Wine tasting is simply a process applied to distinguish the taste of fine wines. One must be able to note the differences between different types of wines and for expert tasters, also the differences between the vintages of the same class of wine. Sometimes the tasting is called wine de gustation. The most important part of any tasting is the 'what and How'. The what, refers to what you're looking for, the brand and type. While the how determines origin and fermentation process.
The first thing to do in any wine tasting is to look. Always start by pouring the wine into a clean clear glass, then taking a few minutes to look at the color. You should know that the color for white wine is not white, but actually yellow, green, or brown. On the other hand Red wines are normally a pale red or dark brown color. Red wine taste better with age, while white wine stale with age.
The next step is the smell. A good whiff will give you an impression of what to expect from the wine when you taste it. Please take note of the aroma, is it fresh or foul? And again does it smell like wine. Take time to think about the smell before tasting it.
The first step in tasting is to take a small sip. The small sip allows our mouth to get a quick preview and some expectations. Only after the sip approval do we take in a mouth full and swish. Swishing gives a better full taste of the flavor of the wine. It is normally during swishing, that you discover if the wine is bitter, salty or sweet. Severe cold do affect your taste bud and tasting under the influence of one will make the taste appear different.
The last step is to decide if you want to spit or swallow the wine. Personally, I swallow the wine considering all the efforts. If this is the only wine or one of two or three you will sample at the event, swallowing is definitely an appropriate option. But on the other hand, if you are at a winery and going through 5 or 6 wines, spitting is usually your best option.
Otherwise, every wine is going to start tasting funny because of all the different brands and you might end up drunk as well. Remember when you drink different types of alcohol like mixing vodka and rum, you get drunk faster, same theory applies here.
Tasting will also reveal other pertinent nuances about the wine. You should be able to tell if the flavor is derived from the aging barrel or oak chips. You also can tell about the sweetness or bitterness.
Wine tasters do follow some general guidelines and rules that judge how great a wine is. It is these techniques that can help you bring the most out of your wine, providing you follow them and know how to bring out the taste.
After all, the real test is did you like it. Tasting wine requires some protocols as listed above, but the most important part is for you to enjoy yourself.
About the Author
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Wednesday, November 7, 2007
A Look At Ice Wine
Ice Wine: Unique And Distinctive Wine
From a highly generalized standpoint, pairing wines with food goes something like this: Ice wines are typically paired with seafood, chicken, turkey, Chinese food, and on occasion, pork. When serving or consuming beef, roasts, filet mignon, lamb, duck, veal, or pastas, red wines are the standard. More important than pairing wine with food, however, is paring types of wine with the consumer. If ice wine is not enjoyable to you, then you certainly won't order it to compliment your sautéed scallops. Choose instead a type of wine that suits your individual tastes.
When investigating types of wine, there are a few stand-outs within our two categories. When seeking ice wine, some common choices are chardonnay, white zinfandel, sauvignon Blanc, and Johannesburg Riesling. The majority of these types of wine are bottled in California, as the conditions of the state are impeccable for growing and harvesting wine grapes. These types of wine range from the very dry to sweet and unlike reds are typically not aged in wood barrels. This preserves their freshness and unique flavor of these types of wine.
How to Determine Ice Wine:
For bold, daring wine consumers, we have the red wines. Of these types of wine, many are bottled in California as well. A typically dry and more acidic option, red wines are typically aged in wood in order to achieve their bold, deep flavor. Types of wine to look out for include cabernet sauvignon, merlot, pinot noir, zinfandel and petit syrah. The color of these types of wine may vary from a blush to a deep burgundy. The color of red wine is from the skins of the grape, not from the juice.
Although types of wine vary greatly, and you are certain to find one that suits your palette, do not hesitate to broaden your horizon of wine consumption. The types of wine available to the public are certainly worth investigating and most importantly, enjoying. Wine that is kept, collected and protected in suitable condition will age nicely and will turn into vintage wines. However, if your wine collection is not properly cared for, well, you'll know. The quality of the wine collection will deteriorate and a wine expert will be able to tell that your wine has been ill-treated.
Considerations:
First of all, do extensive research on the many different types of wines there are in the market. Some wines are meant to be kept and stored over a long period of time, some are not. Books on wine collection should be bought and if you're at all serious about wine collection spend some time reading through them and understand the different types of wines and the way that they should be kept. If keeping and reading books on wine is not your glass of wine, you can do your research on the internet. Either way, there's a wealth of information on wine that you can find. Explore, absorb and remember.
About the Author
You can also find more info on Best Wine and California Wine Tour. Bestwinetourguide.com is a comprehensive resource to known more about wine.
From a highly generalized standpoint, pairing wines with food goes something like this: Ice wines are typically paired with seafood, chicken, turkey, Chinese food, and on occasion, pork. When serving or consuming beef, roasts, filet mignon, lamb, duck, veal, or pastas, red wines are the standard. More important than pairing wine with food, however, is paring types of wine with the consumer. If ice wine is not enjoyable to you, then you certainly won't order it to compliment your sautéed scallops. Choose instead a type of wine that suits your individual tastes.
When investigating types of wine, there are a few stand-outs within our two categories. When seeking ice wine, some common choices are chardonnay, white zinfandel, sauvignon Blanc, and Johannesburg Riesling. The majority of these types of wine are bottled in California, as the conditions of the state are impeccable for growing and harvesting wine grapes. These types of wine range from the very dry to sweet and unlike reds are typically not aged in wood barrels. This preserves their freshness and unique flavor of these types of wine.
How to Determine Ice Wine:
For bold, daring wine consumers, we have the red wines. Of these types of wine, many are bottled in California as well. A typically dry and more acidic option, red wines are typically aged in wood in order to achieve their bold, deep flavor. Types of wine to look out for include cabernet sauvignon, merlot, pinot noir, zinfandel and petit syrah. The color of these types of wine may vary from a blush to a deep burgundy. The color of red wine is from the skins of the grape, not from the juice.
Although types of wine vary greatly, and you are certain to find one that suits your palette, do not hesitate to broaden your horizon of wine consumption. The types of wine available to the public are certainly worth investigating and most importantly, enjoying. Wine that is kept, collected and protected in suitable condition will age nicely and will turn into vintage wines. However, if your wine collection is not properly cared for, well, you'll know. The quality of the wine collection will deteriorate and a wine expert will be able to tell that your wine has been ill-treated.
Considerations:
First of all, do extensive research on the many different types of wines there are in the market. Some wines are meant to be kept and stored over a long period of time, some are not. Books on wine collection should be bought and if you're at all serious about wine collection spend some time reading through them and understand the different types of wines and the way that they should be kept. If keeping and reading books on wine is not your glass of wine, you can do your research on the internet. Either way, there's a wealth of information on wine that you can find. Explore, absorb and remember.
About the Author
You can also find more info on Best Wine and California Wine Tour. Bestwinetourguide.com is a comprehensive resource to known more about wine.
Creating A Martini Masterpiece
Without a doubt, a true barometer of a bartender's skills and a person's taste is making a great Martini! Martinis have really gained immense popularity over the last decade. Everyone remembers that James Bond loved his martinis, of course they had to be "shaken, not stirred."Making a classic dry martini is almost like creating a very simple, yet very pure piece of art. So, here it is, a step by step recipe for creating the perfect dry martini.You're going to need 11/2oz of dry gin. Don't skimp on the quality, go for Beefeaters or Tanqueray.
Also, 1/2 oz of extra dry vermouth, a toothpick, pimento stuffed olives, ice from purified water, a cocktail shaker, and a martini glass.Go ahead and fill the martini glass with ice and water, this will chill the glass to perfection while you mix the drink. Pour the gin over ice in your cocktail shaker. Allow it to set for a moment while you measure your vermouth.
Go ahead and add the vermouth to your shaker along with a VERY tiny splash of olive juice. Cap off your shaker and shake very vigorously. The key is to shake it so long that your hands get super cold.Finally, empty all the water from your martini glass, and wipe away all moisture droplets.Add two olives skewered on a toothpick, and pour the mixed drink into a glass. Sip it delicately and enjoy!By the way,Shaking does have an advantage over stirring. Shaking actually "bruises" the gin and causes it to infuse with the vermouth.
Stirring, while effective, allows the spirits to separate more easily in the glass.Use Jalapeno stuffed olives instead of pimento and call it a "Martinez" instead. It adds spice to the drink on so many different levels.By the way, be sure to use an authentic martini glass.
A traditional glass with a stem will cause your martini to warm too quickly.So, there you have it, the perfect martini. Once you've enjoyed a martini that doesn't short-cut the details, it's hard to drink one that is hastily prepared. No excuses now that you've tasted the difference!Always remember to drink responsibly, and try to enjoy your martini by itself. Very few foods enhance the delicate balance of a great dry martini.
About the Author
Michael Hutchins is a noted speaker and author on entertaining at home.His online store, http://www. home-bars-and-more.com is fabulous place to shop for all your home bar needs!For delicious drink recipes, visit his blog at http:// drinkrecipesandmore.blogspot.com Check them both out now!
Also, 1/2 oz of extra dry vermouth, a toothpick, pimento stuffed olives, ice from purified water, a cocktail shaker, and a martini glass.Go ahead and fill the martini glass with ice and water, this will chill the glass to perfection while you mix the drink. Pour the gin over ice in your cocktail shaker. Allow it to set for a moment while you measure your vermouth.
Go ahead and add the vermouth to your shaker along with a VERY tiny splash of olive juice. Cap off your shaker and shake very vigorously. The key is to shake it so long that your hands get super cold.Finally, empty all the water from your martini glass, and wipe away all moisture droplets.Add two olives skewered on a toothpick, and pour the mixed drink into a glass. Sip it delicately and enjoy!By the way,Shaking does have an advantage over stirring. Shaking actually "bruises" the gin and causes it to infuse with the vermouth.
Stirring, while effective, allows the spirits to separate more easily in the glass.Use Jalapeno stuffed olives instead of pimento and call it a "Martinez" instead. It adds spice to the drink on so many different levels.By the way, be sure to use an authentic martini glass.
A traditional glass with a stem will cause your martini to warm too quickly.So, there you have it, the perfect martini. Once you've enjoyed a martini that doesn't short-cut the details, it's hard to drink one that is hastily prepared. No excuses now that you've tasted the difference!Always remember to drink responsibly, and try to enjoy your martini by itself. Very few foods enhance the delicate balance of a great dry martini.
About the Author
Michael Hutchins is a noted speaker and author on entertaining at home.His online store, http://www. home-bars-and-more.com is fabulous place to shop for all your home bar needs!For delicious drink recipes, visit his blog at http:// drinkrecipesandmore.blogspot.com Check them both out now!
How To Mix The Perfect Cocktail
While making a cocktail isn't "rocket science," one must follow some basic principles to be successful. The keys to successful "mixology"are precision, quality, and attention to detail. First and foremost, it is essential to use premium ingredients, especially the liquors.And every ingredient is important when trying to make the perfect mixed drink. Ice, for example is an important ingredient. Use freshly frozen ice, as it won't have "freezer burn" that can spoil the flavor of a mixed drink. If you are going to mix a drink that requires a blender, start with crushed ice. For drinks that call for ice cubes, make sure they are small and firm. Ice cubes must melt slowly or they will spoil the flavor of the drink by diluting it too quickly.
Most of your fruity, tropical drinks taste much better with crushed ice.When actually mixing the cocktail, there are several key tips to keep in mind. Make sure to mix the ingredients thoroughly. Depending on the ingredients in your drink, it may be more effective to shake or stir the drink. A "Black Russian,"for example, must be stirred completely because of the heavy cream and thick Kahlua. A gin and tonic doesn't require as thorough of a mixing because it is much lighter.Make sure that after blending or shaking a drink, you remove the contents immediately into the appropriate glass. Leaving the mixture in the blender or shaker too long will dilute the drink and rob it of it's flavor.
Should your drink call for a carbonated mixer, such as Champagne or club soda, it is essential to add them last. Whatever you do, don't shake a drink with carbonation. A light stirring to mix the ingredients is your best bet.Your garnishes made from fruit should be fresh fruit whenever possible. Likewise the juices you use in your cocktails. It's very important that you follow each drink recipe exactly, and make your measurements accurate. "Guesswork" has spoiled many a mixed drink!! Please don't add extra alcohol to a mixed drink,(no matter how tempted you might be), as it often spoils the flavorFinally, keep proper glassware behind your home bar. While glassware won't affect the taste of your mixed drinks, your guests will always perceive your drinks as being acceptable when served in appropriate glassware.
Hopefully these tips will help you create a mixed drink that will draw rave reviews from your guests. Remember, don't "cut corners",take your time, purchase premium ingredients, and you'll be well on your way to mixing the perfect cocktail!Feel free to reprint this article and distribute it to your favorite newsletters, ezines, and websites. Please don't erase any links, change any content, or alter the resource box.
About the Author
Michael Hutchins is a noted speaker and author on subjects related to entertaining at home. He created his online store, http://www.home-bars-and-more.com to be fun, "one-stop" shopping for all your home bar needs. It's a fabulous place to just browse around! Check it out now!
What Is A Mojito?
Not only is the Mojito one of the most popular cocktails in the world, but people love to talk about it too. It's mentioned on TV, it's in books it's doing the talk show rounds, it's all over the place. So I looked it up a few recipes to see what all the fuss was about. It's a minty drink with rum. Sounds like something I would like, so I decided it was time to try the Mojito.
Before picking a recipe to try I decided to do a little research first. Let's see, it's a Cuban cocktail that makes a great summer drink. Sounds good so far. It also says that it was Ernest Hemingway's second favorite drink besides the Daiquiri. Wow, it's got history too. And due to Barcardi's recent advertising it's enjoying a resurgence in popularity. Okay, I'm sold, now how do you make this thing.
I chose the Barcardi Mojito web site to get a recipe and was treated to short video clip of how to make one. If you get a chance be sure to check it out. I'm very impressed with these alcohol websites. They really go all out with videos, recipes and other fun things.
Hmmm, looking at the recipe it's just rum and club soda and that's easy enough but the complicated part is the fresh ingredients. You need to add mint leaves, lime juice and sugar to the glass or pitcher and then muddle them. Muddling is sort of like using a mortar and pestle but you do it in the drink glass itself. This mojito seems like a drink that I need to know what it tastes first before trying it at home.
I could go to bar and try it but instead I decided to go the liquor store and buy one of those Rose's Cocktail Mixers that I'm a big fan off. All you have to do is add one part rum and three parts Rose's Mojito Mixer and you've got a Mojito. I'm sure this will give me a good idea what a Mojito is supposed to taste like and then in the future I can fiddle around with the fresh ingredients and figure out the proper amounts to get the flavor I'm looking for.
So in my opinion, the Mojito is definitely a summer drink, perfect for those warm days spent around the pool. The mint is refreshing, the lime flavor quenches and the rum does the job. Now it's time for me to find my mortar and pestle.
About the Author
When Anthony Tripodi isn't trying new mojito recipes in the comforts of his own home, he's taking pictures of drinks and blogging about Mixology on at, http://homemixology.blogspot.com
Before picking a recipe to try I decided to do a little research first. Let's see, it's a Cuban cocktail that makes a great summer drink. Sounds good so far. It also says that it was Ernest Hemingway's second favorite drink besides the Daiquiri. Wow, it's got history too. And due to Barcardi's recent advertising it's enjoying a resurgence in popularity. Okay, I'm sold, now how do you make this thing.
I chose the Barcardi Mojito web site to get a recipe and was treated to short video clip of how to make one. If you get a chance be sure to check it out. I'm very impressed with these alcohol websites. They really go all out with videos, recipes and other fun things.
Hmmm, looking at the recipe it's just rum and club soda and that's easy enough but the complicated part is the fresh ingredients. You need to add mint leaves, lime juice and sugar to the glass or pitcher and then muddle them. Muddling is sort of like using a mortar and pestle but you do it in the drink glass itself. This mojito seems like a drink that I need to know what it tastes first before trying it at home.
I could go to bar and try it but instead I decided to go the liquor store and buy one of those Rose's Cocktail Mixers that I'm a big fan off. All you have to do is add one part rum and three parts Rose's Mojito Mixer and you've got a Mojito. I'm sure this will give me a good idea what a Mojito is supposed to taste like and then in the future I can fiddle around with the fresh ingredients and figure out the proper amounts to get the flavor I'm looking for.
So in my opinion, the Mojito is definitely a summer drink, perfect for those warm days spent around the pool. The mint is refreshing, the lime flavor quenches and the rum does the job. Now it's time for me to find my mortar and pestle.
About the Author
When Anthony Tripodi isn't trying new mojito recipes in the comforts of his own home, he's taking pictures of drinks and blogging about Mixology on at, http://homemixology.blogspot.com
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Most popular mixed drink recipes
There are lots of cocktails and a lot of fans who have varied drinking tastes. Some people don't even like to have their drinks mixed, they like them neat without anything added to the original drink. However, there are a great number of people who simply love to drink mixed drinks and discover more and more flavors by combining different ingredients. In order to make all these mixed drinks you require some type of steps to follow so that the drink you are making will look like it should and taste like it should. Thus, we are giving you two of the most popular mixed drink recipes that you need to follow if you want to serve perfect cocktails.
Manhattan - is one of the most loved mixed drink recipes that require the following ingredients:
2 oz vodka, 2 oz fresh lime juice, 2 oz fresh lemon juice, 2 oz pure grape juice.
In order to make the cocktail you need to mix all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker / stirrer and pour everything into a weird looking glass. Also, you need to add some crushed ice and some decorations to create a special drink.
There are also a few special effects that you can create with the classic Manhattan mixed drink recipes. Here are some hints that will show you how to make the best special effects with the Manhattan cocktails:
* Always serve this cocktail in unusually shaped glasses and give the glasses a frosted edge by dipping the rim into lemon juice and then into sugar.
* Add colourful decorations to your drinks, such as umbrellas, swizzle sticks, paper flowers, straws and even sparklers.
* Always add straws, the colored ones are perfect. If you serve your cocktails in small glasses, make sure to cut the straws so that they fit.
* A great idea is to use cocktail sticks or toothpicks in order to twist or skewer fruits.
* Fruit slices are always great for decorating and adding a twist to most mixed drink recipes.
Tequila Sunrise - is another example of extremely popular mixed drink recipes, which needs the following ingredients:
2 oz tequila, 3/4 oz grenadine, and 4 oz orange juice.
In order to create a perfect Tequila Sunrise cocktail you need to mix all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker / stirrer and pour into a glass. Also, add crushed ice and decorations to create a great drink from this really easy recipe
You can also make a frozen tequila sunrise mixed drink by using a variety of different methods:
* The main ingredients are, of course, ice cubes or crushed ice. In order to make crushed ice you only need to place the ice cubes in a plastic bag and then crush them with a heavy object.
* You can also use frozen fruit when making the Tequila Sunrise as they give an interesting flavor and color.
* Frozen Ice cream can make a great ingredient when making Tequila Sunrise frozen cocktails.
* Make sure that all the fruit juices and mixers you use are completely chilled before adding them. As the ingredients quantities always tend to cause confusion just use the correct proportions mentioned above in order to create the best authentic and original Tequila Sunrise cocktail.
About the Author
The most popular mixed drink recipes are usually quite easy and if you follow the recipes exactly you will be able to make some of the best cocktails you have ever tasted.
Manhattan - is one of the most loved mixed drink recipes that require the following ingredients:
2 oz vodka, 2 oz fresh lime juice, 2 oz fresh lemon juice, 2 oz pure grape juice.
In order to make the cocktail you need to mix all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker / stirrer and pour everything into a weird looking glass. Also, you need to add some crushed ice and some decorations to create a special drink.
There are also a few special effects that you can create with the classic Manhattan mixed drink recipes. Here are some hints that will show you how to make the best special effects with the Manhattan cocktails:
* Always serve this cocktail in unusually shaped glasses and give the glasses a frosted edge by dipping the rim into lemon juice and then into sugar.
* Add colourful decorations to your drinks, such as umbrellas, swizzle sticks, paper flowers, straws and even sparklers.
* Always add straws, the colored ones are perfect. If you serve your cocktails in small glasses, make sure to cut the straws so that they fit.
* A great idea is to use cocktail sticks or toothpicks in order to twist or skewer fruits.
* Fruit slices are always great for decorating and adding a twist to most mixed drink recipes.
Tequila Sunrise - is another example of extremely popular mixed drink recipes, which needs the following ingredients:
2 oz tequila, 3/4 oz grenadine, and 4 oz orange juice.
In order to create a perfect Tequila Sunrise cocktail you need to mix all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker / stirrer and pour into a glass. Also, add crushed ice and decorations to create a great drink from this really easy recipe
You can also make a frozen tequila sunrise mixed drink by using a variety of different methods:
* The main ingredients are, of course, ice cubes or crushed ice. In order to make crushed ice you only need to place the ice cubes in a plastic bag and then crush them with a heavy object.
* You can also use frozen fruit when making the Tequila Sunrise as they give an interesting flavor and color.
* Frozen Ice cream can make a great ingredient when making Tequila Sunrise frozen cocktails.
* Make sure that all the fruit juices and mixers you use are completely chilled before adding them. As the ingredients quantities always tend to cause confusion just use the correct proportions mentioned above in order to create the best authentic and original Tequila Sunrise cocktail.
About the Author
The most popular mixed drink recipes are usually quite easy and if you follow the recipes exactly you will be able to make some of the best cocktails you have ever tasted.
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
2 Simple Varieties of Wine - Red and White
Wine is regarded one of the many aspects of the world that can be enjoyed by anyone. There is something for everyone in the world of wine, making it the most popular beverage in the world. Wine has cultural significance, too, that tests the borders of time and creates new moments and philosophies based around its very existence.
The word wine refers to the processing, fermentation, and production of the grape. Grapes are naturally balanced to ferment on their own without the aid of any enzymes, extra sugars, or chemicals. This brings about the flavor and taste of wine one that is very uninhibited and natural. Other fruits are sometimes added to wine for their fermentation qualities, including black currants and apples. When fruits of this type are used to make wine, it is called an "elderberry" or "apple" wine.
White wine and red wine are the two primary categories of wine. They are then sub-divided into many other subcategories. The types that fall under each umbrella, are typically determined by the type of grape or the region in which the grape was grown.
A common type of white wine is the Riesling. It comes from a white grape variety of the same name and is grown historically in Germany. Riesling is very versatile and is considered appropriate to serve with almost any type of food. It is, however, most popular with white fish or white fishpork. Riesling is also known as one of the few wines that can stand up to the bold flavors of Asian cuisine such as Chinese or Thai food.
Wine red is split into several categories, including Merlot which is one of the most popular types of red wine. It comes from locations all over the world and is typically identified by its medium body containing hints of berry or plum. Merlot is considered one of the most versatile types of wine and is commonly suggested as a meal accompaniment with red meats or dark red foods such as tomato based pastas. White merlot is also becoming very popular because of its raspberry flavoring.
There are many different ways for people to enjoy drinking wine. There are apertifs or appetizer wines, for example, that are used before a meal to open the palette to suggestions. Apertifs include Vermouth, dry sherries or other flavored wines. Table wines are served, as the name would infer, primarily with food. Cooking wines are used to provide a base of flavor for cooking. A dessert wine is typically served after meals as a good closer to the flavors from the meal. Dessert wine can be medium sweet to very sweet in flavor and includes port and sweet sherry.
About the Author
Jonathan JamLeo loves writing and researching in his spare time. Wine is regarded as one of the greatest pleasures in the world, and to learn how you can use wine in a variety of settings, please visit this link: Dry White Wine
The word wine refers to the processing, fermentation, and production of the grape. Grapes are naturally balanced to ferment on their own without the aid of any enzymes, extra sugars, or chemicals. This brings about the flavor and taste of wine one that is very uninhibited and natural. Other fruits are sometimes added to wine for their fermentation qualities, including black currants and apples. When fruits of this type are used to make wine, it is called an "elderberry" or "apple" wine.
White wine and red wine are the two primary categories of wine. They are then sub-divided into many other subcategories. The types that fall under each umbrella, are typically determined by the type of grape or the region in which the grape was grown.
A common type of white wine is the Riesling. It comes from a white grape variety of the same name and is grown historically in Germany. Riesling is very versatile and is considered appropriate to serve with almost any type of food. It is, however, most popular with white fish or white fishpork. Riesling is also known as one of the few wines that can stand up to the bold flavors of Asian cuisine such as Chinese or Thai food.
Wine red is split into several categories, including Merlot which is one of the most popular types of red wine. It comes from locations all over the world and is typically identified by its medium body containing hints of berry or plum. Merlot is considered one of the most versatile types of wine and is commonly suggested as a meal accompaniment with red meats or dark red foods such as tomato based pastas. White merlot is also becoming very popular because of its raspberry flavoring.
There are many different ways for people to enjoy drinking wine. There are apertifs or appetizer wines, for example, that are used before a meal to open the palette to suggestions. Apertifs include Vermouth, dry sherries or other flavored wines. Table wines are served, as the name would infer, primarily with food. Cooking wines are used to provide a base of flavor for cooking. A dessert wine is typically served after meals as a good closer to the flavors from the meal. Dessert wine can be medium sweet to very sweet in flavor and includes port and sweet sherry.
About the Author
Jonathan JamLeo loves writing and researching in his spare time. Wine is regarded as one of the greatest pleasures in the world, and to learn how you can use wine in a variety of settings, please visit this link: Dry White Wine
Monday, June 25, 2007
Cocktail - The Perfect Mixed Drink
"Cocktail" is a type of mixed drink which is consumed in almost all countries. It is a type of liquor with flavouring agents. It contains fruit juice, sauces, honey, milk, cream or spices, etc. Cocktails had become popular recently. The disadvantage of buying cocktail is that many bar owners mix both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages with the drink. This is very hazardous to consume.
The olden day's cocktails were made in combination with gin, whisky or rum and with a small amount of vodka. Many cocktails were made traditionally by mixing it with gin which is called as gimlet or martini. This type of mixed drinks was introduced after 1980's. The word cocktail was determined by Dr. David Wonderich in October 2005.
A benefit of drinking a sip of cocktail is that it will keep you relieved from head ache. "Cocktail" is liquor composed of sugar, water and bitter agents. It is also called as bittered sling. And it is also supposed to be an electioneering potion, since it keeps the heart stout and bold. A person who swallows one sip of cocktail is ready to swallow anything else.
The quality and quantity of alcohol present in cocktail is very less when compared to the other alcoholic drinks. The cost of cocktails also has a big difference when compared to other drinks. So nowadays bartenders have started preparing cocktails. Cocktails are mixed with different types of other drink such as gin, whisky, milk and cream but it is not mixed with water. The mixed ingredients depend upon the region.
Cocktails are served in special cocktail glass. The cocktail glass is of a shape with a wide, shallow bowl, on a stem above a flat base. The cocktail glasses are designed in such a shape that the temperature should not change. Some websites offering cashback discounts or some type of rewards to save your money on choosing your wines online.
About the Author
Buy Cheap Wines and choose Chocolate Gifts from Leading shops in UK.
The olden day's cocktails were made in combination with gin, whisky or rum and with a small amount of vodka. Many cocktails were made traditionally by mixing it with gin which is called as gimlet or martini. This type of mixed drinks was introduced after 1980's. The word cocktail was determined by Dr. David Wonderich in October 2005.
A benefit of drinking a sip of cocktail is that it will keep you relieved from head ache. "Cocktail" is liquor composed of sugar, water and bitter agents. It is also called as bittered sling. And it is also supposed to be an electioneering potion, since it keeps the heart stout and bold. A person who swallows one sip of cocktail is ready to swallow anything else.
The quality and quantity of alcohol present in cocktail is very less when compared to the other alcoholic drinks. The cost of cocktails also has a big difference when compared to other drinks. So nowadays bartenders have started preparing cocktails. Cocktails are mixed with different types of other drink such as gin, whisky, milk and cream but it is not mixed with water. The mixed ingredients depend upon the region.
Cocktails are served in special cocktail glass. The cocktail glass is of a shape with a wide, shallow bowl, on a stem above a flat base. The cocktail glasses are designed in such a shape that the temperature should not change. Some websites offering cashback discounts or some type of rewards to save your money on choosing your wines online.
About the Author
Buy Cheap Wines and choose Chocolate Gifts from Leading shops in UK.
Friday, April 20, 2007
Creating Your Own Sangria Recipe
If you are visiting Spain, be sure to try the sangria recipe at your favourite restaurant or bar. This is a traditional Spanish drink and you will find it served in most bars and restaurants.
Recipes vary from place to place, so be sure to try it with a few meals in different locations. The ingredients used in the recipe can also vary according to the food that is being served.
Sangria is served throughout the country in the summer. In the northern areas, it is considered a summer drink. In the eastern and southern areas of the country, the drink is served all year round. These areas have a warmer climate and tend to have mild temperatures even in the winter. The strength of the drink varies from place to place. In general, it is stronger in bars and tends to be weaker at dance clubs or discos.
Origins of the Sangria Recipe
Sangria originated in Spain. The word sangria is the Spanish word for bleeding. The drink gets its name from the red color of the wine used in a traditional sangria recipe. The drink is also made with white wine. This is called sangria blanco.
Sangria is basically a mix of wine, juices, soda water and fruit. Any young red wine can be used in a traditional recipe. Good, quality ingredients are important in this drink. Wine is the dominant ingredient, so care is taken to use a good wine.
Sangria is often served in one liter pitchers. The pitcher used should have a strainer on the lid. This strains out ice and fruit, keeping them in the pitcher and out of the glass. You can order the beverage by the glass, but it is usually served in pitchers. At parties, it is usually served in a punch bowl.
Creating Your Own Sangria Recipe
The typical recipe contains red wine, sliced fruit, a sweetener such as honey or sugar and a small amount to triple sec or brandy. A basic recipe is one bottle red wine; two cups clear soda, two cups orange juice, one half cup triple sec and sliced oranges.
The type of fruit can vary according to your taste or with the type of food that will be served. White wine can be substituted for red, if you are making sangria blanco. Be sure to use a quality white wine for this variation. Whether or not carbonation is used in the recipe is another common variation of the basic recipe.
With any recipe, it's important to allow time for the liquid to blend with the fruit. This enhances the flavour. To allow time for this, mix all the ingredients except ice and soda. Adjust ingredients in the recipe to suit your tastes. Pour into a pitcher and leave in the refrigerator for several hours or over night.
Add soda and ice just before serving. If desired, more fresh fruit can be added just prior to serving the beverage. For parties, pour sangria into a punch bowl. Add ice, soda and more fresh fruit. Add these ingredients just before serving. Serve the beverage just after the final ingredients are added.
Try a variety of good quality red and white wines when creating this beverage. Experiment with a variety of fruits, clear sodas and fruit juices to come up with a few different recipes for different occasions. Make a note of each one and keep these notes for future reference. Try a different recipe at each party or to go with different foods you may be serving.
About the Author
Clinton Maxwell routinely creates detailed articles on things associated with Spain and sports. His observations on sports and sangria recipe are published on http://www.alicante-spain.com/spain-tips/sangria-recipe.html .
Recipes vary from place to place, so be sure to try it with a few meals in different locations. The ingredients used in the recipe can also vary according to the food that is being served.
Sangria is served throughout the country in the summer. In the northern areas, it is considered a summer drink. In the eastern and southern areas of the country, the drink is served all year round. These areas have a warmer climate and tend to have mild temperatures even in the winter. The strength of the drink varies from place to place. In general, it is stronger in bars and tends to be weaker at dance clubs or discos.
Origins of the Sangria Recipe
Sangria originated in Spain. The word sangria is the Spanish word for bleeding. The drink gets its name from the red color of the wine used in a traditional sangria recipe. The drink is also made with white wine. This is called sangria blanco.
Sangria is basically a mix of wine, juices, soda water and fruit. Any young red wine can be used in a traditional recipe. Good, quality ingredients are important in this drink. Wine is the dominant ingredient, so care is taken to use a good wine.
Sangria is often served in one liter pitchers. The pitcher used should have a strainer on the lid. This strains out ice and fruit, keeping them in the pitcher and out of the glass. You can order the beverage by the glass, but it is usually served in pitchers. At parties, it is usually served in a punch bowl.
Creating Your Own Sangria Recipe
The typical recipe contains red wine, sliced fruit, a sweetener such as honey or sugar and a small amount to triple sec or brandy. A basic recipe is one bottle red wine; two cups clear soda, two cups orange juice, one half cup triple sec and sliced oranges.
The type of fruit can vary according to your taste or with the type of food that will be served. White wine can be substituted for red, if you are making sangria blanco. Be sure to use a quality white wine for this variation. Whether or not carbonation is used in the recipe is another common variation of the basic recipe.
With any recipe, it's important to allow time for the liquid to blend with the fruit. This enhances the flavour. To allow time for this, mix all the ingredients except ice and soda. Adjust ingredients in the recipe to suit your tastes. Pour into a pitcher and leave in the refrigerator for several hours or over night.
Add soda and ice just before serving. If desired, more fresh fruit can be added just prior to serving the beverage. For parties, pour sangria into a punch bowl. Add ice, soda and more fresh fruit. Add these ingredients just before serving. Serve the beverage just after the final ingredients are added.
Try a variety of good quality red and white wines when creating this beverage. Experiment with a variety of fruits, clear sodas and fruit juices to come up with a few different recipes for different occasions. Make a note of each one and keep these notes for future reference. Try a different recipe at each party or to go with different foods you may be serving.
About the Author
Clinton Maxwell routinely creates detailed articles on things associated with Spain and sports. His observations on sports and sangria recipe are published on http://www.alicante-spain.com/spain-tips/sangria-recipe.html .
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Pick Your Poison
Are you tired of always having to go to the beach or to a bar to enjoy your favorite drink? Instead of spending so much money at a bar or club ordering these exotic drinks, we've provided you with some recipes and tips on how to make them yourself. They are easy and quick to make and they are great to use for pre-gameing or even when you just want to relax with your friends. These are five of the most popular alcoholic drinks, and remember, you can add as much alcohol as you desire according to your taste.
Mojito
Ingredients -Fresh mint -Limes (one for each drink) -Clear rum (Havana Club is preferred, but if not you can get Bacardi Superior Light, or Captain Morgan's Silver Edition) -Club Soda -Pure granulated sugar -Bitters
How To -Start by making some simple syrup. To do this, put equal parts sugar and water into a pot and cook it on high (stirring the whole time) until it mixes together (you do not want it boiling!). **Make enough of this so you don't have to make it every time you need to make a mojito. -Place some of the fresh mint in the bottom of the glass, just enough to cover and a little bit more. -Pour in about a finger of the simple syrup. -Add a little granulated sugar into the glass to aid the muddling of the mint. Make sure the sugar is completely dissolved before serving. -Squeeze the juice of a whole lime into the glass, leaving half of the empty lime shell in the glass. -Take your bottle of bitters and just put a dash or two in. Mix that all together thoroughly. -Fill the glass about 3/4 full with ice. -Pour about 4 counts of the rum, and finish it with a splash of club soda. Make sure that you then mix the drink very well. -Garnish with a sprig of mint.
Cosmopolitan
Ingredients -1 oz vodka -1/2 oz triple sec (curacao, grand marnier and cointreau are popular) -1/2 oz Rose's lime juice -1/2 oz cranberry juice
How To -Shake vodka, triple sex, lime an cranberry juice vigorously in a shaker with ice. -Strain into a martini glass -Garnish with a lime wedge on the rim, and serve.
Long Island Ice Tea
Ingredients -1 part vodka -1 part tequila -1 part rum -1 part gin -1 part triple sec -1 1/2 parts sweet and sour mix -1 splash Coca-Cola
How To -Mix ingredients together over ice in a glass. -Pour into a shaker and give one brisk shake. -Pour back into the glass an make sure there is a touch of fizz at the top. -Garnish with lemon
**Blue Long Island Ice Tea** -
1 part vodka -1 part rum -1 part triple sec -1 part tequila -1 part gin
How To -Mix all the drinks adding Blue Caracao (triple sec) last -If made right, it will look fluorescent blue. -Serve in a glass and garnish with cherry.
Margarita
Ingredients -1 1/2 oz tequila -1/2 oz triple sec -dash of lemon or lime juice -3 oz Sour Mix -Lime wedge for garnish -Salt to rim the glass (optional)
How To -Pour the ingredients into a shaker with ice cubes -Shake well -If desired, salt the rim of a chilled margarita glass -Pour contents, with ice, into the glass -Garnish with the lime wedge.
Bloody Mary
Ingredients -1 1/2 oz vodka -3 oz tomato juice -1 dash lemon juice -1/2 tsp Worcestershire Sauce -3 drops Tabasco Sauce -1 wedge lime
How To -Shake all ingredients (except lime wedge) with ice and strain into an old-fashioned glass over ice cubes -Add salt and pepper to taste -Add the wedge of lime and serve.
About the Author
Jared Izwar
Mojito
Ingredients -Fresh mint -Limes (one for each drink) -Clear rum (Havana Club is preferred, but if not you can get Bacardi Superior Light, or Captain Morgan's Silver Edition) -Club Soda -Pure granulated sugar -Bitters
How To -Start by making some simple syrup. To do this, put equal parts sugar and water into a pot and cook it on high (stirring the whole time) until it mixes together (you do not want it boiling!). **Make enough of this so you don't have to make it every time you need to make a mojito. -Place some of the fresh mint in the bottom of the glass, just enough to cover and a little bit more. -Pour in about a finger of the simple syrup. -Add a little granulated sugar into the glass to aid the muddling of the mint. Make sure the sugar is completely dissolved before serving. -Squeeze the juice of a whole lime into the glass, leaving half of the empty lime shell in the glass. -Take your bottle of bitters and just put a dash or two in. Mix that all together thoroughly. -Fill the glass about 3/4 full with ice. -Pour about 4 counts of the rum, and finish it with a splash of club soda. Make sure that you then mix the drink very well. -Garnish with a sprig of mint.
Cosmopolitan
Ingredients -1 oz vodka -1/2 oz triple sec (curacao, grand marnier and cointreau are popular) -1/2 oz Rose's lime juice -1/2 oz cranberry juice
How To -Shake vodka, triple sex, lime an cranberry juice vigorously in a shaker with ice. -Strain into a martini glass -Garnish with a lime wedge on the rim, and serve.
Long Island Ice Tea
Ingredients -1 part vodka -1 part tequila -1 part rum -1 part gin -1 part triple sec -1 1/2 parts sweet and sour mix -1 splash Coca-Cola
How To -Mix ingredients together over ice in a glass. -Pour into a shaker and give one brisk shake. -Pour back into the glass an make sure there is a touch of fizz at the top. -Garnish with lemon
**Blue Long Island Ice Tea** -
1 part vodka -1 part rum -1 part triple sec -1 part tequila -1 part gin
How To -Mix all the drinks adding Blue Caracao (triple sec) last -If made right, it will look fluorescent blue. -Serve in a glass and garnish with cherry.
Margarita
Ingredients -1 1/2 oz tequila -1/2 oz triple sec -dash of lemon or lime juice -3 oz Sour Mix -Lime wedge for garnish -Salt to rim the glass (optional)
How To -Pour the ingredients into a shaker with ice cubes -Shake well -If desired, salt the rim of a chilled margarita glass -Pour contents, with ice, into the glass -Garnish with the lime wedge.
Bloody Mary
Ingredients -1 1/2 oz vodka -3 oz tomato juice -1 dash lemon juice -1/2 tsp Worcestershire Sauce -3 drops Tabasco Sauce -1 wedge lime
How To -Shake all ingredients (except lime wedge) with ice and strain into an old-fashioned glass over ice cubes -Add salt and pepper to taste -Add the wedge of lime and serve.
About the Author
Jared Izwar
Chocolate Martini
If the return of the martini and it's recent rediscovered popularity has you feeling left out while you're making a cocktail, then it's time you tried a chocolate martini. Let's face it, if it wasn't for the vermouth, a martini is really just straight vodka. For someone who doesn't like straight vodka a martini can taste kind of harsh. The solution is try one of the many specialty martinis that are packing them in at martini bars. And one of the tastiest martinis around is the chocolate martini. There are a few different ways to make chocolate martinis and all of them are delicious.
Chocolate Martinis are made with vodka. Gin and chocolate sounds like a terrible idea to me so thankfully I haven't seen a recipe like that. Most recipes call for vodka which is mixed with something chocolaty like Godiva Liqueur or Creme De Cacao. This first recipe contains both.
Chocolate Martini Recipe
1 1/2 shots Godiva Chocolate Liqueur 1 1/2 shots Creme De Cacao 1/2 shot Vodka 2 1/2 shots Half And Half Add all to a cocktail mixer and shake well Pour into a chilled martini glass dusted with chocolate powder
The official chocolate martini recipe endorsed by Godiva is as follows:
Godiva Chocolate Martini 1 oz. Godiva Chocolate Cream Liqueur 1 oz. Ciroc Vodka Shake until blended and pour into a chilled Martini glass.
A Hershey's Kiss is a great garnish for a chocolate martini. I've even seen some bartenders who drizzle chocolate syrup around the rim of the glass.
And if your looking for an easy way to make a chocolate martini why not try one of those pre-made cocktail mixes. You should be able to find a few different mixes at your local liquor store. All you have to do is add vodka and you're all set. It doesn't get much easier than that.
No matter what recipe you choose you really can't go wrong. If you think about it, you're mixing vodka and chocolate. It would be difficult to make those ingredients taste bad.
About the Author
Anthony Tripodi can usually be found making interesting drinks for his family and friends. The rest of the time he's writing about making interesting drinks at http://homemixology.blogspot.com
Chocolate Martinis are made with vodka. Gin and chocolate sounds like a terrible idea to me so thankfully I haven't seen a recipe like that. Most recipes call for vodka which is mixed with something chocolaty like Godiva Liqueur or Creme De Cacao. This first recipe contains both.
Chocolate Martini Recipe
1 1/2 shots Godiva Chocolate Liqueur 1 1/2 shots Creme De Cacao 1/2 shot Vodka 2 1/2 shots Half And Half Add all to a cocktail mixer and shake well Pour into a chilled martini glass dusted with chocolate powder
The official chocolate martini recipe endorsed by Godiva is as follows:
Godiva Chocolate Martini 1 oz. Godiva Chocolate Cream Liqueur 1 oz. Ciroc Vodka Shake until blended and pour into a chilled Martini glass.
A Hershey's Kiss is a great garnish for a chocolate martini. I've even seen some bartenders who drizzle chocolate syrup around the rim of the glass.
And if your looking for an easy way to make a chocolate martini why not try one of those pre-made cocktail mixes. You should be able to find a few different mixes at your local liquor store. All you have to do is add vodka and you're all set. It doesn't get much easier than that.
No matter what recipe you choose you really can't go wrong. If you think about it, you're mixing vodka and chocolate. It would be difficult to make those ingredients taste bad.
About the Author
Anthony Tripodi can usually be found making interesting drinks for his family and friends. The rest of the time he's writing about making interesting drinks at http://homemixology.blogspot.com
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
The Old Fashioned: Two Recipes of an Underrated Classic
Like many mixed drinks, the Old Fashioned has a number of variations and a history.It is one of the few cocktails that survived from the days of the Martini and the Manhattan. When prepared well, it is a full-bodied, delicious drink. It was one of my mother's favorites as a young woman in the 1940's and still carries the glamour of the era.
Accounts agree that the Old Fashioned originated at the Pendennis Club, in Louisville, Kentucky.This Old Fashioned recipe appeared in a book written by George J. Kappeler, published in 1895, called Modern American Drinks.
THE OLD-FASHIONED WHISKEY COCKTAIL
Dissolve a small lump of sugar with a little water in a whiskey-glass; add two dashes Angostura bitters, a small piece ice, a piece lemon-peel, one jigger whiskey. Mix with small bar-spoon and serve, leaving spoon in glass.
Robert Hess, writing for Drinkboy.com, cautions that it is common for modern bartenders to top off the drink with an ounce or more of soda. In his opinion, the soda spoils the drink.
Here is another recipe from Famous New Orleans Drinks and How to Mix'em by Stanley Clisby Arthur.
Old Fashioned Cocktail
1 lump sugar 2 dashes Peychaud or Angostura bitters 1 jigger rye whiskey 1 piece lemon peel 1 chunk pineapple 1 slice orange peel 2 maraschino cherriesInto a heavy-bottomed barglass drop a lump of sugar, dash on the bitters, and crush with a spoon. Pour in the jigger of rye whiskey and stir with several lumps of ice. No shaking allowed! Let the mixture remain in the glass in which it is prepared. Garnish with a half-ring of orange peel, add the chunk of pineapple and the cherries with a little of the maraschino juice. Twist the slice of lemon peel over all and serve in the mixing glass with the barspoon.It is suggested by some that it is best to dissolve the sugar into a small amount of water first since sugar does not dissolve well in alcohol.The appearance of additional fruit became commonplace after the days of prohibition.Try both versions and decide which you prefer.
About the Author
Ellen M. Zucker owns Faces-andFortunes-Partytips.com, a site where you can find advice on party and event planning from Party Pros. It includes tips, interviews, and advice on putting your event together from professionals who make parties and special events happen.
Accounts agree that the Old Fashioned originated at the Pendennis Club, in Louisville, Kentucky.This Old Fashioned recipe appeared in a book written by George J. Kappeler, published in 1895, called Modern American Drinks.
THE OLD-FASHIONED WHISKEY COCKTAIL
Dissolve a small lump of sugar with a little water in a whiskey-glass; add two dashes Angostura bitters, a small piece ice, a piece lemon-peel, one jigger whiskey. Mix with small bar-spoon and serve, leaving spoon in glass.
Robert Hess, writing for Drinkboy.com, cautions that it is common for modern bartenders to top off the drink with an ounce or more of soda. In his opinion, the soda spoils the drink.
Here is another recipe from Famous New Orleans Drinks and How to Mix'em by Stanley Clisby Arthur.
Old Fashioned Cocktail
1 lump sugar 2 dashes Peychaud or Angostura bitters 1 jigger rye whiskey 1 piece lemon peel 1 chunk pineapple 1 slice orange peel 2 maraschino cherriesInto a heavy-bottomed barglass drop a lump of sugar, dash on the bitters, and crush with a spoon. Pour in the jigger of rye whiskey and stir with several lumps of ice. No shaking allowed! Let the mixture remain in the glass in which it is prepared. Garnish with a half-ring of orange peel, add the chunk of pineapple and the cherries with a little of the maraschino juice. Twist the slice of lemon peel over all and serve in the mixing glass with the barspoon.It is suggested by some that it is best to dissolve the sugar into a small amount of water first since sugar does not dissolve well in alcohol.The appearance of additional fruit became commonplace after the days of prohibition.Try both versions and decide which you prefer.
About the Author
Ellen M. Zucker owns Faces-andFortunes-Partytips.com, a site where you can find advice on party and event planning from Party Pros. It includes tips, interviews, and advice on putting your event together from professionals who make parties and special events happen.
Espresso Martini
With the popularity of espresso shops and martini bars is it any wonder that the espresso martini has become popular as well? Sometimes called the espressotini, this drink is a perfect blend of caffeine and alcohol. If you're looking for a buzz that picks you up while relaxing you at the same time, then it's time that you asked your barista or your bartender for an espresso martini.
So what is an espresso martini? Well, that depends on who you ask. There are so many variations of this drink out there that there isn't a generally accepted recipe. The only consistent ingredients are espresso and vodka and even then the espresso is sometimes substituted with coffee or even instant coffee crystals.
The best espresso martinis are usually made with real espresso. If you're making one at home, be sure to let it cool to room temperature before adding it to your cocktail shaker. Using ice to cool down your espresso will just give you watered down espresso.
The vodka in an espresso martini is almost always of the flavored variety. The most popular option is using a vanilla vodka and adding a coffee liqueur. But now there are espresso flavored vodkas available as well. Whether you use unflavored vodka, vanilla or espresso just remember that you don't want to use gin. It's true that martinis are made with gin but it really doesn't taste great when mixed with espresso.
Once the vodka and the espresso are added this is where all the variations come into play. Some people like to add a splash of Grand Marnier, while other recipes call for Tia Maria or Amaretto. Even chocolate liqueurs can be added if you prefer the taste of a mochaccino to a regular espresso. If you like the taste of one of these liqueurs and you think it will go with your espresso martini then give it a try. Whatever you choose, be sure to only use a splash because the main purpose of this additional liqueur is to add a just hint of flavor. You don't want to overpower the primary flavors of the martini.
The one thing that almost all espresso martini recipes agree on is the garnish. Three espresso beans will top your drink off properly. The rules for garnishes say that odd amounts are lucky so go with one, three or five beans.
Espresso martinis are becoming more and more popular no matter how they are made. Whether you're a regular at your local coffee house or that swanky martini bar in the city, why not order an espressotini the next time you're looking for new and unusual drink.
About the Author
Anthony Tripodi is the webmaster of EndlessCoffeeBreak.com For more drink ideas like the Espresso Martini, please visit http://www.endlesscoffeebreak.com
So what is an espresso martini? Well, that depends on who you ask. There are so many variations of this drink out there that there isn't a generally accepted recipe. The only consistent ingredients are espresso and vodka and even then the espresso is sometimes substituted with coffee or even instant coffee crystals.
The best espresso martinis are usually made with real espresso. If you're making one at home, be sure to let it cool to room temperature before adding it to your cocktail shaker. Using ice to cool down your espresso will just give you watered down espresso.
The vodka in an espresso martini is almost always of the flavored variety. The most popular option is using a vanilla vodka and adding a coffee liqueur. But now there are espresso flavored vodkas available as well. Whether you use unflavored vodka, vanilla or espresso just remember that you don't want to use gin. It's true that martinis are made with gin but it really doesn't taste great when mixed with espresso.
Once the vodka and the espresso are added this is where all the variations come into play. Some people like to add a splash of Grand Marnier, while other recipes call for Tia Maria or Amaretto. Even chocolate liqueurs can be added if you prefer the taste of a mochaccino to a regular espresso. If you like the taste of one of these liqueurs and you think it will go with your espresso martini then give it a try. Whatever you choose, be sure to only use a splash because the main purpose of this additional liqueur is to add a just hint of flavor. You don't want to overpower the primary flavors of the martini.
The one thing that almost all espresso martini recipes agree on is the garnish. Three espresso beans will top your drink off properly. The rules for garnishes say that odd amounts are lucky so go with one, three or five beans.
Espresso martinis are becoming more and more popular no matter how they are made. Whether you're a regular at your local coffee house or that swanky martini bar in the city, why not order an espressotini the next time you're looking for new and unusual drink.
About the Author
Anthony Tripodi is the webmaster of EndlessCoffeeBreak.com For more drink ideas like the Espresso Martini, please visit http://www.endlesscoffeebreak.com
Origins Of The Original Martini Cocktail Recipe
At my last martini party, I listened as those around me happily engaged in chit chat while I mixed their cocktails. Two of my good buddies, waiting for me to finish mixing a lemon drop martini for a very attractive young lady, were debating the origins of the martini cocktail. Both implicitly agreed that the "original" cocktail involved a concoction of either gin or vodka, combined with vermouth. James was convinced that the original martini utilized gin. Marcus had taken the vodka side of the argument. I was content to stay out of the debate.
As I extended my hand with the lemon drop martini to deliver it to my female guest, both of my friends turned to me. It was James who urged me to settle the argument. Now pulled into the discussion, I took their drink orders before responding to that invitation. Of course, Marcus wanted a dry vodka martini and James asked for its gin counter part. I began mixing each cocktail and then broke it to them. "You're both wrong," I said to their mutual dismay. The truth is that no one can say with any certainty who made the first martini. What we do know is that the first martini cocktail probably did not resemble what we would commonly recognize as a martini, however. There are several stories about how the martini came about, but the most likely stories involve a bartender named Martinez. There is actually a historical basis for this as several bartender's recipe books published prior to the turn of the 20th century use both Martini and Martinez, interchangeably. The common ingredients used more than 100 years ago were Old Tom Gin, sweet vermouth, a dash or two of Maraschino liqueur and/or orange Curaçao, and a dash of orange bitters. The cocktail evolved over the years to become what is recognized today as the much drier martini. When gin is used, it is typically London dry gin. Dry vermouth has replaced it's sweet cousin. Orange liqueurs and bitters have been done away with altogether. Of course there are many, many varients of what is now considered the classic martinti recipe and most of those add sweetness to the cocktail. Technically, yes the original martini was likely made with gin, but it was a very different animal indeed. When all is said and done, it really does not matter all that much. We mix cocktails so that we might enjoy ourselves in a relaxed, social environment. James and Marcus both enjoyed their first of a couple cocktails that night and quickly moved onto new subjects of debate.
About the Author
For the best martini recipes and more entertaining lore about cocktails and martinis in particular, be sure to stop by Johnnie Martini's website at http://www.JohnnieMartini.com.
The History of the Martini
The venerable Martini. Perhaps the most famous cocktail, and certainly the mixed drink with the most myths, stories and lore attached. It is also the one cocktail that has a following and its own brand of snobbery. You usually don't here two people arguing over a Planters Punch. The basic martini recipe is as simple as you can get. Traditionally, a Martini is made with gin and dry white vermouth, although, recently the Vodka Martini has become much more popular. The standard modern martini is a five parts gin or vodka to one part vermouth although few bartenders today would follow that model. The ingredients are shaken or stirred with ice, strained and served "straight up" without ice in a chilled cocktail glass, and garnished with an olive. Martini purists are upset that vodka is now the liquor of choice when people order a martini. They insist it should be called a 'Vodka Martini' or if they are really picky a 'Bradford.' The amount of vermouth to be added is also a subject of great debate. The less vermouth, the drier the Martini. Today the most common was of mixing the vermouth is the coat the ice cubes in vermouth and then throw out the excess vermouth. Some progressive bars now use vermouth spritzers to coat the ice (thus saving a lot of vermouth).
Shaken or stirred?
According to true Martini drinker, because vermouth mixes easily and uniformly with its solvent (gin or vodka), a martini should always be mixed in a stirring glass. For purists, shaking "bruises" the gin and also chips the ice watering down the Martini. However, thanks to novel and movie spy James Bond, who ordered his Martinis "Shaken, not stirred," the Martini is more often shaken these days. Shaken aficionados say, as with scotch, a little water creates a more rounded taste. They also claim the shaking action adds oxygen to the drink and sharpens the taste and distributes the vermouth more evenly.
History
The generally accepted origin of the Martini begins in San Francisco in 1862. A cocktail named after nearby the town of Martinez was served at the Occidental Hotel. People drank at the hotel before taking the evening ferry to Martinez across the bay. The original cocktail consisted of two ounces of Italian "Martini and Rosso" sweet vermouth, one ounce Old Tom sweet gin, two dashes maraschino cherry liquid, one dash bitters, shaken, and served with a twist of lemon. By the end of the 19th century the Martini, had morphed into a simpler form. Two dashes of Orange bitters were mixed with half a jigger of dry French vermouth, and half a jigger of dry English gin, stirred and served with an olive. But it was Prohibition and the relative ease of illegal gin manufacture that led to the Martini's rise as the predominant cocktail of the mid 20th century. With the repeal of Prohibition, and the ready availability of quality gin, the drink became progressively dryer, with less vermouth being added. The first reference to vodka being used in a Martini was in the 1950s but it was the James Bond novels by Ian Fleming and subsequent films that raised the profile of the vodka martini in the 1960s. In the novel Casino Royale, Bond's recipe for his "vespa martini" was three parts Gordon's gin, one part Russian vodka, a half measure of Kina Lillet aperitif, shaken until ice-cold, served with a slice of lemon. By the second Bond novel, Live and Let Die, Bond was drinking conventional vodka Martinis. In the seventies and eighties the martini was seen as old fashioned and was replaced by more intricate cocktails and wine spritzers. But the mid 1990s saw a resurgence in the drink and an explosion of new versions. These new specialty martinis can be made with combinations of fresh fruit juices, splashes of cream, and brightly colored liqueurs. Instead of the traditional olive, cocktail onion, or lemon twist, new garnishes such as marinated capers, fresh herbs, coffee beans or sun-dried tomatoes are being used. Today, the Martini in all its versions has returned to its position as the world's preeminent cocktail.
Folklore
The Martini comes with its own folklore and many past martini drinker have their own recipes for coming up with the perfect or the driest Martini. The quest for dryness has taken on bizarre proportions. Winston Churchill's recipe called for pouring gin into a glass and then simply bowing in the direction of France. Alfred Hitchcock's recipe called for five parts gin and a quick glance at a bottle of vermouth. Ernest Hemingway liked to order a "Montgomery", which was a martini mixed at a gin:vermouth ratio of 15:1 the odds at which, allegedly, Field Marshall Montgomery would want before going into battle. In the 1958 movie Teacher's Pet, Clark Gable mixes a martini by turning the bottle of vermouth upside-down and then running the moistened cork around the rim of the glass before filling it with gin The classic seventies TV show MASH took a satirical swipe at this dryness fetish. 'Hawkeye' working on his still says to his fellow military doctors "I'm pursuing my lifelong quest for the perfect, the absolutely driest martini to be found in this or any other world. And I think I may have hit upon the perfect formula...You pour six jiggers of gin, and you drink it while staring at a picture of Lorenzo Schwartz, (the inventor of vermouth.)"
About the Author
Kevin Marsh is the Editor of www.gaybar.com the internet's largest and most comprehensive directory of gay and gay friendly bars and nightclubs worldwide.
Shaken or stirred?
According to true Martini drinker, because vermouth mixes easily and uniformly with its solvent (gin or vodka), a martini should always be mixed in a stirring glass. For purists, shaking "bruises" the gin and also chips the ice watering down the Martini. However, thanks to novel and movie spy James Bond, who ordered his Martinis "Shaken, not stirred," the Martini is more often shaken these days. Shaken aficionados say, as with scotch, a little water creates a more rounded taste. They also claim the shaking action adds oxygen to the drink and sharpens the taste and distributes the vermouth more evenly.
History
The generally accepted origin of the Martini begins in San Francisco in 1862. A cocktail named after nearby the town of Martinez was served at the Occidental Hotel. People drank at the hotel before taking the evening ferry to Martinez across the bay. The original cocktail consisted of two ounces of Italian "Martini and Rosso" sweet vermouth, one ounce Old Tom sweet gin, two dashes maraschino cherry liquid, one dash bitters, shaken, and served with a twist of lemon. By the end of the 19th century the Martini, had morphed into a simpler form. Two dashes of Orange bitters were mixed with half a jigger of dry French vermouth, and half a jigger of dry English gin, stirred and served with an olive. But it was Prohibition and the relative ease of illegal gin manufacture that led to the Martini's rise as the predominant cocktail of the mid 20th century. With the repeal of Prohibition, and the ready availability of quality gin, the drink became progressively dryer, with less vermouth being added. The first reference to vodka being used in a Martini was in the 1950s but it was the James Bond novels by Ian Fleming and subsequent films that raised the profile of the vodka martini in the 1960s. In the novel Casino Royale, Bond's recipe for his "vespa martini" was three parts Gordon's gin, one part Russian vodka, a half measure of Kina Lillet aperitif, shaken until ice-cold, served with a slice of lemon. By the second Bond novel, Live and Let Die, Bond was drinking conventional vodka Martinis. In the seventies and eighties the martini was seen as old fashioned and was replaced by more intricate cocktails and wine spritzers. But the mid 1990s saw a resurgence in the drink and an explosion of new versions. These new specialty martinis can be made with combinations of fresh fruit juices, splashes of cream, and brightly colored liqueurs. Instead of the traditional olive, cocktail onion, or lemon twist, new garnishes such as marinated capers, fresh herbs, coffee beans or sun-dried tomatoes are being used. Today, the Martini in all its versions has returned to its position as the world's preeminent cocktail.
Folklore
The Martini comes with its own folklore and many past martini drinker have their own recipes for coming up with the perfect or the driest Martini. The quest for dryness has taken on bizarre proportions. Winston Churchill's recipe called for pouring gin into a glass and then simply bowing in the direction of France. Alfred Hitchcock's recipe called for five parts gin and a quick glance at a bottle of vermouth. Ernest Hemingway liked to order a "Montgomery", which was a martini mixed at a gin:vermouth ratio of 15:1 the odds at which, allegedly, Field Marshall Montgomery would want before going into battle. In the 1958 movie Teacher's Pet, Clark Gable mixes a martini by turning the bottle of vermouth upside-down and then running the moistened cork around the rim of the glass before filling it with gin The classic seventies TV show MASH took a satirical swipe at this dryness fetish. 'Hawkeye' working on his still says to his fellow military doctors "I'm pursuing my lifelong quest for the perfect, the absolutely driest martini to be found in this or any other world. And I think I may have hit upon the perfect formula...You pour six jiggers of gin, and you drink it while staring at a picture of Lorenzo Schwartz, (the inventor of vermouth.)"
About the Author
Kevin Marsh is the Editor of www.gaybar.com the internet's largest and most comprehensive directory of gay and gay friendly bars and nightclubs worldwide.
Color Coordinating Cocktail Recipes
Like an artist using his pallet and brush, the savvy bartender can use a cocktail shaker and delightful cocktail recipes to mix a dazzling array of rich and wonderful colors, even though the colors put into the cocktail shaker might not look as vibrant going in as they do pouring out.
Whether you're planning a themed bash or just want to liven up a pub's atmosphere, colorful cocktail recipes are a popular hit with patrons and partygoers year round as many frequenters are forgoing the tap to see what kind of colorful potion the merry bartender can produce with his or her trusty cocktail shaker and arsenal of tasty cocktail recipes. There is even a rising trend of using a clear cocktail shaker so the act of mixing the cocktail recipes can be just as entertaining.
Colorful cocktail shaker concoctions aren't reserved for the bar anymore, either.
A popular ongoing party trend is to blend drink appearance with festive decor and entertainment themes. Color coordination of drinks to venue adds detail, sophistication, and excitement to any party or gala event and creative cocktail recipes reflects a fun atmosphere. Even Girls Night Out can be made more entertaining with a colorful theme, complete with martini-matched outfits and accessories. Here is a list of unforgettable colorful cocktail shaker mixed and stirred cocktail recipes for a rainbow of delicious drinks:
Red Cocktail Recipes - Your cocktail shaker has never blushed better with delicious red cocktail recipes for martinis and sweet rosy highballs. Think Santa red for the holidays with a nice white lichee garnish, or true red for a Valentine's day to remember. Red cocktail recipes are the color of passion and fun, a reflection of excitement and energy.
(Clear Red With Fruit Garnish Martini Recipe) Cosmopolitan - The favorite of Sex in the City character Carrie and pals, the Cosmopolitan is often the signature cocktail shaker mixed drink of happy hour. This favorite of cocktail recipes contains 2 parts Vodka, 1 part Triple Sec or Cointreau, 1 part cranberry juice, and a squeeze of fresh lime. To mix this drink, simply add the ingredients to a cocktail shaker and vigorously shake it. It should be served in a Martini glass with a garnish of your personal choice, often coordinating cherry or lime to contrast the bold red color.
(Sweet Red Martini Recipe) Pomegranate Martini - This martini is delicious and simple with a tart flavor that is unforgettable. It tastes similar to cosmopolitan cocktail recipes but contains the kicky aphrodisiac pomegranate juice. Into a chilled and sugar-rimmed martini glass, pour equal parts citrus vodka and pomegranate juice, stir gently, and garnish with a twist of lemon. It is simple and elegant with a rich color and full flavor. It can also be mixed in a cocktail shaker if desired.
(Sparkling Red Martini Recipe) Arctic Red - This drink is a fun flavor that is not too sweet or too sour. You will need a chilled sugar-rimmed glass, either highball or martini. The drink is mixed in a glass step by step, with the option of combining the alcohol in a cocktail shaker first. Using a pestle, mash six lime peel twists with two teaspoons of sugar in the bottom of a glass. Pour one oz cranberry vodka into the glass with two ounces club soda over the mixture. Stir with a spoon and strain into a cocktail glass with cracked ice and a slice of lemon. Due to carbonation, using a cocktail shaker is not recommended to mix the entire drink.
(Deep Red Martini Recipe) Mountain Red - Take one part vodka, light rum, gin, and peach Schnapps and shake in a cocktail shaker. Pour into a martini glass and add cranberry juice until the desired color is reached. Add a slice of lime or lemon twist for colorful presentation in either a martini glass or a Collins glass. Some add the cranberry juice to the cocktail shaker along with the alcohol, but this can create an unexpected color result.
(Sparkling Orange Martini Recipe) Orange Crush - This drink is a delightful cocktail similar to the flavor of the soda of the same name. It is served in a highball glass. Into a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add equal two ounces each of orange juice and Vodka. Add an ounce of sour mix until the drink is ice cold. Pour the contents of the cocktail shaker into a highball glass and top with lemon lime soda. Stir the drink gently to distribute carbonation.
Blue Cocktail Recipes - The color blue is said to have a calming affect, and it represents loyalty and confidence. Fresh from the cocktail shaker, a blue martini from one of these blue cocktail recipes is like sipping on a piece of clear sky. Consider blue themed cocktail recipes for a luau-themed party, a winter bash, or to celebrate the 4th.
(Deep Blue Martini Recipe) Blue Martini - This drink is a lovely shade of blue and has an intense flavor. Depth of the blue color depends on the preferred mix. Here is a popular blue martini recipe: Take one part Sky Vodka, one part Blue Curacao, 1 part sour mix and shake well in a cocktail shaker. Preferred garnish is a twist of lemon.
(Light Blue Martini Recipe) Blue Raspberry Martini - If you want to try something smurf-blue, try two ounces vodka, two ounces raspberry liquor, and a twist of Curacao. Shake them together in an ice filled cocktail shaker and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with fresh raspberries.
(Light Blue Martini Recipe) Windex Martini - Want to look like you're drinking something space age or hip? Consider this mix of three parts Vodka, 1 part Curacao (blue), and 1 part Triple Sec. Mix these ingredients in a cocktail shaker full of ice and strain into a chilled martini glass. This one is really cool to watch a bartender pour it out of the cocktail shaker and into a martini glass.
(Mellow Blue Martini Recipe) Cool Blue Martini - This drink is a nice color and not as harsh as the other blue selections. It contains three ounces of gin, 1 ounce dry vermouth, a splash of blue Curacao, and a dash of lemon juice shaken in an ice-filled cocktail shaker and strained into a martini glass. This drink is garnished with a lemon twist.
Violet Cocktail Recipes- They say that purple represents nobility and wisdom, but for those in the know, a cocktail shaker yielding a purple martini is an exotic treasure. It is almost mesmerizing to watch a purple martini pour out of the cocktail shaker and then be garnished with a bright red cherry. Here is one of the most famous purple cocktail recipes:
(Bright Purple Martini Recipe) Purple Hooter - If you love the color purple, this drink is classy and colorful. Simply add a squeeze of lemon, a dash of Extra Dry Vermouth, 1 splash of both Raspberry Liquor and Sweet and Sour mix to three parts vodka in a cocktail shaker filled with cracked ice. After shaking, be sure to pour it through a strainer into a well chilled and sugar rimmed martini glass.
Pink Cocktail Recipes - Lately when the world considers pink, we think of awareness. Several pubs are joining in the pink cause by using a special pink cocktail recipe to create a pink ribbon themed drink with a percentage of the proceeds going to Breast Cancer research. Pink is a cheerful color, one with pep and brilliance that reflects satisfaction and serenity no matter which of the pink cocktail recipes you use.
(Clear Pink Martini Recipe) Pink Cadillac - This cocktail calls for Tequila and contains eight parts Sweet & Sour mix, 3 parts Tequila, 1 part Triple Sec, 2 parts lime juice, and a splash of cranberry juice (for color.) Some add Grand Marnier. It can be sort of orange depending on how much cranberry you use. This cocktail is shaken in crushed ice and served in a regular cocktail glass.
(Varies) Pink Pillow - In a glass, pour three ounces of vodka. Slowly mix in small amounts of Grenadine until the drink is the desired level of pink. After you have achieved the right color, add equal parts sour mix and Ginger ale.
(Opaque Pink Martini Recipe) Pink Drink - This cocktail recipe requires two parts Grenadine and milk mixed in a cocktail shaker with one part vodka, Galliano, and Countreau. Shake vigorously in a cocktail shaker and strain into a glass. Garnish with a little cream for a heavenly appearance and a yummy flavor.
For some of these cocktail recipes, the cocktail shaker is not recommended due to the possibility of the carbonation of an added soda ingredient creating a fizzy mess. This does not happen every time you put soda in your cocktail shaker, but depending on the level of dilution, you may choose to mix the alcoholic ingredients in the cocktail shaker and stir in the soda right before presentation.
Cocktail recipes, like the shape and size of the cocktail shaker, can vary from bartender to bartender, but generally the most colorful cocktails have relatively similar cocktail recipes from pub to pub with only slight variation in ingredients. The most common variations in cocktail recipes concern garnishes and presentation, but substitutions in alcohol can occur. Be sure to ask your bartender which mix will be used if you have any questions about the martini recipe prior to ordering. Colorful cocktails right out of the cocktail shaker are a wonderful addition to any party, but remember to drink responsibly. Although some of these drinks look less serious than other alcoholic beverages, remember to consume in moderation, as all of these cocktail recipes contain alcohol. Enjoy!
About the Author
We offer the biggest online database for mixed drinks recipes and cocktail recipes
Whether you're planning a themed bash or just want to liven up a pub's atmosphere, colorful cocktail recipes are a popular hit with patrons and partygoers year round as many frequenters are forgoing the tap to see what kind of colorful potion the merry bartender can produce with his or her trusty cocktail shaker and arsenal of tasty cocktail recipes. There is even a rising trend of using a clear cocktail shaker so the act of mixing the cocktail recipes can be just as entertaining.
Colorful cocktail shaker concoctions aren't reserved for the bar anymore, either.
A popular ongoing party trend is to blend drink appearance with festive decor and entertainment themes. Color coordination of drinks to venue adds detail, sophistication, and excitement to any party or gala event and creative cocktail recipes reflects a fun atmosphere. Even Girls Night Out can be made more entertaining with a colorful theme, complete with martini-matched outfits and accessories. Here is a list of unforgettable colorful cocktail shaker mixed and stirred cocktail recipes for a rainbow of delicious drinks:
Red Cocktail Recipes - Your cocktail shaker has never blushed better with delicious red cocktail recipes for martinis and sweet rosy highballs. Think Santa red for the holidays with a nice white lichee garnish, or true red for a Valentine's day to remember. Red cocktail recipes are the color of passion and fun, a reflection of excitement and energy.
(Clear Red With Fruit Garnish Martini Recipe) Cosmopolitan - The favorite of Sex in the City character Carrie and pals, the Cosmopolitan is often the signature cocktail shaker mixed drink of happy hour. This favorite of cocktail recipes contains 2 parts Vodka, 1 part Triple Sec or Cointreau, 1 part cranberry juice, and a squeeze of fresh lime. To mix this drink, simply add the ingredients to a cocktail shaker and vigorously shake it. It should be served in a Martini glass with a garnish of your personal choice, often coordinating cherry or lime to contrast the bold red color.
(Sweet Red Martini Recipe) Pomegranate Martini - This martini is delicious and simple with a tart flavor that is unforgettable. It tastes similar to cosmopolitan cocktail recipes but contains the kicky aphrodisiac pomegranate juice. Into a chilled and sugar-rimmed martini glass, pour equal parts citrus vodka and pomegranate juice, stir gently, and garnish with a twist of lemon. It is simple and elegant with a rich color and full flavor. It can also be mixed in a cocktail shaker if desired.
(Sparkling Red Martini Recipe) Arctic Red - This drink is a fun flavor that is not too sweet or too sour. You will need a chilled sugar-rimmed glass, either highball or martini. The drink is mixed in a glass step by step, with the option of combining the alcohol in a cocktail shaker first. Using a pestle, mash six lime peel twists with two teaspoons of sugar in the bottom of a glass. Pour one oz cranberry vodka into the glass with two ounces club soda over the mixture. Stir with a spoon and strain into a cocktail glass with cracked ice and a slice of lemon. Due to carbonation, using a cocktail shaker is not recommended to mix the entire drink.
(Deep Red Martini Recipe) Mountain Red - Take one part vodka, light rum, gin, and peach Schnapps and shake in a cocktail shaker. Pour into a martini glass and add cranberry juice until the desired color is reached. Add a slice of lime or lemon twist for colorful presentation in either a martini glass or a Collins glass. Some add the cranberry juice to the cocktail shaker along with the alcohol, but this can create an unexpected color result.
(Sparkling Orange Martini Recipe) Orange Crush - This drink is a delightful cocktail similar to the flavor of the soda of the same name. It is served in a highball glass. Into a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add equal two ounces each of orange juice and Vodka. Add an ounce of sour mix until the drink is ice cold. Pour the contents of the cocktail shaker into a highball glass and top with lemon lime soda. Stir the drink gently to distribute carbonation.
Blue Cocktail Recipes - The color blue is said to have a calming affect, and it represents loyalty and confidence. Fresh from the cocktail shaker, a blue martini from one of these blue cocktail recipes is like sipping on a piece of clear sky. Consider blue themed cocktail recipes for a luau-themed party, a winter bash, or to celebrate the 4th.
(Deep Blue Martini Recipe) Blue Martini - This drink is a lovely shade of blue and has an intense flavor. Depth of the blue color depends on the preferred mix. Here is a popular blue martini recipe: Take one part Sky Vodka, one part Blue Curacao, 1 part sour mix and shake well in a cocktail shaker. Preferred garnish is a twist of lemon.
(Light Blue Martini Recipe) Blue Raspberry Martini - If you want to try something smurf-blue, try two ounces vodka, two ounces raspberry liquor, and a twist of Curacao. Shake them together in an ice filled cocktail shaker and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with fresh raspberries.
(Light Blue Martini Recipe) Windex Martini - Want to look like you're drinking something space age or hip? Consider this mix of three parts Vodka, 1 part Curacao (blue), and 1 part Triple Sec. Mix these ingredients in a cocktail shaker full of ice and strain into a chilled martini glass. This one is really cool to watch a bartender pour it out of the cocktail shaker and into a martini glass.
(Mellow Blue Martini Recipe) Cool Blue Martini - This drink is a nice color and not as harsh as the other blue selections. It contains three ounces of gin, 1 ounce dry vermouth, a splash of blue Curacao, and a dash of lemon juice shaken in an ice-filled cocktail shaker and strained into a martini glass. This drink is garnished with a lemon twist.
Violet Cocktail Recipes- They say that purple represents nobility and wisdom, but for those in the know, a cocktail shaker yielding a purple martini is an exotic treasure. It is almost mesmerizing to watch a purple martini pour out of the cocktail shaker and then be garnished with a bright red cherry. Here is one of the most famous purple cocktail recipes:
(Bright Purple Martini Recipe) Purple Hooter - If you love the color purple, this drink is classy and colorful. Simply add a squeeze of lemon, a dash of Extra Dry Vermouth, 1 splash of both Raspberry Liquor and Sweet and Sour mix to three parts vodka in a cocktail shaker filled with cracked ice. After shaking, be sure to pour it through a strainer into a well chilled and sugar rimmed martini glass.
Pink Cocktail Recipes - Lately when the world considers pink, we think of awareness. Several pubs are joining in the pink cause by using a special pink cocktail recipe to create a pink ribbon themed drink with a percentage of the proceeds going to Breast Cancer research. Pink is a cheerful color, one with pep and brilliance that reflects satisfaction and serenity no matter which of the pink cocktail recipes you use.
(Clear Pink Martini Recipe) Pink Cadillac - This cocktail calls for Tequila and contains eight parts Sweet & Sour mix, 3 parts Tequila, 1 part Triple Sec, 2 parts lime juice, and a splash of cranberry juice (for color.) Some add Grand Marnier. It can be sort of orange depending on how much cranberry you use. This cocktail is shaken in crushed ice and served in a regular cocktail glass.
(Varies) Pink Pillow - In a glass, pour three ounces of vodka. Slowly mix in small amounts of Grenadine until the drink is the desired level of pink. After you have achieved the right color, add equal parts sour mix and Ginger ale.
(Opaque Pink Martini Recipe) Pink Drink - This cocktail recipe requires two parts Grenadine and milk mixed in a cocktail shaker with one part vodka, Galliano, and Countreau. Shake vigorously in a cocktail shaker and strain into a glass. Garnish with a little cream for a heavenly appearance and a yummy flavor.
For some of these cocktail recipes, the cocktail shaker is not recommended due to the possibility of the carbonation of an added soda ingredient creating a fizzy mess. This does not happen every time you put soda in your cocktail shaker, but depending on the level of dilution, you may choose to mix the alcoholic ingredients in the cocktail shaker and stir in the soda right before presentation.
Cocktail recipes, like the shape and size of the cocktail shaker, can vary from bartender to bartender, but generally the most colorful cocktails have relatively similar cocktail recipes from pub to pub with only slight variation in ingredients. The most common variations in cocktail recipes concern garnishes and presentation, but substitutions in alcohol can occur. Be sure to ask your bartender which mix will be used if you have any questions about the martini recipe prior to ordering. Colorful cocktails right out of the cocktail shaker are a wonderful addition to any party, but remember to drink responsibly. Although some of these drinks look less serious than other alcoholic beverages, remember to consume in moderation, as all of these cocktail recipes contain alcohol. Enjoy!
About the Author
We offer the biggest online database for mixed drinks recipes and cocktail recipes
Spirit Wines Guidelines
The alcoholic drinks are generally said to be very bad for one's health. The truth of the matter is that there are some types of booze, which may even improve it. Let us look at wine for instance. It may very well make the blood less likely to clot, due to its anticoagulation effect.
On the other hand, the spirits do not have the same benefits. The first thing that must make you question yourself about the effects of spirits is the thought that are in fact purified or extracted alcohol. The process of distilling alcohol is based on the heating a fermented liquid. The liquid will then disperse in the air, practically changing from a liquid state to a gas or vapor. Eventually, it is squeezed back into its liquefied form. The outcome of this whole process can only be the spirit! You can even make spirits by increasing the alcohol content of a wine and decreasing its liquid substance.
Depending on the fermenting material that is used in the process of fermentation and distillation, the spirits include several distinct types of alcoholic drinks: brandy, gin, vodka and fortified wines. You probably know that brandy is made from fermented grape sap. The booze contents of brandy are generated from a meticulous distillation process of grape juices. No wonder it has such an interesting taste. On the other hand, vodka is a mixed alcoholic drink made out of distilled beers, that are actually made from grains. Last, but not least, the fortified wines are in fact mixed alcoholic drinks made of fermented wine and extracted spirits.
This is just a basic classification of spirits. There are numerous types of such mixed alcoholic drinks, most of them being different from country to country. It is a commonly known fact that each region of the world has a personal favorite alcoholic drink and that they will most surely produce it in many distinct ways and combinations.
Every person knows that the chemical and food experts have proved for years that wine contains rich deposits of vitamins, minerals and natural sugars that are often very good for the health of the consumers. Not to speak about the fact that the wine is a type of booze which is also rich in potassium and low in sodium. Because of the juices' longer contact with the grape skins, the red wines have even more of these elements. And should you want a Vitamin B refill, you can settle the matter by choosing red wine too!
About the Author
Find out more about any mixed alcoholic drink and booze, alcohol and drinks right now.
On the other hand, the spirits do not have the same benefits. The first thing that must make you question yourself about the effects of spirits is the thought that are in fact purified or extracted alcohol. The process of distilling alcohol is based on the heating a fermented liquid. The liquid will then disperse in the air, practically changing from a liquid state to a gas or vapor. Eventually, it is squeezed back into its liquefied form. The outcome of this whole process can only be the spirit! You can even make spirits by increasing the alcohol content of a wine and decreasing its liquid substance.
Depending on the fermenting material that is used in the process of fermentation and distillation, the spirits include several distinct types of alcoholic drinks: brandy, gin, vodka and fortified wines. You probably know that brandy is made from fermented grape sap. The booze contents of brandy are generated from a meticulous distillation process of grape juices. No wonder it has such an interesting taste. On the other hand, vodka is a mixed alcoholic drink made out of distilled beers, that are actually made from grains. Last, but not least, the fortified wines are in fact mixed alcoholic drinks made of fermented wine and extracted spirits.
This is just a basic classification of spirits. There are numerous types of such mixed alcoholic drinks, most of them being different from country to country. It is a commonly known fact that each region of the world has a personal favorite alcoholic drink and that they will most surely produce it in many distinct ways and combinations.
Every person knows that the chemical and food experts have proved for years that wine contains rich deposits of vitamins, minerals and natural sugars that are often very good for the health of the consumers. Not to speak about the fact that the wine is a type of booze which is also rich in potassium and low in sodium. Because of the juices' longer contact with the grape skins, the red wines have even more of these elements. And should you want a Vitamin B refill, you can settle the matter by choosing red wine too!
About the Author
Find out more about any mixed alcoholic drink and booze, alcohol and drinks right now.
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
The next Shiraz, varietal wines for Australia
Shiraz is the dominant red winegrape variety in Australia. It is the key component of Grange, the flagship Australian wine label. At the other end of the scale it makes up the bulk of the cheap and cheerful red wines in the everyday bottled brands such as Jacobs Creek, Oxford Landing and yellowtail.
But Shiraz has not always held such a hold over the market. Until the mid nineties Cabernet Sauvignon was regarded as the superior variety and this was reflected in the prices paid at the cellar door. But the demand for exports has been mainly for Australian Shiraz and Cabernet has lost ground in the battle for consumer preference in Australia as well.
Shiraz's reign at the top of the tree really started in the middle of the 1950s when it replaced Grenache as the most popular red winegrape variety. In those days a much larger proportion of the wine market was devoted to fortified wine, what we used to call Port.
Looking into the future the role of Shiraz seems unassailable, but there are a few challengers on the horizon. The wine consumer is a fickle creature and fashions can change fairly quickly.
Merlot is the third most popular red winegrape variety in Australia. Much of the production goes into blends with Cabernet Sauvignon, reflecting its major role in Bordeaux. There are quite a few varietal merlots also produced. There are two reasons for thinking that Merlot won't displace Shiraz as our major tipple. Firstly there are viticultural problems relating to poor clones and it performs poorly in cooler regions. Secondly at the consumer end the wine often lacks a distinctive varietal character. There seems to be no consensus among winemakers about what a good merlot should be like. Meanwhile consumers think of Merlot as meaning mellow. It is hard to find any passion, for or against, this variety.
Another contender is Grenache. This variety is widely planted in South Australia, particularly in the Barossa and McLaren Vale regions. In the 1980s it was subject to government sponsored vine pull schemes in the belief that its days were over. Its star is on the rise again both as a varietal and as the key to blends with Shiraz and Morvedre. Notwithstanding this recent return to favour, Grenache will not seriously challenge Shiraz because of its need for a relatively warm climate.
Sangiovese is a variety with a large and growing fan club. There are now over a hundred winemakers using this variety. One factor which has held the variety back in the past has been clonal variation, this has been overcome by careful selection by vine nurseries. Over the past few years a significant number of producers have been able to show just what the variety is capable of. The wines show plum and cherry flavours and to my mind these flavours as well as the Italian wine textures will mean that the bandwagon for this variety will keep rolling for quite a while. The number of winemakers and consumers in Australia with an Italian background continues to provide plenty of champions for the variety.
Spain's answer to Sangiovese is Tempranillo. It is growing in popularity in many Australian wine regions. To a large extent the jury is still as many of the plantings are still quite new. Among the champions of the variety are James Halliday and Mark Walpole of Brown Brothers. Tempranillo matures a little earlier than Shiraz or Sangiovese so it can be grown in slightly cooler regions, Indeed Manton Creek Vineyard in the Mornington Peninsula is one of the more highly regarded producers.
The Durif variety is regarded as a warm climate variety, indeed it seemed as though Rutherglen held a monopoly on the variety. But in fact is relatively early ripening, as demonstrated by John Vale at Balnarring on the Mornington Peninsula. The outstanding feature of Durif is the high level of tannins, but if these can be mastered then .
There are a few other varieties attracting attention which will figure in the mix over the next decade or so. Petit verdot is becoming much more popular in the warmer areas. It was pioneered in Australia by Pirramirra in McLaren Vale but it is now grown extensively in the Murray Darling and Riverina.
Barbera and Nebbiolo are the two other Italian varieties which are highly regarded in Australia. Lagrein is a little known Italian variety, in fact it is from the North East of Italy. It is an early ripening variety and as such can be grown in the cooler climates. Cobaw Ridge in the Macedon Ranges region has a wonderful Lagrein.
So what is the verdict? Which red winegrape variety will be the next Shiraz? It seems to be a contest between Sangiovese and Tempranillo, with both camps having some firm adherents. My money at this stage goes with Sangiovese, it has the runs on the board.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Darby Higgs is an expert on varietal wines made from less common grape varieties. He is founder and editor of vinodiversity, an information resource. See http://www.vinodiversity.com
But Shiraz has not always held such a hold over the market. Until the mid nineties Cabernet Sauvignon was regarded as the superior variety and this was reflected in the prices paid at the cellar door. But the demand for exports has been mainly for Australian Shiraz and Cabernet has lost ground in the battle for consumer preference in Australia as well.
Shiraz's reign at the top of the tree really started in the middle of the 1950s when it replaced Grenache as the most popular red winegrape variety. In those days a much larger proportion of the wine market was devoted to fortified wine, what we used to call Port.
Looking into the future the role of Shiraz seems unassailable, but there are a few challengers on the horizon. The wine consumer is a fickle creature and fashions can change fairly quickly.
Merlot is the third most popular red winegrape variety in Australia. Much of the production goes into blends with Cabernet Sauvignon, reflecting its major role in Bordeaux. There are quite a few varietal merlots also produced. There are two reasons for thinking that Merlot won't displace Shiraz as our major tipple. Firstly there are viticultural problems relating to poor clones and it performs poorly in cooler regions. Secondly at the consumer end the wine often lacks a distinctive varietal character. There seems to be no consensus among winemakers about what a good merlot should be like. Meanwhile consumers think of Merlot as meaning mellow. It is hard to find any passion, for or against, this variety.
Another contender is Grenache. This variety is widely planted in South Australia, particularly in the Barossa and McLaren Vale regions. In the 1980s it was subject to government sponsored vine pull schemes in the belief that its days were over. Its star is on the rise again both as a varietal and as the key to blends with Shiraz and Morvedre. Notwithstanding this recent return to favour, Grenache will not seriously challenge Shiraz because of its need for a relatively warm climate.
Sangiovese is a variety with a large and growing fan club. There are now over a hundred winemakers using this variety. One factor which has held the variety back in the past has been clonal variation, this has been overcome by careful selection by vine nurseries. Over the past few years a significant number of producers have been able to show just what the variety is capable of. The wines show plum and cherry flavours and to my mind these flavours as well as the Italian wine textures will mean that the bandwagon for this variety will keep rolling for quite a while. The number of winemakers and consumers in Australia with an Italian background continues to provide plenty of champions for the variety.
Spain's answer to Sangiovese is Tempranillo. It is growing in popularity in many Australian wine regions. To a large extent the jury is still as many of the plantings are still quite new. Among the champions of the variety are James Halliday and Mark Walpole of Brown Brothers. Tempranillo matures a little earlier than Shiraz or Sangiovese so it can be grown in slightly cooler regions, Indeed Manton Creek Vineyard in the Mornington Peninsula is one of the more highly regarded producers.
The Durif variety is regarded as a warm climate variety, indeed it seemed as though Rutherglen held a monopoly on the variety. But in fact is relatively early ripening, as demonstrated by John Vale at Balnarring on the Mornington Peninsula. The outstanding feature of Durif is the high level of tannins, but if these can be mastered then .
There are a few other varieties attracting attention which will figure in the mix over the next decade or so. Petit verdot is becoming much more popular in the warmer areas. It was pioneered in Australia by Pirramirra in McLaren Vale but it is now grown extensively in the Murray Darling and Riverina.
Barbera and Nebbiolo are the two other Italian varieties which are highly regarded in Australia. Lagrein is a little known Italian variety, in fact it is from the North East of Italy. It is an early ripening variety and as such can be grown in the cooler climates. Cobaw Ridge in the Macedon Ranges region has a wonderful Lagrein.
So what is the verdict? Which red winegrape variety will be the next Shiraz? It seems to be a contest between Sangiovese and Tempranillo, with both camps having some firm adherents. My money at this stage goes with Sangiovese, it has the runs on the board.
Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Darby Higgs is an expert on varietal wines made from less common grape varieties. He is founder and editor of vinodiversity, an information resource. See http://www.vinodiversity.com
Delicious Cocktails To Please Your Guests
When having a dinner party, a large aspect of its success is determined by the cocktails that you make available. You can really turn your party into a night to remember if you can expose your guests to some delicious drinks that they'll never forget. In this article, we'll relay some cocktail recipes that can surprise and impress your guests. A commonly-used twist on a classic drink is known as the "Purple Haze". Based off of the Long Island Iced Tea recipe, the drink gets its name from the famous Jimi Hendrix song since it is purple in color.
While the drink shares many of the same ingredients as a Long Island, it features a distinct taste that provides a good dose of alcohol while still tasting delicious. To make a Purple Haze, you're going to need the basic liquors that go into a Long Island - tequila, rum, vodka, and gin. In addition, you're going to need the secret ingredient that gives the Purple Haze it's color - Chambord, which is a raspberry-flavored cordial. You'll also need a lemon-lime flavored soda and sweet and sour mix. To make a single Purple Haze, mix ½ oz of the four Long Island liquors with ½ oz of Chambord. Add in an ounce of sour mix, and top it off with a splash of lemon-lime soda for a little carbonation. That's all you have to do! The result is a drink that packs a punch while still being very delicious. Are you looking for an adventurous cocktail that can really add some flair to the evening? The Flaming Dr. Pepper can be a great addition to an evening, especially for a Tiki-themed party. Be forewarned - the drink involves lighting a liquor on fire.
The end result will shock you and your guests, however - it tastes almost exactly like Dr. Pepper! To make a Flaming Dr. Pepper, you're going to need a bottle of 151 proof rum as well as a bottle of amaretto and plenty of light beer. The preparation of the drink can be easily ruined, so take heed for the following directions: Take a shot glass and fill it ¾ full with amaretto. Top the shot with 151 - it should end up layered on top. Fill a pint glass halfway full with light beer. Now comes the showmanship part - using a lighter, carefully light the top of the shot on fire. The 151 will burn off the top of the shot, and once it's lit, you need to drop it into the pint glass. The concoction will fizz up, and you need to down it as soon as you can. By some act of God, the drink actually tastes amazingly like Dr. Pepper - shocking, considering there isn't a single non-alcoholic ingredient in the mix! These two drinks can add a delicious and exciting aspect to your next get together. Exercise caution when making the Flaming Dr. Peppers, and be sure to take the keys of anyone who has been drinking too much. Enjoy!
About The Author
Kadence Buchanan writes articles for http://wonderfulworldoffood.com/ - In addition, Kadence also writes articles for http://iwomensinterests.com/ and http://theoutdoorslifestyle.com/.
While the drink shares many of the same ingredients as a Long Island, it features a distinct taste that provides a good dose of alcohol while still tasting delicious. To make a Purple Haze, you're going to need the basic liquors that go into a Long Island - tequila, rum, vodka, and gin. In addition, you're going to need the secret ingredient that gives the Purple Haze it's color - Chambord, which is a raspberry-flavored cordial. You'll also need a lemon-lime flavored soda and sweet and sour mix. To make a single Purple Haze, mix ½ oz of the four Long Island liquors with ½ oz of Chambord. Add in an ounce of sour mix, and top it off with a splash of lemon-lime soda for a little carbonation. That's all you have to do! The result is a drink that packs a punch while still being very delicious. Are you looking for an adventurous cocktail that can really add some flair to the evening? The Flaming Dr. Pepper can be a great addition to an evening, especially for a Tiki-themed party. Be forewarned - the drink involves lighting a liquor on fire.
The end result will shock you and your guests, however - it tastes almost exactly like Dr. Pepper! To make a Flaming Dr. Pepper, you're going to need a bottle of 151 proof rum as well as a bottle of amaretto and plenty of light beer. The preparation of the drink can be easily ruined, so take heed for the following directions: Take a shot glass and fill it ¾ full with amaretto. Top the shot with 151 - it should end up layered on top. Fill a pint glass halfway full with light beer. Now comes the showmanship part - using a lighter, carefully light the top of the shot on fire. The 151 will burn off the top of the shot, and once it's lit, you need to drop it into the pint glass. The concoction will fizz up, and you need to down it as soon as you can. By some act of God, the drink actually tastes amazingly like Dr. Pepper - shocking, considering there isn't a single non-alcoholic ingredient in the mix! These two drinks can add a delicious and exciting aspect to your next get together. Exercise caution when making the Flaming Dr. Peppers, and be sure to take the keys of anyone who has been drinking too much. Enjoy!
About The Author
Kadence Buchanan writes articles for http://wonderfulworldoffood.com/ - In addition, Kadence also writes articles for http://iwomensinterests.com/ and http://theoutdoorslifestyle.com/.
Monday, February 26, 2007
Whisk It All Out! - An Overall Guide to Whiskey
Unless you're one of the few nice people around who hasn't even savored a drop of liquor in their whole lives, chances are that you're at least marginally familiar of the drink whiskey. Whiskey - which is also spelled by other without the letter E - is the name used for a wide variety of delicious and distilled liquors that are produced from grains and later on aged in oak casts. Due to its grain content, a lot of people believe that whiskey is a good type of liquor to drink. In fact, there are numerous couples both in the United States and Europe who prefer to feed their babies whiskey rather than milk or water.
Whisk It that Way: How to Drink Whiskey
In the old days, Puritans had a very specific etiquette when it comes to drinking whiskey. For them, whiskey must be purely enjoyed from a tulip-shaped glass with a dash of still water. The addition of still water is necessary to maximize the uniquely delicious aroma of whiskey. Keep in mind that ice actually mutes rather than strengthens the aroma of whiskey.
Examples of whiskey-containing cocktails are the Manhattan, Whiskey Sour, Irish coffee and the very much simple ginger ale for people who are not used to drinking whiskey or any liquor for that matter.
How Do You Whisk It: The Different Kinds of Whiskey
The type of grain used in a certain mixture is usually the sole differentiating factor for the various kinds of whiskey available in the market today.
Scotch Whiskey - these drinks are usually distilled twice and aged for at least three years
Irish Whiskey - whiskey of this type would have to undergo distillation thrice and then spend at least four years in oak casts before it can be considered "drinkable"
American Straight Whiskey - these drinks require the use of a mash bill containing at least 51% or anything less than 80% of a single grain. The aging process must take place in new barrels made from American white oak that are charred prior to use.
Malt Whiskey - this term is only used for whiskeys made from 100% malted barley and nothing else. A single-malt whiskey on the other hand is exclusively produced by just one distillery and is the most expensive type of whiskey that's out in the market. Its one-distillery production makes it taste highly distinguishable from other malted whiskeys.
Pure Pot Still Whiskey - a kind of Irish whiskey, pure pot still whiskey is produced mainly by combining malted and unmalted barley.
Blended Whiskey - this is the name used to describe whiskies of different kinds that are blended together and contains straight whiskey as well as neutral spirits; its production process permits distilleries to preserve quite a consistent flavor and mellower than single-malt whiskeys.
Places to Whisk It: Significant Geographical Locations in the History of Whiskey Production
Scotland - Although all types of whiskey are made in Scotland, their favorite type of whiskey would be single-malt Scotches. Scottish people also prefer to call whiskeys as "whisky". Well-known Scottish brands of whiskey would be Glenmorangie, Chivas Regal and Glenlivet.
United States - The producers of whiskeys such as Bourbon, Tennesee and even the home brewed whiskey version called Moonshine, North America is also fond of calling Scotch whiskeys simply as "Scotch". Jim Beam Black Label and Jack Daniels are examples of Popular American brands of whiskey.
Ireland - Because of their triple distillation and 4 year aging process, Irish whiskeys are acclaimed for their extra smoothness and flavorful taste. Famous Irish whiskey brands would be Connemara and Tullamore Dew.
About the Author
Khieng 'Ken' Chho is the author and owner of Online Whiskey Resources. For more information, visit Ken's website: http://whiskey.1w3b.net/
Whisk It that Way: How to Drink Whiskey
In the old days, Puritans had a very specific etiquette when it comes to drinking whiskey. For them, whiskey must be purely enjoyed from a tulip-shaped glass with a dash of still water. The addition of still water is necessary to maximize the uniquely delicious aroma of whiskey. Keep in mind that ice actually mutes rather than strengthens the aroma of whiskey.
Examples of whiskey-containing cocktails are the Manhattan, Whiskey Sour, Irish coffee and the very much simple ginger ale for people who are not used to drinking whiskey or any liquor for that matter.
How Do You Whisk It: The Different Kinds of Whiskey
The type of grain used in a certain mixture is usually the sole differentiating factor for the various kinds of whiskey available in the market today.
Scotch Whiskey - these drinks are usually distilled twice and aged for at least three years
Irish Whiskey - whiskey of this type would have to undergo distillation thrice and then spend at least four years in oak casts before it can be considered "drinkable"
American Straight Whiskey - these drinks require the use of a mash bill containing at least 51% or anything less than 80% of a single grain. The aging process must take place in new barrels made from American white oak that are charred prior to use.
Malt Whiskey - this term is only used for whiskeys made from 100% malted barley and nothing else. A single-malt whiskey on the other hand is exclusively produced by just one distillery and is the most expensive type of whiskey that's out in the market. Its one-distillery production makes it taste highly distinguishable from other malted whiskeys.
Pure Pot Still Whiskey - a kind of Irish whiskey, pure pot still whiskey is produced mainly by combining malted and unmalted barley.
Blended Whiskey - this is the name used to describe whiskies of different kinds that are blended together and contains straight whiskey as well as neutral spirits; its production process permits distilleries to preserve quite a consistent flavor and mellower than single-malt whiskeys.
Places to Whisk It: Significant Geographical Locations in the History of Whiskey Production
Scotland - Although all types of whiskey are made in Scotland, their favorite type of whiskey would be single-malt Scotches. Scottish people also prefer to call whiskeys as "whisky". Well-known Scottish brands of whiskey would be Glenmorangie, Chivas Regal and Glenlivet.
United States - The producers of whiskeys such as Bourbon, Tennesee and even the home brewed whiskey version called Moonshine, North America is also fond of calling Scotch whiskeys simply as "Scotch". Jim Beam Black Label and Jack Daniels are examples of Popular American brands of whiskey.
Ireland - Because of their triple distillation and 4 year aging process, Irish whiskeys are acclaimed for their extra smoothness and flavorful taste. Famous Irish whiskey brands would be Connemara and Tullamore Dew.
About the Author
Khieng 'Ken' Chho is the author and owner of Online Whiskey Resources. For more information, visit Ken's website: http://whiskey.1w3b.net/
The History of Tequila.
The history of tequila began with the Aztec people making a fermented beverage from the agave plant which they called octli (later and more popularly called pulque). This occurred long before the Spanish arrived in 1521. Then, in the 16th century when the Spaniards arrived in Mexico, the Conquistadors brought the process of distillation with them and the people of Tequila were quick to put it to good use. They knew that the blue agave plant contained sugars that could be fermented. When the Spanish conquistadors ran out of their own brandy, they began to distill this agave drink to produce North America's first indigenous distilled spirit . By fermenting and distilling the sweet sap of the blue agave plant, they produced liquor with a distinctive taste. For many years tequila was only consumed locally and most were sold almost exclusively at the distilleries. By the 90's, it became quite fashionable to sip tequila and its production soared. New brands were being introduced to a growing and discriminating market. People began to demand more authentic tequilas, particularly those made following artisan tradition and Premium Tequilas made 100% with the juices of the blue agave plant.
With the dawning of the new millennium, more brands came into the market and tequila has become one of the top three best seller liquors in the world. Extensive fields of blue agave plants were planted where it was not harvested before. Traveling in the western states of Mexico, there are beautiful rolling hills covered by pale blue agave that seem to go on for miles.
The increasing world-wide popularity of tequila in the early 2000s drove a big cooperate interest in the drink. This resulted in the purchase of many tequila brands being purchased and new tequila brands being formed. There are now over 100 distilleries making over 2,000 different brand names of tequila now. Because of the high demand of tequila Mexico and the United States signed an agreement that allowed the continued bulk import of tequila into the US. This allowed the US to bottle tequila that has a minimum of 51% agave. The tequilas that have 100% agave still must be bottled in Mexico. It also created a tequila bottlers registry that identifies approved tequila bottlers.
As the brand 'tequila' is controlled by the Mexican government, it must comply with the strict Mexican government regulations. To make sure that tequila is genuine it has to be produced according to the strict standards. It also must bear the official standard, NOM (Norma Oficial Mexicana) and the Tequila Regulatory Council's monogram (CRT) on the label. All Premium Tequila must be adorned with the '100% Agave' marking on the label as well. Each approved tequila distiller gets its own NOM that ensures that the product complies with the official Denomination of Origin.
About the Author
Don Tekela has been in the search of the perfect Tequila for the past 20 years. He currently resides in Mexico, the tequila capital of the world.
With the dawning of the new millennium, more brands came into the market and tequila has become one of the top three best seller liquors in the world. Extensive fields of blue agave plants were planted where it was not harvested before. Traveling in the western states of Mexico, there are beautiful rolling hills covered by pale blue agave that seem to go on for miles.
The increasing world-wide popularity of tequila in the early 2000s drove a big cooperate interest in the drink. This resulted in the purchase of many tequila brands being purchased and new tequila brands being formed. There are now over 100 distilleries making over 2,000 different brand names of tequila now. Because of the high demand of tequila Mexico and the United States signed an agreement that allowed the continued bulk import of tequila into the US. This allowed the US to bottle tequila that has a minimum of 51% agave. The tequilas that have 100% agave still must be bottled in Mexico. It also created a tequila bottlers registry that identifies approved tequila bottlers.
As the brand 'tequila' is controlled by the Mexican government, it must comply with the strict Mexican government regulations. To make sure that tequila is genuine it has to be produced according to the strict standards. It also must bear the official standard, NOM (Norma Oficial Mexicana) and the Tequila Regulatory Council's monogram (CRT) on the label. All Premium Tequila must be adorned with the '100% Agave' marking on the label as well. Each approved tequila distiller gets its own NOM that ensures that the product complies with the official Denomination of Origin.
About the Author
Don Tekela has been in the search of the perfect Tequila for the past 20 years. He currently resides in Mexico, the tequila capital of the world.
The Myths About Tequila
#1. The worm in tequila.
Mexican-bottled tequila contains no worm. Some American-bottled brands put one in their bottle to boost sales, but this is only a marketing ploy and not a Mexican tradition. There is a worm - called a gusano, or a butterfly caterpillar - in some types of mescal. You may also get a small bag of 'worm salt' - dried gusano, salt and chile powder tied to a bottle of mescal tequila.
The worm-in-the-bottle myth is old and very tired. The truth has been broadcast and explained for many years by the makers of tequila. The worm in not a customary element in mezcal production. It is a recent development and marketing ploy that appeared only in the 1940s to try to get more attention to sell tequila. There is no need to defend tequila and this myth should not be dispelled any further. It is simply an urban legend. Another myth about the worm is that you are supposed to eat it. Not to worry if you swallowed a worm, it is quite well pickled and free of pesticides. But dismiss any ideas that it might have magical powers or that it is an aphrodisiac. The worm is merely a protein in alcohol.
#2.Tequila is made from cactus.
Tequila is made from distilled juice of the agave plant. It is known as a succulent and it is not a cactus as it has a different life cycle. The mature agave leaves stand about 5-8 feet tall and is 7-12 feet in diameter. The lifespan of the agave plant depends on growing conditions, species and climate, but generally it is 8 to 15 years. In Mexico, there are 136 species of agave. Agave has been cultivated for at least 9,000 years. The blue agave is the only one allowed for use in tequila production. No Mexican alcoholic drinks are made from cactus. However, the cactus is used in some fruit drinks, salads and other food items.
#3.Tequila and mezcal are the same.
Technically, tequila is a type of mezcal, but mezcal is not tequila. Both are made from varieties of the plant called 'mexcalmetl'. Although there are many similarities tequila and mezcal are as different today as scotch and whiskey. Tequila is made from only blue agave. Mezcal can be made from five different varieties of agave in the region. Tequila is double distilled. Mezcal is often only distilled once. Mezcal piñas (the sugar-rich heart of the agave) are baked in the ground giving it a strong, smoky flavour. Tequila piñas are baked or steamed in above-ground ovens. Tequila and mezcal are similar in one respect and that is in the amount of alcohol in the bottle which tends to be around 38-40%. Mezcals however tend to be a little stronger.
#4:Tequila is only bottled home-brew.
The manufacturing of tequila is very tightly controlled by the Mexican government and the Tequila Regulatory Council. The bottle must have statements about age, style, and content to meet the legal requirements. There is also a non-profit council called the Chamber of Tequila Producers which regulates the industry. Tequila is not home-brew moonshine. It is carefully distilled and aged, although each company has its own process and quality control. Most manufacturers take considerable pride in their production. Tequila is not stronger than other liquors. Most tequilas have the same liquor content about 38-40%, as other liquors. The official norm allows a range from 38-55%.
#5:The best tequilas cost the most.
Price is not a good way to judge the taste of tequila. Fancy packaging, designer bottles large advertising campaigns and simply to status makes up a lot of the pricing of a bottle of tequila. A well-advertised, bottled, and well promoted blanco at $100 is not necessarily a better buy than a reposado at $10. It depends on your taste and what you expect in a tequila.
In Mexico, there is a large market of excellent tequilas available from $20 to $50. In the under $20 range most of the tequilas are mass produced for the local market, and usually not 100% agave. Tequila priced above that is aiming mostly for the premium markets using collector bottles and speciality bottles. The taste is the ultimate deciding factor. People have different tastes when it comes to tequilas. Some prefer the rough edged, more distinct flavor of young blanco tequila. Others like the more sharper, peppery flavour of a reposado. And then there are some that prefer the smooth, woody aroma in an añejo. What every you taste, there is a tequila made just for you.
#6: All tequilas are the same, only the bottles are different.
Tequilas vary according to the company making them, the process and the growing environment. It is affected by the temperature, soil, types of equipment, the age of the plants and the way the plants were prepared. All of these things will affect the body and flavor of the tequila. Traditional methods produce much stronger agave flavour than modern, mass production. Aging in barrels also affects the taste of tequila but not always for the better. The woody flavor imparted by the oak can overpower the natural agave. And some manufacturers are now adding wood essence to darken the tequila so it looks more aged. There is a very wide variation in tequila flavours between styles like blanco, reposado and añejo. This makes it difficult for any new partakers to make a distinction between each type of tequila. Fancy packaging, wooden boxes and elegant bottles and are now common with premium tequilas. These fancy bottles have become collector's items. While they do not add to the basic quality of the drink in the bottle, they do add to its charm and certainly has visual appeal.
About the Author
Don Tekela has been in the search of the perfect Tequila for the past 20 years. He currently resides in Mexico, the tequila capital of the world.
Mexican-bottled tequila contains no worm. Some American-bottled brands put one in their bottle to boost sales, but this is only a marketing ploy and not a Mexican tradition. There is a worm - called a gusano, or a butterfly caterpillar - in some types of mescal. You may also get a small bag of 'worm salt' - dried gusano, salt and chile powder tied to a bottle of mescal tequila.
The worm-in-the-bottle myth is old and very tired. The truth has been broadcast and explained for many years by the makers of tequila. The worm in not a customary element in mezcal production. It is a recent development and marketing ploy that appeared only in the 1940s to try to get more attention to sell tequila. There is no need to defend tequila and this myth should not be dispelled any further. It is simply an urban legend. Another myth about the worm is that you are supposed to eat it. Not to worry if you swallowed a worm, it is quite well pickled and free of pesticides. But dismiss any ideas that it might have magical powers or that it is an aphrodisiac. The worm is merely a protein in alcohol.
#2.Tequila is made from cactus.
Tequila is made from distilled juice of the agave plant. It is known as a succulent and it is not a cactus as it has a different life cycle. The mature agave leaves stand about 5-8 feet tall and is 7-12 feet in diameter. The lifespan of the agave plant depends on growing conditions, species and climate, but generally it is 8 to 15 years. In Mexico, there are 136 species of agave. Agave has been cultivated for at least 9,000 years. The blue agave is the only one allowed for use in tequila production. No Mexican alcoholic drinks are made from cactus. However, the cactus is used in some fruit drinks, salads and other food items.
#3.Tequila and mezcal are the same.
Technically, tequila is a type of mezcal, but mezcal is not tequila. Both are made from varieties of the plant called 'mexcalmetl'. Although there are many similarities tequila and mezcal are as different today as scotch and whiskey. Tequila is made from only blue agave. Mezcal can be made from five different varieties of agave in the region. Tequila is double distilled. Mezcal is often only distilled once. Mezcal piñas (the sugar-rich heart of the agave) are baked in the ground giving it a strong, smoky flavour. Tequila piñas are baked or steamed in above-ground ovens. Tequila and mezcal are similar in one respect and that is in the amount of alcohol in the bottle which tends to be around 38-40%. Mezcals however tend to be a little stronger.
#4:Tequila is only bottled home-brew.
The manufacturing of tequila is very tightly controlled by the Mexican government and the Tequila Regulatory Council. The bottle must have statements about age, style, and content to meet the legal requirements. There is also a non-profit council called the Chamber of Tequila Producers which regulates the industry. Tequila is not home-brew moonshine. It is carefully distilled and aged, although each company has its own process and quality control. Most manufacturers take considerable pride in their production. Tequila is not stronger than other liquors. Most tequilas have the same liquor content about 38-40%, as other liquors. The official norm allows a range from 38-55%.
#5:The best tequilas cost the most.
Price is not a good way to judge the taste of tequila. Fancy packaging, designer bottles large advertising campaigns and simply to status makes up a lot of the pricing of a bottle of tequila. A well-advertised, bottled, and well promoted blanco at $100 is not necessarily a better buy than a reposado at $10. It depends on your taste and what you expect in a tequila.
In Mexico, there is a large market of excellent tequilas available from $20 to $50. In the under $20 range most of the tequilas are mass produced for the local market, and usually not 100% agave. Tequila priced above that is aiming mostly for the premium markets using collector bottles and speciality bottles. The taste is the ultimate deciding factor. People have different tastes when it comes to tequilas. Some prefer the rough edged, more distinct flavor of young blanco tequila. Others like the more sharper, peppery flavour of a reposado. And then there are some that prefer the smooth, woody aroma in an añejo. What every you taste, there is a tequila made just for you.
#6: All tequilas are the same, only the bottles are different.
Tequilas vary according to the company making them, the process and the growing environment. It is affected by the temperature, soil, types of equipment, the age of the plants and the way the plants were prepared. All of these things will affect the body and flavor of the tequila. Traditional methods produce much stronger agave flavour than modern, mass production. Aging in barrels also affects the taste of tequila but not always for the better. The woody flavor imparted by the oak can overpower the natural agave. And some manufacturers are now adding wood essence to darken the tequila so it looks more aged. There is a very wide variation in tequila flavours between styles like blanco, reposado and añejo. This makes it difficult for any new partakers to make a distinction between each type of tequila. Fancy packaging, wooden boxes and elegant bottles and are now common with premium tequilas. These fancy bottles have become collector's items. While they do not add to the basic quality of the drink in the bottle, they do add to its charm and certainly has visual appeal.
About the Author
Don Tekela has been in the search of the perfect Tequila for the past 20 years. He currently resides in Mexico, the tequila capital of the world.
Traditional Drink, Modern Crowd
Why is it that scotch always seem to be ignored in the bar scene? It is understandable that most people find scotch too harsh to drink while dancing the night away but it could certainly be introduced in some mild cocktails. It is commonly assumed that the sweeter drinks tend to give you the staying power on the dance floor as they are usually loaded with sugar.
Sugar is not an ingredient that one would normally associate with scotch and many of club-goers will shy away from the so-called "old mans drink." Yet they really do not understand the impact that scotch in small doses in sweet drinks can have. It can liven up any party in a relatively short amount of time.
Of course, there are the few drinks out there that may garner interest from the up-and-coming young professionals who are trying to mature. One of these mild drinks with scotch is the Rusty Nail. This delicious drink contains 1 1/2 ounces of scotch, 1/2 ounces of Drambuie and a twist of peel from a lemon.
This drink eschews the common rule of no ice in scotch, as the glass should be filled nearly to the brim with cubes. Once the ice fills the glass, the Drambuie and scotch are poured in together, stirred vigorously and garnished with the lemon peel. This makes a delectable, small mixed drink that is much easier on the throat as well as the stomach than pure scotch.
The whiskey sour is another popular drink. This is a drink that all classes and generations can enjoy. This drink contains 2 ounces of blended whiskey, the juice of half a lemon, half a teaspoon of powdered sugar, one cherry, and half a slice of lemon.
This drink is also easy to make. Shake the blended whiskey, the lemon juice, and the powdered sugar with ice then strain into a whiskey sour glass. For the final flourish, top with the cherry and garnish the drink with the lemon slice.
Another tasty drink that the younger crowd may enjoy is the Rob Roy. This is a very simple drink that many relish and is quickly made so you can be back on the dance floor in little time.
This drink contains 1 and a half ounces of scotch whiskey and three-quarter ounces of sweet vermouth. You simply stir the contents with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.
About the Author
Richard Brown is an author for several web sites, on product ideas and shopping and products topics.
Sugar is not an ingredient that one would normally associate with scotch and many of club-goers will shy away from the so-called "old mans drink." Yet they really do not understand the impact that scotch in small doses in sweet drinks can have. It can liven up any party in a relatively short amount of time.
Of course, there are the few drinks out there that may garner interest from the up-and-coming young professionals who are trying to mature. One of these mild drinks with scotch is the Rusty Nail. This delicious drink contains 1 1/2 ounces of scotch, 1/2 ounces of Drambuie and a twist of peel from a lemon.
This drink eschews the common rule of no ice in scotch, as the glass should be filled nearly to the brim with cubes. Once the ice fills the glass, the Drambuie and scotch are poured in together, stirred vigorously and garnished with the lemon peel. This makes a delectable, small mixed drink that is much easier on the throat as well as the stomach than pure scotch.
The whiskey sour is another popular drink. This is a drink that all classes and generations can enjoy. This drink contains 2 ounces of blended whiskey, the juice of half a lemon, half a teaspoon of powdered sugar, one cherry, and half a slice of lemon.
This drink is also easy to make. Shake the blended whiskey, the lemon juice, and the powdered sugar with ice then strain into a whiskey sour glass. For the final flourish, top with the cherry and garnish the drink with the lemon slice.
Another tasty drink that the younger crowd may enjoy is the Rob Roy. This is a very simple drink that many relish and is quickly made so you can be back on the dance floor in little time.
This drink contains 1 and a half ounces of scotch whiskey and three-quarter ounces of sweet vermouth. You simply stir the contents with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.
About the Author
Richard Brown is an author for several web sites, on product ideas and shopping and products topics.
Tequila: The Proper Way to Drink It
Ah, the art of you can go back to the traditional method of drinking with salt, tequila,and lime, via the lick, sip consumption of a premium liquor. Who says that I have the right to tell you how you should drink your tequila. I must admit, I have tried the many different brands of Tequila. Whether you sip it, serve it with lime and salt add it to margarita mix, drink it room temperature or serve it chilled, Tequila is meant to be savored and enjoyed. If you want to really appreciate the full bouquet and body, try it at room temperature. Tequila is meant to be enjoyed neat. Taste it like a fine wine. It would be a shame to miss out on its full body, its aroma and its wonderful taste. Once you have appreciated its character and flavor, you can return to the salt, tequila, and lime - the lick, sip and bite- method.
The traditional way to drink tequila is using a tall, narrow shot glass, 'caballito". It has been claimed that Añejos are better served in brandy snifters in order to appreciate the nose, by my favorite way to consume it is the traditional way. The caballito is said to be modeled after the original bull horn that tequila was drank from. It is the perfect size and shape.
The same rules apply when drinking a premium Mezcal. Enjoy the rich, smoky flavor. Why rush a good thing. Coolers and drinks such as margaritas may not have any real tequila in them. They are usually syrupy concoctions of alcohol and flavouring. In 1997 Herradura recognized a growing market for margaritas and introduced their own pre-mixed drink including grapefruit juice and real tequila. Other distillers have since followed their lead and the demand for these sweet drinks in the market. These however are not traditional Mexican drinks. They are attempts to cater to a fad in the North American market. Some people think that the more traditional way to drink tequila is as a shot with salt on one hand and a bite of lime following the shot. Few people drink it this way. Some people do however put lime juice in their tequila or bite the lime before sipping it. Many restaurants in Mexico bring you a small tray with your favorite brand of tequila, a caballito with a sangrita chaser, salt and half a lime. It is a good practice to have the waiter bring the tequila bottle right to your table and have it poured in front of you. Some places might say that they keep a fair stock of brands, but they do not and will serve you something different than what you ordered.
Remember that when you open a bottle of tequila, you subject its contents to oxidization, just as you would a bottle of wine. This will rob the tequila of its agave flavours in a matter of a few weeks to a month. You can also lose alcohol to evaporation. Your tequila will not last indefinitely. You must drink it soon - within 1-2 months - otherwise it starts to lose its wonderful zest.
However you choose to drink your tequila, make sure to choose the one that you like and enjoy it thoroughly. There is really no right or wrong way to drink, sip or a right way to drink, sip, or guzzle tequila. After all, it is a matter of taste.
About the Author
Don Tekela has been in the search of the perfect Tequila for the past 20 years. He currently resides in Mexico, the tequila capital of the world.
The traditional way to drink tequila is using a tall, narrow shot glass, 'caballito". It has been claimed that Añejos are better served in brandy snifters in order to appreciate the nose, by my favorite way to consume it is the traditional way. The caballito is said to be modeled after the original bull horn that tequila was drank from. It is the perfect size and shape.
The same rules apply when drinking a premium Mezcal. Enjoy the rich, smoky flavor. Why rush a good thing. Coolers and drinks such as margaritas may not have any real tequila in them. They are usually syrupy concoctions of alcohol and flavouring. In 1997 Herradura recognized a growing market for margaritas and introduced their own pre-mixed drink including grapefruit juice and real tequila. Other distillers have since followed their lead and the demand for these sweet drinks in the market. These however are not traditional Mexican drinks. They are attempts to cater to a fad in the North American market. Some people think that the more traditional way to drink tequila is as a shot with salt on one hand and a bite of lime following the shot. Few people drink it this way. Some people do however put lime juice in their tequila or bite the lime before sipping it. Many restaurants in Mexico bring you a small tray with your favorite brand of tequila, a caballito with a sangrita chaser, salt and half a lime. It is a good practice to have the waiter bring the tequila bottle right to your table and have it poured in front of you. Some places might say that they keep a fair stock of brands, but they do not and will serve you something different than what you ordered.
Remember that when you open a bottle of tequila, you subject its contents to oxidization, just as you would a bottle of wine. This will rob the tequila of its agave flavours in a matter of a few weeks to a month. You can also lose alcohol to evaporation. Your tequila will not last indefinitely. You must drink it soon - within 1-2 months - otherwise it starts to lose its wonderful zest.
However you choose to drink your tequila, make sure to choose the one that you like and enjoy it thoroughly. There is really no right or wrong way to drink, sip or a right way to drink, sip, or guzzle tequila. After all, it is a matter of taste.
About the Author
Don Tekela has been in the search of the perfect Tequila for the past 20 years. He currently resides in Mexico, the tequila capital of the world.
Spirit Wines Guidelines
The alcoholic drinks are generally said to be very bad for one's health. The truth of the matter is that there are some types of booze, which may even improve it. Let us look at wine for instance. It may very well make the blood less likely to clot, due to its anticoagulation effect.
On the other hand, the spirits do not have the same benefits. The first thing that must make you question yourself about the effects of spirits is the thought that are in fact purified or extracted alcohol. The process of distilling alcohol is based on the heating a fermented liquid. The liquid will then disperse in the air, practically changing from a liquid state to a gas or vapor. Eventually, it is squeezed back into its liquefied form. The outcome of this whole process can only be the spirit! You can even make spirits by increasing the alcohol content of a wine and decreasing its liquid substance.
Depending on the fermenting material that is used in the process of fermentation and distillation, the spirits include several distinct types of alcoholic drinks: brandy, gin, vodka and fortified wines. You probably know that brandy is made from fermented grape sap. The booze contents of brandy are generated from a meticulous distillation process of grape juices. No wonder it has such an interesting taste. On the other hand, vodka is a mixed alcoholic drink made out of distilled beers, that are actually made from grains. Last, but not least, the fortified wines are in fact mixed alcoholic drinks made of fermented wine and extracted spirits.
This is just a basic classification of spirits. There are numerous types of such mixed alcoholic drinks, most of them being different from country to country. It is a commonly known fact that each region of the world has a personal favorite alcoholic drink and that they will most surely produce it in many distinct ways and combinations.
Every person knows that the chemical and food experts have proved for years that wine contains rich deposits of vitamins, minerals and natural sugars that are often very good for the health of the consumers. Not to speak about the fact that the wine is a type of booze which is also rich in potassium and low in sodium. Because of the juices' longer contact with the grape skins, the red wines have even more of these elements. And should you want a Vitamin B refill, you can settle the matter by choosing red wine too!
About the Author
Find out more about any mixed alcoholic drink and booze, alcohol and drinks right now.
On the other hand, the spirits do not have the same benefits. The first thing that must make you question yourself about the effects of spirits is the thought that are in fact purified or extracted alcohol. The process of distilling alcohol is based on the heating a fermented liquid. The liquid will then disperse in the air, practically changing from a liquid state to a gas or vapor. Eventually, it is squeezed back into its liquefied form. The outcome of this whole process can only be the spirit! You can even make spirits by increasing the alcohol content of a wine and decreasing its liquid substance.
Depending on the fermenting material that is used in the process of fermentation and distillation, the spirits include several distinct types of alcoholic drinks: brandy, gin, vodka and fortified wines. You probably know that brandy is made from fermented grape sap. The booze contents of brandy are generated from a meticulous distillation process of grape juices. No wonder it has such an interesting taste. On the other hand, vodka is a mixed alcoholic drink made out of distilled beers, that are actually made from grains. Last, but not least, the fortified wines are in fact mixed alcoholic drinks made of fermented wine and extracted spirits.
This is just a basic classification of spirits. There are numerous types of such mixed alcoholic drinks, most of them being different from country to country. It is a commonly known fact that each region of the world has a personal favorite alcoholic drink and that they will most surely produce it in many distinct ways and combinations.
Every person knows that the chemical and food experts have proved for years that wine contains rich deposits of vitamins, minerals and natural sugars that are often very good for the health of the consumers. Not to speak about the fact that the wine is a type of booze which is also rich in potassium and low in sodium. Because of the juices' longer contact with the grape skins, the red wines have even more of these elements. And should you want a Vitamin B refill, you can settle the matter by choosing red wine too!
About the Author
Find out more about any mixed alcoholic drink and booze, alcohol and drinks right now.
Tequila Cocktails
Tequila
A fine, complex liquor that is best when sipped slowly. Traditionally it is served warm in order to appreciate its wonderful flavor. Most tequilas are served in a "caballito", a 2oz glass made exclusively for this purpose. Blanco and Reposado can be served with "sangrita", a tomato and orange juice mix with salt and chile. Añejo is served in a snifter so that its aroma is fully appreciated. The tequila shot with lime and salt is made from Hollywood and few people drink it that way. Some people do put lime juice in the tequila or bite the lime before sipping it. It is a matter of taste. You should choose the right tequila for your cocktail and enjoy it.
Margarita
The Margarita is a great cocktail when it is made correctly. Avoid using bottled lime-juice since it adds an overly sweet taste. The use of fresh limes hand picked at the supermarket is best. The best ones should be a bit soft when you squeeze them since these might have the most juice. Mexican limes are small in size but they do have an incomparable taste.
2 ounces tequila
1 ounce Triple Sec
1/2 ounce Mexican lime juice
If you want a lighter Margarita:
1.5 ounces tequila
3/4 ounce Triple Sec
1/2 to 1 ounce Mexican lime juice
Combine all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice.
You might strain the mixture or pour it into a salt-rimmed margarita glass.
To get the salt to stick to the glass pour fine salt on a plate, then run a lime wedge around the lip of a Margarita glass and lightly press it against the salt.
You may use Cointreau, Grand Marnier, Mandarin Napoleon, or Midori instead of Triple Sec.
If you want a strong agave flavor use a Blanco tequila.
For a milder taste use Reposado.
If you are giving a party use Gold as it costs less.
Bloody Mary
1-1/2 ounces tequila
One glass of tomato juice Add salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce to taste Garnish with a celery stalk and lemon slice.
Blanco 100% agave is great for a Bloody Mary.
It is the drink of choice the morning after a hangover.
You may try Clamato instead of tomato juice, or half-and-half.
Some people squeeze half a lemon into the mix to add flavor.
Dynamite
1 ounce Reposado tequila
1 ounce Blanco tequila
1 ounce Clamato juice
Pour contents into glass.
Add one-half teaspoon of Tabasco sauce and the juice of one half lime.
Mix contents and add crushed ice, and salt to taste.
Petroleo
1-1/2 ounces tequila
1 ounce Mexican lime juice
1 serrano chile halved from top to bottom
Pour the tequila and lime juice into a small glass.
Add salt, pepper, Maggi sauce and Worcestershire sauce to taste.
Mix ingredients. Add one half of the serrano chile and one or two ice cubes.
Use Blanco or Reposado tequila.
Tequila Sour
1-1/2 onces tequila
2 ounces lemon juice
1 teaspoon sugar
Blend ingredients with crushed ice and strain into sour glass.
Garnish with a red cherry.
Use Añejo for a better taste.
Tequila Sunrise
2 measures of ice-cold tequila
4 measures of orange juice
1 measure of grenadine (or less if you prefer)
Pour orange juice in a highball glass and then pour the ice-cold tequila slowly tilting the glass to get a layered effect.
Trickle grenadine on top.
You should get a perfect sunrise.
Garnish stirrer, straw and cherry-orange.
Sangrita Chaser
Sangrita is a typical spicy and refreshing non-alcoholic chaser made of fresh orange juice, grenadine and chile piquín or a mix of different chiles. Sangrita is the Spanish diminutive for "blood" and is served in a "caballito". It is used as a chaser after a shot of tequila.
4 cups of freshly squeezed orange juice
1/4 to 1/2 cup of fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon of grenadine syrup tablespoon salt
Chile piquín to taste: try first 1/4 tablespoon
As with any recipe you may vary the quantities for each ingredient to suit your taste.
Some people add fresh tomato juice to increase the red coloration of the Sangrita.
You may try chile de arbol or Tabasco sauce.
You may also add a bit of black ground pepper.
About the Author
Don Tekela has been in the search of the perfect Tequila for the past 20 years. He currently resides in Mexico, the tequila capital of the world.
A fine, complex liquor that is best when sipped slowly. Traditionally it is served warm in order to appreciate its wonderful flavor. Most tequilas are served in a "caballito", a 2oz glass made exclusively for this purpose. Blanco and Reposado can be served with "sangrita", a tomato and orange juice mix with salt and chile. Añejo is served in a snifter so that its aroma is fully appreciated. The tequila shot with lime and salt is made from Hollywood and few people drink it that way. Some people do put lime juice in the tequila or bite the lime before sipping it. It is a matter of taste. You should choose the right tequila for your cocktail and enjoy it.
Margarita
The Margarita is a great cocktail when it is made correctly. Avoid using bottled lime-juice since it adds an overly sweet taste. The use of fresh limes hand picked at the supermarket is best. The best ones should be a bit soft when you squeeze them since these might have the most juice. Mexican limes are small in size but they do have an incomparable taste.
2 ounces tequila
1 ounce Triple Sec
1/2 ounce Mexican lime juice
If you want a lighter Margarita:
1.5 ounces tequila
3/4 ounce Triple Sec
1/2 to 1 ounce Mexican lime juice
Combine all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice.
You might strain the mixture or pour it into a salt-rimmed margarita glass.
To get the salt to stick to the glass pour fine salt on a plate, then run a lime wedge around the lip of a Margarita glass and lightly press it against the salt.
You may use Cointreau, Grand Marnier, Mandarin Napoleon, or Midori instead of Triple Sec.
If you want a strong agave flavor use a Blanco tequila.
For a milder taste use Reposado.
If you are giving a party use Gold as it costs less.
Bloody Mary
1-1/2 ounces tequila
One glass of tomato juice Add salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce to taste Garnish with a celery stalk and lemon slice.
Blanco 100% agave is great for a Bloody Mary.
It is the drink of choice the morning after a hangover.
You may try Clamato instead of tomato juice, or half-and-half.
Some people squeeze half a lemon into the mix to add flavor.
Dynamite
1 ounce Reposado tequila
1 ounce Blanco tequila
1 ounce Clamato juice
Pour contents into glass.
Add one-half teaspoon of Tabasco sauce and the juice of one half lime.
Mix contents and add crushed ice, and salt to taste.
Petroleo
1-1/2 ounces tequila
1 ounce Mexican lime juice
1 serrano chile halved from top to bottom
Pour the tequila and lime juice into a small glass.
Add salt, pepper, Maggi sauce and Worcestershire sauce to taste.
Mix ingredients. Add one half of the serrano chile and one or two ice cubes.
Use Blanco or Reposado tequila.
Tequila Sour
1-1/2 onces tequila
2 ounces lemon juice
1 teaspoon sugar
Blend ingredients with crushed ice and strain into sour glass.
Garnish with a red cherry.
Use Añejo for a better taste.
Tequila Sunrise
2 measures of ice-cold tequila
4 measures of orange juice
1 measure of grenadine (or less if you prefer)
Pour orange juice in a highball glass and then pour the ice-cold tequila slowly tilting the glass to get a layered effect.
Trickle grenadine on top.
You should get a perfect sunrise.
Garnish stirrer, straw and cherry-orange.
Sangrita Chaser
Sangrita is a typical spicy and refreshing non-alcoholic chaser made of fresh orange juice, grenadine and chile piquín or a mix of different chiles. Sangrita is the Spanish diminutive for "blood" and is served in a "caballito". It is used as a chaser after a shot of tequila.
4 cups of freshly squeezed orange juice
1/4 to 1/2 cup of fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon of grenadine syrup tablespoon salt
Chile piquín to taste: try first 1/4 tablespoon
As with any recipe you may vary the quantities for each ingredient to suit your taste.
Some people add fresh tomato juice to increase the red coloration of the Sangrita.
You may try chile de arbol or Tabasco sauce.
You may also add a bit of black ground pepper.
About the Author
Don Tekela has been in the search of the perfect Tequila for the past 20 years. He currently resides in Mexico, the tequila capital of the world.
Local Bartenders Could Be a Valuable Resource for Mixed Drink Recipes
There are many different people who have varied drinking tastes. Some of these people like to have their drinks neat - without anything added to the original drink. There are others who like drinking cocktails or shots. There are still others who love to drink mixed drinks. For all of these people - other than the neat drinkers - many of these drinks require some types of steps to be followed for the drink to look like it should and taste like it should. Therefore for all of these including the mixed drink recipes need to be followed.
Now some of these mixed drink recipes are very simple. Others tend to be a little bit more complicated. Regardless of the level of complexity you do need to follow the steps otherwise you can end up with another type of mixed drink. There is also a chance that your mixed drink may not taste as delicious as you want it.
There are many ways that you can see the various mixed drink recipes. They can be taken from drink recipe books, the internet and even from your local bartender. Now if you know what the various mixed drinks are it makes it much easier for you to select the mixed drink recipes that you would like to read and try making.
For the many people who just love how a certain type of drink tastes like but they really can't remember the whole name it is sometimes possible to find those mixed drink recipes if you can identify at least one or two of the ingredients that are in the mixed drink. Now don't worry if this is out of your reach also. Your local bartender should be able to help you with this problem if you can supply them with a small description of the drink or even part of the name.
Since some people like to make their mixed drinks at home, you can use various mixed drink recipe books to help you with this task. The internet with its vast store of information and knowledge is another place where you can quickly find thousands of mixed drink recipes. All that you need to do is to select the ones that you want, save the recipe and you're on your way.
In the world of alcoholic drinks you can find many great mixed drink recipes. These are all ready for you to take and create your favorite drink. You can even use these mixed drink recipes to invent completely new alcoholic drinks and enjoy the satisfaction of having your own personal mixed drink. Don't forget to write this fantastic mixed drink recipe down so that you will be able to have future drinks like this at a later date.
About the Author
Muna wa Wanjiru is a web administrator and has been researching and reporting on internet marketing for years. For more information on mixed drink recipes, visit his site at http://www.merpetsales.com/bartending/
Now some of these mixed drink recipes are very simple. Others tend to be a little bit more complicated. Regardless of the level of complexity you do need to follow the steps otherwise you can end up with another type of mixed drink. There is also a chance that your mixed drink may not taste as delicious as you want it.
There are many ways that you can see the various mixed drink recipes. They can be taken from drink recipe books, the internet and even from your local bartender. Now if you know what the various mixed drinks are it makes it much easier for you to select the mixed drink recipes that you would like to read and try making.
For the many people who just love how a certain type of drink tastes like but they really can't remember the whole name it is sometimes possible to find those mixed drink recipes if you can identify at least one or two of the ingredients that are in the mixed drink. Now don't worry if this is out of your reach also. Your local bartender should be able to help you with this problem if you can supply them with a small description of the drink or even part of the name.
Since some people like to make their mixed drinks at home, you can use various mixed drink recipe books to help you with this task. The internet with its vast store of information and knowledge is another place where you can quickly find thousands of mixed drink recipes. All that you need to do is to select the ones that you want, save the recipe and you're on your way.
In the world of alcoholic drinks you can find many great mixed drink recipes. These are all ready for you to take and create your favorite drink. You can even use these mixed drink recipes to invent completely new alcoholic drinks and enjoy the satisfaction of having your own personal mixed drink. Don't forget to write this fantastic mixed drink recipe down so that you will be able to have future drinks like this at a later date.
About the Author
Muna wa Wanjiru is a web administrator and has been researching and reporting on internet marketing for years. For more information on mixed drink recipes, visit his site at http://www.merpetsales.com/bartending/
What are Alcohol Shots really Like?
For parties, having a selection of drinks ensures that the fun and laughter won't disappear into awkward silence. There are many types of drinks that can be used to make people relax and have fun. These can include fruit juices, soft drinks, and alcoholic drinks. Of the alcoholic drinks there are some people who prefer having alcohol shots.
Now at this point you are probably wondering what the difference is between these alcohol shots and the normal alcoholic beverages. The main difference lies in the fact that not every alcoholic drink can be taken as an alcohol shot. There are certain types of alcohol that have always been used as alcohol shots.
These alcohol shots include Absinthe, Whiskey, Rum, Vodka, Tequila, Gin and many others. Now these alcohol shots are usually taken by people who have the ability to hold their liquor. As these are very potent alcoholic drinks there is a strong possibility that normal drinkers may get very badly drunk on these extremely quickly.
As we have all heard of these various alcohol shots we should take a closer look and see what these drinks are really like. Whiskey as we know is produced and distilled from grains. They are aged in oak casks to give them their distinctive taste. You will find that there are different types of whiskey and that the alcohol strength and quality for each of these is somewhat different.
We will now look at Absinthe. This interesting drink originally comes from Switzerland. Absinthe is also called la Fée Verte and it has an unusual taste of anise. This is a very highly alcoholic drink and it is distilled and flavored, which is why you will be able to taste the anise flavoring that is present.
Our next stop in alcohol shots is that of Vodka. There are many different types of Vodka available in the world and I am sure that many of you have at some point tasted a little bit of Vodka. Generally Vodka is colorless and it is distilled from grains as well. The alcohol volume in the Vodka ranges in strength from the very mild 35 % to the 70%. In most cases Vodka is used in very popular cocktails but there are some brave souls out there who like their Vodka neat.
So the next time that you go to a bar and hear someone ask for alcohol shots you will know what they are ordering. This is also a warning to you unless you have the ability to hold your liquor not to ask for alcoholic shots.
About the Author
Muna wa Wanjiru is a web administrator and has been researching and reporting on internet marketing for years. For more information on alcohol shots, visit his site at http://www.merpetsales.com/bartending/
Now at this point you are probably wondering what the difference is between these alcohol shots and the normal alcoholic beverages. The main difference lies in the fact that not every alcoholic drink can be taken as an alcohol shot. There are certain types of alcohol that have always been used as alcohol shots.
These alcohol shots include Absinthe, Whiskey, Rum, Vodka, Tequila, Gin and many others. Now these alcohol shots are usually taken by people who have the ability to hold their liquor. As these are very potent alcoholic drinks there is a strong possibility that normal drinkers may get very badly drunk on these extremely quickly.
As we have all heard of these various alcohol shots we should take a closer look and see what these drinks are really like. Whiskey as we know is produced and distilled from grains. They are aged in oak casks to give them their distinctive taste. You will find that there are different types of whiskey and that the alcohol strength and quality for each of these is somewhat different.
We will now look at Absinthe. This interesting drink originally comes from Switzerland. Absinthe is also called la Fée Verte and it has an unusual taste of anise. This is a very highly alcoholic drink and it is distilled and flavored, which is why you will be able to taste the anise flavoring that is present.
Our next stop in alcohol shots is that of Vodka. There are many different types of Vodka available in the world and I am sure that many of you have at some point tasted a little bit of Vodka. Generally Vodka is colorless and it is distilled from grains as well. The alcohol volume in the Vodka ranges in strength from the very mild 35 % to the 70%. In most cases Vodka is used in very popular cocktails but there are some brave souls out there who like their Vodka neat.
So the next time that you go to a bar and hear someone ask for alcohol shots you will know what they are ordering. This is also a warning to you unless you have the ability to hold your liquor not to ask for alcoholic shots.
About the Author
Muna wa Wanjiru is a web administrator and has been researching and reporting on internet marketing for years. For more information on alcohol shots, visit his site at http://www.merpetsales.com/bartending/
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