Bottoms Up with Mr. Mixx

Event and USBG Membership Drive

2014-10-20T15:21:00.000-05:00

Hey Everyone!

As you know, I am and have been a member of the USBG(United States Bartenders Guild), Illinois Chapter. What is the USBG you may ask? Well here it is.....

The USBG is one of the best things I have done in my professional career. Meetings, education, competitions, a nationwide brotherhood of like minded bartenders who are just as passionate about this industry as I am. I will always be a member of the USBG and will continue to encourage bartenders( esp "urban market" bartenders who aren't exposed to this part of the industry as much) to join and become active members of the family.

So with that being said, tonight, the USBG-IL chapter is hosting a tailgate party and membership drive. So if you haven't joined, or are interested in learning more, join myself and the rest of the Chicago family( well those of us who didnt make it to Portland for cocktail week) at The Brixton tonight from 7-10pm.

For more information on the USBG, check out the website, http://usbg.org

Until Next time
Mr.Mixologist

Back to the Rack!!

2014-04-10T14:14:00.000-05:00

Well everyone, Its that time again! Speed Rack Season 3 is ending this Sunday here in Chicago!! If you have never been to Speed Rack, I'll give you a quick breakdown. Speed Rack is in its 3rd year. It was started in February of 2011 by bartenders Ivy Mix and Lynette Marrero. The competition focused on the women of our industry, celebrate them, and raise money for Breast cancer research. I have been to speed rack every year it has been here in Chicago, and even had the opportunity to go to Speed Rack, on my 1st trip to Portland for cocktail week in 2011. So Imagine 8 of the best female bartenders in Chicago, on stage, duking it out, all while you are cheering them on, and enjoying punch, cocktails and food from some of the great sponsors. AND you ll be drinking and eating for a great cause!! My family has been affected by Breast cancer, and other types of cancer, so I will ALWAYS support anything and anyone who is supporting finding a cure for this horrible disease.

Tickets are still available if you follow this link...
http://www.eventbrite.com/e/speed-rack-chicago-tickets-5688081204?aff=eorg

And you can donate at the door as well for $25. Remember all proceeds go toward breast cancer research.

Check out the vid to see what you'll be witnessing...

So be there!! I will be!!! You can find Mr.Mixologist aka the " Boobie Bandit" running around on the floor all day Sunday!

Until Next Time
Mr.Mixologist

Product Review ---> Kappa Pisco

2014-04-03T14:44:00.000-05:00

Hey hey everyone! You know I have been neglecting the blog, but I've been SO busy lately, and have many things to share with you from the last month or so, and lots of new and exciting adventures upcoming!

Today we will review a new AMAZING spirit, Kappa Pisco. So if you been following the blog here, you already know what Pisco is. If not, Pisco is a colorless grape brandy that is made in the wine region of Peru and Chile. A great spirit, most notably known for its greatest creations, The Pisco Sour, and Pisco Punch. Although there are MANY different ways to enjoy the spirit, those are the best 2 ways, in my opinion, to introduce someone to Pisco.

Which brings us to today's subject, Kappa Pisco. Kappa is the newest expression from the Marnier Lapostalle family. The same family that's produces Grand Marnier, and the Lapostalle Wines of Chile, and wines from the Loire Valley. So when i say expect a QUALITY product, this will be one! Kappa is made with 2 different Muscot grapes, the Alexandria and Rose. In my experience in tasting and playing around with Kappa, I get hints of Spice, Vanilla, and of course grape when i taste. No burn, and very smooth. Kappa recently got a 92 at the Ultimate Beverage challenge AND won the Chairman's Trophy at the UBC as well. So when I say this is a quality spirit, it has the credentials to back up my claim.

Last week, I was 1 of 8 bartenders who competed in the "Kappa Pisco Punch Out" competition at Drumbar here in Chicago. Lots of talent was in there, and we all had our work cut out for us, but thru it all, I pulled out the competition win!!! I created a cocktail named, "The 4th Chamber". I wanted a drink that played off everything that I got from tasting Kappa, and still was balanced enough to appeal to fellow bartenders and consumers alike. So without further adieu, here is the 4th chamber

4th Chamber
Kappa Pisco
Grand Marnier
Lime
Pineapple
Mint
Serrano Chili Pepper Syrup

Now for this particular competition, the cocktail had to be batched into a punch, so to get the specs on this be sure to watch the blog on Monday afternoons, as I will be posting a new cocktail recipe every Monday for "Mixing it Up Monday's". But all in all KAPPA Pisco is a very very good product to work with, and one I look forward to sharing many more recipes with you. FIND IT, DRINK IT, ENJOY IT...

Until Next Time
Mr.Mixologist

Product Review- Wilks & Wilson - Purveyors of Fine Elixers

2014-01-16T18:32:00.000-06:00

Today I am happy to talk about a product that I truly enjoy working with. Alot of time, I make my own syrups, cordials, etc, But a couple good friends of mine have a product line that I really enjoy using in my cocktails.

Wilks & Wilson( Greg Wilson and Zachary Wilks) produce hand crafted, organic, and mostly natural elixirs that were intended for use in Non alcoholic beverages, but they are delicious in some of the classic cocktails of yesteryear. Now the interesting story about how I came to meet these guys is interesting. 2 years ago while I was in New Orleans for Tales of The Cocktail, Some friends and I were throwing around the idea of creating a product. Bitters, Syrups, and even a carbonated cocktail came into play. So someone close to me said, "hey you should meet this guy down here named Greg, who has a line of syrups. Its looks pretty cool." So thru the magical power of twitter( its great when used correctly) we tracked each other down and when I found Greg Wilson, I planned on just talking but he handed me a 6 pack of his product and his card and said please stay in touch. So after getting home and unpacking a whole suitcase full of booze(don't ask, just come to TOTC and you'll find out) I took a look at this product.. What struck me 1st was the pictures on the labels and the wide variety of flavors and distinctions between them. Needless to say I was intrigued. So fast forward to this past Tales of the Cocktail and not only did I run back into Greg, but I got to meet Zachary Wilks as well. Great guys with a Great product that I can stand behind and use when taking care of my events.

Now that you got some background, lets get to the meat of the story, the product!!!

The product list is as follows:

Adelaide's Orgeat
Genevieve's Grenadine
Gertrude's Gomme
Giovanna's Ginger Simple
Millicent's Lime Mint Simple( My personal favorite)
Rosabelles Raspberry Gomme
Sir Teddy's Tonic

Every cocktail has some type of background and story to it and these elixirs also have one as well. All of them have a distinct character and a story behind them all. For a full breakdown of the characters and the stories behind them visit http://wilksandwilson.com/

Now some of the best cocktails in the country are being made with Wilks and Wilson as it is available in Chicago, Indiana, St. Louis, Michigan, Massachusetts, and Kansas City most notably.

As stated earlier my favorite cocktail to make with their product is the "DrinkxXx On Me Mojito" using the Lime Mint Simple.. So why not share it with all of you.. I debuted it last year at a guest bartending shift I had. It has since become a staple. A different take on the Mojito recipe..

DOMojito
Muddled mint
Muddled Pineapple
2oz Flor De Cana Rum
1oz Wilks and Wilson Lime Mint Simple
1oz Orange Juice
2 dashes Fee brothers Orange Bitters

Garnish with a mint sprig and pineapple wedge

Hope you all get an opportunity to try Wilks and Wilson soon and if you get a moment, try out the DOMojito and let me know what you think. As always any DrinkxXx that you want to try or make at home please tweet me at @MrMixologist or @DomBarService and use the hashtag #DrinkOneTeachOne

Until Next Time
Mr.Mixologist

Big Start to 2014

2014-01-15T17:04:00.000-06:00

Hello everyone!!

Took some time off from working and writing, but I would like to say Happy New Year from DrinkxXx On Me!!!

So I have some goals for myself in thus new year and one is to bring you all a blog post every day, starting today. Whether its Lifestyle, drink reviews, spirit reviews, some of my adventures in this crazy hospitality that I work in, or just if I want to shoot the Sh*t with all of my readers, you will all get something alcohol related from me. So GET READY!!

But with that being said, its been a hectic couple weeks in 2014 so far ni the liquor world. 2 BIG acquisitions happened in the first 14 days of 2014.

For one Sean "Diddy"Combs, the man behind the emergence of Ciroc, has partnered 50/50 with Diaego to acquire Deleon Tequila. Diddy is a master at marketing and getting the most out of his products. He puts his name on it and its golden. And Diageo, well, no words need be spoken about them. The strong Distribution, and access to influencers (like Combs) and marketing makes them a formidable team to push Deleon to the top of the tequila charts in 2014. Deleon is a 100% Blue agave tequila. Deleon was created in 2008, and hit the US market on Cinco De Mayo 2009. Its expressions are as follows, Blanco, Reposado, Anejo, Extra Anejo, and Leona. I'm looking forward to trying it, creating some cocktails and giving all of you a nice
review.

And just when the news of Diddy, started to quiet down, then a HUGE announcement came across all of our social media platforms...
Japan's Suntory ( which boasted the likes of Bowmore scotch and Yamazaki Japanese Whiskey) now has acquired Beam, Inc for a whopping price of $13.6 Billion dollars. Now nothing says America more than some good ol bourbon but now, 2 of the most recognizable names in whiskey, Jim Beam and Makers Mark will belong to a Japanese owner. Along with those brands, in this deal, Suntory will have, most notably Courvoisier, Laphroaig, and Knob Creek.

So its been some big moves made in the spirits biz to start the year off.. Cant wait to see what the rest of 2014 brings!! See you tomorrow with a product review of Wilks and Wilson, LLC..

Until Next Time
Mr.Mixologist

5 Tips for gifts to give the Bartender that you love

2013-12-12T16:10:00.000-06:00

HOLIDAY SEASON is in a full swing now, we are about 2 weeks away from Christmas, and while the bars are heating up with guests, us bartenders LOVE to receive gifts as well! So here is my top 5 gifts for the season for the bartender in your life... (hint, if anyone wants to get me any of these, Ill gladly accept)

1. Illegal Mezcal Barrel Aging Gift Set
This gift set includes 3 bottles (750ml) of Illegal Mezcal Joven, a 3 liter barrel, Barrel Aging instructions and a cocktail booklet.
http://www.drinkupny.com/Ilegal_Mezcal_Barrel_Aging_Gift_Set_p/d0022.htm

2. Cocktail Books! Who doesn't love a great read on these cold winter nights. While there are many many worthy publications, the one that stands out this season is one of the new kids on the block, " Apothecary Cocktails- Restorative Drinks from Yesterday and Today" by Author, and good friend of mine Warren Bobrow. This cocktail book features 75 traditional and newly created cocktail recipes that are medicinally themed.
http://www.amazon.com/Apothecary-Cocktails-Restorative-Drinks-Yesterday/dp/1592335845

3. What bartender doesn't love new shiny things?? Be sure to check out Cocktail Kingdom for all your favorite bartenders new tools, toys, and gadgets!! My personal favorites, the Yarai Mixing Glass, the Copper collection, the silver collection, and the wide array of bitters bottles.
http://www.cocktailkingdom.com/

4. The GEAR!!! We all like to look nice, especially behind the bar looking approachable and neat is a must. And the Chef wear brand keeps myself and hundreds of my counterparts looking mighty dapper. If you act now, they are doing free shipping for a limited time..
http://www.chefwear.com/index.asp

5. AND the one thing that you can always get your favorite bartender for the holidays, "drum roll"...... SPIRITS!!!! Its a wide array of tasty spirits for that bartender that you love, but for some of us who are whiskey lovers, I was doing a little research and found a gem of a Japanese whiskey that just hit the states. Hakushu Heavily Peated is now available, and is different from the Hakushu 12 year that has been available for awhile now. After reading the review on Men's Journal, this seems like it will be on the wish list of Scotch whiskey lovers all over!
http://www.mensjournal.com/food-drink/drinks/japans-subtle-peaty-whiskey-20131204

So hopefully these tips will help you find something for the drink slinger in your life, and if not maybe you found something for yourself!!

Be sure to watch our posts starting tomorrow where the " 12 days of Christmas" cocktail series will start. This will be a fun Boozy time!!!

Until Next Time
Mr.Mixologist

New Cocktail-- Blood on the Leaves

2013-11-14T11:55:00.000-06:00

The Blood and Sand cocktail was a classic cocktail created in the 1920s. It was a scotch cocktail with Cherry Heering, sweet vermouth, and Orange juice. It was aptly named after Rudolph Valentino's bullfighter movie Blood and Sand. Its one of my favorite cocktails, but I thought about doing a twist on it with Pama Liqueur. Pama Liqueur is a liqueur that consists of Pomegranate liqueur, vodka, and a touch of tequila. Its bottled at 34 proof so it can be an essential modifier in a wide array of cocktails

So I been playing around with it and I came up with this very tasty riff on the classic Blood and Sand....

Blood on the Leaves

Blood On the Leaves

1oz Pama Pomegranate Liqueur
.75oz Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit Single Barrel
.5oz Coochi Americano
.5oz Passion Fruit juice
.25oz Mint Syrup
2 dashes Bitter Truth Creole Bitters

Combine all Ingredients in a shaker, shake hard and strain into a chilled cocktial glass.

So next time you get yourself a bottle of Pama, try this cocktail out and let me know what you think...

Until Next Time
Mr.Mixologist

A Perfectly Scary Cocktail

2013-10-31T16:10:00.000-05:00

Since its Halloween I decided to share with all of you one of my favorite "spooky" cocktails.. I don't celebrate the holiday but if I had to pick out one drink to enjoy today it would be the Corpse Reviver 2.

Great Classic cocktail that was originally meant to be a hangover cure( along with its predecessor the Corpse Reviver, which is a Cognac based cocktail.) in a sense to "Revive the body" after a long night of drinking. Its a very delicate blend of a Botanical spirit, Fortified wine, citrus, Orange and Absinthe liqueurs. So imagine how this drink will attack every part of your palette. This is one of my favorite cocktails and is considered a "Classic Cocktail" So without any further adieu, I give you my version of the Corpse Reviver 2.

Corpse Reviver 2

1oz Few Spirits Gin
1oz Lillet Blanc
1oz Cointreau
1oz Fresh lemon Juice
Absinthe Wash
Cherry Garnish

Combine all ingredients in a shaker glass. Shake hard for 15-20 seconds. Wash your glass with 2 or 3 drops of absinthe( St. George Spirits Brand preferred). Swirl it around, then strain your cocktail into the glass. And Garnish with a cocktail cherry.

So while most tonight will be enjoying candy and scary movies, Ill be in my kitchen making a few of these and enjoying a quiet evening at home. This honestly to me is one of the perfect cocktails to be used as an aperitif, or a before dinner drink. It really is smooth, elegant, and wakes up your palette. You should make yourself one and tweet of Instagram your cocktail with the hash tag #DrinkOneTeachOne to @MrMixologist and let me know how it turns out..

Until Next time
Mr.Mixologist

Top 10 moments of Portland Cocktail Week

2013-10-29T17:43:00.000-05:00

Portland Cocktail Week.... 1 word. WOW!!! I spent some of last week in the state of Oregon with about 200 other bartenders from all over the country. This was a great event to learn, associate, drink( we are bartenders) and generally remember why we chose this profession. This was my second time at PDXCW and this event has really set the bar for events in the future. So instead of just giving you a long recap of the entire week, I want to share with all of you my personal Top 10 moments from the week. Some will have visuals included.. Well the visuals that i can share.. lol

So here we go....

10. Winning 2nd Place in the Templeton Rye Shoes and Cue Horseshoe tournament.
Never played Horseshoes before, but drank plenty of Templeton and myself and my teammate Toki made it to the finals.

9. Swig and Swine 2013
The Bon Vivants did it again!! Always a great party, always for a good cause. Trashcan punch and plenty of Pig. AND all proceeds go to charity. I think Im going to gather all my Pig and Punch and Swig an swine t-shirts and have them framed.

8. Hale Pele
No other words be spoken.. Great Tiki Bar in Portland run by my main man Jesse Card.

7. Education
2 days, 8 classes. lots and lots of information. My course was "Beyond the Bar" TOok classes on sponsorship, Brand Ambassadorship, Dealing with the Press, Making cocktials on Camera, just to name a few.

6. Hennessy Dinner
The Uptown Billards Club was turned into the Hennessy House for the evening, where my Bar Major group enjoyed a 4 course meal paired with 4 cocktails made with the different expressions of Hennessy Cognac.

5. Rum Club shenanigans
Hanging with my "Superfriends" group of bartenders. the 6 of us shut down this great Portland cocktail bar 2 nights in a row. Thank you rto Adam and the rest of the team there for the cocktails.

4. Bar Mashup
1 night, 4 bars. We traveled by limo and Party bus between 4 bars in one night. Oven & Shaker, InterUrban, Hale Pele, and St. George Mobile Libation laboratory. Not to mention we shut down Rum Club after... EPIC night!!

3. Man I love them Strippers
Im sure we paid a few ladies college tution over the past week, lol and I wont name names but we sure enjoyed our after school wind down time at Union Jacks, Sassy's and Mary's to name a few....

2. Field Trip Day
On the 3rd day we all had field trips to choose from. Mine was sponsored by Talisker and I had the opportunity to learn how to navigate and sail a sailboat. A once in a lifetime opportunity and I truly enjoyed being out on the water for 3 hours watching fighter jets fly above, and sailed right into Mount Hood. A religious experience

AND THE NUMBER 1 MOMENT OF THE WEEK WAS..............................

1. Murray Stenson
We had a service class and Mr. Murray Stenson was once of the speakers. If you don't know who he is, google him. He is a very instrumental person in the service industry and he got a standing ovation upon walking up to the podium. I even got the opportunity to chop it up with him for a moment and felt like I knew him forever. Great, GREAT person.

So that didn't even begin to touch how great of a week I had, or even all the things we did., This was just a few of the highlights for myself that stood out. I cant wait until next year to go back again.. Cheers to everyone I met last week and to my old friends who reconnected with me. I cant wait to see you all again!

Until Next Time
Mr.Mixologist

Cocktail Thought of the Day- National Vodka Day

2013-10-04T17:14:00.000-05:00

Welp, its here. October 4th is National Vodka Day. So to all you Vodka lovers out there I raise my glass to all of you. Let's celebrate early, and celebrate often today. For some of my readers that are just discovering Vodka, I'll share with you a few tidbits and Vodka facts that you might not have known. I know you probably thinking Vodka is easy, Vodka is a spirit that isn't that complex, but its the opposite. Vodka is labeled as a neutral grain spirit because the process of making it is fermenting and distilling grain which could be a myriad of things including Potato, Rye, and Wheat. One of the most popular Vodka's today, Ciroc, is distilled from Grapes which makes its taste very distinct. Vodka is usually distilled a minimum of 3 times, and in some cases I've seen Vodka's distilled 10 times and more. Now once its distilled, the filtration process begins, most of the time thru Charcoal. Now Vodka requires no aging process and is ready to drink, BUT you still have to add water to bring it down to a bottling proof. Most vodkas are bottled at 80 proof, which translates to 40% ABV, or Alcohol by Volume.

Now the fun thing about Vodka is, while it really doesn't have a certain taste( I tend to joke with my clients that Vodka is the cocktail world's whore, it just goes with everything.. hahaha... but I digress) but each brand of Vodka has some little nuisances and subtleties about them. Here are some of the tastes I got from some of the most popular vodkas on the market today, and while I'm not a big Vodka guy I own all of these in my home bar/lab....Needless to say its been a great day in the lab tasting spirits. I must say this, when you taste you might get some different flavors. I learned from the great Steve Olsen, that when you are tasting spirits, there really isn't a wrong answer. Everyone's palate is different, some mature, some not, and everyone will pull something different out of what we are tasting.

Belvedere- Citrus, a little Vanilla, Melon, Cherry
Hangar One- I get all citrus.. Orange, Lime, Lemon. But a smooth clean taste
Absolut- Dried fruit, and very Floral.
Square One- 1 word.. Delicious. Made from organic Rye so very rich and full, spicy,dried fruit, and earthy
Ciroc- Smooth clean taste, and grape

Vodka is still the worlds most popular spirit, with over 200 different brands and more and more popping up everyday. And we haven't even touched on the countless flavored vodkas that are on the market. But for today we are just going to celebrate the essence of pure Vodka. So go out today and get yourself a Martini, Moscow Mule, or a Vodka/Tonic and enjoy what truly is a great spirit...

Cheers,

Until Next Time

Mr.Mixologist

Chicago Independent Spirits Expo

2013-09-26T17:12:00.000-05:00

Happy Thursday folks! I'm just climbing out of bed after a WONDERFUL night at the Independent Spirits Expo at the Chicago Hilton last night. All I can say is wow. A fun night filled with tasting some excellent spirits, and chatting it up with some of the industries finest.

Last years event had 80 suppliers and over 400 independent and artisan spirits from all over the world. This years was no different I tasted thru the entire event and was pleased with everything I was able to sample. From some of my favorite spirits, Like Few Whiskey, ANYTHING from the St. George portfolio, Diplomatico, and Del Maguey, to some newer brands that I haven't had the opportunity to try.

One standout to me was the Barrel Aged Gin from Smooth Ambler Spirits. WOW is all I can say. Their Barrel aged gin uses their award winning Greenbrier Gin as the base distillate and is aged 3 months in Oak barrels. This is a complete sipper. To me, it still tastes like a London Dry Gin but I get some peppery notes on the finish so it feels like a Rye whiskey. So my palate was very happy with this spirit! Check out the video of the distillery here:

Also at this years indie spirits expo was the authors round table and my good friend Mr. Warren Bobrow was one of the speakers. Warren has been featured on this blog in the past and now my main man is releasing his 1st cocktail book, "Apothecary Cocktails: Restorative Drinks from Yesterday and Today." Had the opportunity to have some conversations with my friend this week and even got to thumb thru the book as well. Needless to say this is not just a cocktail book. Back at the turn of the century, most would go to their local apothecary and would get prescribed something herbal that includes some sort of spirit for all your ailments. Without giving to much of the book away, there are some great recipes in there that were used for Medicinal purposes. It will be a must own for anyone in our industry and for cocktail enthusiasts as well. You can pre-order this book by following this link... http://www.qbookshop.com/products/212140/9781592335848/Apothecary-Cocktails.html

So to all that was able to experience the Indie Spirits Expo, I'm glad to have ran into you and we all had a good time. To any who missed it, DO NOT MISS NEXT YEAR!!

Cheers,

Until Next Time
Mr.Mixologist

Wine Wednesday on Bottoms Up----- The Summer of Riesling

2013-09-18T18:05:00.000-05:00

Good afternoon Folks!

Well now that we are officially in the last week of summer, and although it is my favorite season, the fall season is fastly approaching. Football, Basketball, leaves changing color, its gets dark a little earlier, all are letting us know that its time for a whole new flavor of cocktails and wines. Plum, Cherry, Cinnamon, Spice, whiskey, cognac, hot cocktails, port wines, all are about to get a BIG boost with the temperature falling.

BUT, we still have a few days left and our resident wine expert, the extremely talented Tanisha Townsend of Girl Meets Glass is giving us one last wine reminder for the summer. So enough of me talking, lets find out what the Summer of Riesling is all about.........

As much as we try to hold onto the warm days, long nights, and short skirts, the temps are getting lower. And as of September 21^st, summer will be officially over. (Collective sigh) And along with it goes the Summer of Riesling.

Summer of Riesling was created by Paul Grieco from Terrior NY as a way to promote the diversity of the grape. Five years later, over 500 restaurants, wine bars and retails shops around the world have joined in and offer multiple styles of Riesling by the glass. Riesling is regarded as one of the world’s finest and most elegant grapes. Its fruity aromatics and bright acidity, make it excellent for pairing with food. Riesling is also late ripening but hardy, lending to sweeter flavors and late harvest styles.

Riesling is most at home in Germany where it’s welcomed by a cool climate. To get the grapes to ripen fully, they are grown on steep sun-facing slopes allowing for grapes to get a maximum amount of sunlight. German-style Rieslings are light in alcohol and age remarkably well with noticeable honeyed aromas. But in the glass, the German style is easily and quickly identified by a distinctive diesel aroma. But don’t fret! The diesel gives way to aromas of melon and wine. German Rieslings also have various levels of sweetness designated on the label.

· Kabinett: dry

· Spatelese: semi-sweet

· Auslese: very ripe, hand selected bunches, typically semi-sweet or sweet

· Beerenauslese: overripe grapes individually selected from bunches and often affected by noble rot, making rich sweet dessert wine.

· Eiswein: (ice wine) The grapes are frozen on the vine and then pressed for their juice

· Trockenbeerenauslese: made from overripe shriveled grapes often affected by noble rot making extremely rich sweet wines.

In warmer climates such as Austria and Australia, Rieslings take more citrusy and peach notes. Due to their high acidity, they are also one of the few white wines that age well. The older they get, they developed honeyed and smoky notes.

Chateau Tanunda Riesling (Australia) – A bit of petrol on the nose swirls away into aromas of lime blossom and citrus. A drier style, but a long finish on the palate.Willm Reserve Riesling (Alsace, France) – White flowers and citrus on the nose with a racy acidity. Clean flavors on the palate pair well with spicy foods or sushi.

JJ Prum Sommeheur Auslese (Germany) – The petrol aroma jumps up from the glass, but once you get past that there is ripe peach and mango to be had. Great minerality and acidity on the palate, very well balanced.

Dr. Loosen Blue Estate Kabinett (Finger Lakes, NY) – Excellent aperitif wine with its white peach and floral flavors. Tons of flinty minerality from the blue slate the vines are planted in.

For more information on Riesling, check out #summerofriesling on Twitter as we chat away the last few days of summer. Of course, with a glass of Riesling by our side.

So thanks Tanisha again for spreading her wine knowledge over here to myself and my readers and I think Ill be picking up myself a bottle of Riesling tonight to have before summer ends. Be on the lookout for more wine based posts from our favorite wine expert Tanisha in the near future.

Until Next Time

Mr.Mixologist

Cocktail Thought of the Day-- National Cabernet Day

2013-08-29T17:03:00.000-05:00

Thursday August 29th is National Cabernet day. So for all my wine lovers out there, I have a very special post. While Mr. Mixx is predominately a spirits guy, I do appreciate Wine and what it brings to the spirit world. It is a very complex study and while I have some wine knowledge, for this post I brought in my very special friend Tanisha "Girl Meets Glass" Townsend,

Tanisha, along with being a good friend of mine, and a Chicago native, is a Washington, DC based wine & spirits educator. She also has a excellent wine blog, aptly named., Girl Meets Glass. Her goals are to make spirits and wine education available to all, from the in home novice, tot he most trained accomplished spirits professionals. Tanisha has quite a few wine education credentials, and you can check her out at www.girlmeetsglass.tumblr.com

So since today is National Cabernet day, I could think of no one more essential than her to drop a few jewels on us all about Cab.. Here are her thoughts on Cab and a few things you may not have known.. Enjoy....

Cocktail Thought Of the Day

What is Cabernet?

I took a Cab to the Left….

Is the line I used to remember the difference between Left Bank and Right Bank wines of Bordeaux, France. Cabernet Sauvignon is the predominant grape in the blends from the Left Bank. I passed that particular exam years ago, but when I think about Cabernet Sauvignon, I always think back to that simple sentence.

The Left Bank gets its name due to the fact that they vineyards lie on the lefts side of the Gironde, an estuary that runs through Bordeaux. Haut-Medoc and Medoc are the main sub-regions of the left bank. These regions produce Cabernets with high levels of astringency and tannins, but the addition of Merlot and Cabernet Franc lends some complexity and softness. Left Bank Bordeaux will age 5-10 years before showing any signs of mellowing out. And will then keep for years after that with new layers and flavors deepening in the bottle.

Also note that the most expensive wines of Bordeaux come from the Medoc region, mainly as a result of the 1855 Classification. This classification divided the 61 chateaus into First Growth, Second Growth, Third Growth, Fourth Growth, and Fifth Growth. A recent search for a First Growth Bordeaux Chateau Latour found the lowest price at $1500 for a 2008!

But don’t fret my friends, all Bordeaux are not that expensive! There are some much more affordable examples with just as much texture and tannins, and not nearly as much price tag.

Chateau Saint Sulpice

Earthy and oaky on the nose moving into dark berries on the palate. May be a bit tight upon opening, swirl this one in your glass a bit as to not miss out. Pairs well with meat and pasta dishes.

Chateau La Cardonne

A bit dusty at first, but the ripe berry fruit is there mid-palate. Then comes the tobacco and acidity bringing up the rear. Enjoy this with steak.

Barons de Lafite Rothschild Reserve Speciale

Deep ruby red in color with smoky, toasty and spicy notes on the nose. Give this one a good swirl in the glass to reveal the blackberry and blackcurrant aromas. The soft, velvety tannins and chocolate hit you right at the finish.

I know this gave me some new insight into the world of Cabernet. It's much more complex than I initally thought and Im glad to have a friend like Tanisha who can break down to me and help me to expand my knowledge into the wine world. For those of you who want to know more about Tanisha and wine here is where you can find her ---

Twitter- @GirlMeetsGlass

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/GirlMeetsGlass

YouTube- http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnQLhb-gVeJzzjdexPs49bw

She is #MrMixologistApproved and look forward to hearing from her on my blog again...

Cheers,

Until Next Time

Mr.Mixologist

Mixing it up Monday's --- introducing the Sorel Iced Tea

2013-08-26T18:44:00.000-05:00

I'm bringing back Mixing it up Mondays on my blog, because well, I want to.. Lol But seriously, most( if not all) weekends I am about town and mixing up cocktails at Various events. This weekend was no different but with a twist. With my new position at Sorel, I was about to get the product out to the masses at 2 separate occasions. Both events were a hit and the cocktail I created was literally sucked down by everyone in attendance, even someone who doesn't partake in spirits loved the product and the cocktail.

What is Sorel you may be asking? Sorel is a magnificent blend of Brazilian Clove, Indonesian Cassia, Nigerian ginger, Indonesian nutmeg, and Moroccan Hibiscus. All of those exciting botanical s, Pure Cane sugar and Grain alcohol make honestly an AMAZING liqueur. This can be sipped by itself, or used as one hell of a modifier to re create many of the classic cocktails. Think spice, think islands, think GREAT TASTE.. So that brings us to today's cocktail. The Sorel Iced Tea. I was bartending an event held out on a patio yesterday. Smooth music, older crowd, laid back environment, so I thought refreshing, summertime cocktail. A blend of Bitters to accentuate the spice in the clove, and ginger, a little tea to give it a soft feel, and some fresh citrus to tickle your palette.. So here it is.....

Sorel Iced Tea

Sorel
Earl Grey Tea
Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice
Ginger Syrup
Angostura Bitters

Combine all ingredients in a shaker tin. shake hard and strain into a chilled cocktail glass

1 word.... Delicious!!! Perfect sipper for a warm summer day! Be on the Lookout for many many more Sorel cocktails in the near future...

Until Next Time
Mr.Mixologist

Cocktail Thought of the Day-- National Rum Day

2013-08-16T17:49:00.000-05:00

I pity them greatly, but I must be mum, for how could we do without Sugar and Rum"- William Cowper, English Poet

Its Friday, Its Payday, and its NATIONAL RUM DAY!!! What a great day this is. Rum is one of my favorite spirits to drink, and also to mix with. So today's blog post is going to kill 2 birds with one stone. I am going to give you the cocktail thought of the day, with some cool Rum facts, AND leave you with a couple of my own Rum cocktails for your pleasure and to try at home.

Cocktail Thought of the Day

What is Rum?

Rum is a distilled spirit that is made from Sugar Cane byproducts, such as molasses or directly from sugarcane juice by a process of fermentation and distillation. Light Rums are commonly used in cocktails, where as "golden" or "dark" rums are generally consumed individually( i.e. "neat") or in some cases used in cooking, and now with the classic cocktail coming back and being popular, now are being used more in cocktails. Ultra Premium Rums are also available and used more so for sipping. Where Rum is made has 1 major thing in common, ITS HOT!!! Every major Island group boasts its own Rum. From Barbados, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Puerto Rico, and Trinidad to name a few. Brazil boasts another type of light rum called Cachaca. But we will cover Cachaca real soon in another post.

So now that leads me to my favorite part of my posts, its sharing with you some of my cocktails. Now don't get me wrong there is a myriad of rums that i enjoy, including Chairman's Reserve, Zacapa, Shellback, Bacardi, but I do have a favorite and its from the Serralles USA portfolio and Its Don Q. Don Q RUm is a Puerto Rican rum and is the #1 selling Rum in Puerto Rico. If you've been to or booked me for events, you know this is usually my go to rum of choice for cocktails, punch, etc.. So the 1st cocktail i give you for National Rum day has Don Q Cristal as the base....

1.5oz Don Q Cristal
1oz Triple Sec(Cointreau preferred)
.50z Lemon Juice
.50oz Pineapple Juice
.25oz Strawberry Puree
Garnish with a Strawberry Slice

My next cocktail is one that I was asked to do for Koloa Rum company. They are a company based out of Hawaii that produces an award winning single batch rum at their distillery near Kalaheo. I was asked to come up with something a little different from your go to cocktails like a Daiquiri or a Dark and Stormy. So this is what I give you all,...

The Apple Fritter
1.5oz Koloa White Rum
1oz Lairds AppleJack
.50oz Spiced Simple Syrup
.50oz Fresh lime juice
2 dashes homemade Apple Bitters
Garnish with an apple slice or Cinnamon Stick

I hope you ALL enjoy National Rum Day today! I know I will.

Cheers,

Mr Mixologist

Great News!!!

2013-08-14T12:11:00.001-05:00

As I woke up this morning I got some great news! I will be the brand ambassador/mixologist for Sorel liqueur here in the Chicagoland area. Sorel is a handcrafted liqueur comprised of Moroccan Hibiscus,
Brazilian clove, Nigerian Ginger, Indonesian cassia, Indonesian Nutmeg, and 100% organic grain alcohol. Sorel scored a very high rating at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2013. To me personally, it can be just as much of a " Must Have" liqueur as St. Germain. Be on the lookout for me hosting tastings, events, education, and a lot of recipes.. The fall recipes are already starting to come to me now.

Cheers

Until next time

Mr Mixologist

Cocktail Thought for the Day 8-8-2013

2013-08-08T17:30:00.000-05:00

In this last year I had the opportunity to head up a new program with Courvoisier USA as one of 8 Courvoisier "Courvoisiologists" from across the nation. We we in charge of executing events, new cocktails for the brand, and education. It was a great opportunity for me to expand my knowledge of the iconic brand and share it with many others. It all culminated with the Courvoisier lab event here in Chicago on June 5th. Cocktails, cocktails, and more cocktails. I was the featured mixologist and had 6 of my own created cocktails being featured at the event. But with that came the responsibility to really dig deep into the brand and learn about who I was representing. So with that the cocktail thought of the day today is all about Courvoisier Cognac. Anyone who knows me knows, I enjoy a finely distilled grape spirit, namely Cognac. Its a beautiful spirit and very very unique in its taste. So here is a little history about this iconic brand...

Cocktail Thought of the Day

Background and Present day Facts about Courvoisier

The origin of Courvoisier goes all the way back to the 19th with Emmanuel Courvoisier and his associate Louis Gallois running a wine and spirit company. In 1811 Napoleon Bonaparte visited their warehouse in Bercy. The rumor is that Napoleon took several barrels of Cognac with him to St. Helena, which in turn, the ships officers began naming it, "The Cognac Of Napoleon." Courvoisier was also served at the 1889 opening of the Eiffel Tower. As far as the aging process of this fine cognac, the Vs is aged up to 8 years with the majority of it being Fins Bois grapes, the VSOP is aged up to 10 years with a little of 50% of it being Grande Champagne Grapes, and the XO Imperial being a blend of up to 40 different Cognacs.

So now to present day. Not only does Courvoisier have just Cognac but they introduced a New Blend of Cognac and 2 liqueurs to add to the portfolio. C by Courvoisier, Courvoiser Rose', and Courvosier Gold.

C by Courvoisier is a small batch Cognac blend selected from 50 different Wine Growers and is double barreled for a completely different type of experience. Rose' is a blend of Courvoisier and Premium red wine grapes, and Gold is truly a one of a kind blend of Courvoisier and Moscato grapes. So for the 1st time in a long time I'll leave this blog post with some of my own recipes with each expression for all of you. Feel free to try these at home, as I took a BYOB( Be your own Bartender) approach to make quality cocktails but also ones easy enough for the at home bartender..

The Spoken Word

C By Courvoisier

Tripe Sec

Maraschino Liqueur

Lemon juice

Angostura Bitters

Top with Club Soda

Lemon Peel Garnish

A Rose Grew from Concrete

Courvoisier Rose

Lemon Juice

Lime Juice

Blackberry Liqueur

Angostura Bitters

Top with Ginger Beer

The Golden Sangria

Couvoisier Gold

Courvoisier VS

Moscato Wine

Blood Orange Juice

Lemons

Limes

Apples

Strawberries

White Peaches

Hopefully you enjoy the cocktails, and let me know if you try them by tweeting me at @MrMixologist with the hash tag #DrinkOneTeachOne

Until Next Time

MrMixologist

Cocktail Thought of the Day 8-7-2013

2013-08-07T17:40:00.000-05:00

On my Instagram pages I started this little thing called the cocktail thought of the day. It was a fun way for me to communicate with everyone and also give out some information about cocktails that alot of the consumers on my side of town might not have been aware of. So on a bigger scale, why not share it with my blog friends and get even more of a way to get out and help educate the general consumer that isn't in the spirit world, but still enjoys cocktails and the cocktail world. So each day I'll pose a random thought and give some insight on it. Since my mantra is Drink One Teach One why not share things with the masses.

So here we go.....

Cocktail thought of the day--

What are Cocktail Bitters?

Bitters are a variety of herbs, fruits, spices, and roots distilled in a base spirit. Bitters were a staple in the early cocktail days, and have seen a resurgence since classic cocktails have made a resurgence in the last few years. Bitters can also be used in cooking, and once upon a time, Orange bitters were favored over aromatics. Some of my favorite brands of bitters are Angostura(Iconic brand), Peychaud's, Fee Brothers, Bittermans & Bitter Truth, and of course my good friend Gary Reagan's Orange Bitters No. 6. But my absolute new favorite thing to play around with in Cocktails is Dale DeGroff's Pimento Bitters. First of all anything made by " King Cocktail" is always worth a try. But his Pimento Bitters are handcrafted by the man himself and are a blend of Allspice berries., anise, and several other herbs. These bitters enhance the taste but they dont change it so much that all you are tasting is the bitters. I put 2 dashes of these in a Daiquiri at an event a couple weeks ago, and needless to say it was a HIT!!! I suggest all bartenders try the out and give it a try as well!! So hopefully for those who didn't know about bitters, this gave you an introduction to them! Stay tuned for many more cocktail thoughts of the day each day!

Cheers

Until next time
Mr Mixologist

Shaken or Stirred

2013-08-03T15:17:00.001-05:00

" I like my Martini shaken not stirred"- Sean Connery as James Bond in Goldfinger

Happy Saturday Afternoon everyone!

So this topic has came up because of something I posted on my business Instagram page ( IG- DomBarService). I tell this story that I was at a 5 star hotel in downtown Chicago for a wedding reception. While waiting, myself and a couple friends went to the hotel bar for cocktails. I proceeded to ask the bartender for an Aviation. She responded we don't carry those. So now you can just tell the look on my face at this point.....lol but I digress. So, I asked for a Negroni( one of my favorite cocktails). So since they " had those" lol I watched the bartender prepare it. And right at the end of the drink SHE SHOOK IT!!! Imagine my horror as I watched that beautiful blend of Plymouth, Campari, and Antica shaken agitated, full of air bubbles, cloudy and just not very appealing when it went into my glass.. Needless to say, I ordered a beer and sent the cocktail back.

Which brings me to today's post. Some bartenders don't know when to shake and when to stir. Myself I generally follow this rule, when the cocktail is all spirit( base spirit and modifiers) I ONLY stir. When I have a cocktail that requires any type of citrus or juice, eggs, or cream, I shake. Cocktail example to stir would be a Negroni, Manhattan, Rob Roy. Some cocktails you would shake could be margaritas, daiquiris, and long islands. (Yes a well made, shaken Long Island can be a very tasty cocktail. But that's for another post on another day).

With a stirred cocktail you don't want any air bubbles or ice chips in the cocktail, and shaking it agitates it waaaay to much for my taste. So generally when making cocktails and creating new ones I follow these simple rules to making them tasty. So why did James Bond want his martini shaken and not stirred?? We may never know.. But what we do know is that following these simple cocktail rules will produce some very tasty cocktails every time.

Until Next Time

MrMixologist

Back to Blogging/Drink One Teach One

2013-08-01T18:22:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone!

Its been a long time but Mr Mixologist has finally got the blogging bug back in his system. I have been a part of soooo many great events this year, and have so many coming up that I want to share them with all my Twitter/Facebook/Instagram followers. But before I get going I first want to say THANK YOU, to all who have supported me and DrinkxXx On Me bartending Service over the last few years, We started off doing house parties and now have grown to working for various spirit brands and hosting and bartending some of the biggest events here in Chicago.Now for those of you who have been a subscriber to this blog, thank you and now you're in for a treat because we will have postings on everything from Spirit reviews, to some of my favorite bar/restaurants, How to cocktail videos, and the ever infamous "Cocktail Thought of the Day".

So now that brings me to the point of this post today.. my ever famous catchphrase "Drink One Teach One". many have asked me where this came from and why do I always say it and use the hash tag on twitter( #DrinkOneTeachOne) Well here is your answer....

This phrase is the gist of my entire career. Unfortunately, in my community the overall "cocktail" scene is lacking. So when I''m working, or creating menus for clients I try to bring a little more cocktail awareness to the forefront. I love alcohol, I love all the different spirits that are out there(for the most part) and I love learning while I'm enjoying cocktails. Learning about the origin of a cocktail, or breaking down the flavors in the base spirit, or just figuring out all the ingredients in a cocktail while tasting blindly are some very enjoyable things to "Drink One Teach One". Understand spirits and know what you are putting inside your body. Its called "Edutainment" learn something and have fun all at the same time.

Now that im back in the blogging world, I look forward to sharing with you all my experiences, tastings, evenings out, events, recipes, and just views on different trends in the cocktail world. If you have anything you would like to see in this blog that you haven't yet or don't, by all means email me at info@dombartending,.com or tweet me @MrMixologist or @DomBarService and use the hash tag #DrinkOneTeachOne

Until Next Time
Mr. Mixologist

Blessed to be a Blessing Toy Drive

2012-12-12T16:05:00.000-06:00

We have the privilege of being one of the sponsors at the 3rd annual Official Anais Toy drive, benefiting A New Me foundation. Last year it was our 1st year and was held at the Lacuna Artist Lofts and was a memorable experience. This years toy Drive will be held at Donna's Cafe at 1255 S. State Street from 4p-7p.

A New Me Foundation is a non for profit organization that provides for victims and survivors of Domestic Violence. Randi Knight from Soul 106.3 will be a special guest host and speaker at this years toy drive which including US will have sponsorships from 1604 Designs, the Hip Hop Democrat, Speak H.O.P.E., and others.

So please come out, support a GREAT cause, and help someone who is probably less fortunate than you are. Its always better to give than to receive, and we are giving back by sponsoring and providing everyone with a pretty tasty Caliche Rum cocktail at the event. Also as an incentive to my readers and to everyone who makes it out, whomever makes the largest donation(whether monetarily or gifts) will receive a FREE 4 hour in home event with DrinkxXx On Me and Mr.Mixologist. So get there, network, and help some people in need!!

Until Next Time
Mr.Mixologist

Happy Repeal Day!!!

2012-12-05T13:11:00.000-06:00

Happy Repeal Day everyone. On January 16th, 1919 congress passed the 18th amendment outlawing alcohol consumption and sales. Repeal Day is the day that Prohibition ended with the passing of the 21st amendment of the United States on December 5, 1933. This year marks the 79th anniversary of this great day!

During Prohibition, people continued to produce and drink alcohol, and bootlegging helped foster a massive industry completely under the control of organized crime. Drinking in speakeasies became increasingly fashionable, and many mothers worried about the allure that alcohol and other illegal activities associated with bootlegging would have over their children.
The most effective depiction of prohibition era bootlegging, in my opinion, and some of the tactics and things that were going on in this time of history is on my favorite television series Boardwalk Empire. Ironically I found out that the state of Utah(a Mormon state) was the one who ratified the 21st amendment, giving the 3/4 threshold needed to enact the 18th amendment.

So take this day today, go out and celebrate responsibly, and enjoy a classic cocktail. Ill be celebrating with some friends this evening over some Zacapa Rum cocktails. I'll leave this posting with a few visuals from Prohibition and post Prohibition...

Cheers,

Until Next Time
Mr. Mixologist

TONIGHT!!!!!! Drink for a Cause!! NEW YORK STATE OF MIND!

2012-11-05T12:02:00.000-06:00

With Hurricane Sandy affecting New York and New Jersey last week, Some of my USBG NYC brothers and sisters were affected. So now its our time to help them out. TONIGHT at Salud Tequila Lounge. Myself along with 17 other of Chicago's finest will be serving Beer, Punch, shots, and food for any and all who come thru. 8pm-2am in one hour shifts 3 bartenders will be "guest bartenders" to serve you. 100% proceeds and tips go to our friends on the east coast. $20 donation at the door is suggested, and with that gets your food and drink. Raffles with some AMAZING gifts, dinners, a Fernet Bicycle, a St. Germain Bicycle, and many many more...

If you re not anywhere tonight this is where you should be!! 8pm-2am. My bar shift is from 9p-10p, So come out and DRINK FOR A CAUSE!!! I'm in a New York State of Mind today and you should be too!!

See you all tonight!!!!

Back to the Rack!!!! *Updated**

2012-10-19T12:37:00.000-05:00

******* UPDATE!!!!!*******

With Hurricane Sandy hitting New York and New Jersey, we will not e able to attend Speed Rack this weekend. Speed Rack will be postponed and the tentative date is December 10th. Be on the lookout for details. To get involved with helping the USBGNY and donations for NYC visit the speed rack website here---> http://www.speed-rack.com/

Last year I had the opportunity to work at a very special event. Speed Rack was introduced to me and was one HELLUVA event!!! What speed rack is, is an all female bartender competition, created by female bartenders, where the bartenders get graded on speed, technique, and accuracy. All the proceeds from Speed Rack go to fight Breast Cancer. So its a great cause and worth donating monetarily and your time.

The way it works is Speed Rack is a National competition that focused on certain markets. In each market bartenders go head to head, a square off if you will, and have to make a round of drinks randomly. Each bartender is graded on speed, accuracy, taste, and presentation. Its a round robin elimination comp, and the winners of each market will meet in the final event of the year for a winner take all showdown to be named Miss Speed Rack!!

From personal experience of serving punch at this event last year this is a GREAT time. Great people, Great cocktails, and an even BETTER CAUSE!!! So get out and look for speed rack in your city. Next up is NEW YORK CITY on November 4th. I will be there and supporting my NYC ladies!! NYC come on out!!!!

For info check out http://speed-rack.com/

Check out this Speed Rack Teaser

Until Next Time

Mr.Mixologist

Cocktails and Cupcakes Event

2012-09-29T12:54:00.000-05:00

Wonderful Friday night was spent doing something positive. DrinkxXx On Me Bartending was honored to be able to volunteer our time at the Blue Sky Bakery, "Cocktails and Cupcakes" fundraiser last night. Blue Sky Bakery provides homeless and at-risk youths with employment and skills to help them become productive members of society.

The youths at Blue Sky Bakery, when hired, get 12 weeks of paid employment and get skills in cash handling, cooking, baking, maintaining a sanitary work station, deliveries, and customer service. When we were approached to volunteer our time for this fundraiser it was a no-brainer. The concept of this event was to taste 1 of 4 specialty cupcakes for the night then the USBG Mixologists( DOM Boss Josh Davis, Carol Donovan, and Bryson Ryan) picked out spirits and created cocktails to pair with the chosen cupcakes. My cocktail was paired with the sweet potato cupcake. I had Admiral's Nelson Spiced Rum. So what i did was a variation on the Dark and Stormy cocktail, and created "The Dark Knight"- Admirals Nelson, Cinnamon syrup, fresh lime, Ginger beer. Needless to say that cocktail along with Carol's,and Bryson's was a HIT!!

Alot of fun was had and we supported a GREAT cause!! To check out and learn more about Blue Sky Bakery look at their website here ---> http://blue-sky-bakery.org/

Until Next Time
Mr.Mixologist

Bottoms Up with Mr. Mixx

Event and USBG Membership Drive

Back to the Rack!!

Product Review ---> Kappa Pisco

Product Review- Wilks & Wilson - Purveyors of Fine Elixers

Big Start to 2014

5 Tips for gifts to give the Bartender that you love

New Cocktail-- Blood on the Leaves

A Perfectly Scary Cocktail

Top 10 moments of Portland Cocktail Week

Cocktail Thought of the Day- National Vodka Day

Chicago Independent Spirits Expo

Wine Wednesday on Bottoms Up----- The Summer of Riesling

Cocktail Thought of the Day-- National Cabernet Day

Mixing it up Monday's --- introducing the Sorel Iced Tea

Cocktail Thought of the Day-- National Rum Day

Great News!!!

Cocktail Thought for the Day 8-8-2013

Cocktail Thought of the Day 8-7-2013

Shaken or Stirred

Back to Blogging/Drink One Teach One

Blessed to be a Blessing Toy Drive

Happy Repeal Day!!!

TONIGHT!!!!!! Drink for a Cause!! NEW YORK STATE OF MIND!

Back to the Rack!!!! *****Updated******

Cocktails and Cupcakes Event

Back to the Rack!!!! *Updated**