Mango Mojito

Mango rum is a great tasting fruit rum that is very smooth to drink and is mostly sweet except for the initial bitterness when you swallow. It switches back to sweet in the aftertaste.It is a clear liquid that has the consistency of water with just a slightly thicker body.

The aroma of this liquor is predominantly fruity with a hint of alcohol. Besides the mangoes,you can taste hints of what seems like pineapple, peach,apricots and sugar.This flavored rum is pretty weak compared to ordinary rum, with a proof rating of 55 (27.5 percent alcohol by volume).

My mint plant didn't seem to be able to handle the inside weather well, it was transferred out into the cold so that it can get ready for the spring growth spurt. Mint is an essential ingredient in any Mojito.I did not have any fresh Mint on hand so it was not used here.

Ingredients:

1. Mango rum - 3 oz (OR 2 oz bacardi white rum + 2 tsp Sugar)
2. Mango juice - 2 oz
3. club soda - 3 oz
4. Mint leaves - 6
5. sugar - 1 tsp
6. lime juice - 1 tsp

Method:
Muddle the mint leaves, sugar and lime juice in the bottom of the serving glass.
Add mango rum and mango juice.
top off with club soda and ice cubes.
Garnish with mint and serve.

Long Island Iced Tea

Ingredients:

1. ice cubes - 10/12
2. vodka - 1 ounce
3. Gin - 1 ounce
4. White Rum - 1 ounce
5. tequila - 1 ounce
6. Triple Sec - 1/2 ounce
7. Lemon juice - 2 tbsp
8. Coke - 1/2 cup
9. Lemon wedges - to garnish

Method:
Add few ice cubes to a cocktail shaker and pour in the vodka, gin, rum, tequila, Triple Sec, and lemon juice.
Close and shake vigorously to combine and chill.
Add ice cubes to the serving glass pour 1/4 cup of coke and then add the alcohol mix.
Top off with the remaining coke and garnish with lemon wedge.
Enjoy!!

Grand Sangria

Ingredients:

1. Red wine - 1 bottle (Use any cheap fruit forward red wine)
2. Chopped up fruits - 1 cup (you can use Plum,apples, Oranges,Cherries,Grapes,strawberries etc)
3. Ginger ale - to taste (OR club soda and sugar)

Method:
Cut the fruits into dices or thin slices and mix it with the wine(and sugar if you plan on serving with club soda, If using ginger ale skip the sugar) and keep refrigerated for several hours or overnight.This will allow the fruit flavors to blend with the wine.
When ready to serve add ice cubes to the glass and fill in 3/4 cup of the wine mixture and top off  with soda/Gingerale.
Serve chilled.

Malibu PinaColada

Ingredients:

1. Fresh blended/strained unsweetened Pineapple juice - 1/2 cup
2. Condensed milk - 1 tbsp (add an extra tbsp if you like it sweeter and creamier)
3. Coconut Cream - 2 tbsp
4. Malibu Coconut Rum - 1/2 cup
5. Ice - 4 cubes

Method:
Add the condensed milk to the pineapple juice and mix well.
Add in the Rum and 1 tbsp coconut cream and combine.
Add ice to the serving glass and pour in the mixture.
Top off with remaining 1 tbsp coconut cream.
Stir and serve garnished with Pineapple slices, cherries etc.

Malibu Strawberry Mojito

Malibu coconut rum is a sweet, coconut flavored Caribbean white rum, with a taste reminiscent of coconut, almonds, mocha and  hints of lightly spiced, buttery rum present in the background.It is clear with an easy- flowing consistency that is similar to water but slightly oily and quite sweet when compared to most liquors.It contains less than half the alcohol level of most other rums,21 percent alcohol by volume- which means it is less likely to intoxicate.

The rum is made by mixing fine molasses from the islands own world-renowned sugar cane crops and coconut together with pure spring water and carefully selected yeast, which turns the sugar into alcohol.

Advertising campaigns label it "If people in the Caribbean took life as seriously as this, they would never have invented Malibu. It's seriously easy going."Malibu and its variations can be drunk neat, on the rocks, with milk, or more commonly, with a fruit-based mixer or a carbonated soft drink.



















Ingredients:

1. 2 oz Malibu coconut rum
2. 3 fresh ripe strawberries
3. 3 oz club soda
4. 3 lime wedges
5. 4 mint leaves
6. 4 ice cubes
7. 1 tsp sugar

Method:
Muddle lime wedges, mint leaves and strawberries with sugar.
Add ice to glass and add the Malibu rum. Add in the muddled mix and stir.
Top off with club soda.

Pama Absolut Bull

Warning : Red bull is an energy drink that should not be consumed regularly. It is used mostly by students and athletes for extra bursts of energy which is provided by the high caffeine and sugar content. A typical soda contains between 18- 48 mg of Caffeine.A single can of Red Bull contains 80 mg/250 ml of caffeine, several times more than a soda,but about the same as one cup of normal coffee, or slightly less depending on the brewing method.

Energy drinks are generally safe, but like most things, you should drink them in moderation. Because caffeine is a stimulant, consuming a lot of it can lead to palpitations, anxiety and insomnia .Over time, caffeine can become addictive. It is also a diuretic which causes the kidneys to remove extra fluid into the urine causing dehydration. Mixing an energy drink with alcohol is not the smartest thing to do - Since alcohol is a depressant, it has a tranquilizing effect on the body that can make you unaware of how much you're drinking.

Red Bull is a lightly carbonated energy drink which based on market share is the most popular energy drink in the world .The Red Bull's slogan is "it gives you wings".It contains taurine, glucuronolactone, caffeine, B vitamins, sucrose and glucose.

Liqueurs are high-alcohol, high-sugar beverages with added flavorings usually derived from herbs, fruits, or nuts.Most liqueurs range between 15% and 55% alcohol by volume.PAMA is a pomegranate liqueur produced by PAMA Spirits Co.It is marketed as "the world's first true pomegranate liqueur.It is made from the juice of California pomegranates, premium vodka, and a touch of imported tequila.The liqueur is red in color and has a flavor that is both sweet and tart. It is 17 percent alcohol by volume.PAMA is promoted as a mixable liqueur, suitable for martinis, mojitos, mimosas, cosmopolitans, margaritas, and other cocktails.

Ingredients:

1. Vodka - 1 oz
2. PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur - 1 oz
3. Red bull - 5 oz

Method:
Add vodka and PAMA liqueur to the serving glass and top off with Red bull.
Garnish with pomegranate seeds and lime wheel.

Millionaire Mojito with Fresh Pomegranate juice

The pomegranate which is sometimes referred to as the fruit of Paradise contains a high amount of antioxidants that are beneficial to our health in many ways.The seeds and juice are considered a tonic for the heart and throat.It is a very good source of vitamin B5 /pantothenic acid, potassium  and polyphenols, such as tannins and flavonoids.
Tommy Bahama White Sand is labeled as a delightful ultra-premium light-bodied rum with a smooth entry and clean finish with hints of tangy, tropical fruit and spice.The 80-proof rum is made from water slow-filtered through coral stone, Caribbean blackstrap molasses and yeast imported from South Africa, and then aged in small batches in oak barrels. White Sand ages for a minimum of two years .

A Mojito mixed with Tommy Bahama rum is referred to as Millionaire Mojito. I have added some fresh Pomegranate juice to make a Pomegranate flavored Millionaire Mojito.


















Ingredients:

1. Tommy Bahama White Sand Rum - 3 oz
2. Sugar- 2 (or 3 tsp if you like it sweet)
3. Lime - Juice of 1 lime (reserve a ring for garnish)
4. Fresh Mint - 10 leaves
5. club soda - to top
6. ice cubes - 5
7. Pomegranate seeds - 2 tbsp (reserve few for garnish)

Method:
Add the rum,lime juice,Lime rind, mint leaves, sugar and pomogranate seeds to a glass and muddle until the sugar is dissolved.
Add ice cubes to the serving glass and pour in the muddled mixture.
Top off with club soda - garnight with a lime wheel and mint sprig.
Stir and drink.

Kick in the head cocktail

There is a good reason behind naming this cocktail "Kick in the head". The fruity flavors of mango and Orange covers up the taste of alcohol in the drink. You feel like you are just sipping a tropical drink until after you enjoy the whole glass :)... and that is when you start feeling a "Kick in the head"

Whiskey is any alcohol distilled from grain mash.Bourbon is an American whiskey named for Bourbon County, Kentucky.For a whiskey to qualify as bourbon, the law by international agreement stipulates that it must be made in the USA. It must be made from at least 51% and no more than 79% Indian corn, and aged for at least two years in new, charred oak barrels.Neither coloring nor flavoring may be added. Most bourbon is aged for four years or more.

Ingredients:

1. mango juice - 1/2 cup
2. orange juice- 1/4 cup
3. Lime juice - Juice of 1 lime
4. Rum - 3 oz
5. Bourbon - 3 oz
6. Fresh cracked Black pepper - 2 pinches
7. Ginger ale - 8 - 12 oz depending on how fizzy you like it.  

 Directions:
Combine the mango juice, lime juice, rum, bourbon, and black pepper in a large shaker. Shake to combine. Drop a handful of ice into each glass, divide the mixture between them. Top each glass with ginger ale. Sip slowly and enjoy.

Moscow Mule

Moscow Mule is a cocktail made with vodka, ginger beer, and lime.It is traditionally served in specially made copper cups.Ginger beer is a non-alcoholic root beer that has a sweet taste and can be found at most grocers.If you dont have ginger beer you can use Ginger ale instead and squeeze in a few drops of fresh ginger juice for a gingery kick.


 















Ingredients:

1. vodka- 2 oz
2. Fresh Lime Juice - 1 oz
3. Ginger Beer/Ginger ale - 8 oz
4. Ice cubes
5. Mint leaves

Method:
Add ice to the serving glass and pour in the vodka and Lime juice.Add in few mint leaves and stir well. Top off with Ginger Beer/Ginger ale.Garnish with a lime wedge and a sprig of mint.

Screwdriver

A Screwdriver or simply "Vodka Orange Juice" is a popular cocktail made with fresh Orange Juice and vodka.The basic drink is simply the two ingredients but there are many variations where Orange juice is replaced with Apple Juice,Gatorade, Tang,Carbonated Orange soda,prune juice etc.The Vodka is sometimes replaced with or used along with Gin,Dark rum, Champagne etc.

They do have some interesting names depending on what goes into the mix.
Vodka + Gatorade = The 'poor man's screwdriver'
Vodka + Orange Soda = Hi-Fi
Vodka + Tang = "Tang banger"
Vodka + Gin + OJ = "sloe screw"
Vodka + Apple Juice = Anita Bryant
Vodka + prune juice = piledriver
Vodka + blue Jones Soda(Bubble glum flavored carbonated drink) = Sonic Screwdriver
Vodka + Dark Rum + OJ =  Brass Monkey
Champagne + OJ = Mimosa
Vodka + Tequila + OJ + any energy drink = Electric Screwdriver

Ingredients:

1. Vodka - 1 part
2. Orange Juice - 3 parts
3. Ice cubes - 3

Method:
Add ice cubes to a glass, add in the vodka and top off with Orange Juice.

King Henry

Vodka is an essential spirit distilled from grains such as sorghum, corn, rye or wheat. Among grain vodkas, rye and wheat vodkas are generally considered superior. Some vodka is made from potatoes, molasses, soybeans, grapes, rice, sugar beets and sometimes even byproducts of oil refining or wood pulp processing.

Vodka owes its popularity to its reputation as an alcoholic beverage that "leaves you breathless", as one ad put it — no smell of liquor remains detectable on the breath, and its neutral flavor allows it to be mixed into a wide variety of drinks.It is traditionally drunk neat in the vodka belt**  and is commonly used in cocktails  and mixed drinks.The purer the vodka, the better it blends with other aromas meaning  VODKA brings out the best in other tastes too.By law, vodka  cannot have a distinctive color, smell, or flavor. It is, in many ways, an essential spirit.
 

**vodka belt — Eastern Europe , Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway  and Sweden.

King Henry or Chi chi is a Vodka Pinacolada ie you substitute the Rum in a traditional Pinacolada with Vodka and you have a King Henry or Chi Chi

Ingredients:

1. vodka - 1 part
2. Pineapple Juice - 3 parts
3. Coconut cream - 1 part
4. Sugar - 1 tbsp (add more to taste if you like it sweet)
5. crushed Ice cubes - 5

Method:
Add all ingredients to a shaker and swirl until sugar is completely dissolved then Shake briefly with the crushed ice, and strain into a glass. Garnish with a slice of pineapple  and serve cold.

Sangria Blanca

Sangria is a wine punch typical of Spain. It normally consists of - Wine,fruits,sweetener and Soda.It is easy to make, easy to drink and pairs well with a wide variety of food.wine is the dominant ingredient and acts as a base.a light, dry, young, acidic, unoaked, inexpensive fruit-forward red wine is recommended.White wine can be used instead of red, in which case the result is called sangria blanca or clerico. Sometimes even a mix of red and white wines are used.chopped or sliced fruits like orange, lemon, apple, peach, berries, pineapple melon, grape, or mango is added to the wine along with sweeteners such as honey, sugar, simple syrup, orange juice, and/or fruit nectar. Optionally a small amount of added brandy, triple sec, or other spirits can be added .ice and carbonated soda are the other ingredients.













Usually the best sangria's are the ones that are made ahead, allowed to "marinate" overnight and packed with ice and more fruit before serving.
I have used a 2003 Estancia Chardonnay  which is an elegant, full-bodied, mouth-filling grape wine which highlights the fresh fruit flavors.The predominant Aroma is of  Bright citrus , green apple,Pear, passion fruit and fig— with hints of hazelnut, lychee nut, and vanillin.It highlights lingering flavors of Ripe pear, passionfruit, guava,fig,golden delicious apple, lychee and Subtle nuances of oak, It has excellent concentration and a lingering creamy mouthfeel with a mineral finish and an alcohol content of 13.9% .

Ingredients:

1. White wine - 1 bottle
2. Plum - 1/2 of 1 sliced into thin rings
3. Apple - 1 small chopped into small cubes
4. Orange - 1/2 of 1 cut into thin rings with the skin on(I did not have orange so used lime instead, if you are using Orange you can squeeze the rest of the juice into the mix)
5. green Grapes - hand full (Freeze them and use instead of ice cubes)
6. Sugar - 1/4 cup
7. Soda - 2 cups (you can use ginger ale or sprite instead , but use less or no sugar)

Method:
Cut the fruits into dices or thin slices and mix it with the wine and sugar and keep refrigerated for several hours or overnight.This will allow the fruit flavors to blend with the wine.
When ready to serve pour in 3/4 cup of the wine mixture and top off with frozen grapes and soda.Serve chilled.

Stag's Breath Liqueur

Stag's Breath is a Liqueur that I happened to taste test recently.It was  love at first sip.I even googled up a recipe that I planned to try it with, but  once the bottle was opened there was none left to try out the "Badenoch Coffee" which has the Liqueur as an ingredient.

Stag's Breath Liqueur is lower in alcoholic strength (20%)and drier on the palate than its traditional counterparts.It has a distinctive 'musty' nose and over taste of waxy honeycomb which is a principle ingredient.It is not overly sweet and is carefully blended on a base of heartwarming Speyside whiskeys, Stag's Breath is truly a unique taste experience.

It is a "fine whiskey and fermented comb honey liqueur", according to the front label, while the back label states:    A light liqueur of a special character produced from fine whiskey and fermented comb honey in the ancient Lordship of Badenoch in the very heart of the Scottish Highlands.

Liqueurs  are generally high-alcohol, high-sugar beverages with added flavorings usually derived from herbs, fruits, or nuts.Most liqueurs range between 15% and 55% alcohol by volume.Liqueurs are typically quite sweet. they are usually not aged for long but may have resting periods during their production to allow flavors to marry.The distinction between liqueurs and spirits is not simple because many spirits like flavored vodka are available today. The most reliable guide to classification is that liqueurs contain added sugar, but spirits do not.

Here is the recipe for Badenoch Coffee though I haven't tried it out.

Method:
Put a stiff measure of Stag's breath Liqueur into a tall heatproof glass. Fill to two thirds with good percolated coffee then top up with whipped cream or pouring cream, gently poured over the back of a silver spoon.

Pina Colada

The Piña Colada is an official International Bartenders Association cocktail and remains popular all over the world.It is a sweet, rum-based cocktail made with rum, cream of coconut, and pineapple juice, usually served either blended or shaken with ice. It may be garnished with a pineapple wedge or a maraschino cherry.

The earliest known story states that in the 1800s, Puerto Rican pirate Roberto Cofresí to boost his crew's morale he gave them a beverage or cocktail that contained coconut, pineapple and white rum.This was what would be later known as the famous piña colada.

When mixed with vodka, it is called a King Henry.You can make a virgin Pina colada by following the same recipe but not adding rum.The blended mixture should be smooth,Icy chunks in the glass ruin the experience of sipping the cocktail.Try to use fresh Pineapple juice or pineapple chunks, if it is too tart add sugar accordingly.

Ingredients:

1. Rum - 1/2 cup
2. Coconut Milk - 1/4 cup
3. Coconut cream - 1/2 cup
4. Pine apple chunks - 3 pieces
5. Fresh Pineapple juice - 1/4 cup
6. Ice cubes - 5
7. Sugar - 1 tsp(optional)
8. Slice of pineapple and cherry for garnish.

Method:
Yo the blender add ice cubes then pour in the  rum, coconut cream, coconut milk,sugar and pineapple chunks. Blend.Serve immediately garnished with a slice of pineapple and maraschino cherry, if desired.

NOTE: If you cant find coconut cream , use a mix of coconut milk plus condensed milk. Don't add any sugar since condensed milk is sweet.

Mojito

A Mojito is traditionally made of five ingredients: white rum, sugar (traditionally sugar cane juice), lime, sparkling water/club soda  and mint.

 
















Before attempting to make a Mojito at home please remember that fresh Lime and fresh Mint is a must.Fresh limes will provide a better flavor and the oil from the rinds is essential in obtaining that signature "fresh" citrus taste and full aroma of a Mojito. It's one of the predominant flavors and will really make a huge difference in taste.

 Ingredients:

1. Sugar - 1tsp
2. Mint - 2 springs
3. Rum - 1.5 ounce
4. Lime - 1/2 of 1
5. Lime rind - few thin slices(cut out green part of the skin)
6. Club soda - 6 ounce
7. Ice - 5 cubes crushed

Method:
Place the sugar and mint leaves at the bottom of the glass and Crush the mint into the sugar using the back of a spoon. Squeeze 1 lime quarter into glass and drop the 2 lime quarters (total of 1/2 lime) into the mix.
Now mix well, pushing down on the lime with a spoon, extracting more juice and some of the oil in the rind.
Add white rum and ice, top off with club soda and stir well. Garnish with fresh sprig of mint and lime wedge and add the lime rind on top.
Serve immediately.
Serving with a straw provides an even sweeter experience as some of the granulated sugar collects at the bottom of the glass.
Note: the measurements are for an 8 ounce glass and not the big tall glass.
If you plan to serve it for a party , you can make the base and keep in the refrigerator for up to a day .When ready to serve just top with crushed ice and soda and garnish.