A Year of Cocktails

Camarena Tequila Tipple Tool Kit

2013-06-12T19:59:00.000-07:00

It's giveaway time!! I was contacted and asked if I would like to host a giveaway for one of my lucky readers of this VERY cool cocktail tool kit. The pictures they sent looked great, but I couldn't wait to get my very own in the mail to check it out for myself.

I received a very cool box with custom foam holding each and every item inside (super cool). The display was very classy and I almost didn't want to take the items out. Now my box is a little different then the one that I am giving away, because mine has a bottle of tequila in it and yours has a bottle of agave nectar. Otherwise we will have all of the same items.

I need to say that if you look at my last photo of a top view of the shaker, you will notice that not only does it have your standard circular strainer holes, it also has a slit on the edge for a smoother pour. I think that is awesome and I can't wait to try it out. I have never seen a shaker with that before! Here is what if you win this giveaway, you will receive:

16 ounce Camarena Tequila Custom Shaker
1 ounce & 2 ounce combo Jigger
Citrus Squeezer
Wooden Muddler
11/75 ounce bottle of Agave Nectar
Camarena Tequila Cocktail Booklet

Here are photos of all of the items except for the agave nectar:

To enter for a chance to win this Camarena Tequila Tipple Tool Kit, you must leave me one comment below telling me how much you would love to have this kit along with your email address (I still need to figure out how to get them automatically, all of my comments don't get emailed to me anymore). If you are not comfortable with leaving your email address, just shoot me an email with a copy of your comment below. The giveaway will run from 6/12/2013 - 6/21/2013 at 12:00 midnight PST. You must be a U.S. resident to win. Good luck!!

French Toast

2013-06-05T13:54:00.000-07:00

4 shots out of 5

These last two weeks have be absolutely insane for us. Everywhere I turned there was another soccer game, baseball game, softball game, Tae Kwon Do class or something to do for the end of the school year. Plus we have a Middle School graduate this year which makes things that much more exciting. We're also going to be attending a family reunion soon and then we will be planning a graduation party as well. So much to do, so little time! But I did have time to quickly buy our sons high school summer reading book, Mythology by Edith Hamilton from amazon, phewph...one thing down.

Just typing all of that out exhausts me! A friend of mine gave me some of his Fireball Whisky a while ago so that I could make tonight's........OK, so this afternoons cocktail. I had every intention to make it within a day or two after he gave it to me.....and then came the sickness that swept through this house. Now that I have my taste buds back in working order I decided, what better time to make and have a cocktail then now!

I gave today's cocktail 4 shots out of 5. This is a tasty shooter for sure. None of the three ingredients over powered the other in this shooter at all. I thought that if any of them would over power the others it would be the Fireball Whisky, but no it was a nice calm cinnamon taste that complimented the others quite well.

Here is the recipe for a French Toast:

1/2 ounce Fireball Whisky
1/2 ounce butterscotch schnapps
1/2 ounce Irish Cream Liqueur

In a shaker, add ice and all of the ingredients above. Shake well and strain into a shot glass and enjoy!

Here is a photo of the end result:

Here is a photo of the ingredients:

Thank You Paul for my little Tupperware of Fireball!

Cheers!

The Cocktail Lady

Memorial Milkshake

2013-05-21T16:30:00.000-07:00

Memorial Milkshake

4 shots out of 5

Holy......cr.......moly! This year is getting away from me. I feel like I have a mountain of things to do and not enough time in the day to do them (which I know is how a lot of you feel). Our oldest is finishing up his spring soccer season season this weekend with a tournament (that will be one sport down, one to go), which I am excited about because that means that summer is one step closer.

Next he has his baseball season to finish up which will be done by mid June......well except for the tournament in July.......plus the other tournaments I'm sure he'll be playing over the summer. Point is, the more things I get to check off of my list, the closer summer gets. Our kids have three weeks of school left, including 8th grade field trips picnics, graduation ceremonies and dances, then we'll be free to enjoy summer to it's fullest! I found a cute checklist on Life As Mom for the kids to fill out with all of the fun stuff they want to do this summer. Fingers crossed that we are able to get most of it done.

I gave tonight's cocktail 4 shots out of 5. I was on the hunt for a Memorial Day cocktail and did find a few, but then looked outside and saw the sun (yes I saw the wind too, but I can't feel that from inside) and decided to try my hand at a self invented milkshake. I must say I did pretty good too. The cherry vodka definitely leaves it mark in the cocktails I've made it with so far (Cherry Crepe, Easter Basket and Surely Not Temple), meaning that I can definitely taste the cherry flavor.

In my head this milkshake was going to be perfectly layered with blue on the bottom, white in the middle and red on top. Then I took my first shot at layering the white on top of the blue and came to the realization that I should have made this milkshake a LOT thicker. Oh well, it still tastes good!

Here is my recipe for a Memorial Milkshake:

1 1/2 cups vanilla ice cream
1 ounce cherry vodka
1 ounce marshmallow vodka
1 ounce milk
1/2 ounce blue curacao
1/2 ounce grenadine

First put the ice cream, milk and both vodkas in your blender and blend them up just enough to give them a quick mixing.

Pour everything into a big extra cup.

Pour 3 ounces of your original mixture back into the blender and add the blue curacao. Give it a quick blend and pour it into the bottom of your milkshake glass.

Try your best at layering 3 ounces of your original mixture on top of your blue bottom layer of your milkshake glass.

Pour your remaining 3 ounces (the rest) of your original mixture back into your blender and add the grenadine. Give it a quick blend and layer that on top of your white layer in your milkshake glass.

If your mixtures aren't as thick as I had initially imagined mine being it's OK. Just use the process of layering (back of a spoon) each mixture on top of the other and it will end up like mine.

Here is a photo of the end result:

Here is a photo of the ingredients:

Here's to Memorial Day weekend! I hope you all enjoy your weekend.

Cheers!

The Cocktail Lady

White Lady

2013-05-10T13:41:00.002-07:00

White Lady

5 shots out of 5

Mother's Day is right around the corner. Can you believe it? I can't. I guess all of those adults were right when I was a kid, the years DO go faster and faster when you get older. Tonight is our annual Mother/Son baseball game at our second oldest son's school. We are both very excited to be participating in it again. Since he is in 3rd grade this year, we will only have 2 more years to participate until he goes to middle school. I'll be sad when we can't do it anymore.

I gave today's cocktail 5 shots out of 5. YES, you saw that correct! I did give a gin cocktail 5 shots out of 5......have you gotten back off of the floor yet? I found this cocktail here. This is a simple cocktail to make and it only has three ingredients. I can taste each of the three ingredients and boy are the proportions correct and good! Just for kicks I checked to see what cocktail I made for last years Mother/Son baseball game, it was a Malibu Sunrise which was delicious. On Mother's Day itself I made a Mother Goose which was green and good!

I wish all of your Mother's out there a very Happy Mother's Day!

Here is the recipe for a White Lady:

1 1/2 ounces gin
3/4 ounce cointraeu
3/4 ounce lemon juice

In a cocktail shaker, add ice and all of the ingredients above. Shake and strain into a martini glass and enjoy!

Here is a photo of the end result:

Here is a photo of the ingredients:

Here's to all you mom's out there, enjoy your Sunday!

Cheers!!

The Cocktail Lady

Top 5 Cocktails for your extra tequila

2013-05-06T12:37:00.000-07:00

Top 5 Cocktails

for your extra tequila

We had another crazy busy weekend. Our oldest had a soccer tournament which ended up being three games, one of which we had to miss so that he could play in his baseball game on Saturday night. I tell you with all of these busy weeks and weekends, this year is flying by already. Now that Cinco De Mayo is over (another example that the year is flying by), what are you going to do with the extra tequila you were not able to use yesterday?

I will tell you what you can do with the extra tequila! I have put together five tequila cocktails for you to choose from and make. One of these cocktails was on my list of margaritas that I had linked to in my Classic Margarita post and the other four are non-margarita cocktails.

Chavela is a great beer & tequila cocktail that is sure to please.
Moon-a-rita......yum, just thinking about it makes me want to pull out my blender and mix up a mango margarita and stick a beer in it!
Grapefruit Margarita is a nice change from your Classic Margarita and the other common flavors you find in restaurants.
Tequila Sunrise is a refreshingly enjoyable cocktail that is made with tequila, orange juice and a bit of grenadine for that awesome effect.
Long Island Iced Tea is a surprisingly delicious cocktail. It's mixed with just about every main alcohol in your bar so be careful and enjoy.

There you have it! 5 delicious cocktails that you can make with the extra tequila you have left over from Cinco De Mayo!

Cheers!!

The Cocktail Lady

Mexi-tini

2013-05-03T12:43:00.000-07:00

Mexi-tini

2 shots out of 5

I knew this was going to happen. May is officially here, which means that this year is officially one third over with. Yes, I said it, one third over with. What else does it mean? Well it means that Cinco De Mayo is right around the corner as well! In my world it also means that our oldest child will officially (yes I've used the word officially 3 times now) no longer be a middle school student. Oh Em Gee!! I can not believe that in a mere few weeks we will (fighting against my fingers not to use the word officially) have ourselves a high school student!

I gave tonight's cocktail 2 shots out of 5. I wasn't sure what to think when I found this cocktail recipe on about.com, I mean 2 ounces of alcohol with a half an ounce of juice? Yikes. My rating was what I thought it might be, but not for the reason I had thought. I thought these two alcohols together would make me cringe and make horrible faces. I was wrong. Mixing these two together kind of removes the flavor aspect of this cocktail. It is the weirdest thing. This cocktail had a dull flavor and leaves not the best taste in my mouth.

If you are up for trying this cocktail for Cinco De Mayo, I hope you like it a lot more then I do. If you are not up for trying it, you can always choose one of my many margaritas that I have posted on my Classic Margarita post.

Here is the recipe for a Mexi-tini:

1 oz orange vodka
1 oz tequila
1/2 oz orange juice

In a cocktail shaker, add crushed ice and all of the ingredients above. Let sit for 5 seconds and then shake and strain your cocktail into your martini glass.

Here is a photo of the end result:

Here is a photo of the ingredients:

Happy Cinco De Mayo en dos dias!

Cheers!!

The Cocktail Lady

Kool Aid

2013-04-29T13:18:00.005-07:00

Kool Aid

5 shots out of 5

Happy Monday everyone! It was a fun filled weekend here.......well except for yesterday's baseball game that ended in the other team cheating to win and a yelling match and an almost fight.....yea that part wasn't good. The rest of the weekend pretty much rocked though! This school year is a sneaky sneakerton. I simply can not believe that we're coming into the last month of school here pretty soon. This year, especially for me, has gone by quite fast because once this school year is over our oldest will be starting (gulp) high school in the fall! I didn't think that day would be here so soon.

I gave today's cocktail 5 shots out of 5. Today is super hot and when I found this Kool Aid shooter here I knew I had to give it a try. Yes I am aware that it is not the same thing as an ice cold glass of Kool Aid, but just the name was enough to reel me in. This shooter is very very smooth and easy to drink. It does not exactly taste like Kool Aid, but it really doesn't matter. The amaretto was noticeable in this shooter which for a split second reminded me of my Hawaiian Punch. Not that they taste the same, but they do remind me of each other. All in all this was a good shooter and it allowed me to use the Kool Aid packet in the photo to make a pitcher of Kool Aid as a surprise for the kids today.

Here is the recipe for a Kool Aid shooter:

1/2 oz midori
1/2 oz amaretto
3/4 oz cranberry juice

In a shot glass pour in your midori and amaretto. Fill the rest with cranberry juice (my shot glass was a little bigger so I was able to put in 3/4 oz).

Here is a photo of the end result:

Here is a photo of the ingredients:

Here's to a hot day and according to my phone, an EXTRA hot week ahead!

Cheers!!

The Cocktail Lady

Boston Cream Pie

2013-04-23T14:16:00.002-07:00

Boston Cream Pie

4 shots out of 5

So......it's been a week since my last post. I can't believe it. Last week was a crazy one. We had a lot of practices and games (what's new, right?) plus one of my Best Friends came up for the weekend to celebrate her birthday. I had a great weekend and now......I'm sick. I am going to have to skip softball tonight, which bums me out. On the up side, it's been SUPER hot here lately, which makes me happy.

I gave tonight's cocktail 4 shots out of 5. I am still shocked by the bombing in Boston. I can't believe that people can do such horrible things. My heart goes out to all of those effected by it. I had found tonight's cocktail on pinterest which lead me to Fast Drink Recipes. Now I haven't had an actual Boston Cream Pie.....either in forever or I've never had one, ever. I have though had a Yoplait Boston Cream Pie Yogurt before, so I can compare this cocktail to that. I think this cocktail definitely compares well in taste to the yogurt. I like the three main flavors together and can more or less taste them all. I did rim my glass first and then stick it in the freezer, which is the opposite of what the Fast Drink Recipes blog did. I think freezing it first works well.........until you take it outside in the VERY hot weather for it to only start melting and dripping down the side.

Here is the recipe for a Boston Cream Pie:

1 oz vanilla vodka
1 oz Baileys
1 oz Frangelico
1/16 oz Godiva chocolate liqueur

Rim a martini glass with chocolate syrup and stick it in the freezer. In a shaker, add ice and all of the ingredients above except for the Godiva chocolate liqueur. Shake and strain into your rimmed martini glass. Top with your Godiva chocolate liqueur.

Here is a photo of the end result:

Here is a photo of the ingredients:

Here's to all those who were effected by the bombing in Boston. My heart as well as my families hearts go out to you all!

Cheers!!

The Cocktail Lady

Income Tax

2013-04-15T18:18:00.001-07:00

Income Tax

2.5 shots out of 5

It's Income Tax Day, it's Income Tax Day!! That could be a good thing or a bad thing depending on whether or not you are getting or paying money. I have been so busy this last week I have not been able to post in over a week.......I'm sorry. We have been putting off doing out taxes (which usually I'm on it as soon as the W2 comes), so we needed to get that done, plus I had my next article due today for the Simply Gluten Free magazine. Toss those in with too many baseball games, a soccer game, I lost count of the number of practices and 3 days of Tae Kwon Do.........phewph........just typing it out exhausts me!

I gave tonight's cocktail 2.5 shots out of 5. My new friend gin. I had found a few different versions of this cocktail online and decided to go with the one from Kitchenriffs. This one looked like the best quantities of each ingredient. This is not a bad cocktail. The gin does give you that "gin burn" a bit as you swallow it, but it's not too bad. Vermouths (sweet or dry) usually make me run the other way, but the amount you actually put of them into this cocktail isn't horrid......which is a good thing! All in all, if you like gin and vermouth, I think you will absolutely like this one!

Here is the recipe for a Income Tax:

1 1/2 oz gin
1/4 oz sweet vermouth
1/4 oz dry vermouth
3/4 orange juice
2 dashes of bitters

In a shaker, add ice and all of the ingredients above. Shake and strain your cocktail into a martini glass, sit down, sign your taxes and mail them in!

Here is a photo of the end result:

Here is a photo of the ingredients:

Here's to a day that scares a whole lot of Americans and a cocktail that goes along with it!

Cheers!!

The Cocktail Lady

Pucker Melon Rita

2013-04-05T14:53:00.003-07:00

Pucker Melon Rita

4 shots out of 5

It's spring break here for the kids. We started off well and now everyone is starting to annoy everyone else. We do have our good moments though! Yesterday I took the kids out to Target to get them out of the house and then we went to Arby's for lunch, mmmmm. Today we had lunch at Red Robin and thankfully the weather has been pretty nice....minus yesterdays rain.

I gave tonight's cocktail 4 shots out of 5. I had just tried my hand at a watermelon margarita with fresh watermelon.....unfortunately my watermelon tasted like rine and.......well......I dumped the attempt. I unfortunately do not have any watermelon puree so I grabbed my bottle of watermelon pucker, read the recipe on the back and added to it. I must say that I am very VERY happy with the results! The initial recipe from the pucker bottle was.....a bit puckerey and sour and absolutely needed my amendment. I hope to try a watermelon margarita with watermelon puree one day, but for now I will be absolutely happy drinking this one.

Here is my recipe for a Pucker Melon Rita:

2 oz watermelon pucker
2 oz sweet & sour mix
1 oz silver tequila
1/2 oz triple sec
3/4 oz simple syrup

Rim your margarita glass with fine sugar. In a cocktail shaker, add ice and all of the ingredients above. Shake and strain your cocktail into your sugar rimmed glass and enjoy!

Here is a photo of the end result:

Here is a photo of the ingredients:

Here's to being pleasantly surprised!

Cheers!!

The Cocktail Lady

Easter Basket

2013-03-30T14:00:00.000-07:00

Easter Basket

3.5 shots out of 5

One day to go! For those of you hosting Easter, are you ready? I "think" I am?! You know, it doesn't really matter what the holiday is, I just really enjoy having a reason to get the family together and eat, laugh and drink together. I really enjoy our family and we are so lucky because both my husbands and my side get together to celebrate Easter dinner together and they all genuinely really like each other. It's a wonderful feeling.

I gave tonight's cocktail 3.5 shots out of 5. I found this cocktail at Feast Of Fun and am glad I did. I think the color of this cocktail is great and (in my mind at least) represents Easter. The only thing I would do different (which was an option on the site I found it on) would be to use half and half instead of milk.......or maybe even some cream? Otherwise I wouldn't change it. This cocktail absolutely has a cherry taste and I'm afraid the milk has masked it's full potential....which could totally be a good thing if you don't care for the cherry taste too much.

Here is the recipe for an Easter Basket:

1 1/2 oz cherry vodka
1/2 oz triple sec
3 oz milk (half & half....or if you're daring try cream)
1/8 oz grenadine

In a shaker, add ice and all of the ingredients above. Shake and strain into a martini glass....which you are more then welcome to rim with sprinkles if you'd like.

Here is a photo of the end result:

Here is a photo of the ingredients:

Here's to getting together with family and friends whether it's for a holiday, or just to do it.

Cheers!!

The Cocktail Lady

Chocolate Bunny Martini

2013-03-29T13:23:00.000-07:00

Chocolate Bunny Martini

5 shots out of 5

The countdown continues, we have 2 days left until Easter. Today is Friday (thankfully), and the kids are now "officially" on spring break! It will definitely be nice having them home all week. It will also be nice being able to NOT set our alarms......well, all of us except for my husband that is.

I gave tonight's cocktail 5 shots out of 5. Um, YUM!! I found this cocktail at the same place I found last night's cocktail, at As Socialiving. This cocktail, to me, tastes like an "adult" chocolate milk. I know that they actually sell something called Adult Chocolate Milk (or something like that) at the stores (haven't tried it yet) and I would imagine......or I guess I would desperately hope, that it would taste like this! This cocktail is not too chocolately (which I like), but it is chocolately enough for you to know what you're drinking. I think I may make myself another one of these real soon!

Here is the recipe for a Chocolate Bunny Martini:

1 1/2 oz chocolate liqueur
1 1/2 oz dark creme de cacao
1/2 oz vodka
chocolate shavings

Rim your martini glass with your chocolate shavings. In a shaker, add ice and your chocolate liqueur, dark creme de cacao and vodka. Shake and strain into your rimmed martini glass and enjoy!

Here is a photo of the end result:

Here is a photo of the ingredients:

I am feeling a bit more prepared for Easter dinner now.......especially after I had tonight's cocktail!

Cheers!!

The Cocktail Lady

Black Licorice Jellybean

2013-03-28T17:45:00.003-07:00

Black Licorice Jellybean

2 shots out of 5

Easter is this Sunday.......totally snuck up on me, plus we're hosting dinner! I just realized today that I have 3 days to get it all together, wowzers! Since Easter is coming up, I'd better supply you all with a few Easter-like cocktails to choose from. Now, I will admit that I've come a looong way with all of the different alcohols, liqueurs and mixes I have used over the past year......but Jagermeister........not yet.

I gave tonight's cocktail 2 shots out of 5. I want to say that I have made cocktails in the past with Jagermeister and absolutely liked them, such as The Torpedo and Buttery Jager Ripple. Tonight's cocktail's (I found it here) main ingredient is Jagermeister.......which is why I think I am not the biggest fan of it. The vanilla vodka really didn't have a chance to really come through tonight. I am thinking that maybe if we switched the quantities of the two ingredients, maybe then I'd like it a bit more. Oh well.......on to find some more yummy Easter cocktails!

Here is the recipe for a Black Licorice Jellybean:

1/2 oz vanilla vodka
1 oz Jagermeister

In a shaker, add ice and both ingredients. Shake and strain into a shot glass.

Here is a photo of the end result:

Here is a photo of the ingredients:

Here's to 3 days before Easter and a grocery shopping trip to take!

Cheers!!

The Cocktail Lady

Creamy Caramel Martini

2013-03-22T13:29:00.000-07:00

Creamy Caramel Martini

4 shots out of 5

I may just be one of the happiest people I know today! First off it's Friday (that speaks for itself). Second, I went to the doctor today to find out if they 4 week long soar throat I've had is strep or not.......turns out it's not and all I have is an irritated airway! Great news! I think for those two reasons alone, I deserve a cocktail.....and so do you!

I gave ~~tonight's~~ OK, totally this afternoon's cocktail 4 shots out of 5. The 3:1 ratio of vodka to schnapps kind of scared me, but I went through with it anyways. I have this bottle of Kissed Caramel Vodka and I need to try different cocktails with it so I went to the Smirnoff site and found today's here. Glad I did too. I think the caramel at the bottom of this glass adds to it's carameleyness (yes another "Totally Jen made up word), but doesn't over power it. I think this would be a cocktail that I would drink one.......two at the most of (but would probably regret asking for the 2nd half way through). If you enjoy caramel, I think you'll enjoy this cocktail!

Here is the recipe for a Creamy Caramel Martini:

1 1/2 oz kissed caramel vodka
1/2 oz butterscotch schnapps
caramel

In a martini glass, squeeze your liquid caramel into the bottom of your glass (as much as you'd like). In a shaker, add ice and your vodka and butterscotch schnapps. Shake and strain your cocktail into your martini glass.

Here is a photo of the end result:

Here is a photo of the ingredients:

Here's to a nice warm Friday! The sun is out and I have a cocktail in my hand, what could be better?

Cheers!!

The Cocktail Lady

Banana Cream Colada

2013-03-17T15:47:00.002-07:00

Banana Cream Colada

5 shots out of 5

First off, I want to apologize for not doing something that I wanted to do......which you never knew about............but I feel I should apologize. Today is St. Patrick's Day and I wanted to have posted some of my favorite "green" cocktails for you all to look through a couple days ago. Then baseball games, soccer games and a double birthday party I hosted last night all got in the way. Instead I decided that since it's such beautiful weather out today, I would pull out my blender and use one of our banana's and just create a nice blended cocktail.

I gave today's cocktail 5 shots out of 5. This cocktail is banana-ey, so if you're not a huge banana fan you might not want to try this one. I LOVE this one and since I was totally in the mood for banana's, I love this one even more today. I did end up adding pineapple juice to this cocktail because at first (even for me) it was a bit too banana-ey. In this cocktail the banana, coconut and pineapple flavors all mix pretty darn well together (which they usually do) and the vanilla ice cream gives it a bit of a creamy flavor which is nice.

Here is my recipe for a Banana Cream Colada:

2 oz coconut rum
1 small banana
1/2 oz banana liqueur
1 1/2 oz pineapple juice
1 oz cream of coconut
1/2 C vanilla ice cream
1/2 C ice

In a blender, add all of the ingredients above. Blend until your ice is gone and everything is mixed in well.

Here is a photo of the end result:

Here is a photo of the ingredients:

Happy St. Patrick's Day to you all. I hope you are wearing your green so that you don't get pinched!!

Cheers!!

The Cocktail Lady

Irish Car Bomb

2013-03-13T15:54:00.000-07:00

Irish Car Bomb

5 shots out of 5

With St. Patrick's Day vastly approaching, I thought it would be a good time to give you a new "Irish" cocktail to add to the list of possible drinks for Sunday. Last year on St. Patrick's Day we went out to celebrate a friends birthday. We started the night with a pre-party here by having a few cocktails as well as some jello shots (not a good idea for me). This year, I promise, I will not be drinking even a fraction of the amount I drank last year.

I gave tonight's cocktail 5 shots out of 5. Before anyone says "Hey, that's not how you make an Irish Car Bomb", let me just tell you, that's how we make them at our house. I totally get that a more "traditional" way to do is is to fill the shot glass half way with Bailey's and then float the other half with Irish Whiskey. We like it the way I made it here and that is why I wanted to share our way with you. This is a delicious, fun cocktail to drink.......but let me warn you of the correct way to drink it. Once your pour your beer in the glass and drop your shot into it, your one MAIN goal is to CHUG THAT PUPPY DOWN faster then you've EVER chugged down a beer before. Why? Ha ha, well let me tell you. The longer the Bailey's sits in your beer (and believe me it won't take long) the more it curdles.......yes I said curdles. My advice to you is to drink it all as fast as you can with your eyes closed so that you really have no clue what's going on inside your glass.

Here is our recipe for an Irish Car Bomb:

1 can Guinness stout
1 1/2 oz Bailey's Irish Cream

In a tall glass, pour your beer down the side to minimize your amount of foam. Fill up your shot glass with Baileys. Hold your beer in your preferred drinking hand and with your other hand drop in your shot glass that is filled with Baileys. IMMEDIATELY chug your cocktail!!

Here is a photo of the end result:

Here is a photo of the ingredients:

Here's to St. Patrick's Day! A day where drinking is smiled upon!!

Cheers!!

The Cocktail Lady

Irish Cookie

2013-03-08T14:18:00.003-08:00

Irish Cookie

2.5 shots out of 5

I absolutely can NOT believe that we finally made it to Friday! This has been a loooong couple of weeks. 4 sick kids, fevers up to 107.6, 5 ear infections, 4 different kinds of anti-biotics, enough motrin and tylenol to deserve stock in each company......sheeesh. I do see the light at the end of the tunnel though! The fevers are gone, the kids are back in school and our anti-biotics are definitely working. This mom deserves a cocktail......or two.

I gave tonight's cocktail 2.5 shots out of 5. I found this cocktail on a recipe page from Pinnacle. I have to say, I am not a huge fan of the cookie dough vodka. Sorry......I know I just crushed some of you out there. If you are a fan of this flavor of vodka, I think you may just really like tonight's cocktail. I can see how the Bailey's and milk work well with the cookie dough flavor, it's just not working for me. I will finish this cocktail, don't get me wrong, but I will find something else to drink after it. Anyways, I hope you all have a good weekend. We are having friends over tonight for pizza and.......you guessed it, cocktails! Then we have a double date scheduled for tomorrow night, BOY do I need a night out.

Here is the recipe for an Irish Cookie:

2 oz cookie dough vodka
1 oz Bailey's
1 oz milk

In a shaker, add ice and all of the ingredients above. Shake and strain your mixture into a martini glass.

Here is a photo of the end result:

Here is a photo of the ingredients:

Here's to children on the mend and a night out in my future!!

Cheers!!

The Cocktail Lady

Five Lakes Vodka

2013-03-05T16:05:00.000-08:00

Five Lakes Vodka

I was sent this bottle of Five Lakes Vodka a couple weeks ago. Then the flu hit our house and we've been trying to survive it ever since. Now that I see a light at the end of the tunnel, I can actually step away and try some vodka! Here is a photo of the bottle they sent:

When I first opened the bottle and smelled the vodka, I could already tell that it had a different aroma to it then other vodkas that I have smelled. One thing that I think is super cool about this bottle is the slow pour plastic insert at the top of the bottle:

Yes I have seen this on bottles before, but not on the 750ml bottles. The only 750ml bottle that I can think of that has it is my Bacardi 151, for good reason. I really like the fact that this bottle has the plastic insert as it always allows you to pour your vodka smoother and pay more attention to how much of it you are actually using.

Next came the taste test. I took a sip of the vodka by itself and I have to say it does have it's own unique flavor. I am happy to report that this brand of vodka did not make me feel like I was breathing fire and/or make a horrid face after I swallowed it. It went down pretty smooth. I then mixed it up in a vodka cran and am enjoying that right now.

All in all, I would say that this is a good vodka. With its unique flavor, it is definitely worth a try! Thank You to Olga for sending me this bottle of vodka to try and enjoy! Here is a link to their website.

Mr. Robert Roy

2013-03-04T15:00:00.000-08:00

Mr. Robert Roy

5 shots out of 5

I got inspired by my "adult version" of the Shirley Temple I made the other day, Surely Not Temple. I decided to kick up the other childhood favorite, a Rob Roy, by adding some alcohol to it. I did and named it Mr. Robert Roy (notice his "grown-up" name). If I haven't already told you that we have figured out the cause of these fevers that last for-ever this is why........3 ear infections between 2 kids. These poor kids........and they never told me that their ears hurt......ever! I'm glad I took them to the doctors last week and figured it out.

I gave today's cocktail 5 shots out of 5. WOW, this is a good one! It's funny how you can change up a classic non-alcoholic cocktail just a little and it becomes an amazing adult cocktail! This cocktail sort of tastes like cherry coke but with a delicious vanilla kick. I will definitely be finishing this one......right now. If you are more of a coke and not diet coke person, you can absolutely substitute it in either way would be delicious!

Here is my recipe for a Mr. Robert Roy:

1 1/2 oz vanilla vodka
3 oz diet coke
1/4 oz grenadine

In a cocktail glass filled 3/4 with ice, pour in all of your ingredients. Stir and enjoy!!

Here is a photo of the end result:

Here is a photo of the ingredients:

Here's to yet another awesome "adult version" of a childhood favorite!

Cheers!!

The Cocktail Lady

Surely Not Temple

2013-03-02T14:35:00.001-08:00

Surely Not Temple

5 shots out of 5

One of the most annoying things for me about Pinterest (well it's not Pinterest's fault), is when I see something amazing that I want to know more about......like tonight's cocktail.......and I click on it and I am sent to someone's Flickr account, or a page that no longer exists. Today's cocktail was like that, I was excited about making it and so I clicked on it and it led me nowhere. Well at least they listed the ingredients (not quantities) on the pin, therefore I made my own and renamed it.

I gave today's cocktail 5 shots out of 5. OK, this cocktail I would totally drink at a social gathering. This is one of those cocktails that I am excited enough about that I would make one for all to try at the next party......yea it's that good. I totally used to order Shirley Temples when I went out to dinner with my parents as a kid. As some of you know, I would inform the waitress that I did NOT want a cherry in mine, but an olive.....or three. This cocktail has a great cherry flavor between the vodka and grenadine and mixed with the sprite, it's a winner in my book!

Here is my recipe for a Surely Not Temple:

1 1/2 oz cherry vodka
3 oz sprite (or lemon-lime soda)
1/4 oz grenadine

In a cocktail glass filled 3/4 with ice, pour in all of your ingredients. Stir them up well and enjoy!

Here is a photo of the end result:

Here is a photo of the ingredients:

Here's to finding a GREAT use for my cherry vodka!!

Cheers!!

The Cocktail Lady

Harvey Wallbanger

2013-02-27T13:00:00.001-08:00

Harvey Wallbanger

3.5 shots out of 5

Remember how a few weeks ago the yucky flu swept through our house? Yea......well, it's back and badder then ever! This time it touched every single one of us (6 to be exact). While some of us escaped the fever, some of us (especially 3 of 4) wasn't so lucky. Our poor oldest little girl had a fever so high that we spend the other night up giving her half hour barely warm baths to bring down her 105.3 fever. Thankfully, she seems to have "almost" broken her fever now and we all actually slept through the entire night last night! Hip hip hooray!!!

I gave today's cocktail 3.5 shots out of 5. I found a few different recipes for this cocktail, but decided on this one by epicurious. I chose a Harvey Wallbanger for two reasons. 1) I had just bought a bottle of Galliano before the flu started sweeping through the house and have been dying to use it ever since. 2) since I'm still a bit sick, I figured what's better then alcohol and orange juice to help me feel better! I have got to say this Galliano is like nothing I've ever tasted before. The aroma and flavor are very unique. It's amazing how only a half ounce of this stuff can really change the taste of a vodka and orange juice cocktail........especially when it's just under a tenth of the ingredients mixed in. This would be a cocktail that I just may make again sometime.

Here is the recipe for a Harvey Wallbanger:

1 1/2 oz vodka
1/2 oz Galliano
4 oz orange juice

In a medium cocktail glass filled with ice, pour in all of your ingredients and give it a nice stir.

Here is a photo of the end result:

Here is a photo of the ingredients:

Here's to finally being able to make (and taste) a cocktail after a week and a half with sickies in the house.

Cheers!!

The Cocktail Lady

Classic Margarita

2013-02-21T13:52:00.004-08:00

National Margarita Day ~~ February 22nd

Classic Margarita

5 shots out of 5

I'm baaack! That was sure a nice five days off. I think after a year STRAIGHT of making cocktails every night that I deserve a vacation. If you didn't know, tomorrow is National Margarita Day! Like we need an excuse to have a margarita, right? Not an excuse, just a reminder how wonderful margarita's really are.

I gave today's cocktail 5 shots out of 5. I am EN-JOYING this cocktail right now. If you don't already know, I am not a big tequila person......at all. I searched and searched online and found a handful of classic margarita recipes and (after consulting with my husband) decided on this one that I found on Food & Wine. This cocktail is a perfect blend of alcohol and sweetness to where those who do not like super sweet cocktails will like it, as well as those (like me) who don't care too much for tequila!

I have a list of (including today's margarita) 10 different cocktails for you to choose from below that you can make tomorrow for NMD. Depending on how brave you are, you are welcome to try more then one too!

Here is the recipe for a Classic Margarita:

1 1/2 oz silver tequila
3/4 oz cointraeu
3/4 oz lime juice
1/4 oz simple syrup

In a shaker, add ice and all of the ingredients above. Shake and dump everything into your margarita glass. Lift your glass up and salute to NMD!

Here is a photo of the end result:

Here is a photo of the ingredients:

Here are photos of my other 9 margaritas I've made, with links beneath each one that will bring you right to their page!

Pomegranate Margarita

There you have it, 10 different margaritas to choose from for National Margarita Day!!

Cheers!!

The Cocktail Lady

Flaming Dr. Pepper

2013-02-15T19:13:00.000-08:00

Day 366

Flaming Dr. Pepper

3 shots out of 5

WOW!!!!!!! Can you believe it? My year long challenge has officially come to an end! I have made, photographed, tried and blogged about THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY SIX (seemed more dramatic in all caps) cocktails. WOW, that's an accomplishment I must say. I want to send a special Thank You out to my family who has allowed me to have my "cocktail time" every night so that I can do this. Also to Stephanie who gave me this idea and cheered me along the entire way! I definitely want to Thank all of you who have been with me since day 1, those of you who have found me somewhere along the way and those of you who have sent in your favorite recipes (I do still have a few more that have been sent in and will do my best to get to them soon). Without all of you, this sure would have been a boring challenge. Thank You!!

I gave tonight's cocktail 3 shots out of 5. I wanted to go out on fire (kinda like Katniss and Peeta) and decided on the Flaming Dr. Pepper. I found the recipe at Matador Network and did my best to capture it's flame on my camera. They are right, this cocktail does more or less taste like Dr. Pepper. It tastes more like it while it's still warm though I must say, so if you are going to make it, DRINK UP! But please put out the flame before you do so. This was a fun cocktail to make.....quite easy really. I will leave you with a few sequenced photos of this cocktail to look at.

Here is the recipe for a Flaming Dr. Pepper:

3/4 of a shot glass filled with amaretto
1/4 of a shot glass filled with Bacardi 151 rum
a bottle of beer

Fill you shot glass first with the amaretto, then with the rum. Carefully place your shot glass in the center of a cocktail glass and fill that glass with beer just up until it hit the rim of the shot glass. Take a lighter and light the top of the liquid inside the shot glass on fire (please be careful and do not stand directly over your flame). Let your flame burn for a couple minutes and then blow it out and carefully drink it up.

Here is a photo of the end result:

Here is a photo of the ingredients:

I simply can not believe that this year is over. I will not stop here, so please continue to send in your favorite cocktail recipes or just shoot me an email to say hi.

Cheers!!

The Cocktail Lady

Cupid's Cup

2013-02-14T14:32:00.002-08:00

Day 365

Cupid's Cup

3.5 shots out of 5

Happy Valentine's Day to all of my wonderful readers!! I do love that you all come to my blog to see what I have been drinking each and every night! Tonight marks a regular year of a cocktail every night, but wait......remember I said that I started this blog last year which in fact was a Leap Year? That's right, one more night after tonight and then my year long challenge will be complete.

I gave tonight's cocktail 3.5 shots out of 5. I found this recipe on facebook today. Hpnotiq had posted it and I thought I'd give their Harmonie another try. This cocktail is OK. If you don't know, I don't like Hpnotiq Harmonie as much as I like the regular Hpnotiq (the blue one). Actually I really like the regular one.......a lot. The Harmonie......not so much. Anyways, this cocktail is OK, I wouldn't order it at a bar and I wouldn't have more then one of them at home. At least it's a pretty color.

Here is the recipe for a Cupid's Cup:

2 oz Hpnotiq Harmonie
1 oz vodka
1/2 oz Cointreau
1/2 oz lime juice

In a shaker filled with ice, add all of the ingredients above. Shake and strain your cocktail into a martini glass.

Here is a photo of the end result:

Here is a photo of the ingredients:

Happy Valentine's Day to you all. I really do appreciate you all coming to my blog and reading my daily cocktails. Here's to you!

Cheers!!

The Cocktail Lady

Passionate Bubbles

2013-02-13T16:01:00.002-08:00

Day 364

Passionate Bubbles

5 shots out of 5

Today is the kids last day of school for the week. We now get 5 days off for President's weekend. 5 days!! I'm not completely sure that we even got a day off when we were in school and if we did it was only Monday. Last year my kids got Friday and Monday off and this year Thursday through Monday off. Budget cuts is what I am assuming the extra long holiday is all about, either way it'll be nice to have them all home for a few days.

I gave tonight's cocktail 5 shots out of 5. With tomorrow being Valentines Day I figured why not create another simple but delicious Valentine cocktail. I have to say, Passion Fruit puree goes AH-MAZE-ING-LY with champagne! Yumm! I am really enjoying my little creation here. This cocktail is definitely worth a try, or two......shoot three tries is good too.

Here is my recipe for Passionate Bubbles:

2 1/2 oz champagne
2 1/2 oz passion fruit puree

In a champagne flute, pour in both ingredients. Stir up your mixture to get the puree to blend in completely with the champagne and enjoy!!

Here is a photo of the end result:

Here is a photo of the ingredients:

Here is to the two remaining days left of my year challenge.

Cheers!!

The Cocktail Lady