I will end 2011 as I most likely began it – with a delightfully delicious drink, a tasty assortment of tidbits, a cure for all that ailed me and a few tricks up my sleeve – I’m talking about happy hour and what better day to discuss than New Year’s Eve! Here’s pretty much all you will ever need to know to make any hour happy, especially the final one’s – as in the count down to 2012! So heed the advice below and make every hour happy whether cocktails are involved or not. So on that note –
More than a few things need to make a comeback, (don’t get me started) and cocktails are one of them!
In today’s accelerated, abbreviated world where ciders, beer & wine are king (not that there’s anything wrong with that – “crackin’ a cold one” and “passing the box” have their time and place), as does sipping on top-of-the-line beers, ciders & wines but there’s a certain “je ne sais quoi” about mixing a cocktail – a certain civilized grownupness about the dance that is cocktail making – just check out a few James Bond flicks to remind yourself, and if you have any doubt about the “shaken not stirred” theory, see his royal coolness in action! And as with everything else in the crazed kitchen, mixing cocktails is about having the tools, techniques and know-how to get muddling with the best of them – add what you like, leave what you don’t, and see what all those cool cats of the cocktail generations knew that we have so hastily deleted as quickly as, well, emails in our inboxes.
And because it’s important that everyone is happy, I have included a little beer & wine info but for a change, put the opener/corkscrew/box down and get shakin’ … and if you’re looking for a miracle, some have found their miracle here – you’re welcome!
bar tools & techniques
As it is with cooking food, the same goes for mixing drinks – get all the right stuff and a reputation will be close behind – and in this case, that’s a good thing! First, of course, is the inventory – without the makings, you won’t be mixing up much. So after you have the best-stocked bar on the block, also know that you can’t mix it up without a shaker, you can’t stir it all around without a stick and you will never get on the dance floor without a few moves. So peruse these references and get yourself an advantage, as in what the pros know that we don’t and start cookin’ behind the bar as feverishly as you do in front of the stove! All who imbibe will thank you.
bar tools
read it – get yourself some serious know-how
watch it – class is in session – videos await
bar techniques
read it – get yourself some serious know-how
watch it – class is in session – videos await
- how to rim a cocktail glass
- how to chill a glass
- how to pour ounces
- when to shake when to stir
- how to shake a cocktail
- how to muddle
- how to muddle mint
- don’t muddle mint
- how to use egg whites in cocktails
- how to strain cocktails properly
- how to use vermouth in cocktails
- shot pouring techniques
- how to make a shot glass out of ice
garnishes & ice
read it – get yourself some serious know-how
watch it – class is in session – videos await
beers
read it – get yourself some serious know-how
- best beers
- all about beer
- why beer?
- beer dictionary & glossary of terms
- beer styles 101
- the right beer glass guide
- interactive beer tasting tool
- the ultimate cooking with beer guide
- ales 101
- lagers 101
- craft beer 101
- specialty beers
- top 10 canadian beers
- flavored beers
- how to host a beer tasting
- great beer & food pairings
watch it – class is in session – videos await
beer cocktails
- the ultimate beer & ale recipe guide
- how to make beer cocktails
- beeraquirilla
- beer buster
- beer top
- beer & mint ice cream float
- black & brown
- black frog
- black & tan
- buccaneer
- clara
- dr. pepper #1
- lunch box #2
- michelada
- monaco
- pond water
- raspberry stupid
- root beer barrel
- shandy
- shellshock
- sip & get funky
- skip n’ go naked
cocktails
And now that you’ve armed yourself with the tools, techniques and fixins’ (see above ) you now need your playbook to mix it up like a hotshot. What better way to get it done than to see the pros in action. So check out how easy it is to whip up a few cocktails and learn first-hand that very often less is more, quality wins over quantity and a finely concocted cocktail can leave a vat of wine or keg of beer in the proverbial dust – how about a potent sip of something sensational. So saddle up to the bar and order up a neat one …
the only cocktail recipe guides you’ll ever need
- the ultimate drinks database
- the ultimate hot drinks guide
- ultimate mixed drink guide
- ultimate cocktail guide
- ultimate shots, shooters & slammers guide
- drink visual guide
- decadent cocktail recipes
- cocktail recipes by country
- the ultimate coffee & tea cocktail guide
- the ultimate champagne cocktail recipe guide
- the ultimate frozen cocktail recipe guide
- the ultimate hot cocktail recipe guide
bartenders in action
- bartending 101
- abbey
- abracadabra
- agent provocateur
- alaska cocktail
- american grog
- anna’s wash
- angel’s treat
- arizona twister
- arrowhead
- astronaut
- atlantic breeze
- aubade
- aunt agatha
- aunt mary
- bahia cooler
- bahama mama
- bahia cooler
- bald headed woman
- bali hai
- banana mama
- barracuda bite
- barrow blues
- beach baby
- bee’s knees
- bijou cocktail
- black russian
- blind melon
- bloody mary
- blue bird bath
- blue eyed blonde
- blue hawaiian
- blue train
- boulevard
- bourbon crusta
- bvd
- caipirinha
- captain hook
- champagne cocktail
- chi chi
- christmas in a cup
- climax
- corpse reviver
- cosmopolitan
- cuba libre
- cucumber southside
- daiquiri
- dark & stormy
- darth vadar
- dirty chevey
- dirty martini
- electric lemonade
- frozen daiquiri
- flaming dr. pepper
- flaming zombie
- flirtini
- french spring
- fuzzy navel
- gimlet
- gingerita
- grass skirt
- green devil
- hair of the dog
- harvey wallbanger
- hot buttered rum
- hot toddy
- hurricane
- irish candy
- jamaican milkshake
- kamikaze
- kiwi lime pie martini
- lady killer
- lemon drop
- liquid cocaine
- long island ice tea
- lynchburg lemonade
- mai tai
- manhattan
- margarita
- martini
- mint julep
- missy mule
- martini
- mojito
- moscow mule
- negroni
- old fashioned
- orgasm
- pain killer
- piña colada
- pisco sour
- planters punch
- red headed slut
- rob roy
- rum swizzle
- saint brooklyn
- sangria
- satan’s whiskers
- sazerac
- scorpion
- screwdriver
- seaweed
- sex on the beach
- sidecar
- singapore sling
- slow comfortable screw
- suffering bastard
- tequila mockingbird
- tequila sunrise
- thanksgiving special
- tom collins
- tootsie roll
- via veneto
- whiskey sour
- white lady
- white russian
- woo woo
- zombie
shots, shooters & novelties
- the ultimate shot recipe guide
- abc
- apple jack
- airhead shooter
- b-52
- bloody brain
- brain hemorrhage
- butter crown
- chocolate cake
- dirty girl scout
- flaming mongoose
- jello shots
- kamikaze shot
- lemon drop
- red, white & blue shooter
novelties
tasting tips
mocktails
And if flying on the lighter side is more your cup of tea or should I say cup of “hooch”, you can enjoy just the same. The challenge? The spirits very often carry the flavor so below you will find a playbook worthy of Bond and being a mocktailer, you can have as many as you want and be able to drive the entire party home!
read it – get yourself some serious know-how
watch it – class is in session – videos await
noshes & nibbles
What is happy hour without something to nibble on, and to be frank, it really should be mandatory … no munchies, no moonshine. It’s never a good idea to head down libation lane without a snack or two on the sidelines. With that said, it can be a no-brainer or it can be straight from the heart. It can be as simple as a quick trip to the deli counter where a little or alot of tasty goodies can be assembled in very short order. Think spicy salamis, ripened cheeses, pickled treats, zippy olives, artisan breads – consider a few prepared items like stuffed grape leaves, spanakopita or sausage rolls, hit the sushi case on your way out and you’re good to go. On the other hand, if you’re in the mood to get a little creative, check a few of the links below and create a few of your own tasty tapas to accompany your next cocktail. So thank the Lord – cocktails and their comrades are alive and well and living right in your very own kitchen. So don’t disappoint – if cocktails could talk, the glass would surely turn to the plate and ever so sweetly say, “you complete me” – enjoy!
bewitching bites
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watch it – class is in session – videos await
classic creations
read it – get yourself some serious know-how
watch it – class is in session – videos await
tricks & tonics
And just when you thought swinging from chandeliers and lampshades on heads was the only way to bring the fun back to a party, think again. Get yourself a few bottle tricks, cap tricks, card tricks or bring them all – along with cocktails, a throwback to bar tricks will keep your circle guessing.
bar tricks
- beer bottle bill trick
- beer bottle lighter trick
- 4 bottle caps in a row
- bottle cap trick
- dancing matches trick
- dime in a bottle trick
- freeze a beer in 2 seconds
- how to win money betting on an orange
- how to open a beer with paper
- paper clip trick
- pints & shots trick
- shot glass penetration
- shot glass pick up trick
- get wine in an upside down wine glass
and just in case …
Last, and by no means least, you never know when you’ll over do it and wish you really had died and gone to heaven. And when you do, please remember that everything you need to know to prevent, endure and recover from the ever-present possibility of the dreaded aftershock of too much, is just a click away – thanks to the crazed cook. And maybe a good place to start is with a blood alcohol calculator!
read it – get yourself some serious know-how
watch it – class is in session – videos await
wines
Talk about a vast topic – so in an attempt to inform, enlighten, inspire and imbibe – check out the links below, which will lead you to all sorts of wonderful winey places – informative and otherwise – from wine tasting 101 to the true miracle of wine to what do you mean it tastes like rocks?! We’d all like to know what the pretension’s about and lose a little of the confusion surrounding wine.
Oh yes, bring back the mighty Happy Hour! But if you get too Happy,OY! Payback: time to Get Rid of a Hangover. OK for sure, water is good for your body, your are 70% H2O. Drinking alcohol gets rid of a lot of it. Having a glass of water between each adult beverage helps keep you from dehydrating – and also can help you from assing out as quickly :-b Water before bed, water in the AM, with something like a wheat toast with peanut butter, banana slices and honey. there’s plenty of advice out there on how to Get Rid of a Hangover , you might just have to try around, until you find what works for you.