Glendora's Star Turn: Wine Cocktail and Her Big Commercial Break

Glendora makes her commercial debut as "wine shopper" on a commercial for Lenny's Liquors. She's even dating the executive producer, Lenny himself. Could this lead anywhere good? Stay tuned!

Cocktail Recipe with Tequila AND Mezcal

Can't choose between tequila and mezcal this happy hour? Choose both! Our lovely libation pairs them perfectly!

Rosemary's Baby Recipes

Halloween means horror films and today we have recipes inspired by one of our favorites, "Rosemary's Baby!" We have a Mousse au Chocolat from 1961's New York Times Cook Book, which you know New Yorker Minnie had in her collection, and what has become the definitive recipe for the Vodka Blush, created by our friend and cocktail expert, Peggy Nadramia. Shake up some cocktails, settle in and prepare to be unsettled!

Wondermint Schnapps - Tasting and Cocktail Recipes!

Here's Saturday night's live broadcast, in which we taste and mix cocktails with Wondermint schnapps, from Death's Door Spirits! We came up with several new recipes for Christmas cocktails (you may think it's too early, but it will be here before you know it), so tune in and get ahead of your holiday schedule!

Road Trip & Cocktail Recipe: Black Dirt Distillery

For today's happy hour we have a real treat: a visit to the Black Dirt Distillery in Pine Island, New York! The make fabulous bourbon and applejack, along with fruit cordials, cider, gin and more! We have highlights from our visit, along with a Manhattan variation using their bourbon and sour cherry cordial. What are you waiting for? Watch the episode and start mixing!

Candy Corn: An Autumn Classic

We're all about candy corn today at the Kitsch-en, with a cocktail inspired by the flavors in candy corn, along with an appetizer that's ridiculously easy to prepare, yet surprisingly delicious. You can use the time you save on food prep to make yourself another drink! Cheers!

Blue Cotton Candy Cocktail Recipe

Today's happy hour cocktail is a little blue something I call "Stumbling Home from the State Fair." It's a three-way collaboration with the fabulous Xingcat and Laurice's Kitchen YouTube channels and we had so much fun playing with them! Be sure to catch their videos after ours and grab yourself a bottle of blue cotton candy syrup, if you dare... (cue ominous music)

The Case of the Missing Merlot - A Velveteen Lounge Kitsch-en Mystery

Cousin Glendora is back in today's episode, "The Case of the Missing Merlot!" Perhaps if she bought it by the case she wouldn't lose it. Join us for gin cocktails, bourbon cheese balls, a cast of shady characters and hard-hitting intrigue. Will Glendora and her wine be reunited? Tune in and find out!

Immature Brandy: What An Opener

On this evening's live broadcast we sampled and mixed cocktails with "immature brandy," something we'd never heard of before. I'm pleased to say we enjoyed it, along with all the drinks we tried. Join us as we fall down the rabbit hole of immature brandy!

Allow Rum to Help You Ease Into Fall

We can't help noticing that the days are getting shorter, the leaves are changing and that fall has arrived. Don't let the growing lack of sunlight bring you down! Our lovely libation is just what the doctor ordered to help cope with the creeping darkness!

Cocktail Recipes & Records!

Did you miss tonight's live broadcast from the Kitsch-en? No worries, it lives here forever! We won't be making any money on this one, since someone claimed copyright infringement on one of the songs that was played. Sigh. I'm glad that, in general, we have our OWN music that we use. written for us. It's a little annoying that, if we tried to fight it (I don't think these people are copyright holders, either), the burden would entirely be on us. We need to sell glassware and bitters in our online store to keep on top of things like legal fees!  Here's that link, just in case you were so inclined... Velveteen Lounge Kitsch-en Store



Have a fabulous week and stay out of troubl

By Request: Storm Cocktails

I have put off collecting storm cocktails for a post here, since the last thing I want is to seem like I'm making light of the terrifying storms that have been and are happening. There is nothing amusing about folks losing their homes, businesses and worse. However, I've had a couple of requests for storm cocktails from people who are actually IN the storm zones and you know I'd never deny anyone a lovely libation! So, with no further ado, here are some vintage drinks in the stormy spirit! In the above video you'll find the Dark & Stormy. Please be safe, everyone!

Not the Hurricane we all know and love, but who cares at a time like this?

Wild in the Streets! A Bubbly Cocktail for the Weekend

Today we're kicking off the three-day weekend with a happy hour cocktail featuring cachaça and Barrow's Intense Ginger Liqueur! In fact, I could go for one right now! Have a fabulous holiday weekend!

Vintage Cocktails For When You're Not Having It

Is it just me, or have you noticed lately that everyone seems to have an opinion about you, your life and the things you do and that, furthermore, they're determined to share those opinions with you, regardless of how uninterested you may be in hearing said opinions? If this sounds familiar to you, here are some on-theme vintage cocktails to help dull the pain of unwelcome input. If you aren't suffering fools these days, lucky you. Go ahead and celebrate your success in avoiding the annoying with one of these lovely libations, brought to you by one of my favorite bar guides, Bar Guide: Published by TRUE, The Men's Magazine (1950), which is both "authentic and hilarious" if they do say so themselves. I think we could all use a laugh!

You'll find that, after a couple of these medicinal brews, the screeching, opinionated, negative voices gently melt into the background along with the ambient noise of everyday life. Isn't that better?

Wet & Wild on National Lipstick Day

It's National Lipstick Day and I think that calls for a drink! Here's one I created especially for the occasion, Wet & Wild!

Wet & Wild

2 oz light rum

3/4 oz Giffard Creme de Framboise (you can substitute another raspberry liqueur if this isn't available)

1 1/4 oz cold press watermelon juice

1/2 oz fresh lime juice

3 dashes of cherry bitters

Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass rimmed with pink sugar or disco dust.

Happy National Lipstick Day!

Classic Cocktails for Shark Week

On tomorrow's happy hour episode we'll have an all-new original cocktail created especially for Shark Week! However, you might be thirsty today, so here are some options for Shark Week viewing from 1947's Bartender's Guide...by Trader Vic. All would be lovely on a summer evening and would add a little something to any beach party.

Since we're visiting 1947, here are some gratuitous shark shots from 1947's Kon-Tiki expedition across the Pacific because sharks!

Pour an Easy Rum Party!

The weekend is upon us and you may be tempted to pour an easy rum party. Happily, we have recipes for that, courtesy of Pour an Easy Rum Party (1975), brought to you by Rums of Puerto Rico! There's something here for all of your weekend needs, whether you're cooking out or in. Click on the images to see them full sized.

Have a fabulous weekend!

Mocktail Monday: Peaches & Kitsch

It's Mocktail Monday and today we're in a tiki mood, with a little something you can enjoy right now, without fear of being fired or thrown out of school, Peaches & Kitsch!

Peaches & Kitsch

2 oz Ocean Spray 100% Juice Cranberry-Mango

3/4 oz fresh lime juice

2 dashes Angostura bitters

4 oz IZZE Sparkling Peach soda

Combine all ingredients in a small tiki mug or double old-fashioned glass and stir gently.

Have a fabulous week!

Ant Invasion? You Need A Drink!

I live for spring, but there is one yearly ritual that comes with the warmer weather that I could do without: the ant invasion. Our house was built in 1938 and let's just say it's a little porous. At some point (sometimes more than once if it warms up, then gets cold again, then warms up again) the ants make their way in and proceed to thoroughly gross me out. Like Frank Costanza on "Seinfeld," "I will not tolerate infestation!" They're huge, too. I feel like James Whitmore, battling the giant ants in the movie "Them!"

It's enough to send a sensitive soul straight for the bar! I don't have a vintage cocktail specifically related to ants, but this one is one letter away and I'm ready to up the ante on ant removal! 

A little liquid courage, courtesy of The Bartender's Guide, by Patrick Gavin Duffy (1948), though I'll probably wait until happy hour to start drowning my ant-created sorrows. Wish me luck!

Easy and Inexpensive Cocktail Glamour

Don't you love it when you order a cocktail in a bar or restaurant and a beautifully designed drink is delivered? It's so easy and inexpensive to add a little glamour to your cocktails at home and we happen to have a few easy fixes in our Amazon affiliate store!

Marabou cocktail slippers. All of the glamour of a Jayne Mansfield or Mamie Van Doren epic and a built-in coaster! Click here for details!

Slide those slippers onto these classic cocktail glasses! Ignore the photo - they're all clear and the perfect size for the drinks we make on the show! Click here!

Disco dust. Sprinkle a little of this on top of your drink for all of the sparkle of an evening at Studio 54, with none of the attendant sleaziness. Click here for info!

Do you enjoy boxed wine, yet prefer not to advertise that fact? You need this! Stylish, functional and no one needs to know! See it here!

Here's the link to our online store, with our branded "Velveteen Lounge Kitsch-en" products and our Amazon affiliate store! If you're looking for cocktail glamour, you've come to the right place! http://www.velveteenloungekitsch-en.com/shop.htm

Thanks for visiting and happy hunting! Your purchases help us to fund the show!