Thursday, November 13, 2008

Margarita Butter

Nothing like a little "hooch" added to your best sauces and sauce toppings. This form of butter is wonderful on seafood and baked potatoes! Use only your lower shelf Tequilas, though. ENJOY!

1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup diced red onion
1/2 cup white wine
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 sticks of unsalted butter (cut in to cubes)
1 shot Tequila
Juice of 1 lime
salt and pepper to taste

Heat a small sauce pan over medium heat and add oil. Add onion and cook until translucent. Deglaze pan with wine and reduce by 1/2. Add cream, lower heat and reduce by 1/2. Stir in butter, a bit at a time,over low heat, until all is used and the sauce thickens. Stir in Tequila and lime juice. Season with salt and pepper.




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Saturday, October 25, 2008

Mary Pickford Cocktail

Mary Pickford was probably the 1st American female movie star. Famous for being "America's sweetheart", Mary was actually born in Canada. Though you will never get the opportunity to see Mary Pickford live on stage, you still can enjoy the drink recipe that shares her namesake.

* Ice
* 11/2 ounces light rum
* 1 ounce pineapple juice
* 1 teaspoon maraschino liqueur
* 1 teaspoon grenadine
* garnish with maraschino cherry

Fill a cocktail shaker 2/3 with ice
Add the rum, grenadine, and maraschino liqueur
shake for at least 30 seconds
strain in to a martini glass and garnish with cherry

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Thursday, October 2, 2008

How To Have A Home Bar Halloween Party

When that time of year rolls around when the days get gradually cooler and the trees change color, It is time to plan a Halloween party around your home bar. Home bars are great "centerpieces" in which to focus on the theme of your party. They are a natural place for guests to get acquainted and food and beverages to be served.This article will focus on some ideas for party themes, favors, decorations and entertainment.

When all is said and done, a Halloween party would not be complete without costumes. Your decision on costumes has everything to do with the selection of the theme of your party, and the guests you intend to invite. Some party themes will probably require that you and your guests rent or purchase professionally designed costumes. If you feel renting or purchasing costumes will be necessary, consult with your guests first. On the other hand, some party themes will be easily suited to homemade costumes. Let your imagination be your guide.

A theme that is easily adapted to your home bar would be a "wild west" theme. All your guests should be given a particular "character" to play. The females should probably uniformly be "saloon girls", as they were the only women allowed in saloons. If you have a friend with a bushy mustache, he could be the bartender. Just slick back his hair and give him an apron or vest. A fun form of entertainment would be to have a "gunfight" between a designated marshall and a wanted "bad" guy. Water pistols only, of course!

Tables could be set up for poker and black jack games, with an appropriately dressed dealer. Whole peanuts in the shell and pretzels are perfect snacks "of the day."Make sure that you have mugs for the beer and old fashioned shot glasses for decoration.

If your home bar has a "retro" theme, a "Star Wars" theme could be great fun. Most of us remember the famous futuristic bar scene from Star Wars. You could attempt to duplicate some of the characters who appeared in the scene, as well as the traditional members of the cast. For a "Star Wars" theme, you are probably going to need professional costumes and props.Fun drink selections would consist of the imaginative use of food colorings."The music might be hits from the 50's or 60's, which is certainly ironic in a futuristic gathering. Another fun activity would be to play charades in costume. That is always good for a few laughs!

A couple of final party theme ideas would be a "gypsy"theme. You could have Tarot card and palm reading as entertainment. Or even a 60's and 70's theme, complete with bell bottoms and "Beatle" wigs. The point of the party is to have fun and "cut loose."Please remember to plan ahead, Halloween is right around the corner. Happy Halloween!


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Friday, September 12, 2008

Have You Tried Gin Cocktails With The New Gin?



Gin is definitely on the "comeback" trail when it comes to the palates of U.S. consumers. From 2005-2006, high end gin purchases increased a whopping 18%! Gin sales totaled nearly 870 million dollars in the U.S. Of course, Vodka sales totaled nearly 5 billion dollars, but still a hefty increase. Experts have noted a dramatic increase in the use of gin in martinis over vodka as compared to the 1990's.

So why this increase in popularity for a beverage that has been around for centuries? Probably because there are so many new gins in the marketplace.Although gin's primary flavoring agent is juniper, every distiller adds an individualized recipe of herbs and flavorings. Coriander, angelica root, cardamom, cassia bark, orris root, carraway, anise, fruit peels and others vary greatly in flavor and intensity. The trend now is moving away from Strictly juniper to others that showcase a wider variety of the flavor spectrum. Tanqueray No 10 was one of the first gins to bring citrus to the forefront, and it really was a smashing success! rangpur, a Tanqueray creation, has integrated limes from India to brighten it's flavor harmonies. It would seem that the citrus influence has had a particular appeal to the younger generations of gin drinkers

.Gin has truly become an international pheonomena, with popular entries from New Zealand, France, and Estonia. The flavoring agents hail from around the globe as well. Vanilla from Madagascar, nutmeg from Indonesia, cassia from Southeast asia etc. etc.Even dry London gins, long time the standard for the beverage, has received challenges from Dutch Gins, the authentic genevers. They are aged in wood and have a bold taste due to their malt base.

The newer genevers have adopted a cleaner, more modern style.Gin is a wonderfully versatile addition to any home bar's assortment of distilled spirits. Whether you prefer the classic elegance of a gin martini, or the wonderfully refreshing taste of a gin and tonic, it is no surprize that gin has attracted a whole new following of ardent admirers.

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Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Cocktail Party Planning Tips

Sooner or later, one of the great challenges that home bar owners face, is planning cocktail parties.As the number of guests increase, so do the challenges involved with planning the party. Consequently, this article will focus on planning a large cocktail party featuring between 40-50 invited guests. The "rule of thumb" is to plan on having each guest consuming approximately 4 beverages. I say "beverages" because they could be bottles of beer or non-alcoholic beverages in addition to wine and mixed drinks.

We'll start with our suggestions about types and quantities of liquor. Generally youll want more Vodka than Gin. We suggest 2 1.75 liters of Vodka and one of Gin. One liter of Scotch should do the trick and 2 bottles of Rum, preferably one dark and one light. Tequila has dramatically increased in popularity, so you'll want at least 2 liters. More, if you plan on featuring Margaritas. A bottle of Canadian Whiskey and Bourbon should do nicely. For the Martini drinkers, you'll need 2 bottles of Vermouth,(one sweet and one dry). It always handy to have a small bottle of Brandy or Cognac,( one pint)

You'll need to have plenty of Wine and beer. In many circles wine is far more popular than mixed drinks. Five bottles of red wine should be adequate. Merlots and Cabernets are popular choices. As far as white wine, 4 bottles should be enough. Most of the white wines should be Chardonnays and Pinot Grigios. You'll want 4 cases of assorted beers, (light beers, Pilsners, Lagers and Ales).

The non alcohol drinkers will want 6 liters of Coca-Cola and 3 liters of 7-Up. The Gin and Vodka drinkers will need 4 liters of tonic water and a csae of sparkling water. Don't forget a case of spring water as well. For fruit mixers, 6 small cans of grapefruit juice and the same amount of cranberry juice will be needed. Fresh orange juice is always a big hit, so keep 2 liters on hand. Finally, have enough coffee for 6 pots, and a quart of cream.

Needless to say, you'll need plenty of supplies in addition to the beverages. Make totally sure that you have an average of 1 lb of ice per guest. A dozen lemons and a dozen limes, along with bottles of cocktail olives and Mararchino cherries. Last, but not least, have cocktail onions,(one jar), plenty of stir sticks and straws. Oops! you'll need cocktail napkins aplenty!

Did we forget anything? I'm sure we did. It's obvious that you'll need plenty of appropriate glassware and shot glasses. And, for heaven's sake, don't leave out the wine opener! Hopefully these suggestions will make your cocktail party a big success. You'll be glad that you have a home bar with plenty of storage and ample serving area. Most of all, have fun, and remember that it's better to have too much of something than too little!


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Tuesday, September 9, 2008

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!

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Monday, September 8, 2008

How To Mix A Heavenly Martini

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!

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