Moms in the City - Cocktails

In tribute to our last blog about the history of Absinthe here are some cocktails using it as one of the ingredients. I haev to say that they actually sound pretty good.  Cheers!  Absinthe B-55 1/3 shot coffee liqueur 1/3 shot Bailey's Irish Cream 1/3 shot Absinthe Directions/Comments: Layer all the ingredients in whiskey glass. Absinthe Curacao Frappe 1 oz Absinthe 1/2 oz Curacao 1 tsp lemon juice 2 tsp orange juice 1 orange slice Directions/Comments: Stir ingredients together and pour over crushed ice in a deep-saucer champagne glass. Add an orange slice to garnish. Inferno 2 oz Red Absinthe 1 lime in wedges syrup fresh mint leaves Directions/Comments: Muddle the ingredients in a rocks glass. Add crushed ice.  London Fog 1 1/2 oz. Gin 1/4 oz. Absinthe's Absinthe Frappe in a highball glass. Round Robin 1 Egg White 1 Tsp. Sugar 1 oz. Absinthe 1 oz. Brandy Shake with ice and strain into a wine glass.    Moranguito 2/5 Absinthe...

So with the return of the ever famous Absinthe to US bars one is left to wonder what is the deal with absinthe anyway? I tried absinthe a few years ago with a girlfriend of mine and quite frankly I was not impressed. It tasted heavily like black licorice and cough syrup, almost like a Black Martini and to top it off I felt no special "effects" from the drink. So what the hell? I thought the artwork was going to come to life and that I was going to be able to see through walls. So what is the big deal? Apparently the absinthe that has been made and released over the last few years is a much more subtle and diluted version from the original. The As for it's history, many famous artist such as Manet, Van Gogh, Picasso, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Ernest Hemmingway it was the drink of choice and they used to drink absinthe religiously. Apparently on the opposite note absinthe had been associated with violent crimes and social disorder. In the early 1900's it is said that m...

So if you are a whiskey lover like I am then you will have an appreciation for this drink. The only problem with it is that it's not the easiest to make and you have to have the specific ingredients but they concoct a yummy drink. Whizz-Bang Ingredients: Cocktail shaker Ice cubes 2 oz. scotch 1 oz. sweet French vermouth 2 dashes absinthe 2 dashes grenadine syrup 2 dashes orange bitters Chilled cocktail glass Orange peel, for garnish Instructions: Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice cubes. Add the scotch, sweet French vermouth, absinthe, grenadine syrup and orange bitters to the cocktail shaker. Cover the cocktail shaker with the palm of your hand or the supplied top and shake gently for 15 to 20 seconds. Strain the contents of the cocktai...

To make your favorite cocktail instantly healthier, first and foremost choose organic spirits . Unless of course you enjoy sucking down chemicals. Don't forget that your favorite vodka, gin, tequila, sake, or whiskey started as a seedling. Whatever fed that little sprout became part of its makeup—water, chemical sprays, plant food and all. Sure, those chemicals and fertilizers where sprayed with the intention of "protecting" the crops from invading insects and illness, but they also seeped into the earth; and the circle of contaminated soil, water, and our bloodstream so began. Point? Organic spirits are free from noxious chemicals making them healthier for the planet and for you. Not sure if your alcohol of choice is offered organically? You'd be surprised. Here are a few to try: Vodka Vodka 14 , a craft-quality USDA Certified Organic vodka produced by Altitude Spirits. Square One Organic Vodka is an ultra-premium, certified 100% organic vodka made...

In composing this list of the five best healthy cocktails, taste, volume and caloric values were given equal consideration, as a really great healthy cocktail should satisfy your tastebuds and not at the expense of your health.  Keep in mind that if you don't like a particular liquor or brand of liquor, you may substitute another, provided you avoid malt liquors and liquors mixed with sugar.  When creating your healthy cocktails, always keep in mind that liquor contains 75 to 125 calories per ounce . Beginning with a classic and working down, the five best healthy cocktails are as follows: Jack and Diet Coke .  It may not be the smoothest whisky in the world, but it is one of the best to mix with.  Order Jack Daniels on the side and mix it yourself to ensure the perfect calorie controlled healthy cocktail.  For added sweetness and just a few calories more, top it off with a maraschino cherry or two. Skinny Cosmopolitan .  The Cosmopolit...

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...

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...

  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...

Want to participate with the girls with the drinking fun but you are either pregnant or don't drink alcohol? Don't fret my friends, you still have options! While there are drinks like Shirley Temple cocktails and sparkling wines we aren't exactly 14 years old anymore and would prefer something with a little more flavor. There is the option for non-alcoholic beer and virgin margaritas sometimes the occasion just calls for a simple glass of wine. Ariel wines are perfect for all of these reasons and not only do they come in different varieties of red and wines but they are also inexpensive and easy to find at your local wine store. Visit their website here for more information on the awards they have won as well as how to order through the website.

Ready to add a lil kick to your end of summer cocktails? Try these recipes from LA Times that are sure to spice up your summer! Check out all of the spice cocktails here !

Mittie Hellmich’s Three-Berry Basil Rose Sangria Photo Credit: Victoria Pearson   Ingredients • ½ cup fresh or frozen raspberries, rinsed • ½ cup fresh or frozen blueberries, rinsed • ½ cup fresh or frozen blackberries, rinsed • ¼ cup fresh basil leaves (about 6 medium leaves) • 1 ounce brandy • 2 ounces Drambruie • 750ml bottle dry rose wine, chilled • 12 ounces club soda, chilled • About 3 cups ice cubes • 4 to 6 basil sprigs for garnish (optional) Directions In a large (at least 2-quart) glass pitcher, mix together the berries and basil. Add the brandy and Drambruie, and stir to combine. Slowly pour in the wine, stirring gently. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or as long as overnight. When ready to serve, add the club soda and stir gently with a long-handled wooden spoon. Fill highballs, wineglasses, or other decorative glasses with ice cubes and slowly pour the sangria over the ice, allowing berries to fall into the glasses. Garnish each glass with a basil sp...

The perfect opposite to the Red Sangria , this recipe calls for nothing special besides some delicious wine and some fresh fruit to add some flavor to your next party. Prep Time: 5 minutes | Total Time: 5 minutes Ingredients: 1 Bottle of white wine (Riesling, Albarino, Chablis, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc) 2/3 cup white sugar 3 oranges (sliced) or may substitute 1 cup of orange juice) 1 lemon (sliced) 1 lime (sliced) 1/2 liter of ginger ale or club soda (ginger ale for those with a sweeter tooth!) Preparation: Pour wine in the pitcher and squeeze the juice wedges from the orange,lemon and lime into the wine. Toss in the fruit wedges (leaving out seeds if possible) and add sugar. Chill overnight. Add ginger ale or club soda just before serving. If you'd like to serve right away, use chilled white wine and serve over lots of ice. Addition ideas: sliced strawberries, peaches, handful of fresh blueberries, raspberries, kiwi, a shot or two o...

Sangria is one of the most traditional and delicious cocktails for the summer using marrying not only wine but an array of yummy fruits. Here is a simple red sangria recipe to try that is quick and easy to make from About.com Prep Time: 5 minutes | Total Time: 5 minutes Ingredients : 1 Bottle of red wine (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Rioja, Zinfandel, Shiraz) 1 Lemon cut into wedges 1 Orange cut into wedges 1 Lime cut into wedges 2 Tbsp sugar Splash of orange juice or lemonade 2 Shots of gin or triple sec (optional) 1 Cup of raspberries or strawberries (may use thawed or frozen) 1 Small can of diced pineapples (with juice) 4 Cups ginger ale Preparation: Pour wine into a large pitcher and squeeze the juice wedges from the lemon, orange and lime into the wine. Toss in the fruit wedges (leaving out seeds if possible) and pineapple then add sugar, orange juice and gin. Chill overnight. Add ginger ale, berries and ice just before serving. If you'd like to serve righ...