KegWorks Blog

Not too long ago I used to partake in a hefty amount of alcohol consumption. I would often get hangovers. That still was not enough to keep me away from the strip of bars that were walking distance from my apartment. These days it’s rare that I don’t feel very sick after a few too many drinks. Here is a graphic description of how a typical hangover takes affect along with some visual aids.

First you need to question the things alcohol does to you before you feel all crappy.

1. Karaoke?
2. Telling people you love them?
3. Telling long stories?
4. Fights / Beer Muscles?
5. Trying to challenge someone who is way bigger than you?

Next is the realization that you have had too much and you will be paying the price. Let me take this opportunity to state the obvious. NEVER drink and drive and NEVER let your friends drive drunk.

I have tried some of those hangover remedies that you find in stores. They don’t seem to help me at all. I have my own tricks and techniques for the pain and sickness:

1. Cool off - getting in a cool room or getting some ice water and a cold cloth for my head really helps, even before the headache starts.

2. Good distractions - play music or TV or something that will take your mid off of the stupid thing you just did to yourself.

3. Get comfortable - no matter what it takes, get into a position that settles your body and head down. Go ahead and straddle the arm of your couch if it feels right.

4. Lights out - you know as soon as you can, you want to sleep, so prepare for bed. Sleep is your main goal.

5. Be prepared - get everything you need within reach:

• Leave vital lights on
• Make sure the bathroom is clear
• Keep ice handy
• Lots of water and whatever you use to re-hydrate

One more thing, make sure you have nothing to do the next day. Chances are you will not be leaving the bed until the next evening.

Good luck!

TAGS [ HANGOVER | HANG OVER | HANGOVERS | HANGOVER REMEDIES | HANGOVER REMEDY ]

Love This Post? Share It!  Learn More

As our company expands and our product line continues to grow, we get the opportunity to learn about new products and even experience them hands on. One new line that I have dabbled in myself a time or two… Absinthe!

We currently have these three absinthe products with more to follow. I have recently discovered that my understanding of the “ritual” was incorrect. I had originally thought that you pour a half a glass of absinthe in a glass. Then you put the spoon on top with the sugar cube, soak it and set it on fire. After that flames up a bit, you put the spoon in the drink. Stir for a bit add ice and drink up. I must have gotten those directions from Vincent Van Gogh. Even Marilyn Manson has branded his own version of the popular drink.

Here is the correct way, according to the site:

How to prepare “Mansinthe:” Pour 3cl of “Mansinthe” into a large stemmed glass, then place a slotted absinthe spoon and sugar cube over the glass. Slowly drip ice water over the sugar cube until dissolved, fill glass with water to preferred taste.

You may also use an Absinthe fountain - that makes a perfect preparation, as well as a Brouilleur.

This fine spirit is also enjoyed without sugar.

When enjoying absinthe, DO NOT:

• Drink absinthe pure
• Light your absinthe on fire
• Think, absinthe will make you hallucinate - it won’t”

So there you have it. So I definitely plan on stocking up on the proper absinthe accessories. As a fairly creative person and musician, I would like to join the ranks of absinthe-using artists trying to reach the allusive places in the mind where masterpieces hide. Or just get lit up on a fun drink with a historical and unique preparation process. Whichever. I just hope this doesn’t happen to me:

TAGS [ ABSINTHE | MANSINTHE | ABSINTHE FOUNTAIN | ABSINTHE SPOONS | ABSINTHE GLASSES ]

Love This Post? Share It!  Learn More

Chances are you’ve been in this situation at one point or another. You go up to the bar and ask for a drink. What happens next takes you off guard and because you’re not too keen on the terminology, the bartender may as well be speaking to you in Swahili. He or she is asking if you want a “well” or a “call” drink. Realizing that you have no clue what the bartender means, you stammer then respond in a muffled voice, hoping to push past the awkward moment, get your drink and high tail it out of there before any other strange incantations are thrown your way. The next thing you know, you’ve either gotten one of the worst tasting cocktails you’ve ever had in your life or you’ve just paid $12 for a rum and coke.

We here at KegWorks know you’re not a yokel and we don’t want you sounding like one at the club, bar or pub of your choice either. That in mind, we’ve prowled our barspeak dictionary and translated a few basic terms to help you sound like a pro next time you’re out and about or hosting friends at your home bar.

TAGS [ COCKTAILS | BARSPEAK | DRINK ORDERING | BAR TERMS | BAR TIPS | COCKTAIL TIPS ]

Love This Post? Share It!  Learn More

Like many others this holiday season, I hosted a holiday party. In an attempt to be incredibly classy and ultra sophisticated, I distinguished this party from the others that I typically throw. This wasn’t going to be a beer guzzling, hotdog roasting type event- this was a cocktail party. I sent out fancy invitations and even purchased red and green cocktail napkins depicting partridges in what I assume to be pear trees. I stocked up on fancy hors d’oeuvres and plenty of mixers…and then there was the booze. I spent more cash at the liquor store than I did on most of my family’s gifts. As I perused the aisles wondering how much of each spirit I should have on hand, I recalled my friends who would be attending. I thought that I knew their tastes and I chose accordingly. The party was a huge success and it led me to major realization… gin is in!

I had purchased more vodka than anything else – expensive vodka, cheap vodka and flavored vodkas spanning from blueberry to espresso. As I evaluated the post-party mess in the morning I couldn’t help but notice that many of the vodka bottles contained remains. The gin bottles however were dry as a bone.

I have always enjoyed gin and tonics as my “summer drink” and most of my friends have teased me for ordering them, “Gin and tonic? My grandpa drinks those…”

I have news for those friends (the ones who probably drank all of my gin)… your grandpa was onto something!

If you’re like my judgmental friends and think that drinking gin is only a benefit that comes with your AARP membership, I urge you to reconsider. If you’re already a proud gin and tonic fan like myself, try your favorite brand of gin with the new Q-Tonic Water. You won’t be disappointed!

Also keep in mind that there are plenty of other drinks that use “the other white spirit.”

One of my personal favorites, hailing from the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, is the Blue Moon.

Ingredients:

1¼ oz gin (I prefer Tanqueray)
½ oz Blue Curacao
1½ oz fresh sweet and sour mix
3 oz pineapple juice

Mixing instructions:

Mix all ingredients into an ice-filled shaker. Shake and strain into an ice-filled highball glass. Garnish with a lemon wheel.

That being said, my new New Year’s resolution is to drink more gin, all year round.

Cheers!

TAGS [ GIN | TONIC ]

Love This Post? Share It!  Learn More

Here’s another submission to our home bar contest… I can’t wait to see the rest of the entries!

TAGS [ HOME BAR | HOME BAR CONTEST ]

Love This Post? Share It!  Learn More

Submissions are coming in, and not a moment too soon - the Great Lakes Home Bar Contest is only open for entry until December 31st, so if you haven’t sent in pics and a blurb of your home bar yet, get to it! Here’s some photos from one of our entrants:

TAGS [ HOME BAR | HOME BAR CONTEST ]

Love This Post? Share It!  Learn More

Over the years I have received a number of phone calls from customers wondering how to secure the end cap inside their piece of bar foot rail tubing.

The internally fitting end caps are intended to fit loosely inside tubing when it is initially assembled. The reasoning here is to allow room for error during the manufacturer production process, and also so these internal fittings can fit tubing of different diameters.

So, when you are assembling your bar foot rail and finally put the end caps on, you will notice that they fit loosely. There are two methods that you can use to secure the end caps:

Option 1:
Drill through the rail using a small set screw to secure the fitting.

Option 2: (This is the method that I recommend. I find it easier and more effective.)

All you need is masking tape. Simply wrap the stem of the end cap with masking tape several times. Then, just slide the end cap (with masking tape wrap) into the rail. This will provide a more snug fit, without the hassle of pulling out the drill and putting holes in your bar rail. This method also makes it easy to remove your end caps without having to worry about taking a screw out and risk scratching the finish on the bar rail.

TAGS [ HOME BAR | BAR RAIL | BAR FOOT RAIL ]

Love This Post? Share It!  Learn More