Summertime + Good Wine = Good times!

Now that it's summer what better way to enjoy the weather and good conversation than over a nice glass of wine. Here are some great summer wines that will please your pallet and your wallets.

LaMarca Prosecco ($14)

For a surprisingly nice sparkling wine, try the new LaMarca Prosecco. The nose hints at sweetness, but there's plenty of acidity to give this lightly fizzy wine good snap, and a sort of sweet-tart quality.

Jekel Riesling 2008 ($11)

Breathe in a wonderful bouquet of peach, apricot and orange blossom, while your taste buds experience a basket of fresh fruits with a melange of lemon, apple, peach and pineapple. Bring anything spicy, salty or smoked to fruition with this easy sipper.

Wild Rock Rose Vin Gris 2008 ($15)

This blush is the ideal summer sipper thanks to its ripe strawberry and red cherry flavors, with tropical fruit notes and a refreshing lift of acidity. Try it with chicken satay or spicy Singapore noodles, as its medium-sweet nature will help counteract the heat of the chillies and other Asian spices.

La Playa Sauvignon Blanc Late Harvest ($10)

With aromas of melon, quince and papaya, it is sweet yet well balanced with lingering fresh acidity and notes of spices and toffee. Best served chilled.

Moonstone Asian Pear Sake ($13)

Lush aroma of fresh off the tree Asian Pear Apple, creamy body with big pear flavors and a hint of sweetness. A truly enjoyable drink whether with a meal or on its own.

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Candy Martinis

As if they weren't sweet enough already, here are some cool candy flavored martinis to soothe even the sweetest tooth. Bubblegum Martini Ingredients: 2 oz. Three Olives Bubblegum Vodka 1 oz. Cask & Cream Splash of grenadine Directions Shake all the ingredients together with ice Strain into a chilled martini glass Sweet-Tart Lollipop Martini Ingredients DeKuyper Razzmatazz Raspberry Schnapps - 1/4 shot Absolut Citron - 1/4 shot Amaretto - 1/4 shot Bacardi Limon Rum - 1/4 shot Peach Schnapps - 1/4 shot Lemonade - fill Directions Mix all ingredients in a Collins glass over ice (if a 32 oz. glass is available double all the ingredients), mix in a shaker and serve with a cherry. Serve in a Collins Glass Cotton Candy Martini Ingredients Raspberry flavored vodka, 2 oz Chambord (Raspberry liqueur), 1 oz Grenadine, a splash Champagne, a splash Pink cotton candy, a generous chunk Crushed ice...

Cocktails with Funny Names

So we are all familiar with drinks like Cosmos, Dirty Martinis, Manhattans, Red Headed Sluts and Irish Car Bombs but what about other drinks that are a little more kookier? Like have you ever heard of a James the Evil Leprechaun, Sex with an Alligator or Smoker’s Cough (the ingredients to this one is groooosssss!) I know that I haven't but apparently they are pretty popular and some (with exception to Smoker's Cough) actually sound pretty good and are easy to make. Here is a listing of other cool cocktails that I have found that have some pretty interesting names. Rooster Tail 1 shot Jose Cuervo® Especial gold tequila 1 shot orange juice 1 shot tomato juice 1 dash salt Lick hand, add salt, and lick salt. Consume quickly as shots, in order; Jose Cuervo, orange juice, and tomato juice. Barking Spider 1 1/2 oz Tarantula Azul Tequila 1 1/2 oz Blue Curacao liqueur 3/4 oz Bacardi® 151 rum 1 dash triple sec 1 dash sweet and sour mix 1 splash orange juice. Ser...

Really, really gross cocktail names

So if Pink Squirrels and Spicy Chuiahuas weren't bad enough here are some cocktails that sound so gross it's hard to imagine they'd taste good. I will even put the cocktail on a rating list of thumbs up and thumbs down if it's not that bad, maybe even good or if it is just out right gross: Duck Fart Jack Daniel’s® Whiskey, Amaretto Almond Liqueur, Bailey’s® Irish cream Rating: Thumbs Up I like whiskey and the ingredients are super yummy. Smoker’s Cough Jagermeister, Mayonnaise Rating: Thumbs Down Who the hell puts mayonnaise in their drinks . Panty Remove r Lemon Gin, Sprite, Grenadine Rating: Thumbs Up Sounds tasty enough to remove even the toughest panties. James the Evil Leprechaun Jameson® Irish Whiskey, Bushmills® Irish Whiskey, Tullamore Dew® Irish Whiskey, Powers® Irish Whiskey Rating: Thumbs Up Like I said...I like whiskey...a lot. Sex with an Alligator Sweet and Sour Mix, Midori® Melon Liqueur, Ra...

Yummy Autumn Cocktails

While the weather is getting slightly chillier and the days are getting darker earlier, all the tall tell signs of fall are closing in quickly! Time to break out the cinnamon and spices and prepare some fall cocktails. Yamazaki Autumn Delight All of my readers should know by now how much I love whiskey! Here is a great whiskey recipe perfect for the fall. Ingredients: 2 oz Yamazaki 12 year old whiskey 6 oz Apple Cider Fresh cinnamon Preparation: Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake and strain into an ice filled old-fashioned glass . Dust with fresh cinnamon. Garnish with 2 apple slices and a cinnamon stick. Banana Nut Bread Martini Serves 1 From Christina Torres, mixologist at Geisha. 1 ounce Frangelico liqueur 1/2 ounce banana liqueur 1 ounce biscotti liqueur Dash of ground cinnamon 1/2 banana sprinkled with cinnamon and mint leaf, for garnish Directions In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine all ingred...

Halloween Themed Drinks/Shots

Building your cocktail list for your upcoming Halloween party, or just want to try some fun drinks with the girls? Here are a few cocktail and shot recipes that are sure to be as big of a hit as they are creepy! Brain Hemorrhage This shot definitely more tasty than it looks! Using Baileys and grenadine definitely adds to the "brainy" affect, even in a small shot glass! Ingredients/ Directions: 1/2 - 3/4 oz. Peach Schnapps Float 1-2 Tbl. of Baileys on top Drop 1 tsp of grenadine through the Baileys. Theatrical magic . . . and it tastes like Peaches and Cream! Pumpkin Punch Make this festive Halloween cocktail throughout the fall. This is the perfect mild cocktail to serve your guests. Serve in a martini glass and garnish with a black licorice straw or black and white peppermint stick. The bright orange color is super-festive for Halloween! Ingredients 2 cups orange juice 2 cups chilled sparkli...

Pumpkin Cocktails!

It's official- it is now fall. Time to break out the comfy sweaters and prepare for the brisk days ahead. With Halloween being less that thirty days away why wait until get your hands on a yummy pumpkin treat? Here are a few recipes that sure to warm up the chilliest afternoon! Pumpkin Milkshake Ingredients 2 Oz Dark Rum 1 Can Pumpkin Puree 1 Pint Vanilla Ice Cream, softened 4 Cup(s) Skim Milk 1 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon 1/2 Teaspoon Ground Nutmeg Whipped Cream (Optional) Directions Place the pumpkin, ice cream, milk, cinnamon, and nutmeg into a blender. Blend slowly until thickened. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream on top, if you'd like. To make this drink pregnant friendly just remove the rum from the recipe! Pumpkin Cocktails- from Girlydrinks.com Spiced Pumpkin Pie Martini Spiced Pumpkin Pie Ingredients 4 ounces vodka Pumpkin spice 1 ounce Vanilla vodka Spiced Pumpkin Pie Recipe Pour all of the liquid ingredients into a shaker of ice; shake. Strain ma...

Heeeeey Margarita!

Who doesn't love a good margarita during the summer? Be it blended or on the rocks, these tasty treats can be easily made and decorated with great fruits! Here are a few recipes to try! El Patron -A generous pour of Patron® Silver Tequila (100% Blue Agave), Cointreau® and Grand Marnier,® with fresh squeezed lime juice. Shaken and served on the rocks. Baja Caborita - Sammy Hagar’s Cabo Wabo® Blanco Tequila (100% Blue Agave), Midori® Melon Liqueur, sour mix, pineapple juice and fresh squeezed lime. Lightly blended, served on the rocks. Hornito Rita - Experience a whole new class of margarita. Sauza® Hornitos 100% Blue Agave Reposado Tequila, Cointreau® Orange Liqueur and lime juice served on the rocks and topped with Grand Marnier® Orange Liqueur. Margarita Fresa - A frozen strawberry (fresa) ‘Rita with Sauza® Commemorativo oak-aged Anejo Tequila, Cointreau® Orange Liqueur, Island Oasis® Strawberries and sour mix with a pink sugar rim. [ Source ] Beer ...

Want To Drink Like A MadMen?

Though I have only watched a few episodes of the show, I know quite a few people who are totally enamored by it's wittiness and charm. This show, which is set in the 60's, is chalked full of old fashioned but tasty cocktails. So why not try one? Here are a few cocktails that have been featured on the show: Moscow Mule Ingredients 1¼ oz vodka 3 oz ginger beer 1 tsp sugar syrup ¼ oz lime juice 1 sprig mint 1 slice limeInstructions In a copper mug or cocktail glass, pour vodka over ice. Add sugar syrup and lime juice. Top with ginger beer and stir. Garnish with mint sprig and lime slice. Brandy Alexander Ingredients ¾ oz cream ¾ oz brandy ¾ oz dark crème de cacao Nutmeg Instructions Pour the liquors and cream into a mixing glass. Shake and pour in martini glass. Garnish with a sprinkle of nutmeg on top. Greyhound (Wow there is actually a name for mixing vodka and grapefruit juice? I just called it my Wednesday afternoon.) Ingredients 2 oz vodka 5 oz grapef...

Bread Martinis

Who said bread is only for eating? Try these fun bread influenced martini cocktails and have your slice of heaven today. Gingerbread Martini Ingredients 1 ounce vanilla vodka 1 ounce hazelnut-flavored liqueur (recommended: Frangelico) 1/2 ounce butterscotch schnapps Ice cubes 4 ounces ginger beer (recommended: Reed's Ginger Brew) Dark rum Gingerbread man cookie (recommended: Pepperidge Farm), for garnish Directions Pour the vanilla vodka, hazelnut liqueur, and butterscotch schnapps into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well. Strain into high ball glass or any 8-ounce glass filled with ice. Top with ginger beer. Pour a little dark rum over the back of a spoon and float on top of the ginger beer. Garnish with a gingerbread man cookie. Chocolate Pumpkin Pie Martini (Yes it is as yummy as it sounds) Ingredients ¾ ounce vanilla flavored vodka, Smirnoff ½ ounce Irish cream liqueur, Baileys ½ ounce coffee liqueur ½ ounce crème de...

Moms in the City - Cocktails

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