Mocktail Monday: Precocious Punch

It's Mocktail Monday, coming on the heels of "Lots of Booze Sunday," a.k.a. last night's live broadcast. We mixed several drinks apiece, which was tons of fun, but now it's time for something a little less medicinal. Here's a potion you can drink all day and still be able to function - always a plus at the beginning of the week!

Precocious Punch

2 1/2 oz Bigelow Cranberry Hibiscus Herbal Tea, brewed

1 tsp passionfruit syrup

IZZE Sparkling Peach soda

Shake tea and syrup with ice, strain into a cocktail glass and top with a splash of soda.

Have a fabulous week!

Cocktail Recipes Inspired by Shanda & the Howlers

We had a great time creating cocktails inspired by the band Shanda & the Howlers and paying tribute to their new album, "Trouble!" Pick up the album here: www.rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com. You'll be glad you did!

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!

Shark Week Cocktail Recipe with Mezcal and Hibiscus Liqueur

Whether you're a fan of Shark Week or simply seeking a cocktail with a little bite, this one is for you! It features Zignum Silver Mezcal, Fruitlab Hibiscus Liqueur and Dashfire Mole Bitters and is perfect for a summer evening. Don't go in the water - stay dry and sip cocktails instead!

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!

Quick Cocktails with Found Ingredients

Today's episode is a quick hello from a Tales of the Cocktail, where we found lots of free hooch, some of which we tried with bubbly! Great times!

Mocktail Monday: Seedlip

We're on our way home from Tales of the Cocktail and a few mocktails wouldn't be a bad idea after the fiesta of booze we have enjoyed over the past week! Two of the spirits we tried, however, were non-alcoholic - Seedlip - "the world's first non-alcoholic spirits." We sampled both Spice 94 and Garden 108 with Q Tonic and both make a lovely libation that replicates with cocktail experience with none of the booze. Both are easily available online and highly recommended for "what to drink when you're not drinking."

Cocktail Recipe: Georgia Rum Cooler - 1970s Drinks!

Here's a lovely summer libation that's nutty in more ways than one, courtesy of 1971's Playboy Bar Guide. It's cooling on a hot day and has bonus protein!

Cocktail Recipe & Baked Beans for the Cowboy Day Cook-Along

July 22  is National Day of the Cowboy and we're prepared with Dude Ranch Beans and a fabulous new cocktail!

Mocktail Monday: Berry Palmer

We're off to Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans later this week, which promises to come with many, many cocktails. We'd better get in a couple of mocktails now! Here's one that's a takeoff on the classic Arnold Palmer, with added berry flair!

Berry Palmer

Iced tea

Santa Cruz Organic Cherry Lemonade

2 tsp raspberry syrup (I used Monin)

Combine equal parts iced tea and lemonade in a tall glass with ice. Add syrup and stir.

Have a fabulous week!

Tiki Room Cocktail Recipes!

Happy Saturday night! Here are a few tiki drinks that we tried live that would be fabulous for any summer gathering!

A Highball Straight Out of 1971

Today's happy hour highball offering comes to us from 1971's Playboy Bar Guide, the Bitter Lemon Cooler. Perfect for a sultry summer evening, this lovely libation is light enough to quaff all night long!

Burger and Hot Dog Creativity, Mid-Century Style

Burgers and hot dogs are summer traditions for a reason, but what if you're feeling creative and want to try something different? Here are some ideas you probably hadn't thought of for summer entertaining (or entertaining during any other season, for that matter). These appetizers all feature hot dogs. Have you ever minced hot dogs before? Get ready to mince and grind! Frankly (you should pardon the expression), I want to pass a tray of these appetizers at a party so that I can say "Chunkette?" and watch the reactions!

Chunkette?

For the main course we move on to ground beef, which 1967's Ground Beef Cookbook calls "one of the most 'talented' of meats," (sic), with a couple of meat loaf recipes that promise to be real conversation starters! You don't have to use beef for these recipes - I won't tell! First up: Unusual Ground Beef Loaf, courtesy of Mrs. Fred Merk of Drain, Oregon:

Not to be outdone, Mrs. Herbert Laroche, of Domremy, Saskatchewan, Canada, offers us her Piquant Meat Loaf, complete with Piquant Sauce:

I'm positive these ladies had first names, but, alas, we'll never know them. One day I will serve Unusual Ground Beef Loaf so that I can answer "Unusual Ground Beef Loaf" when asked what we're having for supper. By the way, you're invited for supper!

Bon appetit!

CHiPs Season 6 Cocktail Party!

Season 6 of CHiPs has arrived on DVD and we're so excited! Many people don't see the beauty in season 6, but that's because they don't appreciate kitsch. Sseason 6 has it all: devil rock, (attempted) alien abductions, toga parties, robots - what more could you possibly want? Mix up a cup of Rum Ponch (watch the episode for the recipe) and join us on the sofa for CHiPs!

Mocktail Monday: Pineapple Tartlet

It's Mocktail Monday again! How did that happen so quickly?! Today we have a tropical delight that's rescued from being overly sweet with the magic of bitter lemon soda. Cheers!

Pineapple Tartlet

2 1/2 oz pineapple juice

1/2 oz fresh lime juice

Chilled bitter lemon soda

Shake juices with ice, strain into a cocktail glass and fill with soda.

Have a fabulous week!

Laziest Cocktail Recipes Ever!

We always endeavor to come up with creative, exciting cocktails that are high quality, yet easy to make. However, sometimes our energy is spent and we end up taking to the sofa and staying there for hours on end. What do we do about cocktails when we're too tired to get behind the bar? This video will show you! A two-ingredient drink that's actually good? Yes, please!

The BEST Gin & Tonic!

Summer means Gin & Tonic and today we have a fabulous version made with Malfy Gin and Boy Drinks World Aromatic Walnut Bitters! Lemony and delicious - perfect on a hot day!

Easy Party Fare from 1953

Summer means entertaining! Looking for a little vintage flair for a shindig? 1953's Today's Woman Cook Book has got you covered! Here are a bunch of easy appetizer ideas and inexpensive wine coolers with 1950s credibility. And there's even a bonus: a rum ball recipe that was stuck into the book, written on the back of a machine-readable computer card. It's positively "Desk Set!" I can just imagine the original owner of this book jotting down this recipe at work, standing beside her huge computer.

A Spectacular 4th of July At Home!

Create a spectacular 4th of July celebration without leaving your home bar! Our easy recipes and tips have all the patriotic history and showbiz you could possibly want, along with all the hooch you can handle!

Mocktail Monday: The Red, White and Blue

We've gone patriotic for Mocktail Monday in honor of the 4th! Here's an easy drink that comes with a little showbiz flair. Three cheers for the red, white and blue!

The Red, White and Blue

3 oz R.W. Knudsen Pineapple-Coconut Juice

1/2 oz raspberry syrup (I used Monin)

Blue soda (I used Frostie Blue Cream Soda, but another blue soda would work fine)

Add pineapple-coconut juice to a chimney glass with ice, followed by the syrup, then the soda. Don't stir. This order creates layers which slowly blend together.

Have a fabulous 4th!

Yes We CAN, Ohana Edition!

We're back to the canned beverages, with canned libations we acquired at Ohana Luau at the Lake! Great stuff - don't fear the can!