Then place a perforated spoon over the glass or tea strainer
• Place a few sugar cubes on the spoon
• Slowly pour ice cold water (approx 5 oz) over the cubes so that they melt into the glass.
• Once glass is full mix with spoon.

Enjoy!

For the modern stuff a slight twist as it doesn’t need water not as strong!!!Hello!!
No fancy holed spoon required!
1. Pour one shot (approx 1oz) Absinthe into a glass.

• Spoon full of sugar.
• Slowly dip the spoon into the absinthe to wet sugar,
• Place on the glass and light with a flame.
• This makes for a nice effect and allows the sugar to melt.
• Once it has caramelized you blow it out, mix it in the shot and drink.

Just beware as it’s really flammable and you don’t want an encounter with the fire brigade or singed eye brows

posted by Hilary on Mar 11

Ten facts you probably never knew about Absinthe!!!

1) Yes we all know that’s its very acholic but it does range from 45 to 74%

2) It is actually a herbal drink, no not from rosemary and thyme but, flowers
and leaves of the herb Artemisia absinthium, referred to as “grande wormwood”

3) At first it was actually a medicine, meant to cure just about anything. It was recommended for the treatment of epilepsy, gout, kidney stones, colic, headaches and worms.

4) Despite it being after classed as a clear drink traditionally it is green and as the history books clarify was and is called the Green Fairy

5) It originated in Switzerland in the 19th Century by the French-born Dr. Pierre Ordinaire

6) It has been classed as the drink of ‘Bad boys’ over the centuries - however this could be despite as the drink of genius a common tipple of Vincent van Gogh, Oscar Wilde, and Aleister Crowley

7) Ernest Hemingway ” For Whom the Bell Tolls” was written under the influence of “The Green Fairy”.

Despite the wide exaggerations of it been classed at a drug due to the chemical thujone, present in small quantities blamed for its alleged harmful effects but no evidence has ever proven this

9) 1915, absinthe had been banned in the United States and only became legal again 2007

10) February 2008, nearly 200 brands of absinthe were being produced in a dozen countries

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 Arty on Mar 6

Look I know I’m the world’s most gullible person, and forget the fact I have blonde hair , however when I was in Ireland this week I was not going to fall for going to the bar and asking for a Paddy’s Whiskey!! . As usually I thought it was another opportunity for people to have a laugh at my expense
But I take it all back there actually is a Whiskey called Paddy’s!!!!!
Paddy’s Old Irish whiskey dates back to 1779 created by the Cork Distillers Company, and the name comes from a well know salesman Paddy’s Flaherty.
It’s a lovely smooth mellow whiskey using barley and the water from Ireland’s hill tops. Its sits waiting its time maturing in Oak Casks until ready to be served over ice.