It might sound odd but beer can add awesome flavor and carbonation to mixed drinks. Beer enthusiasts may argue that beer should be pure and undiluted but I beg them to drink with an open mind. Combine a stout/porter and a lager/ale and you get the Black and Tan, a wonderful thing. Mix hard cider and lager and you get a Snakebite – also wonderful with a truly unique taste.

Instead of thinking of beer cocktails as diluted beer, think of them in the same way you’d think of a drink that calls for a splash of Champagne or ginger ale. The beer is simply adding another element to the drink.

Here’s some suggestions that just might convince you:

Shandy
Also known as a Shandygaff in the UK, this popular drink mixes equal parts beer wth either ginger ale, ginger beer, or carbonated lemonade. Some people even opt to use malt beverages like Mike’s Hard Lemonade or Smirnoff Ice. When there are multiple sources of alcohol it’s upgraded to TurboShandy status.

We sell Shandy made by Fentimans for $2.50 a bottle or you can check out this recipe from Epicurious if you want to make your own.

The Cure
Created as a "cure" for the economic recession, this fresh cocktail combines a light, value-priced beer (like Miller High Life) with a splash of juice and ginger liqueur.

Here’s how to make it:\

1 oz Domaine de Canton ginger liqueur
5 oz light lager
½ oz fresh lemon juice
5 1-inch pieces peeled fresh ginger, cut into thin matchsticks

Fill 12-ounce highball glass with ice cubes. Add ginger liqueur, beer and lemon juice and stir until combined. Garnish with ginger sticks.

*Note: This one is great with Buffalo wings.

If you check them out, let me know if you like them as a much as I do. Happy experimenting.

TAGS [ BEER COCKTAILS | DRINK RECIPES | SHANDY RECIPE | THE CURE RECIPE ]

Yesterday was June 21st, the longest day of the year; summer solstice. I treated myself to a day off from work (I had a pile of things to take care of anyway, including fix the air conditioner, fix the outside hose line and other such household necessities) but after about 3pm, I actually got to enjoy this very first day of summer.

I headed to my neighbor’s house with some roasted chipotle salsa, black bean chips and sunscreen. He emerged from the back door with freshly made strawberry daiquiris. What a tasty, frosty way to celebrate the perfectly gorgeous afternoon.

Somehow I wrangled his daiquiri recipe out of him to share with you. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did! We omitted the sugar and lime garnish but they were delicious all the same.

Fresh Strawberry Daiquiri (makes two drinks)

Ice
4 oz light rum
2 oz Triple Sec
2 oz fresh strawberries, tops trimmed
Lime juice (to taste)
Sugar, for garnish
Lime wedges, for garnish

Add ice, light rum, Triple Sec, strawberries and lime juice to a blender and puree. Rub the rim of your glass with lime. Roll the rim into sugar, pour in your daiquiri and garnish with a lime wedge. Enjoy and repeat.

TAGS [ SUMMER COCKTAILS | DAIQUIRIS | STRAWBERRY DAIQUIRIS | DAIQUIRI RECIPE ]

Earlier this week we received our copies of the latest edition of Imbibe Magazine, the premier magazine for liquid culture. Every time we get these in, I can’t help but go through it cover to cover, more than once. If you haven’t had the opportunity to get your hands on a copy, I most definitely recommend it.

In this most recent issue, I came across an article written by Ted Haigh, Dr. Cocktail himself, who urges us all to join (if we haven’t already) in the classic cocktail revival and enjoy simplicity in drink again.

This month, Dr. Cocktail brings back to light 1922’s The Olympic Cocktail, the sister drink to the more widely known Sidecar. Refreshing and perfect for summer, I couldn’t wait to share his recipe.

The Olympic Cocktail

2 oz cognac (Jacques Cardin VSOP is suggested)
1 oz fresh orange juice
¾ oz Clement Creole Shrubb (an orange curaçao)
2 dashes Fee Brothers orange bitters
Cracked ice

Combine ingredients with cracked ice in a shaker and shake until mixed well. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and enjoy.

Want more from Dr. Cocktail? Pick up Ted Haigh’s revised and updated Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails book for the ultimate recipes of the classic cocktail revival.

Cheers!

TAGS [ OLYMPIC COCKTAIL | IMBIBE MAGAZINE | DR. COCKTAIL | TED HAIGH | COCKTAIL RECIPES ]

You may have noticed, but most of us here can’t get enough of Cheerwine. It’s a soda that we crave at least a few times a week.

I couldn’t help but to fix up a refreshing cocktail using this delicious pop, one I think will be a perfect addition to your summer favorites.

Cheerwine Cocktail
2 oz gin
1 oz lime juice
Splash of soda water
Cheerwine
Lime wedge for garnish

Fill a collins or highball glass with ice. Pour in gin, lime juice and a splash of soda water. Top off with Cheerwine and stir until mixed well. Garnish with the lime wedge and enjoy.

TAGS [ CHEERWINE | DRINK RECIPES | COCKTAIL RECIPES | SUMMER COCKTAILS ]

In response to our Top 10 Drinks for Summer email, we received two delicious-sounding cocktail recipes from Kurt K. We simply had to share them with all of you.

Thanks to Kurt K. for sharing these refreshing summer drink recipes with us.

Cheers!

TAGS [ SUMMER COCKTAILS | COCKTAIL RECIPES | PORTUGUESE LEMONADE | POUND CAKE COCKTAIL ]

I’m sure most of us have had jello shots at least once in our lives but how about liquor treats made with jello’s creamier, richer cousin? How about some sauced-up pudding?

Pudding shots make a rad addition to any party, gathering or even a relaxed night in. They’re easy to make and serve as a perfect finish to any meal. Plus, dessert made with liquor is almost always a hit.

Want to try pudding shots for yourself? I recommend that you do. Grab some recipes here and try them this weekend! We’ve got 9 delicious flavors for you to try, so have at it.

Cheers!

TAGS [ PUDDING SHOTS | JELLO SHOTS | PARTY SHOTS ]

A number of us in the US are being hit with quite a bit of the wet stuff, so I thought it was a perfect time to whip out a rainy day cocktail recipe. The artist formerly known as "The Artist Formerly Known As" came to mind as well as I was driving in this morning, so what better than a recipe for Purple Rain?

Sure, I’m not usually one to order a Purple anything but this cocktail satisfies my sweet tooth even on the dreariest of days.

Purple Rain Cocktail
1.5 oz gin
Cranberry juice
Splash blue curacao
Splash sour mix
Splash soda water

Fill a highball glass with ice and pour the gin over it. Fill almost all the way with cranberry juice. Add splashes of blue curacao, sour mix and soda. Gently stir and add more blue curacao to deepen the color, if needed.

Cheers!

TAGS [ COCKTAIL RECIPES | DRINK RECIPES | RAINY DAY COCKTAILS ]