Late December Cocktail

Our fundraising campaign for Feeding America is still underway and we have a cozy, year-end cocktail for another fabulous donor! This one is perfect for curling up with on a snowy weekend (or enjoying by the pool, if you're lucky enough to be in warm weather)!

Late December Cocktail

Late December (created for Ann Renee)

1 oz vodka

1/2 oz orange liqueur (I used Gran Gala)

4 dashes of Angostura bitters

Merlot

Combine all ingredients in a wine glass and stir. For a lower alcohol version, omit the vodka.

Thank you, Ann Renee! Your generosity is deeply appreciated! Happy New Year!

Round 3: Cocktails for Fabulous Folks!

Here's round three of cocktails for fabulous donors to our fundraising campaign for Feeding America! We still owe a couple of fabulous ladies cocktails that will appear in upcoming episodes, but don't worry, ladies - we'll get you those recipes before the episodes go online so that you can enjoy your drinks sooner! In the meantime, here are three lovely libations, with our profound thanks to the generous donors who inspired them:

Licor de Amor

Licor de Amor (created for Roxanne)

1 1/2 oz brandy

1 1/2 oz anise liqueur

1/4 oz fresh lime juice

1 oz Italian lemon soda

A dash of Peychaud's bitters

Combine brandy, anise liqueur and lime juice, shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Top with soda and a dash of Peychaud's bitters.

Naughty or Nice?

Naughty or Nice? (created for Christine)

2 oz amber rum

1/2 oz Aperol

1/4 oz cinnamon schnapps

1/2 oz fresh lime juice

2 dashes of orange bitters

Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a slice of candy fruit and a lump of chocolate coal.

Hibiscus Holiday

Hibiscus Holiday (created for Barbara)

1 oz amber rum

3/4 oz hibiscus liqueur

2 dashes of chocolate bitters

4 dashes of orange bitters

Chilled dry sparkling white wine

Combine all ingredients except the wine, shake with ice and strain into a champagne flute with a pink sugar rim. Fill with wine and serve.

A million thanks to our wonderful donors! We'll have even more very soon!

More Holiday Cocktails for More Fabulous Donors!

Friday means happy hour here at the Kitsch-en and this week we have four cocktails for you, all created for fabulous donors to our Feeding America fundraiser! There will be even more this weekend, since we have more wonderful donors to serve!

We're so grateful for everyone's generosity in helping this fabulous cause - thank you all!

North Pole: After Hours

North Pole: After Hours (created for Steve)

2 oz rye

1/2 oz Art in the Age Ginger Snap liqueur

8 dashes of molasses bitters

A twist of lime

Serve on the rocks.

Stardust

Stardust (created for Julie)

2 oz gold tequila

1/2 oz vanilla liqueur (I used Xanath)

1/2 oz cherry liqueur (I used Rothman & Winter Orchard Cherry)

1/2 oz fresh lime juice

A dash of Angostura bitters

Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a pink cherry.

Winter Solstice

Winter Solstice (created for Robert and featured in last Tuesday's episode)

2 oz amber rum

1/2 oz cherry liqueur (see above)

1/2 oz fresh lime juice

3/4 oz blueberry juice

Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass with a coconut rim. Create rim by dipping the rim of the glass in light corn syrup, allowing excess to drip away, then dipping in shredded coconut.

Des Yeti

Des Yeti (created for Kristy and Geoff and featured in today's episode)

2 oz gin

1/2 oz raspberry liqueur

1/2 oz elderflower liqueur

1/2 oz fresh lime juice

2 oz pineapple juice

5 dashes of cranberry bitters

Shake with ice and pour into a yeti or tiki mug. Garnish with a festive sprig of rosemary.

Cheers and have a fabulous weekend!

Holiday Cocktails For A Few Fabulous Donors!

Our fundraising campaign for Feeding America is underway and, as promised, we're starting to deliver customized cocktails for our fabulous donors! Here is the first batch. We'll have many more over the next week, so stay tuned!

Sophisticated Santa

Sophisticated Santa (created for Lisa)

1 1/2 oz gin

1 oz Pimm's No. 1 liqueur

1 oz orange juice

1/4 oz fresh lime juice

4 dashes of chocolate bitters

Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a cocktail glass! Garish with a candy fruit slice and cherry.

Jetsetter's Holiday

Jetsetter's Holiday (created for Angie)

2 oz Bacardi 8 year old rum

1/2 oz Ancho Reyes liqueur

1/4 oz Cappelletti Amaro Sfumato Rabarbaro (rhubarb amaro)

1/2 oz fresh lime juice

Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass!

Pink Christmas

Pink Christmas (created for Alice)

2 oz vodka

1/4 oz pomegranate liqueur

1/4 oz hibiscus liqueur

1 oz pink grapefruit juice

Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass! Garnish with a candy fruit slice.

Christmas by the Fire

Christmas by the Fire (created for Teri)

1 oz vodka

1 oz Cabernet Sauvignon

1/4 oz triple sec

1/2 oz pomegranate juice

1/4 oz fresh lime juice

Combine all ingredients in a wine glass and stir. Garnish with a lime wheel.

Thank you again to all of our wonderful donors! If your drink isn't here it will be soon! Also, if you missed Tuesday's "Velveteen Lounge Kitsch-en" episode, click here to watch and see the cocktail we created for Robert - the Winter Solstice!

If you'd like to donate to our fundraiser, click here for the link to our fundraising page. Thank you!

Cocktails For A Great Cause!

I'm very excited to announce that the "Velveteen Lounge Kitsch-en" has a new fundraiser underway, this one benefitting Feeding America, one of the nation's top hunger charities! And we're creating special, holiday-themed cocktails for our donors! Donate $25 or more and we'll create a custom holiday cocktail for your party, celebration, or just to imbibe all by yourself! Donate $50 or more and we'll feature your cocktail on an episode! Click here to donate and for more information. And thank you! Let's put those lovely libations to work for a great cause!

This time we're drinking for a good cause!

Taking Positive Action

This is not a page for politics. However, I feel a tremendous need to take positive action today. There are some things I've been meaning to do and I may have just had the kick in the pants I needed to get moving.

First of all, I've long wanted to expand the charitable component of what we do. Last year we raised money for AIDS Walk New York by creating cocktails for our sponsors. If you sponsored us for $100 or more you got to choose the theme of one of our episodes. I definitely anticipate doing that again next year, but that's still months off. Right now it's time to donate to another of our pet charities, Toys For Tots. If you're interested, here's the link. I'm also looking into charities that seek to end hunger, particularly in children. I'm still researching how this could work in terms of getting the show involved, but just writing about it here is a step.

I'm also working on ways to grow our audience. There is a world out there that really needs a drink right now and I'm determined to give it to them.

Finally, I'm planning to sign up for self-defense classes. Grab my you-know-what at your peril. I just hope Paul is there with the camera when someone tries.

AIDS Walk New York 2016

Cocktails For More Of Our Fabulous AIDS Walk Sponsors!

Just in time for the weekend, here are some more cocktails created in honor of a few of our fabulous AIDS Walk New York sponsors!

Mystic Bazaar (created for Jax)

2 oz amber rum

1/2 oz tamarind syrup (Click here to learn how to make your own!)

1/4 oz Ancho Reyes Liqueur

1/4 oz pimento dram

3/4 oz fresh lime juice

A dash of Angostura bitters

Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a cocktail glass or serve on the rocks.

Island Sundown (created for Donna)

2 oz dark Jamaican rum

1/2 oz Pavan Liqueur 

1/2 oz blood orange amaro

3/4 oz fresh lime juice

Shake all ingredients with ice and pour into a small tiki mug or strain into a cocktail glass.

Holiday In Oaxaca (created for Mike)

2 oz mezcal

1/2 oz guanabana liqueur

1/2 oz peach nectar

1/2 oz fresh lime juice

2 shakes of ground chipotle-cayenne pepper

2 dashes of orange bitters

Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.

We'll have more cocktails created for our sponsors soon and we'll be shooting some Friday happy hour videos with even more this weekend! We'll get to everyone, we promise! Thank you so much to our sponsors for your support!

Sophisticated Beachcomber Cocktail

As part of our fundraising efforts for AIDS Walk New York we have various levels of rewards for our sponsors. Anyone who sponsors us for $25 or more will get a cocktail created especially for them. Here's the first one on the list, in honor of the lovely Paula, the Sophisticated Beachcomber!

Sophisticated Beachcomber Cocktail

Sophisticated Beachcomber

2 oz dark Jamaican rum

1/2 oz Galliano 

1/2 oz peach nectar (no sugar added)

1/3 oz fresh lime juice

Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a cocktail glass!

Thank you so much to Paula for her generosity! If you'd like to sponsor us, here's the link: https://ny.aidswalk.net/velveteenlounge . Sponsors of $25 or more get a custom cocktail. $50 or more and we'll use your cocktail on the show! $100 or more and you can choose the theme of an upcoming episode, which will be dedicated to you!

There's still plenty of time to get in on the action - AIDS Walk New York is May 15!

Our 20th AIDS Walk!

I'm pleased to announce that I've registered for my 20th AIDS Walk New York! We love walking on behalf of the show and our friends who've been affected by AIDS. It's wonderful that so many strides have been made toward a cure, so we can't stop now! Please sponsor me if you're able. Click here for the link to my fundraising page. And thank you! Every year we create a special libation for our sponsors and this year will be no exception! Here's to you!

AIDS Walk New York 2015, in our Velveteen Lounge Kitsch-en attire