Gift baskets can be a fun way to give the gift of cocktails this holiday season. The idea is simple: Pick a cocktail your recipient will love, then get the ingredients and package them in a gift box or basket … along with copy of DIY Cocktails, of course.

The level of DIY-ness is up to you. You can create your own recipe and print it on a decorative card, include a bottle of your … Read more

Storified by Drink of the Week · Sat, Nov 03 2012 14:18:00

Vanilla vodka is one of the tastiest and most versatile infusions you can make. Not only is it a way to put a twist on a common drink, it’s super easy! All you’ll need for to make this recipe is funnel, coffee filter and a second 750ml bottle (with cap) that has been thoroughly cleaned and re-labeled. We suggest trying this infusion in Chocolate Martini or even try making your own vanilla bourbon by using … Read more

2012 is here! We’d been waiting for it, watching it creep upon us but for some reason it’s still surprising when it actually gets here. Now that the hoopla has died down, we have been thinking about what will be popular on the wine and spirits front in 2012.

DIY – Do It Yourself continues to rage. Given the continuing uncertainty in the economy, people will continue to be their own bartenders, shaking and mixing

It’s time for Champagne! Add a little ginger kick to your sparkling wine to celebrate the holidays. This sparkler is festive yet simple, so it’s perfect for Christmas and New Year’s.

Happy Holidays from Drink of the Week!

Ingredients:
1/2 oz ginger syrup*
4 to 6 oz sparkling wine

Directions:
Pour ginger syrup in the bottom of a Champagne flute or coupe, the top off with sparkling wine to taste.

Ginger Syrup*

Ingredients:
1/2 cup … Read more

Good quality ingredients produce a good quality product, that’s why there is a good reason you have a favorite vodka. Your favorite brand doesn’t cheat you on quality, so you shouldn’t go for cheap ingredients when you decide to try out your own DIY recipes at home.

The winter season produces a lot of citrus fruits including tangerines, mandarin, oranges and grapefruit. Because fresh fruit equals fresh flavors, now is a great time to take … Read more

Sometimes it seems to take a special dictionary to navigate the cocktail world. For instance, while it is true that crème is the French word for cream, a crème liqueur and a cream liqueur are not the same.

Cream liqueurs, such as Baileys or Carolans Irish cream, contain dairy cream. Crème liqueurs, such as crème de menthe and crème de cacao, have more sugar than other liqueurs and therefore a thicker consistency. They do not, … Read more

I love Bloody Marys! Since it’s tomato season, now is the perfect time to make this cocktail with fresh tomatoes. It’s easier than you think.

This variation includes bacon and maple syrup, but it’s not just for brunch! Bacon makes such a tasty garnish and the maple syrup perks up the natural sweetness of the fresh tomatoes.

As far as garnishes go, the Bloody Mary is the most fun. Why stop with bacon? Add the … Read more

Sangria is a DIY dream. It’s a wine punch with fruit and liquor in it. What kind of wine, fruit and liquor? That’s up to you.

Some people like to top off their sangria with ginger ale, lemon-lime soda or club soda. Some people like it room temperature, while others drink it over ice. It’s hard to find anyone who doesn’t like sangria. It’s possible they wouldn’t be people worth knowing.

Using expensive wine is … Read more

It’s still Summer, so why not giveaway some cool stuff to make cocktails and a $150 Amex Gift Card. Simply like this page, comment or like Martin Miller’s Facebook Page and you’ll be entered to win a DIY Summer Cocktail Gift Pack containing a shaker and other bar tools, a copy of our book DIY Cocktails and $150 Amex Gift Card (for incidentals).

* To enter you must be at least 21 years of age … Read more

The Manhattan is one of my favorite cocktails, yet some bars make me sad by shaking this drink instead of stirring it. Overall, a good rule of thumb to follow is that if a drink consists of all alcoholic mixers (as this one does), then stirring is sufficient to mix the drink. As Robert Hess points out in this instructional video, it also makes for a much more visually appealing cocktail. Check out this video … Read more

Until this drink, I’d never had a cocktail made with fresh lychees. Their bumpy shell houses a squishy, gelatinous fruit with a little seed inside that. It tastes like a sweeter more syrupy grape with an exotic fruit twist. Nolet’s Gin sent me a box of lychees and a suggestion for how to use them … a Gimlet made with lychees. How could I resist?

In case you’ve never seen a lychee before (I hadn’t), … Read more

Many cocktails have “muddled” ingredients, so recipes tell you to grab your muddler and muddle away. But what does that even mean?

A muddler is a wooden pestle that looks like a miniature baseball bat. The flat end is used to smash ingredients, such as the lime and mint in a Mojito. We recommend wood because it won’t damage your glasses. Some muddlers have teeth on the end, which is great for fruits but too … Read more

If you want to get started brewing your own beer, the Brooklyn Brew Shop has some interesting kits and mixes for you!

Although the products seem to be designed with the beginning brewer in mind, they still keep it exciting with varieties like Peanut Butter Porter, Mustard Brown Ale and Grapefruit Honey Ale.

They have a Brew of the Month Club if you truly want to get your beer on.

Here’s a fun video they … Read more

Flavored syrups are a simple way to add flair to your cocktails. But you don’t need the store-bought variety. You can take your favorite fruit, herbs and even vegetables and turn them into a cocktail syrup. It’s as easy as boiling water! And who says the syrup is just for cocktails? Mix it with club soda or sparkling water for an easy homemade soda.

Here is the basic formula and instructions:

1 part water… Read more

It’s Mixology Monday time again, and this month we are hosted by Adventures In Cocktails with the theme – “Niche Spirits”. So that means no basics: no vodka, tequila, gin, rum, brandy or whiskey.

We said, “Hey, how about a nice Genever Cocktail from our new book – DIY Cocktails?”

Genever, AKA “Holland Gin”, is the Dutch predecessor from which the more ubiquitous “London Dry” gin evolved.

Ingredients:
2 parts Bols Genever
1 part Creme … Read more

If your Dad is a fan of classic whiskey cocktails, this new creation with a strong, traditional flavor may be the one to mix him for Father’s Day.

Using the ratio for a Manhattan as inspiration, I started with a rye base and played with the sweet/dry balance that the vermouth usually offers. Amer is a French aperitif with flavors of bitter orange and gentian root. (AMERican Dad, get it? Ha?) Dry vermouth is often … Read more

Hopefully dad appreciates you just the way you are, but these items can’t hurt in helping him love you just a little bit more …

With only 275 bottles produced, this prestigious edition is set to become an exclusive collectors’ item.

Bottled at 44.8% ABV, Highland Park 50 Years Old is a vatting of five refill oak casks distilled in 1960.  This higher proof brings out richness of this special whisky.

Each … Read more

It’s grilling weather where I am, so I was looking for something I could sip on the deck while cooking over the coals. The rosemary bush in my yard and the giant red grapefruits I bought at Whole Foods called to me, so I put them together in a variation on one of my absolute favorite warm-weather concoctions: the Mojito.

I ran out of sugar to make simple syrup, so for my second one I … Read more

When Pisco Portón sent me a bottle of its spirit, the first thing that sprung to mind was, “It’s Pisco Sour time!” As I reached for the simple syrup in the fridge, right next to it, I saw a jar of strawberry syrup I made. That gave me an idea.

The floral and light fruit notes in the pisco seemed like a natural match for strawberry. In keeping with the light spring tone of the … Read more

In honor of the Kentucky Derby, here’s a recipe from our book, DIY Cocktails. Horse racing and bourbon go hand in hand, but you don’t have to be in the stands wearing your best seersucker suit or fancy hat to enjoy a little bit of Kentucky at home!

Ingredients:
1 ½ oz bourbon
½ oz Grand Marnier
½ oz  fresh apple juice
½ oz  fresh lemon juice

Directions:
Pour all ingredients into a cocktail … Read more

Fresh mango is fantastic. It’s lightly sweet, and its tropical flavor can instantly transport you to a relaxing place. Put that in a margarita and you have a winner!

This delightful fresh mango margarita will pair equally well with spicy food on Cinco de Mayo or a lovely brunch or picnic on Mother’s Day. I may just do both … it’s that good.… Read more

If you love the spice, as I do, why not add a little heat to your Cinco de Mayo margaritas? From easy-peasy to a wee bit involved, here are some ways to spice it up:

Instead of a plain salt rim, use a combination of kosher salt and cayenne pepper OR kosher salt and chili powder to rim your glass. We have simple instructions on how to rim a glass, if you need a refresher.

[The Monthly Mixer is a new column by M. Quinn Sweeney who writes about crafting cocktails at LibationLab.com]

Bottles of fluorescent fluids labeled “sour mix” can be purchased at any grocery or liquor store but what you are buying has no actual fruit or anything else found in nature. It’s an artificial conglomeration of crap that tastes like the description above implies. It’s like stirring up some Tang and calling it orange juice. Bars use … Read more

We at Drink of the Week are proud to announce the release of our first book, DIY Cocktails: A Simple Guide to Creating Your Own Signature Drinks.

With only ten ratios to master, you’ll shake, stir, roll, and build literally thousands of unique and exceptional cocktails.

Thanks to everyone who made this possible!

Cheers!

Drink of the Week

Check out the video to see more:

Order Your Copy:

Almost no drink welcomes warm weather the way a good mojito does. It’s simple and refreshing! I mixed up some basil mojitos. An easy way to change up your cocktail is to substitute ingredients. By using basil instead of mint, we found a whole new drinking experience without much work.

Try it out with basil or any of your favorite herbs! You can learn more about substitutions and creating new cocktail recipes in our book, … Read more

To continue our celebration of spring and our new book, here’s a fun recipe from DIY Cocktails! This punch is like a big champagne cocktail for you and all your friends. The crisp lemon flavor and effervescence are the perfect way to keep celebrating spring!

I like to use Meyer lemons, which are a little sweeter than your typical lemon. For those who prefer less alcohol, you can reduce the amount of vodka or skip … Read more

We’re so excited that the book we wrote is now officially out! It’s called DIY Cocktails, and it tells you everything you need to know to create your own cocktails from scratch using your own recipes. Of course, we included some of our recipes in there. Here’s one that is a simple and satisfying twist on a Vodka Tonic.

The Black Rose has the fruit and herb flavor that will help you ring in … Read more

[The Monthly Mixer is a new column by M. Quinn Sweeney, who writes about crafting cocktails at LibationLab.com]

Simple syrup, is called simple for a reason. It is the easiest way to sweeten a drink, and blends into a cocktail much easier than plain sugar. You can make it at home in five minutes and store it in the fridge for weeks. In a pinch, you can even mash in some fruit and pour it … Read more

We created a special champagne cocktail to help The Stir celebrate its first birthday. It’s like a piña colada meets champagne cocktail! Please go wish them a happy birthday!… Read more

St. Patrick’s Day is coming up, so whip out the Baileys Irish cream … or don’t!

I saw this recipe for homemade Irish cream that sounds like a winner.

As the authors of DIY Cocktails, we’re always on the lookout for ways to add more homemade ingredients to cocktails.

From 52 Kitchen Adventures:

This is a ridiculously easy recipe that makes me question buying Bailey’s ever again. It tastes better, you can make as

We’re gearing up for St. Patrick’s Day, so green drinks are theme of the day. Moon Mountain created this light refreshing cocktail as a classy alternative to traditional green beer. This one is easy to make at home and has plenty of green to keep you from getting a pinch.… Read more

Is a fridge full of boring juice cramping your style? Then turn it into booze! “How?” you might ask. “Science,” I would then answer.

The DIY Juice to Alcohol Kit contains yeast packets you can use to turn the fructose into alcohol in just 48 hours.

It’s as simple as pouring the yeast into a 64-ounce bottle, screwing on the cap and waiting. You’ll be rewarded with a sparkling beverage with about 14% alcohol.

The … Read more

A beautiful lemon spiral is a great garnish for cocktails like the French 75 or any cocktail that you want to add a little lemon oil to. You can also do this with oranges for cocktails that call for an orange twist. It takes a bit of practice but, as you’ll see in this video, it’s not that hard. All you’ll need besides lemon is a citrus zester, also called a channel knife.

Imbibe’s Evan Zimmerman shows us how to use a Boston shaker like a pro.

… Read more

This cocktail cherry recipe will take you about 15 minutes … and I promise you’ll like them better than those radioactive-looking “maraschino” cherries most bars and grocery stores stock. (I gave maraschino the sarcastic quotation mark treatment because the neon-red ones that are most common don’t even use maraschino liqueur or Marasca cherries, just a lot of sugar.)

Aside from garnishing cocktails like Manhattans with these, you can also use them as a dessert topping … Read more

Orgeat is an almond syrup that adds a lightly sweet, nutty flavor to cocktails.

The Mai Tai is the most well-known drink that contains orgeat–although many recipes skip it in favor of grenadine, simple syrup or other more common ingredients.

There are several fine commercial orgeats on the market, along with many too-sweet, artificial-tasting varieties.

Darcy O’Neil has a fantastic recipe for orgeat, if you want to take the time to make it right. However, … Read more

Liqueur plays a big role in many great cocktails. So why not make your own using fresh fruit? Without commercial equipment, you can make a mixture that closely approximates liqueur. It’s not officially liqueur but it comes damn close and tastes fantastic. Inspired by roadside berry stands, we combined several berries with cognac to create this delicious treat.

½ cup water
½ cup sugar
1 ½ cups mixed berries (blackberries, raspberries, blueberries and strawberries)… Read more

Halloween means one thing, OK, maybe more that one thing, but one is certainly candy! And what is the most popular? Candy corn.

Invented in the 1880s at the Wunderle Candy Company, candy corn os meant to mimic a whole kernel of corn. Today candy companies produce nearly 35 million pounds of the corn candy each year.

How big is candy corn? So big it needs it’s own day, so as not compete with Halloween. … Read more

Paul Loughridge took a Heineken mini-keg and made Beer2-D3, distant cousin to Star Wars droid R2-D2. Genius!

Maybe he needs a Beer-3PO to help keep him out of trouble.

[Via Make]… Read more

No! They are making their own wine at home. And computers are involved!

WinePod is a home winemaking system that “presses, ferments and manages wine” in one unit.

You can connect it to your computer and get instructions, advice from wine pros and online support. It even has its own social network.

And all for only $4,499 (or $6,349 if you include grapes, accessories … Read more

Here are the simple steps:

Use distilled water. Boil the water, then let it cool. Boil the water one more time. Let it cool slightly, but pour in the tray when it’s still hot. Freeze.

The smaller your cubes, the better they will look.

Pro Cocktail Mini Ice Cube Trays … Read more

You can color and flavor tapioca pearls to accent a variety of Halloween cocktails.

Creepy Halloween Bubble Halloween Cocktails… Read more

I am.

Well, all it takes is a roll of duct tape!

The Original Duct Tape Halloween Book… Read more

Dethroner writes of the possible demise of the internet’s love affair with bacon. They counter this notion with, what else, bacon-infused vodka! It’s what’s for breakfast.

1 large sterile mason jar
5-6 strips of cooked bacon, drained
1 bottle premium vodka

Add bacon to the mason jar and fill with vodka. Let the bacon steep in the vodka for a few days in a very cool place or the fridge. After the vodka … Read more